Palliative
Hospice and Palliative Medicine TRAC
Palliative medicine is an additional layer of support for patients with a serious illness and can assist with symptom management and ensuring the patient’s goals remain at the center of each decision.
While Family Medicine (FM) focuses on continuity of care and building relationships for patients in all settings, palliative medicine is currently underutilized particularly when needed to make life changing medical decisions.
The role of this specialty is to explore the patient’s desires and ensure that the current treatment plan is the best way for them to achieve their goals. The preexisting relationship of a primary care physician and their patient lends itself to level of trust that allows the family physician effectively guide discussions regarding their care.
Residents participating in the track are not required to apply for Fellowship but can use this time to prepare if interested. The skills acquired on this track will benefit all patients by ensuring that the medical care aligns with their goals no matter the setting.
TRAC opportunities
- Electives focus on experiencing all aspects of the specialty – inpatient, outpatient, hospice, shadowing hospice and palliative trained RNs/SWs/chaplains.
- Flexibility: can easily individualize track to focus on areas of interest within the specialty
- Additional opportunities for more hospice, inpatient, and outpatient palliative experiences outside of electives and required 2 week rotation during intern year.
- Clinical mentoring by family physicians who board certified in Hospice and Palliative Medicine, and Geriatric Medicine.
- Academic Faculty Development: assist in palliative presentations to residents.
- Dedicated time monthly to work on items related to the TRAC: didactics, clinical, presentations, scholarly activities.
- Supplemental funding for TRAC related activities (e.g. CME, AAHPM conference, professional membership dues) at discretion of TRAC Director and program leadership.
