Through the End of Life

Video of the March 25 presentation is available here.

Continuing education not available for video.

Dr. Ira Byock has been involved in hospice and palliative care since 1978. He is a Past President of the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine. He has authored numerous articles on the ethics and practice of hospice, palliative and end-of-life care. He has published two books- Dying Well, and The Four Things That Matter Most. He has presented for over ten years as a guest speaker to organizations worldwide.

Dr. Byock has been the recipient of the National Hospice Organization's Person of the Year, the National Coalition of Cancer Survivorship's Natalie Davis Spingarn Writers Award, the American College of CHEST Physicians Roger Bone Memorial Lecture Award and the Outstanding Colleague Award of the National Association of Catholic Chaplains. He has been a featured guest on numerous national television and radio programs, including NPR: All Things Considered and Fresh Air, ABC Nightline, CBS 60 Minutes and PBS The News Hour.

Giving and Getting "The Best Care Possible" Through the End of Life: Everybodywants "the best care possible" for their loved ones and themselves through the very end of life. Of course, this phrase means different things to different people. In addition to being consistent with professional standards, we strive to provide care that reflects the personal preferences of the seriously ill or injured people and their families. This requires access to a broad array of services and coordination between providers, patients and their loved ones. This presentation will explore the elements that must be in place - within health systems and within communities - and the key stakeholders who must regularly communicate and interact if we are to reliably provide "the best care possible."

Saying "The Four Things That Matter Most"

These eleven words carry core wisdom for living. For years I have taught these simple, yet profound statements to patients who were forced to confront life's end and learned their value from patients and families. But "the four things" apply at any time. They offer a powerful way for mending even our most troubled relationships and for nurturing our cherished connections to the people we love. Through stories and lecture we will explore the transformative potential of saying the four things.

Continuing Education Information

STATEMENT OF NEED: The Center for Medical Humanities & Ethics faculty and partners at the Ecumenical Center for Religion and Health and Methodist Healthcare Ministries created a committee that identified a need for an annual series on ethics across the lifespan. A needs assessment survey was conducted on March 30, 2009 where respondents identified ethics topics they would like to learn more about through this series. Of those surveyed, 95 percent reported a need for ethics education programming addressing end-of-life and hospice care.

PROGRAM GOAL: Nurses, physicians, social workers and chaplains will attend presentations and interactive workshops exploring the elements that must be in place within health systems and communities and the key stakeholders who must regularly communicate and interact if we are to reliably provide care that reflects the personal preferences of seriously ill or injured people and their families. Care providers will return to practice to integrate new information to enhance the end-of-life care.

TARGET AUDIENCE: This program is open to the public and addresses the educational need of physicians, nurses and social workers.

OBJECTIVES: Upon completion of Giving and Getting the "Best Possible Care" at the End of Life, the participant should be able to:

1. Explain the fundamental components of quality of clinical care: concordance with accepted professional standards of practice
2. Explain the fundamental components of quality of clinical care: concordance of care provided with patient values and preferences
3. Identify community-based quality improvement as a strategy for improving quality of life of community members during times of life-threatening illness and injury, dying, family caregiving and grief
4. Discuss dying as a critical time in the life of individuals and families

Upon completion of Saying "The Four Things That Matter Most," the participant should be able to:

5. Distinguish relationships that are "complete" from those that are ending
6. Explain the "emotional economics" of forgiveness
7. Discuss implementation of strategies of using "I statements" and "naming your feelings" in opening difficult subjects and ethical dilemmas in practice
8. Analyze non-verbal communicating and its role in the ethical treatment of patients and families at the end of life

Note: Continuing Education Credits avaliable for live presentation only.

CME: UT Health Science Center San Antonio School of Medicine designates this educational activity for a maximum of 3.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Creditsâ„¢ for the afternoon session and 2.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Creditsâ„¢ for the evening session.

Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

This session meets the Texas Medical Board criteria for formal Continuing Medical Education involving the study of medical ethics and/or professional responsibility.

CNE: The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio is an approved provider of continuing nursing education by the Texas Nurses Association, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation.

This activity provides 3.75 nursing contact hours for the afternoon session and 2.5 nursing contact hours for the evening session. Must attend 90% of the program and turn in an evaluation

CEU: The Ecumenical Center for Religion and Health is an approved provider of continuing education by the State of Texas for the following: LPC, LMFT, LSW, LCSW, LMSW and LCDC. This program offers up to 3.75 contact hours for the afternoon workshop and 2.5 continuing education units for the evening session.

FACULTY DISCLOSURES: The following persons were involved in educational content decisions as either planners or presenters and have no relevant financial relationships with commercial interests to disclose: Ruth Berggren, MD, Craig Klugman, PhD, Amanda Evrard, Stephanie McClain, Rev. George Joehnk, Rev. Paul Parks, Ira Byock, MD, and Rosalie Tierney-Gumaer.

Funding Provided By: