David Browning, MSW, BCD
Center for Applied Ethics & Professional Practice, Newton, MA 
Featured Speaker for
2008 Social Workers Course

Promoting Excellence in Pain  Management & Palliative Care for Social Workers Course
Recognized for “Innovation and Quality in Healthcare and Aging” 
from the American Society on Aging

The third annual Promoting Excellence in Pain Management & Palliative Care for Social Workers course will be held in Pasadena on August 7 & 8, 2008.  This successful award-winning national educational program is designed to enhance the core skills necessary for social work profes-sionals to address the multi dimen-sional  aspects of patient and family suffering. Studies have  documented that too few social workers, including oncology social workers, have been adequately trained in the fields of pain management and palliative care. A recent review of prominent social work textbooks revealed that less than 3% of content addresses the unique needs in end-of-life care, with even less devoted to pain and symptom management. The program goal is to improve social work skills in pain management and palliative care that supports a collaborative team approach. 

Evaluations from the first two courses were extremely positive.  Participants appreciated course content designed specifically for social workers.  Ninety-two percent (92%) responded that they would be interested in attending this course in the future. The course offers 11 contact hours. Objectives include: 

• Understanding the critical role of social workers in pain management and palliative care with patients across the lifespan.

• Identifying key aspects of quality pain and symptom management.

• The importance of a comprehensive biopsychosocial-spiritual assessment.

• Identifying interventions appropriate to use in the
  palliative care setting.

• Explore various advocacy strategies to promote
  excellence in pain management and palliative care.

Participant comments from previous courses:

"Offers social workers unique information on pain management, our role in assessment and intervention in
plan of care.”

“A "Absolutely, I’m looking forward to next year; very valuable    
or   information.” 

This course fills quickly. Registration information. 

The Healthcare and Aging Network (HAN) of the American Society on Aging (ASA), in collaboration with Pfizer Medical Humanities Initiative, will hold its ninth annual Healthcare and Aging Awards recognizing outstanding programs and services in healthcare and aging.

SCCPI’s educational program, Promoting Excellence In Pain Management and  Palliative Care for Social Workers, under the leadership of Shirley Otis Green, MSW, LCSW, Senior Research Specialist at City of Hope is one of six nationally  selected recipients of the HAN Award for “Innovation and Quality in Healthcare and Aging 2008” from the American Society on Aging. SCCPI Board Co-Chair Sharon Lucas, LCSW, of Compassionate Care Consulting, Inc. has also been a key organizer of this program.

The awards are given to organizations that have demonstrated high-quality, innovative programs that enhance the health-related quality of life in older adults. Although the risk of disease and disability clearly increases with advancing age, poor health is not an inevitable consequence of aging. Proven effective strategies to prevent chronic disease, disability and functional decline exist, but they have not been widely used. These include models that integrate care and take a holistic approach to the health of the older person. ASA and Pfizer recognize outstanding intervention programs developed in recent years to improve the health and healthcare of the aging.

The awards will be presented on Saturday March 29, 2008, at the Aging in America Conference, March 26-30, 2008 in Washington, DC. The committee noted that the Promoting Excellence in Pain Management & Palliative Care for Social Workers Course was innovative with significant impact in our community. Plan now to attend this nationally recognized course for social work, August 7 & 8, 2008 in Pasadena, CA. Program and registration information.