MS4 Catalog

Palliative Care--Inpatient Consult Service

LOCATION: Charleston Area Medical Center, Charleston, West Virginia
PRECEPTOR: James M. Mears, M.D.
DURATION:  2 weeks 
OFFERED: Continuously
MAXIMUM ENROLLMENT: 1 student
STATUS: Elective

OBJECTIVES:

This is an elective clinical rotation for 4th year medical students. The rotation will expose students to an inpatient palliative care consult service. Students will have the opportunity to evaluate patients and present information to a preceptor experienced in palliative care then formulate a plan of care. The student will have the opportunity to manage common symptoms in seriously ill patients, such as pain, nausea, constipation, dyspnea, and anxiety. The student will learn about various types of advance medical directives available in West Virginia. The student will learn to care for patients at the end of life, including recognizing the actively dying patient and utilizing resources to assist patients and their families in making decisions concordant with patients’ goals.

Patient Care:

  1. Recognize and practice the unique aspects of a history and physical exam in patients being seen on the palliative care inpatient consult service.
  2. Describe the use of the interdisciplinary team in addressing patient needs on the palliative care inpatient consult service.
  3. Collaborate with other health care professionals to provide patient-focused care.
  4. Participate in patient and family meetings to discuss patient-specific goals of care.

Medical Knowledge:

  1. Identify the most common medical and psychological problems encountered in patients on the palliative care inpatient consult service.
  2. Describe treatment of common symptoms encountered in patients requiring inpatient palliative care.
  3. Describe the rationale for converting opioids in patients dealing with cancer-related pain, including how other medical conditions affect their metabolism.

Practice-Based Learning:

  1. Apply the use of information technology to support patient care management and decision-making.
  2. Utilize evidence from medical literature to guide treatment of palliative care patients

Communication Skills:

  1. Demonstrate effective and respectful communication with patients, families, and other medical personnel.
  2. Recognize and utilize the elements required for complete and accurate documentation of a clinical encounter in written or electronic format.

Professionalism:

  1. Demonstrate sensitivity and responsiveness to a diverse patient population, including diversity in culture, age, gender, race, religion, and disability.
  2. Demonstrate timeliness and punctuality in the process of learning and completing professional and clinical responsibilities.
  3. Demonstrate dependability, honesty, and ethical behavior during clinical encounters and interactions with other medical personnel.
  4. Demonstrate appropriate appearance during clinical encounters, including appropriate identification.

Systems-Based Practice: 

  1. Define the roles of various healthcare professionals in the medical, psychological, and spiritual care of patients on the inpatient palliative care consult service.
  2. Demonstrate how inter-professional collaboration supports patients and improves patient safety and patient-centered outcomes.
  3. Recognize the role of home health care, nursing home care, and hospice care in supporting patients’ specific goals.
  4. Advocate for quality patient care by recognizing socioeconomic barriers and other healthcare disparities.

METHODS TO ACHIEVE OBJECTIVES:

  1. Students will review medical problems and medication use of assigned patients in the electronic record.
  2. Students will make rounds in the hospital setting with the preceptor.
  3. Students will discuss assigned patients with the preceptor.
  4. Students will participate in assigned readings and discuss with the preceptor.
  5. Students will be expected to attend any palliative care lectures, conferences, tumor boards and journal clubs during their rotation if applicable.

EXAMINATION PROCEDURES AND EVALUATION CRITERIA

Formative Assessment
1. Students will be observed while interacting with patients.
2. Students will be expected to discuss care regarding assigned patients.
3. Students will receive feedback regarding presentations and patient care      on a daily basis.
4. Ongoing self-assessment of the student’s own performance is expected.

Summative Assessment
Learners will be given a written evaluation of their overall performances during the rotation at the end of the rotation, focusing on the core competencies as listed

PRIOR TO THE FIRST DAY OF THE ROTATION:

Please contact Dr. James Mears, jmears@hsc.wvu.edu at least 2 weeks prior to the start of the elective.