HPNA Co-Hosts 2024 Team Conference for Hospice and Palliative Care
The Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association (HPNA) co-hosted the Team Conference for Hospice and Palliative Care on Saturday, September 28 in Baltimore, Maryland. The event was hosted by six organizations: HPNA, The Association of Professional Chaplains, The Physician Associates in Hospice and Palliative Medicine, The Social Work Hospice and Palliative Care Network, The Society of Pain and Palliative Care Pharmacists, and Transforming Chaplaincy.
The event kicked off with an enlightening opening session presented by Christopher Kerr, MD, PhD, the Chief Medical Officer and Chief Executive Officer at Hospice & Palliative Care Buffalo. Dr. Kerr presented on his experiences with patients experiencing dreams and visions at the end of life. Using sample videos of patients and families describing these powerful experienc
es, Dr. Kerr presented published research from studies conducted and documented by the Hospice Buffalo research team.
Additional sessions focused on the Disability Distress Assessment Tool (DisDAT), grief and bereavement, opioid use disorder, addressing depression in hospice, bereaved parents’ health outcomes, and more.
Educational content at the event was curated by a committee, including Joan G. Carpenter, PhD, CRNP, ACHPN®, FPCN; Heather Coats, PhD, APRN-BC, FAAN, FPCN; Danielle Doberman, MD, MPH; Paul Galchutt, MPH, MDiv, BCC; Jeffery Garland, DMin, EdS, BCC-PCHAC; Justin Kullgren, PharmD; Emma Laws, M.Ed.; Chris Onderdonk, MSW, LCSW, AHPSW-C; Diane Scheuring, MBA, CAE, CVA, CMP; Jeanine Smith, MS, PA-C; and Brandon Varilek, PhD, RN, CCTC, CNE, CHPN®.
“Working collaboratively is essential to the level of care we provide to our patients and their families,” said HPNA President Lynn Reinke, PhD, ANP-BC, FAAN, FPCN, ATS
F. “This event was an opportunity to have all members of the interprofessional team in one room, learning from one another. Our committee, made up of individuals from the co-host organizations, did an excellent job selecting purposeful education that every attendee would benefit from.”
Attendees also benefited from giveaways and other offerings from six exhibitors and sponsors. A local company, Pets on Wheels, was also on-site, and surprised attendees with several therapy dogs during the lunch break.
Virtual attendees were able to livestream and participate in several sessions. The full conference is now available in the HPNA Learning Center for purchase through November 15, 2024. Learners have until November 29, 2024, to view the sessions and complete evaluations to receive continuing education credit.