Description
Social workers can play a significant role in providing compassion and advocacy to individuals and family systems as they collective attempt to navigate impossible end of life decisions. However, such meaningful contributions are dependent upon becoming versed with supporting family systems in crisis, in facilitating Advance Care Planning, and being attuned as to how the culture of care can and does impact families in crisis. Contributing environmental, psychological, and personal dimensions such as the impact of the hospital culture, the impact of severe stress, and the impact of faith, are often not considered when working with individuals and families during these critical moments. Families are often subject to the cumulative stress and coercion brought on by the flood and frequency of day-to-day decisions they must make as surrogate decision makers. Furthermore, social workers are not consistently prepared in educating patient decision makers and family members on the potential risks that may arise from continued heroic measures. Social workers will increasingly need to enhance their competencies in the aforementioned health care topics to ensure patient choice is honored, family and cultural values are recognized, and that families are provided with appropriate and timely information to create a customized care plan on behalf of their loved one.
Instructor
Lee Westgate, MSW, MBA, LCSW-C, LCSW (he/him/his) is a transgender advocate with extensive professional experience in social work policy, practice, research, and education. He has held numerous organizational leadership roles and has served as an educational consultant to a variety of associations and organizational clientele. He has worked as a medical social worker in oncology and critical care, and in integrated behavioral health settings. Mr. Westgate has participated in a CSWE-sponsored National Trauma Task Force workgroup that focused on the intersection of ethics and trauma-informed practice, and he was awarded an immersion fellowship through Boston University to study addiction and behavioral health. He has participated in AIDS Education and Training Center on behalf of the University of Maryland, School of Social Work since 2017 and has participated in the MidAtlantic AIDS Education and Training Workgroup on COVID and HIV. Mr. Westgate continues to serve as a Clinical Instructor at the University of Maryland, School of Social Work, and his scholarship includes integrated behavioral health, clinical work with LGBTQIA+ populations, working with individuals with chronic and life-threatening illness, healthcare policy, and health equity. As a faculty member, he has received numerous teaching awards, including the Energizer Award, the Camara Jones Faculty Award of 2022, the Innovation in Social Work Award of 2022, and the Exemplary Faculty Member of the Year Award, along with the Dean’s Teaching Award for several consecutive semesters. He has been published in The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare, The Social Worker, The Journal of Employee Assistance, Infusion Magazine, Provider Magazine, and Social Work Today.
Agenda & Learning Objectives
AGENDA:
12:50PM - 1:00PM Registration/Log On
1:00PM - 2:30PM
- Reflect upon concept and associations with “Death”
- Discuss social and cultural traditions as they relate to end of life and death
- Discuss the impact of cumulative stress on the decision-making process
- Case Study Part 1
- Discuss key bio-ethical principles as they relate to end-of-life conversations
2:30PM - 2:45PM Break
2:45PM - 4:15PM
- Case Study Part 2
- Discuss the role or advance care planning and advance care directives
- Explore strategies that assist with initiating and facilitating advance care planning
- Case Study Part 3
- Summary & Final Reflections
4:15PM Adjournment
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Upon the completion of this workshop, participants will be able to:
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Understand an individual's psychological status during a critical end of life discussions.
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Recognize the impact of cumulative stress as it pertains to their decision-making process.
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Assess individual and family health literacy and knowledge of "heroic measures.”
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Apply strategies to support and honor self-determination and autonomy throughout the provision of end-of-life care.
Bibliography & References
BIBLIOGRAPHY & REFERENCES
Burke, T. (2019). Exploring life history methodology in chronic illness: a study in Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis. Australian Journal of Advanced Nursing, 36(4), 45–52.
Centers for Disease Control. (2022). Chronic Diseases in America. Retrieved from: https://www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/resources/infographic/chronic-diseases.htm
Chehal, P. K., Selvin, E., DeVoe, J. E., Mangione, C. M., & Ali, M. K. (2022). Diabetes And The Fragmented State Of US Health Care And Policy. Health Affairs, 41(7), 939–946. https://doi-org.proxy-hs.researchport.umd.edu/10.1377/hlthaff.2022.00299
Howard, J. (2023). US spends most on health care but has worst health outcomes among high-income countries, new report finds. CNN. Retrieved from: https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/31/health/us-health-care-spending-global-perspective/index.html
Katharina Niedling, & Kerstin Hämel. (2023). Longing for normalcy in couple relationships: How chronic illness and care dependency change the relationship of long-married couples. Frontiers in Public Health, 11. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1117786
National Association of Social Workers (NASW). (2021). National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics. Retrieved from: https://www.socialworkers.org/About/Ethics/Code-of-Ethics/Code-of-Ethics-English
Varkey B. Principles of Clinical Ethics and Their Application to Practice. Med Princ Pract. 2021;30(1):17-28. doi: 10.1159/000509119. Epub 2020 Jun 4. PMID: 32498071; PMCID:PMC7923912.
Wellbery, C. (2004). Four Patterns of Dying Require Different End-of-Life Care. American Family Physician, 69(2), 402.
Target Audience
Social Workers, LCPCs, and Psychologists
We welcome anyone interested in the topic!
Late Fees and Refunds
The base price is $70, which includes CE credit.
Late Fee: On October 10, 2024, a non-refundable late fee of $20 is added to the base price. Late fees cannot be refunded or applied to account credit.
Cancellations: **ALL cancellations will be subjected to a $35.00 administration fee.** Cancellations must be received 24 hours in advance prior to the workshop to receive a refund or an account credit.
ADA Accommodations
If you are requesting ADA accommodations, please contact our office via email at least two weeks prior to the workshop date. Requests after that date may not be fulfilled.
Our email address is cpe@ssw.umaryland.edu.
