California State University Institute for Palliative Care Announces First Fully Online Self-Paced Business Case for Palliative Care Course

SAN DIEGO, Aug. 4, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- www.csupalliativecare.org. The Business Case for Palliative Care, starting August 18^th, is designed to orient clinical and administrative leaders to the critical concepts behind the business case for palliative care. The self-paced course introduces the analyses needed to assess the impact of existing programs while identifying growth opportunities for hospitals, clinics, and home-based palliative care providers. 

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140801/132754)
(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140801/132753)

The CSU Institute for Palliative Care's Executive Director, Helen McNeal, said, "A serious business evaluation of the benefits and challenges of a palliative care program will ultimately benefit the organization and those they serve. It is important that clinicians and administrators understand the financial analysis behind an effective palliative care program and how their program can demonstrate its value. This course is a great place to start."  

This unique, four-hour, self-paced course gives palliative care clinicians and administrators the information needed to understand how palliative care can change the way patients use health care, how those changes influence the cost of care, and what that means to the bottom line. Participants will also be introduced to the types of data and analyses that are available to demonstrate how palliative care programs are adding value for the organization, the patient and the patient's family.

The nationally recognized curriculum-development team includes:

Kathleen Kerr, BA: Ms. Kerr is a health care consultant with expertise in palliative care, quality improvement and program evaluation. Her particular area of interest is developing feasible, meaningful methods for assessing financial outcomes; with the goal of promoting the growth and sustainability of inpatient and community-based palliative care services.

J. Brian Cassel, PhD: Dr. Cassel is Assistant Professor in the division of Hematology/Oncology and Palliative Care, and Director of Analytic Services at Massey Cancer Center, at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA. His research interests include cancer informatics, and health services research on specialist palliative care services, specifically the costs and financing of cancer care and palliative care.

Michael W. Rabow, MD: Dr. Rabow is a Professor of Clinical Medicine in the Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, at the University of California, San Francisco, where he directs a leading outpatient palliative care co-management program-- the Symptom Management Service—at the UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center. He is a national expert in outpatient palliative care research and service delivery, and a nationally recognized educator and education researcher. 

Shelley R. Adler, PhD: Dr. Adler is a Professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine and the Osher Center for Integrative Medicine, where she serves as Director of Education and holds the Osher Foundation Endowed Chair in Education in Integrative Medicine.

WHO SHOULD TAKE THIS COURSE?

• Administrators considering developing new palliative care programs
• Anyone accountable for the financial success of palliative care services
• Palliative care professionals wanting to prepare for leadership roles
• Clinical and administrative leaders, including:
  • Hospice Directors
  • Home Care Agency Administrators
  • Palliative Care Directors
  • Chief Medical Officers
  • Chief Nursing Officers

Learn more.

About the CSU Institute for Palliative Care
The CSU Institute for Palliative Care is America's first statewide educational and workforce development initiative dedicated to palliative care. The Institute offers professional development and continuing education courses designed to enhance the skills of current and future health care professionals. It also delivers customized corporate education and community awareness programs designed to increase awareness of palliative care across California and around the nation. In addition to the hospice and palliative care programs offered, the Institute has made the eBook – Caregiver's Handbook available on its website at no charge.

Contact: Steve Dahl, CSU Institute for Palliative Care, Email, 760-750-7292

SOURCE CSU Institute for Palliative Care