Palliative Care

Catalog description

This elective prepares social workers for the basic skills needed to provide palliative care to seriously ill patients and their families. The course will also cover how to have discussions regarding end of life decisions. In addition, the history of palliative care, as well as medical, financial and the ethical ramifications will be discussed. This course will explore the settings in which palliative care is delivered, the roles of the interdisciplinary team members with a focus on the clinical skills needed to engage seriously ill patients, family members, other care providers and members of the interdisciplinary team. We will examine how to conduct assessments, understand advanced care planning and facilitate shared decision-making. This course will also cover self-care and how culture as well as spirituality play a role in the delivery of palliative care.