2023-2024 Academic Catalog

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Palliative Care (PALC)

PALC 6110 -  Basic Pain Assessment & Management: IDT Care  (3 Credits)  

This course reviews basic pain pathophysiology, assessment, non‐pharmacological interventions, and non‐opioid and opioid pharmacological pain management. Integrated with IDT topics related to pain such as psychological, social & spiritual distress and ethical standards of practice.

Grading Basis: Letter Grade

Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer.

PALC 6120 -  Advanced Concepts in Pain Management  (3 Credits)  

This course focuses on methadone, opioid infusions, interventional pain management, and other complex modalities. This class focuses on ethics and psychosocial issues including pain in the face of addiction and public policy around opioids and REMS. Prerequisites: PALC 6110 and 6510

Grading Basis: Letter Grade

A-GRAD Restricted to graduate students only.

Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer.

PALC 6210 -  IDT Care for Symptoms: Part A  (3 Credits)  

Course covers the assessment and management of eight common non‐pain symptoms (e.g. anorexia, asthenia, constipation and nausea/vomiting). Integrated with IDT topics related to symptom assessment/management such as psychological, social & spiritual distress and ethical standards of practice.

Grading Basis: Letter Grade

A-GRAD Restricted to graduate students only.

Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer.

PALC 6220 -  IDT Care for Symptoms: Part B  (3 Credits)  

This course covers the assessment and management of eight different common non‐pain symptoms (e.g. dyspnea, cough, and insomnia). Integrated with IDT topics related to symptom assessment/management such as psychological, social & spiritual distress and ethical standards of practice.

Grading Basis: Letter Grade

A-GRAD Restricted to graduate students only.

Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer.

PALC 6310 -  Advanced Illness in Special Settings: Part A  (3 Credits)  

Assessment\ management of 8 chronic illnesses (cardiopulmonary, end stage liver and renal diseases) emphasis on early PC combined with disease focused therapy. Attention: prognostication and transitions into palliative/hospice care or discontinuing treatments including bioethical review and IDT support. Prerequisite: PALC 6510

Grading Basis: Letter Grade

A-GRAD Restricted to graduate students only.

Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer.

PALC 6320 -  Advanced Illness in Special Settings: Part B  (3 Credits)  

Assessment/management of cancer and HIV as chronic illness with emphasis on early palliative care combined with disease focused therapy. Attention to prognostication, transition into palliative/hospice care. Paired with Spiritual Care review of challenging spiritual issues, hope, miracles and rituals. Prerequisite: PALC 6510

Grading Basis: Letter Grade

A-GRAD Restricted to graduate students only.

Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer.

PALC 6330 -  Advanced Illness in Special Settings: Part C  (3 Credits)  

Assessment/management of neurodegenerative disorders as chronic illness with emphasis on early palliative care combined with disease focused therapy. Attention to prognostication and transitions into palliative/hospice care. Paired with bioethical review and comfort care for the imminently dying. Prerequisite: PALC 6510

Grading Basis: Letter Grade

A-GRAD Restricted to graduate students only.

Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer.

PALC 6410 -  Death & Dying: Unique Role of the AHP  (3 Credits)  

This course focuses on methadone, opioid infusions, interventional pain management, and other complex modalities. This class focuses on ethics and psychosocial issues including pain in the face of addiction and public policy around opioids and REMS. For AHP students only.

Grading Basis: Letter Grade

A-GRAD Restricted to graduate students only.

Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer.

PALC 6510 -  Palliative Care Core Concepts - Principles, & Communication  (3 Credits)  

Online and on-campus intensive (some physical presence required) on palliative care topics including: models of care, early palliative care integration, whole person assessment, meaning of illness, and demonstration of advanced communications skills. Special focus on treatment plans with simulated patients/families. Requirement: Restricted to PALC MS or certificate students

Grading Basis: Letter Grade

A-GRAD Restricted to graduate students only.

Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer.

PALC 6511 -  Online: Core Concepts, Principles & Commun. Skills  (2 Credits)  

Online discussion of palliative care topics including: models of care, early palliative care integration, whole person assessment, meaning of illness, and demonstration of advanced communications skills. Special focus on treatment plans with simulated patients/families. Co-Requisite: PALC 6512

Grading Basis: Letter Grade

Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer.

PALC 6512 -  Intensive: Core Topics, Principles & Commun. Skills  (1 Credit)  

On-campus, in-person intensive (physical presence required) discussion of palliative care topics including: models of care, early palliative care integration, whole person assessment, meaning of illness, and demonstration of advanced communications skills. Special focus on treatment plans with simulated patients/families. Co-Requisite: PALC 6511

Grading Basis: Letter Grade

Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer.

PALC 6520 -  Communication Skill Refinement: IDT Collaboration  (3 Credits)  

Online and on-campus intensive (some physical presence require). Advanced topics in PC including refinement of advance PC skills covered Year 1 (e.g. communication) to ensure effectively application to your PC practice; demonstration of psycho‐social‐spiritual assessment integrated in treatment plans with simulated patients\families. Prerequisite: PALC 6510

Grading Basis: Letter Grade

A-GRAD Restricted to graduate students only.

Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer.

PALC 6521 -  Online: Comm. Skill Refinement: IDT Collaboration  (2 Credits)  

Online. Advanced topics in PC including refinement of advance PC skills covered Year 1 (e.g. communication) to ensure effectively application to your PC practice; demonstration of psycho‐social‐spiritual assessment integrated in treatment plans with simulated patients\families. Co-Requisite: PALC 6522

Grading Basis: Letter Grade

Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer.

PALC 6522 -  Intensive: Comm. Skill Refinement: IDT Collaboration  (1 Credit)  

On-campus, in-person intensive (physical presence required). Advanced topics in PC including refinement of advance PC skills covered Year 1 (e.g. communication) to ensure effectively application to your PC practice; demonstration of psycho‐social‐spiritual assessment integrated in treatment plans with simulated patients\families. Co-Requisite: PALC 6521

Grading Basis: Letter Grade

Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer.

PALC 6531 -  Online: Palliative Care Integrated in Your Community  (2 Credits)  

Online. Demonstrate advanced PC communications skills & management of complex pain and symptoms; apply ethical training and practical experience with supportive interventions to help preserve dignity, achieve closure and have peace at life’s end. Co-Requisite: PALC 6532

Grading Basis: Letter Grade

Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer.

PALC 6532 -  Intensive: Pall Care Integrated in Your Community  (1 Credit)  

On-campus, in-person intensive (physical presence required). Demonstrate advanced PC communications skills & management of complex pain and symptoms; apply ethical training and practical experience with supportive interventions to help preserve dignity, achieve closure and have peace at life’s end. Co-Requisite: PALC 6531

Grading Basis: Letter Grade

Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer.

PALC 6910 -  Systems Topics: Preparation to Capstone  (3 Credits)  

Palliative Care Research, Quality Improvement, Health Care Policy and Advocacy and Palliative Care Program development including institutional needs assessment and program planning. Instruction to become a PC Educator, development of professional resilience and role of medical humanities. Prerequisite: PALC 6511/PALC 6512

Grading Basis: Letter Grade with IP

A-GRAD Restricted to graduate students only.

Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer.

PALC 6950 -  Capstone Project  (1-3 Credits)  

MS Palliative Care Capstone Project. Students will design, implement, evaluate, and present the result of a research, QI, education, advocacy, or medical humanities project during year 2 with mentorship from faculty. Results presented at final on-campus course (PALC 6530). Prerequisites: PALC 6910 and PALC 6520

Grading Basis: Letter Grade with IP

Repeatable. Max Credits: 12.

A-GRAD Restricted to graduate students only.

Additional Information: Report as Full Time.

Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer.

PALC 6960 -  Masters Thesis in Palliative Care  (1-3 Credits)  

Masters thesis work in Palliative Care. Final results presented at final on-campus course (PALC 6530). Prerequisite: PALC 6910 and 6520

Grading Basis: Letter Grade with IP

Repeatable. Max Credits: 12.

A-GRAD Restricted to graduate students only.

Additional Information: Report as Full Time.

Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer.