Education and Training
45 participants successfully participated in the IAPC’s ‘Certificate Course in the Physiotherapy – Palliative Care interface’ held on 15th June, 2024
45 very motivated individuals (Physiotherapists, Doctors and Nurses) from across India and beyond participated in the fifth batch of the IAPC’s ‘Certificate Course in the Physiotherapy – Palliative Care interface’, held on Saturday, 15th June, 2024.
The one-day certificate course aimed to not only enhance a physiotherapists’ understanding of how they can contribute towards the rendering of holistic palliative care, but also strived to educate the palliative care community on how physiotherapy can augment their patient care and symptom management.
The sessions were interactive as participants had the opportunity to engage with expert faculty and also with each other to have rich discussions.
While we received some excellent constructive feedback to further develop our course, we also received some positive feedback from our course participants as below:
“The course had good faculty with very nice teaching. The sessions were very knowledgeable.”
“The sessions were elaborate, clear and interactive.”
The IAPC thanks our Course Directors (Dr Kalapana Balakrishnan and Dr Sushma Bhatnagar), our Course Chairs (Dr Meenakshi VV and Dr Thendral Edwin), and each of our faculty for all their contribution and support towards this program. We also thank our course participants for their enthusiastic participation during the course.
Apply before 5 p.m. on 4th July, 2024, to participate in the IAPC’s ‘Certificate Course in Essentials in Palliative Care’
The last date to apply for the 9th online batch of the IAPC’s ‘Certificate Course in Essentials in Palliative Care (CCEPC)’ has been extended to 5 p.m. on Thursday, 4th July, 2024.
The IAPC’s CCEPC is a basic course in palliative care which is intended for doctors and nurses. The course aims to inculcate the principles of palliative care in every day practice for doctors and nurses to improve patient care through proper communication and effective management of difficult symptoms.
The IAPC’s CCEPC will be delivered in two parts: A mandatory theory ‘Part A’ component and a practical hands-on ‘Part B’ component (recommended but optional).
The theoretical ‘Part A’ component of the upcoming batch will be held as half day sessions over 3 weekends (Saturdays: 1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Sundays: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.) on 6th, 7th, 13th, 14th, 20th and 21st July, 2024. Select Clinical sessions will be held separately for Doctors and Nurses.
Click here for further information about the course and to submit e-applications.
Please note that Thursday, 4th July, 2024, is the last date to submit applications to participate in the program.
Applications invited for the APM’s course on ‘Advance Nursing Skills in Palliative Care’
Registrations are invited for the Academy of Palliative Medicine’s (APM) online batch of the ‘Advanced Nursing Skills in Palliative Care’.
The course aims to equip nurses with advanced nursing skills and impart knowledge in Palliative care by empowering them to assess patients’ needs and their symptoms comprehensively, to cultivate effective communication skills to facilitate compassionate and empathetic interactions with patients and their families, and to enhance critical thinking and problem-solving skills to effectively address complex situations and ethical dilemmas that may arise in palliative care.
The course will be provided via a blended course format which combines synchronous virtual sessions (to provide real-time interaction between expert faculty and participants for discussions and collaborative exercises) with asynchronous learning activities (self-paced study, with access to online resources, and submit assignments) which will be accessed on a learning management system.
16 virtual sessions will be presented over a period of nine months starting from Tuesday, 10thSeptember, 2024. Thereafter, sessions will be held twice a month between 6:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
Registered Nurses (BSc Nursing, MSc Nursing, GNM Nursing) are encouraged to apply for the course. Nurses working in Palliative Care Units will be given preference.
Please click here to register for the course. In case further information regarding this program is needed, please connect with the team at apm.iapc@gmail.com / +91 6361646682.
Apply before 15th July, 2024, to enrol for the ‘Children’s Palliative Care Leadership Program 2025’
Applications are invited for the ‘Children’s Palliative Care Leadership Program 2025’ offered jointly by the Sunflower Children’s Network and the Hyderabad Center for Palliative Care.
The one-year training and mentorship program aims to train and empower the next generation of leaders and champions in palliative care, by bringing together healthcare leaders from nursing, medicine and allied health fields in South and Southeast Asia. Additionally, the program aims to equip clinicians to lead and champion healthcare innovations for children with serious illnesses, focussing on palliative care.
Mid-career pediatric clinicians whose clinical work focuses on care for children with serious illnesses and palliative care, Clinicianswith knowledge, skills, and clinical experience in children’s palliative care, and Program Managers and Health Administrators working in palliative care are encouraged to apply for the program.
For further information and to apply for the program, please reach out to Ms Rizwana Hussain at programsprojectmanager@twoworldscancer.ca.
IPM and CMAI invite applications before 31st July, 2024, for their NFPM (2024-2025) and NFPN (2024-2025)
The Institute of Palliative Medicine (IPM) in collaboration with the Christian Medical Association of India (CMAI) is inviting applications for their 2024 – 2025 batch for their National Fellowship in Palliative Medicine (NFPM) and National Fellowship in Palliative Nursing (NFPN) course.
The NFPM aims to train doctors with the adequate knowledge and professional skills to render palliative care services, along with providing new insights and perspectives to positively influence their outlook towards the practice of Medicine. Those candidates with an MBBS / BDS degree which is recognized by the Medical Council of India/Dental Council of India and have completed 1-year internship are eligible to apply for the course.
The NFPN aims to train and sensitise nurses to create general awareness on Palliative Care. The programme will familiarize the candidates with the philosophy, principles and different models of delivery of palliative care, its relevance in our socio-cultural scenario, issues in communicating with patients and relatives, ethical and legal issues, symptom management and impart basic nursing skills relevant to people with incurable and chronic illnesses and issues related to death. Those candidates with a minimum qualification of General Nursing Midwifery (GNM) Diploma or BSc Nursing degree recognized by the Indian Nursing Council are eligible to apply for the course.
Please click here for further details about both these programs.
Don’t forget to submit applications before Monday, 31st July, 2024, to apply for these courses.
Applications invited for the ‘Skills in Neuropalliative Care’ program offered by KIPCER
Applications are invited for the Karunashraya Institute of Palliative Care Education and Research’s (KIPCER) course, ‘Skills in Neuropalliative Care’, scheduled to be held at Bangalore Hospice Trust – Karunashraya, on Saturday, 3rd August, 2024, and Sunday, 4th August, 2024.
Healthcare professionals interested in Neuropalliative care are invited to register for the two-day workshop which will be presented by expert faculty from both palliative care and neurology.
The 10-hour workshop will provide course participants with an immersive experience during the workshop in prognostication and communication skills in neurology palliative care.
The course aims to empower healthcare professionals with an understanding of neurologic illness, application of clinical ethics and skilled communication for shared decision making. The workshop is also designed to present participants with case scenarios and role plays in breaking bad news, serious illness communication, advance care planning, withholding / withdrawing life support and end of life care in acute and chronic neurologic conditions in adults and children. Each of these sessions began with a short presentation of the clinical details followed by an interactive discussion of prognostic and / or ethical issues and a role play by the attendees.
Please click here to register for the program. In case of any queries please write to kipcer@karunashraya.org.
‘Chai pe Charcha: What is a good death?’ conducted successfully on 8th June, 2024
The second edition of ‘Chai pe Charcha’ was conducted on Saturday, 8th June, 2024, on ‘What is good death’.
The thought provoking session was presented by Dr M R Rajagopal (Chairman Emeritus, Pallium India) and Ms Anusha (Caregiver).
23 individuals from across the country participated in the thought provoking webinar. The discussions revolved around a wide range of topics such as the Integration of palliative care in the ICU, The concept of quality of death index and India’s position in the same, how death, the once ‘natural aspect of life’ is now being viewed as a failure, the importance of understanding patient autonomy, the impact of do’s and don’ts shared by caregivers while the patient is in the ICU, the distress and burnout such experiences leave on the patient’s caretakers, a reality check of the inadequacy of pain relief at several hospitals in India etc.
The next session of Chai pe Charcha will focus on ‘Emotional distress and burnout in the caretaker’. Those interested to join the session can contact Dr Deshmukh at betsasha@gmail.com.
34 individuals participated in ‘Farishtey: Death Doula training program’ on 8th and 9th June, 2024
The third batch of ‘Farishtey: Death Doula Training Program’, jointly conducted by the Karunashraya Institute of Palliative Care Education and Research (KIPCER) and the International Death Doula Foundation (IDDF), was held at Bangalore Hospice Trust – Karunashraya, on Saturday, 8th June, 2024, and Sunday, 9th June, 2024.
The two-day program led by Dr Abhijit Dam (Founder and President, IDDF) and Mr Avtar Singh Cheema (Founder and Secretary, IDDF), was attended by 34 individuals from various walks of life from across the country.
The interactive and thought provoking sessions aimed to empower participants with the necessary knowledge and skills to facilitate them to offer meaningful support to patients and their caregivers, during the patient’s end of life. Over the two days, discussions revolved around introducing participants to the concept of Farishtey, ways of effective caregiving, how to work closely with patients and their families by understanding the last days of life, recognising the indicators of end of life and supporting the dying patient and the caregivers. Participants also had the opportunity to explore the concepts of total pain, bereavement and grief, spirituality and religiosity, the diverse beliefs surrounding death, dying, and the afterlife, etc.
The training ended with certificates being presented to course candidates and a sumptuous lunch.
Sparsh Hospice sensitises over 300 women to the concept of palliative care during a social event ‘Mokila Sareethon’ on 16th June 2024
Sparsh Hospice sensitises over 300 women to the concept of palliative care during a social event ‘Mokila Sareethon’ held at PG Hills in Hyderabad, on Sunday, 16th June, 2024.
The event ‘Mokila Sareethon’ was themed ‘The Power of Nari, Draped Her Sari’ in which women irrespective of age group participated in a 3K and 5K run to promote health, sustainability and community spirit.
On the occasion, Sparsh Hospice, participated at the event by setting up a stall to generate awareness about the concept of palliative care and hospice care among the participants. Visitors to the stall were not only sensitised to the basic concepts in palliative care, but were also sensitised about the importance and need of having palliative care services accessible within the community.
During the event at an appropriate time, Team Sparsh was also invited to address the gathering and present a two-minute talk to advocate for palliative care while highlighting the role of Sparsh Hospice in catering towards the needs of the suffering within the society.
Update from the APM’s lecture series
Report on activities in June 2024
June ushered in the ‘Academy of Palliative Medicine’s online Lecture Series 2’. The series kicked off with 3 fantastic lectures in the month. A total of 15 lectures focussing on ‘Psychosocial Issues in Palliative Medicine’ will be presented every monday morning between 6:30 a.m. and 7:30 a.m. during this series. These lectures will be delivered by Students of MD and DNB in Palliative Medicine from across the country and moderated by expert Faculty from across the country.
The first presentation in the new series was a riveting presentation on ‘Illness, Suffering and Psychological issues of dying’ presented by Dr Prashanth H and moderated by Dr Santosh K Chaturvedi. This was followed by a superb session on ‘Defense mechanisms and Coping Strategies’ presented by Dr Kesavaraj and moderated by Dr Seema Rao. The sessions for the month concluded with an excellent presentation on ‘Emotional experience of Pain’ presented by Dr Parvathy V and moderated by Dr Nandini Vallath.
There was no session presented on Monday, 17th June, 2024, due to festivities.
The IAPC thanks all our speakers and the moderators for sharing their time and expertise to enrich the knowledge of the palliative care’s community.
Sessions planned for July 2024
We invite you to join us for the lectures scheduled for July. Details as follows:
