Hospice & Palliative Care

Speaker: Mara Lugassy, MD
Palliative Medicine Section Chief
Westchester Medical Center
Assistant Clinical Professor
New York Medical College

Purpose: Disorders of consciousness, such as coma, vegetative state, and minimally conscious state present a unique challenge for the palliative care team, given the often sudden and unexpected onset, the uncertainties of prognosis, and the profound barriers to patient communication. The aim of this webinar is to provide the necessary knowledge base and skills to the interdisciplinary palliative care team to better support patients, families, and other caregivers who are facing these conditions.

Objectives:  

1. Differentiate between coma, vegetative state, and minimally conscious state
2. Review prognostic indicators for patients in coma and other disorders of consciousness
3. Identify strategies to address common family and caregiver questions and concerns, including communication and pain management

Continuing Education Credits: 1.0

Continuing Education Accreditation

Physicians: The AAFP has reviewed MJHS Institute for Innovation in Palliative Care 2023-2024 Interprofessional Webinar Series On-Demand, and deemed it acceptable for AAFP credit. Term of approval is from 11/16/2023 to 11/14/2024. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. This session Palliative Care in Coma and Disorders of Consciousness is approved for 1.0 enduring AAFP Elective credit.
Note: Physicians should contact their respective licensing boards and specialty certification boards about acceptance of AAFP Elective credits when attempting to satisfy CME credit requirements.

Nurses: The MJHS Institute for Innovation in Palliative Care is approved as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the Northeast Multistate Division Education Unit, an accredited approver of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.

Social Workers: MJHS Institute for Innovation in Palliative Care is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0242.

Fees: Free (includes CME/CE certificate)

Release Date: April 18, 2024

Expiration Date: April 17, 2025 (for physicians and non-physicians); February 1, 2025 (for nurses); January 31, 2025 (for NYS Social Workers)

Disclosures:

Mara Lugassy, MD, has no financial arrangements or affiliations with any commercial entities whose products, research, or services may be discussed in these materials. Any discussion of investigational or unlabeled uses of a product will be identified.

No Planning Committee Member has any disclosures.

Planning Committee Members
Myra Glajchen, DSW
Kerrianne P. Page, MD, HMDC
Joyce Palmieri, MS, RN, CHPN
Karen Richards, PhD, EdS

Funding Disclosure: No commercial funding has been accepted for the activity.

Location: Online at https://www.mjhspalliativeinstitute.org/e-learning/