Palliative Care: It's Not Just Hospice Anymore Specialization

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• Can I just enroll in a single course?

  Yes! To get started, click the course card that interests you and enroll. You can enroll and complete the course to earn a shareable certificate, or you can audit it to view the course materials for free. When you subscribe to a course that is part of a Specialization, you’re automatically subscribed to the full Specialization. Visit your learner dashboard to track your progress.

• Is financial aid available?

  Yes, Coursera provides financial aid to learners who cannot afford the fee. Apply for it by clicking on the Financial Aid link beneath the "Enroll" button on the left. You'll be prompted to complete an application and will be notified if you are approved. You'll need to complete this step for each course in the Specialization, including the Capstone Project. Learn more.

• Can I take the course for free?

  When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free. If you cannot afford the fee, you can apply for financial aid.

• Is this course really 100% online? Do I need to attend any classes in person?

  This course is completely online, so there’s no need to show up to a classroom in person. You can access your lectures, readings and assignments anytime and anywhere via the web or your mobile device.

• What is the Coursera Palliative Care Specialization: Palliative Care: It’s not Just Hospice Anymore?

  What is the significance of saying, “It’s not Just Hospice Anymore” In hospice care, we learned that hospice can provide support and symptom relief to people living with serious and life-limiting illness. We also learned the important lesson that the earlier support the better the result! Ideally, by providing palliative care from the time of diagnosis we can improve patient and family quality of life. And now, studies show this that palliative care provided earlier, can and does, improve overall survival rates. In this course, you will learn more about palliative care and be able to apply this knowledge gained in the course to your work or in your life, now. This course has been developed by the Coursera Palliative Care Team. Members of this team come from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, and teach such courses as the Interprofessional Graduated Palliative Care Certificate Program and Interprofessional Master of Science in Palliative Care Degree Program.

  You can make a difference in someone’s life today!

• What types of courses are in the Coursera Palliative Care Specialization: Palliative Care: It’s not Just Hospice Anymore?

  There are five courses. The first course introduces you to the basic palliative care principles, helps you understand suffering and to improve your communication skills with patients and families.

  Then you can take each of three courses that focus on Easing Pain, Easing Physical Symptoms and Easing Psychological, Spiritual, and Social Distress.

  The fifth course is a series of Capstone Projects that allow you to practice what you have been learning in the other four courses.In order to earn the Coursera Palliative Care Specialization Certificate in Palliative Care you will need to complete these projects.

• I am a patient or I am a family member caring for someone living with serious illness. Should I take this course?

  Yes! This course could help you come up with better plans and ways to live well with serious or life-limiting illness. Also, this course can help you look for new sources of support and give you the language you need to help your healthcare team understand you and how you are feeling. This course offers you the opportunity to learn how to and ask for the kinds of support and services that you need.

• Can I just enroll in a single course? I am not interested in the entire Specialization?

  Absolutely. You can take any of the courses that you are interested in. You can take these courses in the order that best meets your needs. We do recommend that you consider taking the Introduction to Palliative Care Course first since the communication skills training will help you be successful in the rest of the course.

• How long does it take to complete the Specialization?

  You may work at your own speed but each course has four-five modules and each module takes about 3 hours to complete. If you take one module a week you can do most courses in a month and complete all five courses in four to five months.

• What is a Capstone project?

  In this Capstone Project Course you will complete five real world projects that will help you use the knowledge and skills you have been working on in this specialization. Each capstone project will take about an hour. The projects include using the “Nature of Suffering Evaluation Form” to talk with someone you know about their experiences with serious illness. Another involves completing a pain and non-pain symptom assessment and another project requires counseling someone about Advance Care Planning options. All of the tools you need for success are provided in the course. You should consider completing the Capstone Projects associated with the course you are working on while things are fresh. For example you could do the Pain Assessment Capstone project as soon as you compete the Easing Pain course. This is just a suggestion, as you can also work on the capstone projects after you complete the first four courses.

• Will I earn university credit for completing the Specialization?

  No, but if you want to learn more about Palliative Care and become Palliative Care Community Specialist visit www.ucdenver.edu/MSPC.

  Here you can learn about the Interprofessional Palliative Care Certificate and Master of Science in Palliative Care Programs. These are mostly on-line programs with three long weekend on-campus intensives that concentrate on Communications Skills. Prospective students can demonstrate their interest and skill by successfully completing the Coursera Specialization and this will be a consideration during the application process.

• I live outside the United States-can the Coursera Palliative Care Specialization be helpful for me?

  Absolutely. We have worked to make this Coursera Specialization culturally aware. You can learn basic palliative care skills that can be used in settings around the world. We look forward to learning from you how we can make this program better.

  The Palliative Care programs at the University of Colorado - Anschutz Medical Campus described in the previous FAQ above are open to International Students.

• What background knowledge is necessary?

  This is basic or primary palliative care. No special training or background knowledge is needed. Join with us now.

• How often is each course in the Specialization offered?

  You can start anytime. If you need to take a break you can always come back and finish.

• I am a healthcare provider. Can I use this course for continuing education credits (CNE)?

  Yes! We have arranged for continuing nursing education (CNE) credit to be available for the first four courses. The University of Colorado College of Nursing at the Anschutz Medical Campus is the CNE provider.

  The University of Colorado College of Nursing is an approved provider of continuing nursing education by the Colorado Nurses Association, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.

  Criteria for successful completion: Completion of a course along with quiz and evaluation as required.

  Conflicts of interest: This educational activity does not include any content that relates to the products and/or services of a commercial interest that would create a conflict of interest.

  Commercial support: There is no commercial support being received for this event.

  Origination date:  October 1, 2018.

  Expiration date: Updates and/or revisions will be completed every two years and as needed. 

• How many CNE hours can I earn?

  The following number of CNE Contact Hours are based on courses completed:

  Course 1 - What is Palliative Care?: Introduction, Communications. Approved for 18 CNE contact hours.

  Course 2 - Pain Management: Easing Pain in Palliative Care. Approved for 15 CNE contact hours.

  Course 3 - Easing Physical Symptoms: It’s Not Just Hospice Anymore. Approved for 15 CNE contact hours.

  Course 4 - Psychosocial and Spiritual Aspects of Palliative Care. Approved for 15 CNE contact hours.

  Completing all four courses Palliative Care: It’s Not Just Hospice Anymore make you eligible to receive a total of 63 contact hours.

  After you successfully complete the courses, register and submit your Coursera Certificates and $15 to https://cucon.regfox.com/pcmooc You will be awarded the CNE. Note: You may submit all of your certificates for each course at the same time and the fee is only $15. If you submit each certificate separately as you complete them there is a $15 charge each time. We know that other providers such as Physician Assistants (PAs), pharmacists, social workers, spiritual care providers, and others may want CE. Often these CNE can be used for a portion of your required continuing education credits. Check with your appropriate professional certifying organization.

• What will I be able to do upon completing the Specialization?

  You will be able to integrate primary palliative care skills and practice into your work as a healthcare provider. For instance, nurses and physicians and others, would be able to use what they learned to help ease pain and other physical symptoms. Also you should talk with your employer about your studies and share with them in your success. Most healthcare systems don’t have enough trained palliative care providers. You can be a resource to your patients, colleagues, healthcare system and community. Thank you for considering palliative care.

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