Training Course on Palliative Care and Hospice Administration

Module 1 – Foundations of Palliative Care and Hospice Philosophy
Subtopics & Theory:
Definition, principles, and goals of palliative and hospice care.
Differences between palliative care, hospice, and curative treatment.
Global standards and guidelines (WHO, National Hospice & Palliative Care Organization).
Ethical principles: autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice.
Practical Exercises:
Case discussion: differentiating palliative care vs. curative approaches.
Group activity: developing a patient-centered care philosophy statement.
Reflection: personal perspectives on end-of-life care.

Module 2 – Symptom Assessment and Management
Subtopics & Theory:
Pain assessment tools and multimodal pain management strategies.
Management of common symptoms: dyspnea, fatigue, nausea, delirium, constipation.
Non-pharmacological interventions and complementary therapies.
Documentation and monitoring of symptom progression.
Practical Exercises:
Workshop: developing individualized symptom management plans.
Role-play: conducting pain and symptom assessments.
Case studies: complex symptom management scenarios.

Module 3 – Psychosocial and Spiritual Support
Subtopics & Theory:
Emotional and psychological needs of patients and families.
Spiritual care and cultural sensitivity in end-of-life care.
Family counseling, bereavement support, and caregiver engagement.
Building resilience and preventing burnout among care providers.
Practical Exercises:
Role-play: delivering compassionate communication in difficult conversations.
Group discussion: developing family support interventions.
Simulation: integrating social work and chaplaincy into patient care planning.

Module 4 – Hospice Program Administration and Management
Subtopics & Theory:
Organizational structure of hospice programs.
Staffing, training, and team development for multidisciplinary care.
Resource management: budgeting, equipment, and facilities.
Policies, standard operating procedures, and compliance with regulations.
Practical Exercises:
Workshop: designing a hospice program with staffing, workflow, and budget allocation.
Case study: improving operational efficiency in a hospice unit.
Group activity: developing care pathways and SOPs.

Module 5 – Quality Assurance, Ethics, and Continuous Improvement
Subtopics & Theory:
Monitoring and evaluating quality of care: KPIs, patient satisfaction, outcomes.
Ethical dilemmas in palliative care: advance directives, do-not-resuscitate orders, withholding or withdrawing treatment.
Integrating evidence-based practice into hospice care.
Continuous improvement frameworks and accreditation standards.
Practical Exercises:
Capstone project: create a comprehensive quality improvement plan for a hospice program.
Peer review: evaluate and provide feedback on care plans.
Simulation: resolving an ethical dilemma with a multidisciplinary team