Transitions in Care from Survivorship to Hospice

Stanford University via Coursera

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/transitions-in-care-from-survivorship-to-hospice

Introduction

### Course Review: Transitions in Care from Survivorship to Hospice **Overview** "Transitions in Care from Survivorship to Hospice" is an essential course available on Coursera that serves as the third installment in the Palliative Care Always specialization. Designed for healthcare professionals seeking to deepen their understanding of palliative care, this course builds upon the foundational skills established in previous courses, particularly in symptom management. It delves into the nuanced transitions patients experience from survivorship to hospice care, equipping learners with the communication, psychosocial support, and symptom management skills necessary to effectively assist patients through these critical changes in their care journey. **Course Structure and Content** The course is well-structured, beginning with an introduction that outlines its aims and the expected learning outcomes. The initial module serves as a refresher for concepts learned in the "Essentials of Palliative Care" and "Symptom Management in Palliative Care" courses. For those who have already mastered these topics, the option to skip the review videos is a thoughtful touch. The following modules explore various aspects of care transitions: 1. **Survivorship**: This segment emphasizes that survivorship can vary significantly depending on the nature of the serious illness. It discusses the various definitions of survivorship, particularly in the context of oncology and chronic diseases, and introduces the concept of creating survivorship care plans to better support patients. 2. **Spiritual Care**: Understanding that serious illnesses often come with emotional and spiritual challenges, this module educates participants on identifying spiritual distress and the role spirituality plays in coping. It integrates the importance of a holistic approach to patient care, emphasizing the impact of spiritual well-being on overall comfort and anxiety reduction. 3. **Hospice Care**: The transition to hospice is a delicate topic, and this module addresses it with sensitivity. Learners are guided on how to recognize when hospice care becomes appropriate, along with strategies for discussing this transition with patients and families. A unique component is the virtual hospice home visit, lending real-world context to the learning experience. 4. **Final Steps**: The concluding module ensures that participants reflect on their learning and engage with peer-reviewed projects, reinforcing the collaborative aspect of healthcare. **Personal Experience and Outcomes** Having completed the course, I can personally attest to its value for anyone working in palliative care. The content is thoughtfully designed and packed with practical insights that are immediately applicable in a clinical setting. The blend of theoretical knowledge and case studies, such as the Sarah case study, enriches the learning experience and prepares participants to handle real-life scenarios with compassion and professionalism. **Recommendation** I highly recommend "Transitions in Care from Survivorship to Hospice" to healthcare professionals at all levels, including nurses, social workers, and doctors involved in palliative care. The course’s emphasis on communication and psychosocial support is crucial for fostering meaningful interactions with patients facing serious illnesses. Furthermore, the attention to spiritual care adds a vital dimension to the support offered by healthcare teams. Whether you are looking to refine your existing skills or expand your knowledge in palliative care, this course will certainly benefit both you and your patients. It is an investment in your professional development that ultimately leads to enhanced quality of care for those navigating the challenging transitions between survivorship and hospice.

Syllabus

Course Introduction and Overview

Welcome to Transitions in Care from Survivorship to Hospice, the third course in the Palliative Care Always specialization. This course focuses on the major changes that occur during the care continuum and how these changes impact the patient. This module will provide you with information on the course structure and first steps.

Review of Palliative Care

This module reviews the concepts learned in the Essentials of Palliative Care course and a brief summary of the symptoms covered in the Symptom Management in Palliative Care course. We realize that some learners are interested in only completing specific courses while others are moving through the entire specialization. Therefore the following videos are meant as a review for those who have not completed the other courses. You are not required to watch these videos if you feel you have a strong handle on the material. You can check your knowledge with the ungraded quiz in the next section and review the summary videos if necessary. Also contained in this module are the Sarah case study videos from Essentials of Palliative Care for those who want to review her story. Check your knowledge with the ungraded quiz in the next section and review the summary videos, if necessary. Also contained in this module are the Sarah case study videos from Essentials of Palliative Care and Symptom Management in Palliative Care for those who want to review her story.

Survivorship

Survivorship can be different depending on the type of serious illness the patient experiences. Patients define survivorship in a variety of ways – some define themselves as survivors when in remission, while other define survivorship as living each day fully while battling disease.Survivorship is most commonly discussed in the cancer setting as patients can be considered survivors during remission. In this module we will discuss survivorship in an oncology setting and a chronic disease setting such as liver disease.

Spiritual Care

Families experiencing a serious illness deal with pervasive physical, emotional, and spiritual distress. Spiritual concerns and emotional concerns are very much intertwined. Studies show that patients rely on spirituality to cope and find strength; positive religious coping is associated with improved comfort, increased self-esteem, and decreased anxiety. When people experience spiritual distress, the loss of this coping mechanism can compound negative effects of illness and increase suffering. Increasingly, spiritual care professionals such as chaplains work as part of healthcare teams to support the spiritual needs of families. Still, all members of the care team can gain the skills to identify and respond to spiritual distress. This module explores spirituality, spiritual distress, and how to leverage hope and forgiveness to bring comfort to patients and families.

Hospice Care

Now we will take a look at death as a part of life. Palliative care, as we have learned throughout this course, is rooted in supporting optimal quality of life throughout the care continuum. While end-of-life is but one phase of this experience, hospice care is an invaluable tool to help patients and families live and die with dignity and comfort. During this module, you will learn more about identifying when a transition to hospice is warranted and tips for discussing the transition to hospice care. You will learn more about how the hospice team supports patients and families at end-of-life and experience a hospice home visit with Dr. Ellen Brown.

Final Steps

Congratulations on completing the course content. You have a few more step to complete the course. First review your reflection, next complete a peer-reviewed course project and then take the final exam. We hope you have enjoyed the course and look forward to seeing you in other classes!