Physician Assistant Certificate in Palliative and Serious Illness Care

Physician assistants are trusted clinicians who provide compassionate, multifaceted care to patients and families at every stage of health, including serious illness. Delivering care focused on addressing the physical and psychosocial symptoms of advanced illness requires a deeper level of training.

This 12-week course prepares physician assistants in any practice setting to deliver high-quality care to seriously ill patients. You’ll master evidence-based skills and strategies essential in primary palliative care, including communication, advance care planning, prognostication, pain and symptom management, psychosocial-spiritual aspects of care, and more.

• Identify patients who need and could benefit from palliative care
• Communicate with seriously ill patients about their disease trajectory, using prognostication tools and resources
• Assess and treat the most common physical symptoms of serious disease, including pain and nausea
• Identify spiritual and psychosocial distress and connect patients with community resources
• Recognize cultural differences and practice radical respect when treating patients with serious illness
• Integrate palliative care services into a primary care practice
• Establish billing processes and performance measures for palliative care services
• Use self-care strategies to build resilience and avoid burnout

• This activity has been reviewed by the AAPA Review Panel and is compliant with AAPA CME Criteria. This activity is designated for 72.5 AAPA Category 1 CME credits. PAs should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation. Approval is valid from 5/6/2021 to 8/12/2021. AAPA reference number: CME-202685.
• The Doctors Company designates this activity for a maximum of 72.5 AMA PRA Category 1.0 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of The Doctors Company and the CSU Shiley Institute for Palliative Care. The Doctors Company is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Physician assistants working with seriously ill patients in primary care practices, clinics, acute-care settings, home care or palliative care programs, and other settings

To complete this course and obtain a certificate, you must attend live Grand Rounds virtual sessions, score at least 80% on posttests, participate in online forum discussions, and complete the evaluation. No refunds are given after course start date.