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Interprofessional Palliative and Hospice Care Certificate

April 01, 2016

Palliative Care Certificate Website

Certificate Focus
Person-centered, family-oriented care should be a priority, according to the 2014 Institute of Medicine report, Dying in America. The report acknowledges the need for better palliative care education in order to meet the goal of high quality, affordable care for persons with life-limiting illness.
This post-baccalaureate interprofessional certificate is designed to prepare individuals interested in palliative and hospice care with a deep understanding of the personal, professional, economic and legal perspectives of delivering care to patients facing life-limiting disease, terminal illness and death.
Learning Outcomes
•Contrast the interdisciplinary philosophy and delivery of palliative and hospice care with existing traditional medical models.
•Delineate common types of pain and pain syndromes that contribute to symptom burden in individuals with life-limiting illness.
•Develop strategies to alleviate the complex symptoms of individuals with chronic and terminal illness using a team approach.
•Incorporate behaviors that acknowledge grieving and loss into routine care planning for individuals seeking palliative and hospice care.
•Assimilate evidence-based strategies into effective provider communication that integrates patients and families as the unit of care.
•Utilize an interdisciplinary framework to support and develop a plan of care for individuals who require palliative and/or hospice care.

About the Certificate
An earned baccalaureate degree from an accredited university is required.
12 Credit Hours / 4 Graduate-Level Courses
•Chronic and Terminal Illness: The Palliative and Hospice Model (3 credits)
•Complex Pain and Symptom Management (3 credits)
•Death, Grief and Loss (3 credits)
•Choice of 1 Elective (3 credits):
•Health Care Systems, Policy and Politics
•Clinical Pharmacology
•Law, Ethics and Social Work
•Social Work and Healthcare
•Healthcare Law and Ethics

Class Delivery & Certificate Completion
A combination of in-seat and online classes is utilized by an experienced interprofessional team of palliative and hospice care faculty and clinicians to deliver course content.

Why is this an extraordinary opportunity for learners?
Through this certificate program, individuals interested in palliative and hospice care will gain a deep understanding of the personal, professional and societal perspectives of delivering care to patients facing life-limiting disease, terminal illness and death and become champions for the delivery of exceptional interprofessional care.
Why is this a critical opportunity for care organizations organizations?
Quality palliative and hospice care must be consistent with a person’s values, beliefs, goals and preferences. Individuals skilled in palliative and hospice care will better assess treatment preferences, positioning organizations to better manage patient symptoms, increase patient satisfaction and ensure efficient use of organizational resources.

Contact Linda Buck at (616) 331-7160 or [email protected] for more information.
© 2015 Grand Valley State University
Certificate coordinated by The Bonnie Wesorick Center for Health Care Transformation within the Kirkhof College of Nursing

 

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Page last modified April 1, 2016