END OF LIFE CARE

Course overview

UNLIKE OTHER CONDITIONS AND LIFE EXPERIENCES, WHICH ONLY AFFECT A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OF THE WORLD’S POPULATION, THE END-OF-LIFE IS A STAGE IN THE PROCESS OF LIVING, WHICH ALL PEOPLE WILL EVENTUALLY FACE. IT IS ESTIMATED THERE ARE CURRENTLY TWENTY-MILLION PEOPLE WORLDWIDE WHO NEED SOME FORM OF END-OF-LIFE CARE. IN THE UNITED STATES, ON AVERAGE, SEVEN THOUSAND PEOPLE DIE EVERY DAY FROM VARIOUS ILLNESSES. AT SOME POINT IN THEIR CAREERS, ALL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS WHO PROVIDE DIRECT PATIENT CARE WILL MOST LIKELY ENCOUNTER AN ACTIVELY DYING PATIENT. THEREFORE, THEY MUST BE INFORMED OF THE ISSUES OF CONCERN AND THE CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS PROCESS. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE MANAGEMENT OF END-OF-LIFE ISSUES AND EXAMINES THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM'S ROLE IN EVALUATING, DIAGNOSING, AND MANAGING THE SITUATION.