Hospice and Palliative Care

This class will introduce you to the similarities and differences between hospice and palliative care including the criteria for acceptance, how hospice and palliative care are paid for, and the goals of each. A brief history of hospice in the United States and worldwide will be covered as well as the current state of hospice and palliative care. The role of each of the interdisciplinary hospice and palliative care team members will be described as well as how these team members interact compared with traditional medical care. The differences between non-profit and for-profit hospices will be explored. Commonly asked questions as well as myths and truths about hospice and palliative care will be revealed. The class will also touch on some of the end-of-life ethics that are facing hospices today.