Respect My Wishes
Information and resource guide for Grand Island, Nebraska

Online CMEs

• eEPEC – This is the electronic version of the Education for Physicians on End-of-life Care (EPEC) Project which was developed with funding by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and is sponsored by the Northwestern University School of Medicine. The American College of Chest Physicians converted the curriculum to an online format, allowing doctors from any discipline to earn up to 14 credit hours for the program. Until December 31, 2004, this program will be available for free.
  
• "New Models - New Markets"– Earn CEU and CME credits with this CD of the Promoting Excellence in End-of-Life Care presentation exploring successful approaches and replicable models for improved delivery of care. Find this and other educational opportunities by searching the Marketplace and Education sections of the NHPCO website (National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization).
  
• Masters of Science in Nursing. Long known for its pioneering work in end of life care, George Washington University is now offering a Masters of Science degree in Clinical Leadership and an MSN degree for nurses, both with an end of life specialty. Class are completed online so busy professionals can continue working while they complete their advanced education. 

 
Online, Peer-reviewed articles

• UniPac CME series is a six booklet self-study package available from the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine.  Topics include assessment and treatment of pain, ethics, communication, and alleviating psychological and spiritual pain,  with special modules on HIV/AIDs and pedicatric palliative care.  Up to 48 CMEs are available through this self study series.
  
• End of Life Palliative Education and Resource Center (EPERC). This website serves as the online clearinghouse for the University of Wisconsin Medical School’s project to support physician educators. Particularly useful are its succinct, “Fast Fact” articles. It does require registration to enter the Fast Fact section of the site, but there is no charge to register. 
  
• The Stanford Faculty Development Center provides a free Internet version of the End of Life Care curriculum they have prepared. Included are Power Point presentations, integrated teacher’s notes, HTML tutorials, and an online handbook.
  
• Improving Care for the End of Life: A sourcebook for health care manager and clinicians. Developed by Dr. Joanne Lynn of the Center for Palliative Care Studies, this book is fully downloadable from the Internet. It covers a range of topics for setting up a palliative care program, including interventions that address physical, emotional and spiritual concerns at the end of life.
  
• Innovations in End of Life Care (web journal) Archives available for free. Robert Wood Johnson funded publication. Themes include: Communication; Specific Diseases; Loss/Bereavement;  Measuring Quality; Palliative Care Services; Pediatric Palliative Care; Pain Relief and Training.

 
Palliative Care Training

• The University of Nebraska has a grant to put on the AMA’s EPEC seminars (Education for Physicians on End of Life Care) in various locations throughout the state. To find out more, please contact Deanna Bartek, Project Coordinator (402) 559-4410,  dmbartek@unmc.edu.
  
• Education for Physicians on End of Life Care (EPEC) – Developed by the AMA and now sponsored by Northwestern University Medical School, this project involves core curriculae covering fundamental skills in communication, ethical decision making, palliative care, psychosocial considerations, and pain and symptom management. The participant’s handbook includes 16 downloadable .pdf modules.
  
• End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium (ELNEC) This initiative is funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation with the goal of developing a coordinating nursing education around palliative care and end of life issues. They offer conferences and seminars throughout the country.
  
• American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine In addition to conferences and the publication of the Journal of Palliative Medicine, the Academy Bookstore offers a 6-booklet UNIPAC palliative care self-study kit that can earn you up to 48 CMEs.
  
• Aid in Dying Communication Project This organization helps physicians and other health care professionals cope with requests from patients desiring assisted suicide. In addition to a comprehensive set of training articles, the ADC Project also offers consultations, training seminars and presentations. By improving communication skills and their awareness of relevant ethical and psychosocial issues clinicians can better: explore motives underlying requests for hastened death; uncover currently unresolved medical needs; ensure ethical and compassionate care for their patients; understand their own feelings about these issues; and assist patients in making responsible decisions.

• American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine. Publisher of the Journal of Palliative Medicine, the AAHPM also offers an annual conference and sells a study guide for Board certification in Palliative Care. In addition, the online bookstore carries a Pocket Guide to Hospice and Palliative Care, a guide book for hospice medical directors, and a 6-booklet UNIPAC palliative care self-study kit that offers up to 48 CMEs.
  
• Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association. The purpose of this organization is to exchange information, experiences, and ideas. They have a bookstore filled with core curriculae, competencies and study guides for generalist hospice nurses, palliative care nurses  and palliative care  nursing assistants. Also has a “Pain control advocacy toolkit” with strategies and talking points to help galvanize community support for better pain management policies.
  
• Center for the Advancement of Palliative Care. (CAPC) This Robert Wood Johnson initiative is dedicated to assisting hospitals and other health care institutions in setting up palliative care programs. Among other things, they publish a comprehensive  Guide to Building a Hospital-Based Palliative Care Program, present training seminars and coordinate site visits to any of 6 palliative care programs throughout the country. They emphasize hospital-hospice partnerships, Palliative Care programs in the ICU, and the integration of palliative care into long-term care facilities. Check out their extensive bibliographies for each of these care settings.

Palliative Care Guidelines

• Precepts of Palliative Care. This two page summary was assembled by Last Acts, a Robert Wood Johnson campaign to improve end of life care through a coalition of professional and consumer organizations. The document addresses issues around patient goals, preferences and choices; comprehensive caring; using interdisciplinary resources; the needs and concerns of caregivers; and systemwide mechanisms of support.
  
• Clinical Practice Guidelines for Quality Palliative Care. Explore or download part or all of the 65 page booklet created by the National Consensus Project for Quality Palliative Care, an interdisciplinary consortium comprised of a representatives from a wide range of professions and settings. Guidelines address 8 domains: structure and processes; physical aspects of care; psychological and psychiatric aspects; social aspects; spiritual/religious/existential aspects; cultural aspects; ethical legal aspects; and care of the imminently dying patient.
  
• Precepts of Palliative Care for Children, Adolescents and Their Families. This two-page summary addresses the problems of seriously ill children and their families, with particular attention paid to the ways that care is different from that needed by adults. This policy paper was assembled by LastActs,  a Robert Wood Johnson campaign to improve end of life care throughout the country.

Please Note: Grand Island Coalition for End of Life Care does not specifically endorse these resources, but offers them as a sample of the kinds of materials and services that are available.