(HS McPherson 078900 2024) Pain and Non-Pain Symptom Management in Serious Illness: Steps for Drug Therapy Selection

Course overview

Patients living with a serious illness commonly experience pain and non-pain symptoms. Mary Lynn McPherson, PharmD, PhD, BCPS, FAAHPM, will use a critical thinking process to illustrate the steps in drug therapy selection. Steps include identifying and assessing the problem (including multidimensional assessment and determination of the pathogenesis of symptom report), defining the therapeutic objective and relevant monitoring parameters, considerations in choosing the optimal medication(s), a monitoring plan for possible toxicity, and how to monitor and take action based on the patient's response to the recommended drug therapy. In addition to pain management, you will discuss nausea and vomiting, anxiety, depression, dyspnea and constipation. Elevate your skills to both assess and manage common physical symptoms in serious illness including pain, and common non-pain symptoms.