Educational Material Details

Return to Starter Kits

Title: Ready or Not: An Introduction to End of Life Care

Author(s): Quest Communications; Pierre Valette (Ed); Bill Jersey (Ed)

This video documents a group of first-year Harvard Medical students enrolled in a course on Living with Life-Threatening Illness. During the course the students follow a patient with a serious disease as the patient undergoes treatments and the ups and downs that come with a life-threatening illness.

Through this chronicle, the video presents a model of teaching students about end-of-life care, and can be used as a stimulus for reflection on the issues that students confront in learning how to deal with death, dying, and loss, along with the strategies for supporting them in this transformation. The videotape follows the students longitudinally over their experiences with their patients and allows a unique perspective. Reviewers wrote, "... very well done and a beautiful tribute to the lives of the people that students interacted with".

ALSO reviewed was Ready or Not: A Study Guide for Medical School Faculty -- An instructional aid that complements the video written by Anna L. Romer, EdD, and Mildred Z. Solomon, EdD and is available through the Center for Applied Ethics and Professional Practice, Education Development Center, Inc.

The guide outlines for medical educators how they might use the video, both to enhance students' comfort and skill caring for dying patients and, more generally, to enhance their ability to forge meaningful relationships with patients. The guide details several areas for reflection and discussion including activities such as:

• "Writing Personal Reactions Privately"
• "Talking Points for Small Group Discussion" (a series of trigger discussion points which are directly tied to issues identified in the video)
• "Reading What Others Have to Say" (a set of references for further topic exploration)
• " Hotlinks to Other Relevant Resources" (a brief list of useful websites).

Finally, the guide also offers the medical educator practical tips on leading these kinds of discussions.

READY OR NOT: A Study Guide for Medical School Faculty available at:
http://www.edc.org/Innovations/ReadyorNot/

ORDER THE VIDEO from Aquarius Health Care Videos:
http://www.aquariusproductions.com
5 Powderhouse Lane
PO Box 1159
Sherborn, MA 01770
Phone: (508) 651-2923

Creation Date: 6/2001

Format: Self-Study Guide Book, Video tapes

Purpose: Teaching, Triggers to Self Reflection

Audience(s)

ACGME Competencies: Interpersonal and Communication Skills, Patient Care

Keyword(s): Giving bad news, Personal reflection, Quality of life