Annual Lecture 2021 -Paramedicine: The evolving opportunity of palliative care paramedicine
Paramedicine has evolved over recent years and is building on its university education base and national health practitioner registration to provide care broadly across the community.
Paramedicine is increasingly active in primary and community health settings with programs supporting or providing palliative care in community being described across the national and international literature. This presentation describes the evolution of paramedicine in the Australian context and focus on the provision of palliative and end of life care by paramedics.
Hot Topics in Palliative Care Webinars - 2021
October 2021 - In Sunset's Glow - Life, Death and the Older Person
A misperception common to both palliative care and the care of older people is that our work is all about dying.
This talk by Dr Lisa Mitchell dwells firstly in that intersection, addressing questions about where, why and how older people die and the role that recognition of dying and Advance Care Planning have to play. We examine the findings of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety and how ageism impacts on provision of care (including palliative care) for older people. Ending on a lighter note, we look at some of the interesting work that is emerging in Geroscience and how we can reimagine ageing in ourselves and others.
August 2021 - Providing palliative care in prisons
Providing optimal palliative and end-of-life care for people in prison with advanced disease is a growing challenge globally.
This presentation by Professor Jennifer Philip and Dr Stacey Panozzo will reflect on the complexities and constraints of providing care for people in prison with life limiting illness and explore opportunities to improve models of care for those dying in custody.
June 2021 - Management of NIV in MND & elective withdrawal of ventilation
Motor Neurone Disease (MND) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease affecting some 2000 Australians. Average life expectancy from symptom onset is around 30 months. Patients show different clinical phenotypes and rates of progression. Death usually results from ventilatory failure secondary to progressive respiratory muscle weakness and can be complicated by aspiration and respiratory infection. Offering respiratory support through non-invasive assisted ventilation (NIV) is considered best practice and can improve quality of life, symptoms and survival in selected patients. Patients usually begin using NIV overnight to improve sleep and daytime wellbeing. Over time, most will use it increasingly across the day, with some becoming NIV dependent. Some patients who are dependent on NIV may ask that it be stopped. This is their right. It is not assisted suicide or assisted dying, it is withdrawal of medical treatment. Withdrawal of ventilation needs to be thought through and carefully discussed and planned to ensure that the patient is comfortable throughout the process and both staff and family/carers are supported. This presentation gives the opportunity to hear from and ask questions of specialists in Neurology, Respiratory Medicine and Palliative Medicine about the management of NIV in MND and elective withdrawal of ventilation.