Palliative and hospice care can improve both the quality of care and quality of life for patients who are terminally ill and their families. Now the Senate has the decision to follow the U.S. House of Representatives, which has unanimously approved a bill that would help doctors and other healthcare professional elevate their skills in providing hospice and palliative care.
The H.R.1676 – Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act would also increase palliative care research and provide incentives to draw and qualify healthcare professional for the field; especially in regards to establishing “traineeships for individuals preparing for advanced education nursing degrees, social work degrees, or advanced degrees in physician assistant studies in palliative care”
With this bill the Public Health Service Act is to require the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to provide support for Palliative Care and Hospice Education Centers.
According to an excerpt from the bill:
- HHS may provide support to:
- Schools of Medicine
- Schools of Osteopathic Medicine
- Teaching hospitals
- Graduate medical education programs for training physicians who plan to teach palliative medicine.
- Palliative Medicine and Hospice Academic Career Awards for individuals to promote their career development.
HSS must also support entities that operate a Palliative Care and Hospice Education Center; (3) support advanced practice nurses, social workers, physician assistants, pharmacists, chaplains, or students of psychology pursuing an advanced degree in palliative care or related fields; and (4) award grants to schools of nursing, health care facilities, or programs leading to certification as a nurse assistant to train individuals in providing palliative care and the National Institutes of Health must expand national research programs in palliative care.
