Continuing Education: Hospice Social Work

This class will describe and help to define the role of the social worker in hospice care. We will explore the different settings where hospice care is provided; the importance of assisting patients, families, and interdisciplinary teams in clarifying and agreeing on goals of care at end of life; and possible means to achieve those goals in a collaborative modality. Prominent issues discussed will include advance care planning, family meetings, cultural awareness, and spirituality. We will discuss ethical issues as they arise in end-of-life goals of care and patient/family and interdisciplinary collaboration. We will also explore how death, dying, grief, and loss are infused throughout the work, as well as the importance of countertransference in working with death grief.

Completion of this class will result in the receipt of three continuing education hours.