Hospice and Palliative Medicine (Clinical Elective)

2 units

The Palliative Medicine elective will focus on the care of patients with life-threatening or debilitating illness throughout the course of their care. Skills in symptom management, communication, and interdisciplinary team-based care will be the focus. Students will spend the majority of their time on the BJH Palliative Care Service. Based on the individual student's interest, there may also be opportunities to work with the BJC Hospice Team and the St. Louis Children's Hospital Pediatric Advance Care Team (PACT). Students wishing to work with either team should contact the Course Director and Administrative Contact, as well as the instructors of the appropriate team, with as much advance notice as possible as trainee spots are very limited for both. While in the hospital, students will be responsible for seeing patients upon initial assessment as well as delivering follow-up care with the team. Patients will be seen for both end-of-life care as well as symptom management. Students will learn to assess and treat refractory symptoms and participate in complicated advanced care planning. Students will attend interdisciplinary team meetings and may participate in conversations about goals of care and coping with bad news. They may also get hospice experiences at our hospice house (Evelyn's House) and shadow those care providers, if desired. Emphasis will be placed on observing and understanding the psychosocial and spiritual needs of the patients, as well as the impact of the burden on caregivers. Students will be required to give a 10–15-minute presentation to the BJH Palliative Care team at the end of their rotation.