Introduction to ACSM 402-48, Palliative Care, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine

Course Introduction for ACSM 402-48

This course is offered to fourth-year medical students and provides a framework for future physicians to learn about the management of the dying patient. Students participate in four clinical experiences. These experiences include a hospice unit, an outpatient anesthesia pain clinic, a geriatric medicine unit, and an oncology clinic where the interface between oncology and palliative care medicine will be explored. There are weekly lectures which will cover the pharmacology of analgesics, pain management, pathophysiology of nausea and vomiting, and other issues of management of dying patients. The roles of spirituality, ethics, and social work in palliative care are explored. Care of the geriatric patient with an end of life condition is reviewed. Students also learn about the development of hospice in the United States. Several lectures are devoted to psychological and psychiatric issues for both patients and families as well as in palliative medicine.

ORIENTATION MATERIALS FOR ASCM 402-48

Welcome to Ambulatory Care Selective in Medicine 402-48. This course has been developed to acquaint you with the management of individuals with far-advanced disease many of whom are at the end of life. However, the principles of management of pain in this group of patients can be applied to other situations in medical care where, for example, pain management is needed. Similarly management of other symptoms; communication of bad news all can be applied with other patients at other times in their illness and throughout your career.

During the rotation, students should contact Chip Baker for consults and other information; the secretary responsible for lectures is Terri King at 966 1996

Expectations:

1. All students will rotate through the areas described below:

The weekly schedule consists of:

A. Mon-Fri, Consults on Palliative Care Consult Service. This service is a consultation service similar to other subspecialty services in Internal Medicine. The Nursing Coordinator, Walter Baker, 843 3650, receives the consult and will contact you to check on your availability. There are days when you will be off site and would not be expected to see a consultation request. On days when you do see a patient, you are expected to see the patient, write them up, and present to the attending and others on the service.

B. Tuesdays and Thursdays—Students will rotate on the UNC Hospice service. You should contact Michelle Parlet, Clinical Supervisor, or Libby Hart, Hospice preceptor . They can be reached at the main hospice number-919 542 5545.  The main office address is 480 Hillsboro Street, Suite 800, Pittsboro, NC. 

C. On Wednesdays, Students will rotate through Anesthesia Pain Clinic. Dr. Bill Blau is the person in charge. You should go to the clinic at 8:00 AM. The clinic is on the first floor main hospital across from the GI clinic ("Spine and Pain Center"). here are different attendings every week, so Dr. Blau is the first contact, pager 216-3485. If he is unavailable, Anne Haluska is the clinic manager, phone 6-6196, pager 216-1108. The clinic front desk is 3-0392. His secretary is Cherie Price at 6-3371.

2. Pre and Post Test

Students will complete and Pre and Post Test. These tests are based on questions from a databank maintained at the Medical College of Wisconsin, and have been used there for many years. We are interested in seeing what your knowledge is in this area to help us focus on topics during your rotation.

3. Journaling; All students are expected to keep a journal of their experience while on hospice. We have attached selections from a student who was on the rotation before in Appendix A

4. On the last Tuesday of each rotation, each student will present a 15-20 minute review of the literature on an aspect of palliative care to the faculty at the weekly administrative meeting, (Room 261, Macnider Building)

5. Evaluations of Student and Faculty: Standard 4 th year student evaluations will be completed by the course director and the student at the end of the rotation. The course director will obtain verbal evaluations from faculty who attended during the time the student was on service as well as the Hospice Director. The journal and pre and post tests will be reviewed at that time but will not be used for formal grading. The answer key will be provided. A separate form will be completed by the student for faculty evaluations.

WAKE HOSPICE ROTATIONS:

STUDENTS ROTATING THROUGH WAKE HOSPICE WILL REPORT TO: Dr. Edward Yellig at Hospice of Wake County, 1300 St. Mary's St, Raleigh 27605, phone 919.828.0890. They are located on the 4th floor of the building, and students will be in our offices immediately upon walking off the elevator. They should sign in at the reception desk right next to the elevator and ask for me. The receptionist will ask them to sit in the lobby area and call me to come greet them.

A SEPARATE SCHEDULE WILL BE PROVIDED BY DR. YELLIG AND STAFF.

Last updated 2/7/2008.