College of Medicine MD Curriculum

Palliative Medicine / Supportive Care, Hospice - ProMedica

Title of Clerkship: Palliative Medicine / Supportive Care, Hospice - ProMedica

Elective Year(s): Fourth-Year Elective

Department: Family Medicine

Type of Elective: Clinical

Clerkship Site: Toledo Hospital, Flower Hospital, Outpatient Palliative Medicine / Supportive Care Clinic, Ebeid Inpatient Hospice

Course Number: FMMD 713

Blocks Available: All

Number of Students/Block: 1

Faculty: Sanjiv Josh, MD

Elective Description/Requirements: This elective is designed to provide the student with an opportunity to understand the goals and objectives of Hospice and Palliative Medicine. Students will round with physicians, nurse practitioners, and nurses with the inpatient hospital service as well as in the inpatient hospice setting. Students will also work with the palliative physicians and nurse practitioners in the outpatient palliative medicine clinic and observe the Interdisciplinary Team process in the outpatient hospice setting.

Length of Clerkship: 4 weeks

Links to Core Competencies/Educational Course Objectives: At the end of this elective, the student will be able to:

  1. Define hospice and palliative care services and explain these to patients and families. (EPOs: MK-8)
  2. Identify appropriate patients for referral to hospice and palliative care. (EPOs: MK-4, MK-8)
  3. Be able to describe the Hospice Medicare Benefit including eligibility criteria. (EPOs: SBP-1, MK-8)
  4. Define the structure and function of the interdisciplinary team. (EPOs: PC-9, PC-4)
  5. Demonstrate appropriate communication skills including an ability to give bad news and discuss resuscitation preferences using patient-centered communication techniques. (EPOs: IPC-1, IPC-3)
  6. Conduct a pain assessment, differentiate between nociceptive and neuropathic pain, define appropriate uses for opioid medications and describe principles of regional pain management. (EPOs: MK-6)
  7. Describe and apply ethical principles that inform decision making. (EPOs: PC-2)
  8. Assess patients for non-pain symptoms common in palliative care and outline a basic approach to management of these conditions. (EPOs: MK-6)
  9. Identify key prognostic factors used to predict survival. (EPOs: MK-1, MK-4)
  10. Demonstrate an ability to identify psychosocial distress and identify cultural and spiritual issues affecting the patient and family. (EPOs: MK-2, MK-3)

Professionalism: UTCOMLS students will meet or exceed the institutional standards for professionalism as stated in the current Educational Program Objectives for the sponsoring department.

Instructional Methods:

  1. Assigned readings
  2. Discussions with physicians and nurses
  3. Attendance at interdisciplinary team meetings
  4. Role play to assess communication skills
  5. Observation of clinical encounters between clinicians and patients/families

Evaluation Methods:

  1. Attendance
  2. Faculty evaluations
  3. Role Play Assessments

Prerequisites: Successful completion of the third year required Family Medicine Clerkship

Clerkship Director: Rameez Bhatti, M.D.

Clerkship Coordinator: Lindsey Brillhart
Phone Number: 419-383-5557
Email: Lindsey.brillhart@utoledo.edu

Special Requirements: None 

ECC Approved
October 2023

Last Updated: 7/15/24