Heart of Hospice partners in groundbreaking Hospice and Palliative Care Medicine Fellowship in Louisiana

NEW ORLEANS - July 1, 2019 - PRLog -- Heart of Hospice is partnering in a Hospice and Palliative Care Fellowship with University Medical Center, Tulane University and Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System. The fellowship is the first of its kind in Louisiana and is the product of a long-imagined dream to combat a shortage of certified palliative care and hospice physicians.

A recent Duke University research study led by Dr. Arif Kamal, oncologist and palliative medicine specialist, uncovered that without policy change to increase fellowship positions and reduce burnout, there will be a devastating shortage of palliative care physicians over the next 25 years. Additionally, all four statistical models of the study predict a record low number of practicing palliative care physicians in 2033. Currently, only 55.8% of hospitals in Louisiana have a palliative care team. The lack of palliative care resources creates a barrier to residents with serious illnesses receiving care, particularly in rural areas.

Dr. Marcia Glass, Associate Professor of Internal Medicine at Tulane University, shares: "We are so excited for this first class of palliative-care fellows in the state of Louisiana and for our ongoing clinical and academic partnership with Heart of Hospice."

The fellowship provides medical students with the opportunity to attain hospice and palliative care certification during their educational career. The fellowship curriculum will generate expertise in hospice and palliative medicine by requiring hands-on participation in daily care team operations of Heart of Hospice. The core curriculum will teach the hospice benefit, involve participation in interdisciplinary care team meetings and require students to lead patient visits.

Carla Davis, Chief Executive Officer of Heart of Hospice and National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization Board Member, shared: "It is an honor to help pioneer this fellowship in conjunction with University Medical Center, Tulane University and Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System. As the population of Medicare eligible patients grows, it is vital that we are proactive in fostering a better understanding of the hospice benefit. Partnering to combat future hospice and palliative care physician shortages will allow us to ensure patients and families can access the care they need and deserve."

The first class of fellows will begin on July 1.