title: Educational program in palliative and hospice care at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The objective of this enterprise was and is to develop a validatable educational program on palliative and hospice care with a multidisciplinary perspective for the University of Maryland School of Medicine.
  
  
  METHODS
  An interdisciplinary education committee consisting of experts in palliative and hospice care and an expert in educational design and evaluation was established to develop the program. Program development, which is ongoing, includes a comprehensive instructional design phase, vertical integration of the program into the medical school curriculum, and outcome evaluation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The instructional design phase has been accomplished; hence, the focus of this paper is on this aspect of program development. In addition, some integration of specific content areas into the medical school curriculum has been implemented.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  When complete, the program will focus on developing skills and knowledge using a variety of interactive educational modalities, including problem-based learning, case study discussions, role playing, and practical experience at hospice and palliative care sites. Topics to be covered are symptom control, the compassionate approach to patient care, communication between physicians and patients or family members, professional collaboration on a multidisciplinary palliative care team, ethical and legal issues pertaining to end-of-life care, and the value of palliative medicine as a profession.
authors.affiliation: Health Sciences Library, University of Maryland at Baltimore, USA.
authors.forename: R R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Grauel
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Eger
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Finley
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hawtin
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Keay
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: O'Brien
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pickens
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Schnapper
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Timmel
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: O'Mara
authors.forename: D D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Ross
mesh_terms: D003479:Curriculum; D004501:Education, Medical; D017051:Hospice Care; D006801:Humans; D008396:Maryland; D010166:Palliative Care; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012577:Schools, Medical; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods