Hospice: Understanding and Optimizing Comfort Care
Target Audience: Pharmacist
Course Overview
Hospice care today is largely a government healthcare system. Patients who meet specific criteria are eligible for this benefit. Hospice care is not a new concept, but the philosophy behind this type of care is changing. Hospice care is also advancing with new technologies. This course will examine the history of hospice care, the distinction between hospice care and palliative care, the current state of hospice care in the United States, the pharmacy team interface, advancements in care, and the technologies now used or being considered in hospice care.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this educational activity, participants should be able to:
- Understand the definition of palliative care and hospice care
- Identify the basic services of hospice care
- Describe Inter-professional Collaborative Approach to providing hospice care
- Identify medications provided in a hospice patient Comfort Care kit
Faculty
I. History of Hospice
II. Current State of Hospice Care
III. Hospice Covered Services
IV. Inter-professional Collaborative Approach to Hospice Care
V. Comfort Care Kits
VI. Educational Pearls and Resources for Hospice Care
VII. Summary
From July 22, 2023 through July 22, 2026, participants must:
- Read the "learning objectives" and "author and planning team disclosures"
- Study the section entitled "educational activity"
- Complete the Course Test and Evaluation form. The Course Test will be graded automatically. Following successful completion of the Course Test with a score of 70% or higher, a statement of participation will be made available immediately. (No partial credit will be given.)
Credit for this course will be automatically uploaded to CPE Monitor®.
Faculty Planner Disclosure
The following individuals were involved in developing this activity: Pamela Sardo, PharmD, BS. Pamela Sardo, PharmD, BS, was an employee of Rhythm Pharmaceuticals until March 2022 and has no conflicts of interest or relationships regarding the subject matter discussed. There are no financial relationships relevant to this activity to report or disclose by any of the individuals involved in the development of this activity.
Unlabeled Use Disclosure
The information provided in this course is general in nature and it is solely designed to provide participants with continuing education credit(s). This course and materials are not meant to substitute for the independent, professional judgment of any participant regarding that participant’s professional practice, including but not limited to patient assessment, diagnosis, treatment and/or health management. Medical and pharmacy practices, rules, and laws vary from state to state, and this course does not cover the laws of each state; therefore, participants must consult the laws of their state as they relate to their professional practice. Healthcare professionals, including pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, must consult with their employer, healthcare facility, hospital, or other organization, for guidelines, protocols, and procedures they are to follow. The information provided in this course does not replace those guidelines, protocols, and procedures but is for academic purposes only, and this course’s limited purpose is for the completion of continuing education credits. Participants are advised and acknowledge that information related to medications, their administration, dosing, contraindications, adverse reactions, interactions, warnings, precautions, or accepted uses are constantly changing, and any person taking this course understands that such person must make an independent review of medication information prior to any patient assessment, diagnosis, treatment and/or health management. Any discussion of off-label use of any medication, device, or procedure is informational only and such uses are not endorsed hereby. Nothing contained in this course represents the opinions, views, judgments, or conclusions of RxCe.com LLC. RxCe.com LLC is not liable or responsible to any person for any inaccuracy, error, or omission with respect to this course, or course material.
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Accreditation
In support of improving patient care, RxCE.com is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.