Grand Junction, CO — More than 150 regional healthcare professionals will be attending a Palliative Medicine Conference, the third of its kind, hosted in Grand Junction, Colorado and featuring internationally-renown palliative medicine pioneers.
The conference will be held on November 9 at the DoubleTree by Hilton on 743 Horizon Drive from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The intent of the conference is to enhance knowledge of treating patients for pain and symptom management across all disciplines of healthcare. More than 20 regional healthcare organizations have come together to sponsor this educational opportunity for local healthcare professionals and due to their generosity the conference is free to attend.
Engaging presentations will be given by Dr. Charles F. von Gunten, Vice President of Medical Affairs and Hospice & Palliative Medicine and Dr. Frank Ferris, Executive Director of Palliative Medicine, Research & Education both of Ohio Health in Columbus, Ohio.
Building on content they have delivered in two prior conferences, Dr. von Gunten and Dr. Ferris will be covering the following points at the upcoming conference:
- Opioid pharmaceutics, changing opioids and changing routes of administration
- Advance care planning: how to have the conversation, compare & contrast different forms
- Physiology of normal bowel function and ways to treat constipation and bowel obstruction
- Distinguish Anorexia from cachexia and identify treatments
- Therapeutic wound care and managing wound pain
- “It’s the patient’s choice – what does this mean?” ethical practice standards
Palliative care is specialized medical care for people with serious illnesses. It focuses on providing patients with relief from the symptoms and stress of a serious illness. The goal is to improve quality of life for both the patient and the family.
“Not only do palliative practices increase the quality of care for individuals receiving medical services, it also reduces the costs of providing care,” said Darleen White, Vice President of Medical Services and Palliative Care at HopeWest. “This is a tremendous opportunity for local healthcare professionals to receive expert training in a location close to home. We have spearheaded the collaborative effort to bring these experts to western Colorado because we know enhancing knowledge on palliative care will benefit the individuals receiving care and healthcare organizations alike.”
Presentations will also be given from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in Placerville, Colorado on Thursday, November 10 at the Old School House on Front Street, as well as, in Montrose, Colorado on Friday, November 11 at Montrose Memorial Hospital on 800 S. Third St.
The following organizations, led by HopeWest, partnered to bring this training to the Grand Valley:
- Colorado Mesa University
- Community Hospital
- COPIC Medical Foundation
- Delta County Memorial Hospital
- Hartman’s Oxygen & Medical Supply
- Hilltop
- Home Care of the Grand Valley
- Family Health West
- Medline Industries
- Mesa County Physicians IPA
- Montrose Memorial Hospital
- Mountain Aire Medical Supply
- Phoenix Home Care
- Primary Care Partners
- One Point Pharmacy
- Rocky Mountain Health Plans
- Senior CommUnity Care PACE
- St. Mary’s Hospital & Regional Medical Center
- Tri-County Health Network
- Volunteers of America
- Western Colorado Area Health Education Center