Santa Clara University

CPSY x430

Description

As end-of-life care enters what many are calling its “second wave,” hospice and palliative care services in the United Sates continue to expand, bringing better quality of life at the end of life to increasing numbers of persons facing life transitions and their families. Patients and families are achieving the kinds of outcomes they say matter most—better symptom management, clearer communication about the patient’s condition, greater sensitivity to spiritual and cultural issues, and control over the site of death. Despite this progress, many challenges remain: hospice reaches only half the people it could serve in the United States; many countries have no palliative care at all; minority populations continue to be underserved; and shockingly negative outcomes continue to be suffered by persons not receiving specialized end-of-life care.

This conference brings together leading experts to examine the current state of end-of-life care and to offer a vision for improving it locally, nationally, and internationally. Conference attendees and participating organizations will be a second faculty for the conference as they network and share innovative ideas and services already contributing to enhancing care at the end of life.

Sponsored by: Hospice of the Valley and Santa Clara University

6 hours of Continuing Education Units will be available to physicians, nurses, social workers, psychologists, and marriage and family therapists.

Featured Faculty

Thursday, March 26, 2009 (Reception and Program)

Dave B. Feldman, PhD and Andrew Lasher, MD, Unexpected Opportunities: How Some Patients and Families Discover Love, Humor, and Hope at the End of Life

Friday, March 27, 2009

Frank Ostaseski, Founder, Zen Hospice and the Metta Institute, Keynote Speaker

Dale G. Larson, PhD, Moderator

David B. Feldman, PhD, From Cure to Quality of Life: The Shifting Nature of Hope at the End of Life

James Hallenbeck, MD, When does dying begin?

John Golenski, EdD, The Ethics and Practical Issues of Physician-Assisted Suicide

Monique Kuo, MD, Medical Director, Hospice of the Valley

Stephen O’Connor, PhD, Where Have We Been? Where Are We Going? Understanding Trends and Their Implications for Hospice and Palliative Care

Learning Objectives:
At the conclusion of this conference, participants will better understand the following:

• Understand how much hospice and palliative care is currently being provided in the US and around the world as well as how quality palliative care is being measured.

• Understand the influences upon end of life choices across the lifespan.

• Understand that the human condition encompasses universal elements of experience that co-exist with the uniqueness of each person and rich diversity of individual characteristics.

• Understand that patients' world views, their explanatory model for illness and patterns of decision making are greatly influenced by their cultural background.

• Identify key external and internal stressors that affect professionals working in end-of-life care.

• Identify factors affecting healthcare for chronic and terminal illness.

6 hours of Continuing Education Units will be available to physicians, nurses, social workers, psychologists, and marriage and family therapists.

To register for the conference, visit http://compassioninaction.eventbrite.com/. For questions email request@hospicevalley.org or call Ana Hays at 408.559.5600.

Hospice of the Valley Gratefully Acknowledges the Sponsors Who Generously Supported This Event:

Platinum Level Sponsors: Alameda Family Funeral & Cremation, Inc.

Silver Level Sponsors: Mission Hospice, Pathways Home Health Hospice & Private Duty, Vitas, Wyeth

Bronze Level Sponsors: California Hospice Foundation, Hospice of Santa Cruz

Hospice of the Valley
http://www.hospicevalley.org/