“Palliative care” is the term used to talk about the comfort and support given to a person and their family when they have been diagnosed with an illness that will shorten their life. It includes the care that a person and their family receive at the end of life as well. People can benefit from palliative care at any time as it provides comfort and support at all stages of life-limiting illness.

As a paramedic, you have an important role in supporting people who are living with life-limiting illness and those at the end of life. To support high-quality care delivery, paramedics need to develop an understanding of the philosophy and practice of palliative care and the role that they have in providing palliative care.

Essential areas of focus include effective communication with patients and families, alongside an understanding of symptom management, legal and ethical concerns and the role of the broader healthcare team in providing palliative care.

When you have completed this module, you will be able to:

• Describe the palliative approach to care and outline important principles of providing holistic and inclusive palliative care
• Describe your role as a paramedic in providing care to people affected by life-limiting illness
• Effectively communicate with patients and their families regarding serious illness, goals of care, dying and death
• Describe ethical and legal considerations relating to palliative care in the context of paramedicine, including advance care planning, voluntary assisted dying, and other key aspects of end-of-life law in Australia
• Identify ways to recognise deterioration and dying and outline important aspects of end-of-life care
• Outline principles for managing symptoms associated with life-limiting illness and common emergency presentations
• Identify resources to support the paramedic workforce in providing care to people with life-limiting illness
• Identify ways to support people who are experiencing loss, grief and bereavement, and strategies for self-care.

Please note: This module is delivered via PCC4U and is housed on the PCC4U website. Once you enrol, you will be directed to the PCC4U website to complete the module.

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