Neuropalliative care (NPC) is a field of medicine focused on improving quality of life for persons living with serious life-limiting neurological conditions and their care partners through an interdisciplinary approach. Though the field of palliative care is traditionally associated with the oncologic realm, there has been increasing recognition of the unique palliative care needs conferred by non-cancer diagnoses, including neurological conditions. The provision of NPC can start at the time of diagnosis and continue through the end of life and beyond. Physicians and health care professionals from many specialties care for persons living with serious neurological illnesses, including, but not limited to, neurology, neurosurgery, palliative care, geriatrics, physical medicine and rehabilitation, internal medicine, intensive care, and pediatrics. Basic NPC is provided by ALL clinicians and healthcare professionals who care for people living with these conditions, while palliative care specialists provide important expertise as needs become more complex. In this way, all providers can benefit from specific NPC training to enhance their ability to face the challenges they are already confronting in their day-to-day practice.
These courses will provide a comprehensive neuropalliative skill set that will enhance participants’ approach to people living with serious neurological conditions. These courses are unique because they recognize that we learn best when we learn together and bring together physicians from multiple specialties into a shared environment in order to foster collaboration and networking across disciplines. Participants will have the opportunity to learn from leaders in the emerging field of NPC, in both didactic and interactive formats. In addition, upon completion of each course, participants will receive a certificate jointly conferred from the International Neuropalliative Care Society, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal and Karunashraya, Bangalore Hospice Trust.
These courses are presently offered to all physicians who provide care to pediatric and adult persons living with serious life-limiting neurological illness. Physician specialists may include neurologists, neurosurgeons, palliative care providers, geriatricians, physiatrists, internists, intensivists, and pediatricians. Although this year’s content was specifically designed for a physician audience, we invite nurses and advanced practice providers (nurse practitioners, physician assistants) to apply as well. In future years, we hope to expand our content to make it more relevant for healthcare professionals from additional disciplines, including pharmacists, psychologists, chaplains, and social workers
We anticipate participants will spend an average of 2-3 hours per week on course work, including self-study, interactive sessions, and group assignments. Additionally, attendance at the one-day in-person meeting on Thursday, February 9, 2023 in Bengaluru, India is required (see above).
Upon passing each course (four attempts permitted), you will receive a certificate jointly conferred from the International Neuropalliative Care Society, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal and Karunashraya, Bangalore Hospice Trust. The greatest reward for your efforts, however, will be the improvement you will see in your approach to the care of persons living with serious life-limiting neurological conditions and their care partners.
It is our privilege to be invited to support individuals through their illness journeys, and our responsibility to hone our neuropalliative skillset so that we are up to the task.
This course is a paradigm shift in the viewing of neurology palliative care as a gift instead of seeing it as giving up. It will increase awareness about the issues and explore the potential to change the way patients experience the journey with chronic neurological illness.
Our patients need all of us, from all professional streams, to work together on their problems. To do that, we need to learn together.
It is our hope that these courses ultimately raise the standards of care for people living with neurologic illness, as well as enrich your professional work with meaning and connection.
According to the WHO, the availability of education and training is a central measure of palliative care status worldwide. I work on enabling access to education in this area. I hope that all healthcare and allied professionals learn how to provide high-quality care and give meaning to health-related suffering.
We cannot change the outcome,but we can affect the journey.
Pain is inevitable, but suffering is optional. This course will equip clinicians with the skill sets needed to ease the health related suffering of patients with chronic neurological illness and their families.
Opportunity in every Challenge and every Crisis.