Stacie Levine1, Sean O'Mahony2, Aliza Baron3, Aziz Ansari4, Catherine Deamant5, Joel Frader6, Ileana Leyva7, Michael Marschke8, Michael Preodor9. 1. University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA. Electronic address: slevine@medicine.bsd.uchicago.edu. 2. Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois, USA. 3. University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA. 4. Loyola University, Maywood, Illinois, USA. 5. JourneyCare, Barrington, Illinois, USA. 6. Lurie Children's Hospital, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA. 7. Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital, Winfield, Illinois, USA. 8. NorthShore University HealthSystem, Evanston, Illinois, USA. 9. Advocate Medical Group, Park Ridge, Illinois, USA.
Abstract
CONTEXT: The rapid increase in demand for palliative care (PC) services has led to concerns regarding workforce shortages and threats to the resiliency of PC teams. OBJECTIVES: To describe the development, implementation, and evaluation of a regional interdisciplinary training program in PC. METHODS: Thirty nurse and physician fellows representing 22 health systems across the Chicago region participated in a two-year PC training program. The curriculum was delivered through multiple conferences, self-directed e-learning, and individualized mentoring by expert local faculty (mentors). Fellows shadowed mentors' clinical practices and received guidance on designing, implementing, and evaluating a practice improvement project to address gaps in PC at their institutions. RESULTS: Enduring, interdisciplinary relationships were built at all levels across health care organizations. Fellows made significant increases in knowledge and self-reported confidence in adult and pediatric PC and program development skills and frequency performing these skills. Fellows and mentors reported high satisfaction with the educational program. CONCLUSION: This interdisciplinary PC training model addressed local workforce issues by increasing the number of clinicians capable of providing PC. Unique features include individualized longitudinal mentoring, interdisciplinary education, on-site project implementation, and local network building. Future research will address the impact of the addition of social work and chaplain trainees to the program.
CONTEXT: The rapid increase in demand for palliative care (PC) services has led to concerns regarding workforce shortages and threats to the resiliency of PC teams. OBJECTIVES: To describe the development, implementation, and evaluation of a regional interdisciplinary training program in PC. METHODS: Thirty nurse and physician fellows representing 22 health systems across the Chicago region participated in a two-year PC training program. The curriculum was delivered through multiple conferences, self-directed e-learning, and individualized mentoring by expert local faculty (mentors). Fellows shadowed mentors' clinical practices and received guidance on designing, implementing, and evaluating a practice improvement project to address gaps in PC at their institutions. RESULTS: Enduring, interdisciplinary relationships were built at all levels across health care organizations. Fellows made significant increases in knowledge and self-reported confidence in adult and pediatric PC and program development skills and frequency performing these skills. Fellows and mentors reported high satisfaction with the educational program. CONCLUSION: This interdisciplinary PC training model addressed local workforce issues by increasing the number of clinicians capable of providing PC. Unique features include individualized longitudinal mentoring, interdisciplinary education, on-site project implementation, and local network building. Future research will address the impact of the addition of social work and chaplain trainees to the program.
Authors: Gerd Ahlström; Per Nilsen; Eva Benzein; Lina Behm; Birgitta Wallerstedt; Magnus Persson; Anna Sandgren Journal: BMC Palliat Care Date: 2018-03-22 Impact factor: 3.234