Pilot Program Improves Palliative Care Training for Hematology/Oncology Fellows
Source: OncLive, December 2024
The director of the Hematology/Oncology Fellowship Training Program at Fox Chase Cancer Center discusses palliative care training for hematology/oncology fellows and highlights a pilot study aimed at improving this area of training.
Although palliative care is a crucial part of the journey of cancer care for a significant number of patients, current training within this area in hematology and oncology fellowship programs often falls short in equipping fellows to adequately provide this care, according to Jessica Bauman, MD. Thus, Bauman and her coinvestigators conducted a pilot educational study to test a longitudinal, integrated palliative care rotation that they hope could serve as a model for other institutions in the future.
“Patients with hematologic or oncologic diagnoses have considerable needs in terms of their supportive care, symptom management, and communication [with providers],” Bauman said. “It is recommended by the Accreditation Council for GraduateMedical Education [ACGME] that hematology/oncology fellows acquire basic palliative care skills, which include symptom management and communication, as well as end-of-life care. Due to the direct needs for patient care, it becomes particularly important for those who are training in hematology/ oncology to learn these skills.”