Touching Lives With Empathy And Assurance In Medicine (Team): An Experiential Palliative Care Medicine Program For Medical Students, Kevin A. Barnes, Simone K. Schumaecker, Madeline L. Dunstan, Marissa C. Galicia-Castillo

Knowledge and Creativity Expo

Palliative Care Medicine (PCM) education presents unique challenges as core competencies like communication, response to grief, and engaging seriously ill patients are difficult to teach through classroom instruction. Despite didactics and modules, many medical students report feeling underprepared for end-of-life discussions. Emerging evidence suggests that experiential learning, particularly one-on-one interactions with patients, reduces learner insecurity and deepens understanding of serious illness. The Touching Lives with Empathy and Assurance in Medicine (TEAM) program at Lake Taylor Transitional Care Hospital was developed to address this gap through a structured, longitudinal PCM experience. This project analyzes the program’s design, implementation, and early participation …

Education In Advance Care Planning: A Novel Equity-Based, Interprofessional Service-Learning Approach, Dorothy Yam, Sriya Kudaravalli, Elizabeth A. Mulvaney, Leslie Scheunemann, Grace W. Orsatti

Journal of Innovation in Health Sciences Education

Introduction: Despite health sciences graduate schools emphasizing service-learning and interprofessionalism, they often struggle to integrate these values into the curricula effectively. Advance care planning is inherently interdisciplinary and presents an opportunity to address equity gaps through service-learning. This report describes a novel interdisciplinary service-learning initiative for graduate student trainees, focused on advance care planning in underserved communities.

Methods: After targeted training, teams of medical, law, and social work students, and professionals from their respective fields, took part in two Life Planning Fairs in historically underserved neighborhoods in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Using a form developed by the Allegheny County Bar Association …

Preferred And Actual Place Of Death To Assess Goal Concordant End Of Life Care For Children With Cancer, Amy Johnson Md, Mba, Lisa Tarbell Msn, Rn, Fnp-C, Brooke Fridley Phd, Terrie Flatt Do

Research Days

This study examines disparities in pediatric end-of-life (EOL) cancer care, highlighting socioeconomic and racial inequities in concordance between preferred and actual death locations, ICU deaths, and intensive interventions, with findings emphasizing the need for earlier palliative care integration, proactive preference documentation, and tailored approaches to improve equity and family-centered care.

Integrating Positive Psychology And Spirituality To Foster Meaning And Well-Being In Older Adults, Crystal Morris

Adultspan Journal

This perspective article explores the integration of positive psychology interventions (PPIs) and spirituality in therapy to foster meaning and well-being in older adults. It highlights exercises such as the positive introduction, positive legacy, character strengths, mindfulness, mindful-based yoga, and a manifestation prayer journaling. The interventions presented are tools to support older adults that may experience depression, difficult life transitions, and the search for renewed meaning. Therapists who integrate PPIs and spirituality into therapy can promote a holistic, non-pathological approach to treatment.

In-Person And Virtual Adaptation Of An Interprofessional Palliative Care Communications Skills Training Course For Pediatric Oncology Clinicians, Karen Moody, Clark R. Andersen, Robert M. Arnold, Julie Bradley, Allie Carter, Lauren Draper, Timothy Garrington, Jonathan B. Gill, Douglas J. Harrison, Masanori Hayashi, Amy Heaton, Cynthia Holladay, Alex Lion, Alakh Rajan, Beatriz N. Rozo, Daniel V. Runco, Shermini Saini, Laura K. Salvador, Kathryn Sutton, Verna Ferguson

Advances in Cancer Education and Quality Improvement

Introduction

Empathic communication is crucial for clinicians when discussing palliative and end-of-life (PC/EOL) care with parents of children with cancer. Unfortunately, many parents report inadequate communication at these distressing times. This study evaluates the communication skills training (CST) clinicians received to deliver a PC/EOL communication intervention as part of a multi-site randomized-controlled trial (RCT). Training was provided using an in-person format and then adapted to a virtual platform to accommodate remote learners.

Methods

Clinicians were trained in dyads (one physician and one nurse [RN] or advanced practice provider [APP]) over 3 days (in-person or virtually). Four pediatric oncology cases were …

Increasing Serious Illness Conversations In Patients At High Risk Of One-Year Mortality Using Improvement Science: A Quality Improvement Study, Kanishk D. Sharma, Sandip A. Godambe, Prachi P. Chavan, Agatha Parks-Savage, Marissa Galicia-Castillo

Department of Family and Community Medicine Faculty Publications

Background: Serious illness conversation (SIC) in an important skillset for clinicians. A review of mortality meetings from an urban academic hospital highlighted the need for early engagement in SICs and advance care planning (ACP) to align medical treatments with patient-centered outcomes. The aim of this study was to increase SICs and their documentation in patients with low one-year survival probability identified by updated Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) scores. Methods: This was a quality improvement study with data collected pre- and post-intervention at a large urban level one trauma center in Virginia, which also serves as a primary teaching hospital to …

Transdisciplinary Collaboration Of Healthcare Professionals And The Emotional Connectedness With Working With Patients Coping With Death And Dying, Princess Nguyen, Lindsay Gietzen

Pacific Journal of Health

Abstract

Purpose: This study explores how an integrated approach to care for patients and families by transdisciplinary healthcare teams provides opportunities for a patient-centered care approach to support quality of life throughout one's chronic illness and at the end-of-life. Discussions and conversations about impending death or dying are often challenging and a complex task for healthcare professionals in whatever settings. While there is an understanding of aspects of collaborative care and transitions and processes to support patients and families about how to cope and communicate about death and dying, it is essential to recognize how best to support end-of-life care …

Providing End-Of-Life Counseling: A Narrative Inquiry, Carol Hecht, Sibyl West

Adultspan Journal

This qualitative study aimed to address the gap in the research related to end-of-life counseling by exploring the experiences of counselors working with clients at end of life. While counseling literature and education are lacking regarding end of life, many counselors will work alongside clients approaching death. The purpose of this study was twofold: (a) to better understand the nuanced experiences of counselors providing end-of-life counseling and (b) to explore the supports and preparations helpful for counselors to provide end-of-life counseling. A narrative approach, using the Listening Guide (Gilligan, 2015), was employed to analyze and present the stories of three …

Considerations Of Medicare Telehealth Services With Older Adults, Sonah Kho, Amanda Dediego

Adultspan Journal

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic set in motion a rapid expansion of mental health services offered via telehealth. With this rapid expansion came the need to examine how policy and practice should be shaped in a future where telehealth is considered common in counseling practice. For counselors to understand how to support older adult clients in using telehealth services, they must understand telehealth policy. Following the eligibility of licensed counselors to participate in Medicare, counselors need to stay abreast of regulatory changes regarding restrictions and regulations on use of telehealth for mental and behavioral health services, including video and …

Honoring Veterans’ Wishes: Efficacy Of An Evidence-Based Shared Decision-Making Tool In Va Icu Goals-Of-Care Discussions, Stephanie Alexander, Anna Astashchanka Md, Venktesh Ramnath Md

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Manuscripts

Abstract

Introduction: This Doctor of Nursing Practice project aimed to enhance the knowledge and confidence of the San Diego Veterans Health Administration’s (VASD) Intensive Care Unit (ICU) medical providers in goals-of-care discussions (GOCD). Additionally, this project aimed to improve the documentation of these discussions.

Background: Delays in GOCD can lead to futile medical and surgical interventions, inappropriate antibiotic use, and higher rates of mental health conditions in patients and their loved ones. Earlier GOCD are associated with lower ventilation and resuscitation rates, earlier hospice enrollment, reduced ICU admissions, lower financial costs, and better patient and caregiver quality of life. However, …

Emotion Regulation Strategies And Perceived Emotional Intelligence: The Effect Of Age., Iwanna Sepiadou

Adultspan Journal

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between perceived emotional intelligence and the reported use of cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression. We also investigated the possible effects of age on the aforementioned variables. The total sample consisted of 379 people (158 men, 220 women, 1 unreported). Across participants, 273 were young (20-39 years old) and 106 were middle-aged (40-65 years old). We found statistically significant positive correlations between the dimensions of perceived emotional intelligence and the reported use of cognitive reappraisal and negative primarily correlations between the dimensions of perceived emotional intelligence and the reported use of …

Mortality In Medicine, Maren Dougherty

Honors Projects

Practitioners in the medical field attend to health issues across one’s lifespan from birth to death and everything in between. A common conflict in today’s practice of medicine is establishing the true function of medicine. The complete reliance on medicine to ward off death proliferates the biomedicalization of natural life processes, like death. Biomedicalization is the process in which medical authority and its accompanying technology begin to control other aspects of daily life. With medicine’s ultimate goal being to cure disease and fight death, it interferes with the inevitability of human mortality. End-of-life treatment can be taken too far without …

The Unequal Distribution Of Social Risk For Black Men Across The Life-Span. A Novel Framework., Waleed Y. Sami

Adultspan Journal

This conceptual overview offers a comprehensive overview of systemic pathways that negatively impact the mental health of Black Men throughout their lives. Our argument highlights the importance for counselors and mental health professionals to utilize a thorough social risk assessment that considers these pathways in order to effectively address the mental health needs of Black Men while fostering positive working relationships. This overview strongly advocates for the use of context and structural determinants when evaluating mental health symptoms. Without an appropriate understanding of social risk and determinants, counselors may inadvertently perpetuate disparities by decontextualizing symptomology, and reproducing racist discourse.

Asking The Question ‘What Matters To You?’ In A London Intensive Care Unit, Harriet Pittaway, Laura White, Karen Turner, Angelique Mcgillivary

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Purpose: At the heart of the paradigm shift in approach to patient care from paternalism toward shared decision-making lies the international “What Matters To You?” (WMTY) movement. However, WMTY principles are not frequently applied to the critical care setting. The aim of this quality improvement project work was to design and integrate a tool for all patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) that helped answer WMTY.

Methods: Using Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) methodology across 8 cycles, a multidisciplinary team designed and integrated a bedside poster into the ICU. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected via a bedside audit process on …

Early Integration Of Palliative Care With Curative Oncology Treatment For Patients With Advanced Cancer: Implications For Clinical Nursing Practice, Rhea Rughani

Honors Projects

Palliative care, though clinically established to improve health-related quality of life measures for patients with advanced illness, remains underutilized and largely limited to end of life care. This project aims to inform oncology nursing practice through the analysis of literature supporting the early integration of palliative care with standard curative oncology treatment for patients with clinically advanced cancer. Informed by relevant research, clinical practice guidelines, and improved specialty palliative care training, oncology nurses and nurse practitioners are ideally situated to advocate for and initiate early palliative care integration, to holistically improve the standard approach to complex cancer care.

Improving Palliative Care Education In The Acute Hospital Setting, Maria Klug

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Project

As the geriatric population grows rapidly, the importance of utilizing and understanding palliative services continues to rise. Although palliative and hospice care are included in different healthcare courses, misconceptions and lack of knowledge continue to serve as barriers to the utilization of palliative care. The purpose was to assess knowledge, improve palliative care education, and increase understanding of the perspectives of the interdisciplinary team involved in acute patient care. The setting was the telemetry unit in a 300-bed acute care Kansas hospital. A mixed design was utilized with a goal of quality improvement in the use of palliative care. The …

Promotion Of Most Forms Through Education About Importance Of Advance Care Planning In Seriously Ill Patients, Nidhi More

DNP Projects

Abstract

Purpose: To establish the importance of early Advance Care Planning (ACP) and improve the utilization of Medical Orders for Scope of Treatment (MOST) forms in seriously ill patients by educating providers and nurses to identify patients who meet specified criteria. The goals of this intervention are reduction of readmissions and better quality of life for this patient population.

Methods: A quasi-experimental design was used for evaluation of an Educational intervention to promote MOST forms, Advance Directives (AD) and Palliative Care (PC) consults. A retrospective and prospective chart review was conducted to determine the number of patients who met criteria …

The Influence Of End Of Life Education On Stress, Anxiety, And Attitude Of The Healthcare Profession Student, Chiquesha Davis

DNP Final Reports

Providing comfort and support to the dying patient is a significant part of the dying process. When soothing a patient, who is dying, the goal is to prevent or relieve suffering as much as possible. Respecting the patient's health and quality of life goals and decisions is essential. Healthcare profession students can experience multiple levels of anxiety, stress, and a negative attitude while taking care of the dying patient. The implementation of a successful intervention is at the cornerstone of helping reduce stress, anxiety, and attitude change in healthcare profession students. The application can also have a positive impact on …

Evidence Doesn’T Change Prescribing Patterns…So What Does?, Ali Rida, Anthony Brooks

Clinical Research in Practice: The Journal of Team Hippocrates

The authors write in support of critical analysis of clinical research, as a corrective to the physician's urge to "do something" even when no evidence of benefit exists.

We Are The Medicine, Madalynn Wendland, Toni Speed

Interprofessional Education

We are all healers— to ourselves, each other and the world around us. Whether you are on the path of becoming a health professional, or have been in practice for a long time, this half-day workshop will help you to view healing from a holistic perspective that draws from the ancient traditions while respecting contemporary science.

Palliative Players: Project Development And Initial Implementation, Eliza Eager

Muskie School Capstones and Dissertations

The Palliative Players are screened and trained hospice volunteers who provide a low-cost, sustainable, role-playing resource for use teaching communication skills to healthcare workers who discuss serious illness with patients and their families. The Palliative Players project was conceived and developed in early 2017 by Dr. Lauren Michalakes, Medical Director of Palliative Care at Coastal Healthcare Alliance (CHA); Sarah Dwelley, RN; Flic Shooter, Director of Hospice Volunteers of Waldo County (HVOWC); and Eliza Eager, Project Coordinator; to provide believable, emotive simulated patients (SPs) for role-play in workshops teaching healthcare workers communication tools and skills for use in conversations with patients …

Physician Orders For Life-Sustaining Treatment (Polst) Utilization In A Skilled Nursing Facility: An Educational Quality Initiative, Ryan Hazley Bsn, Rn, Dnp Student, Karl Steinberg Md, Cmd, Joseph Burkard Dnsc, Crna

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Manuscripts

According to expert reports and recent research, frequent clinician-patient conversations about individual end-of-life preferences are necessary to avoid unwanted treatment and to ensure that desired treatments are received. The ongoing diffusion of Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) educational initiatives in skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) are vital to success of California’s POLST program, which is now recognized as only 1 of 3 mature POLST programs in the country. The purpose of this evidence-based practice project was to answer the question: Among staff in a skilled nursing facility, does implementing a formal POLST education program compared to current practice improve staff …