Sample Didactic Topics 

  • Definition of Palliative Care
  • General Principles of Palliative care Assessments and tools
  • Interdisciplinary team and functions  
  • Physical symptoms including:
    • Pain
    • Dyspnea
    • Delirium
    • Anorexia/cachexia
  • Neuropsychiatric symptoms including:
    • Anxiety
    • Depression
  • Palliative Care in Chronic Illness including:
    • Neurological disorders
    • COPD and respiratory disorders
    • ESRD 
    • ESLD
    • Cardiac Disease and Palliative Care 
  • Palliative Care Emergencies including:
    • Spinal Cord Compression
    • Hypercalcemia
    • Hemorrhage
    • Seizures
  • Procedures in Palliative Care – Paracentesis, Thoracentesis, Interventional Pain Techniques
  • Pharmacology and Therapeutics of Commonly Used Drugs in Palliative Care
  • Prognostication
  • Goals of Care and Advance Care Planning 
  • The Dying Patient and Family
  • Psychological Care and Interventions
  • Social and Family Relationships
  • Communication Skills 
  • Grief and Bereavement
  • Cultural and Ethnic Aspects in Palliative Care 
  • Spirituality in Palliative Care 
  • Ethical and Legal Issues in Palliative Care – Withholding and Withdrawing Treatment
  • Procedure After Death 
  • Physician-Patient Relationship
  • Pediatric Palliative Care
  • Caregiver: The Hidden Patient
  • Hospice and Community Healthcare Settings
  • Leadership Skills and Teamwork
  • Basic Research Techniques
  • Quality Improvement in Palliative Care
  • Billing and Coding in Palliative Care 
  • Self-Care

Frequency

  • Fellow education day weekly
  • Case conference weekly 
  • Journal club monthly
  • Grand rounds monthly
  • National conferences annually
  • Case research curriculum – part of fellow education day 
  • Board review – part of fellow education day
  • Ethics committee adhoc
  • Quality Improvement – part of fellow education day
  • Annual research day