2024 Next-Level Perinatal Palliative Care
LIVE Training Course

September 18, 2024 - September 20, 2024
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM (EST)


The 2024 Next-Level Perinatal Palliative Care Training Course will include information about the successful experiences of the Neonatal Comfort Care Program in providing perinatal palliative care for over a decade at Columbia University Irving Medical Center (CUIMC). Moreover, the course faculty will discuss evidence-based rationale, practical aspects and strategies for implementing and applying aspects of perinatal palliative care to provide safe and up-to-date obstetric care, support for families and achieve a state of comfort for newborns with life-limiting conditions.

This Training Course is designed for the entire perinatal team: physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and other allied health professionals practicing in the perinatal arena (obstetrics and neonatology) interested in implementing and/or improving the practice Perinatal Palliative Care, both nationally and internationally.

Statement of Need

Perinatal detection of congenital anomalies leads to the identification of infants who are affected by life-limiting conditions with a short life expectancy. Perinatal palliative care offers a plan for improving quality of life of the infant and the family, when extending the baby’s life is no longer the goal of care. The evidence base for perinatal palliative care continues to grow. However, there is no consensus about best clinical practice in managing pregnancy and delivery of women who elect to continue their pregnancies, and promoting support for the family and comfort for the neonate. Pregnancy and delivery management, and support for the family are achieved through appropriate obstetric care, pre- and postnatal consults, shared decision-making, and advance care planning. A state of comfort for the neonate is achieved when relational basic needs such as bonding, maintenance of body temperature, relief of hunger/thirst, and alleviation of pain/discomfort are met.

To address this growing need to support families or the comfort of the neonate, an interdisciplinary team developed a 3-day intensive training, which will include information about the successful experiences of the Neonatal Comfort Care Program in providing perinatal palliative care for over a decade at Columbia University Irving Medical Center.

Moreover, the course faculty will discuss evidence-based rationale, practical aspects and strategies to provide support for families and achieve a state of comfort for newborns with life-limiting conditions.

Educational Objectives

Upon conclusion of this activity, participants will be better able to:
1. Become familiar with the essential elements of perinatal palliative consult.
2. Adequately perform perinatal palliative consult.
3. Identify families’ needs and apply strategies to successfully achieve support when they have a newborn with a life-limiting condition.
4. Identify newborns’ basic needs and apply strategies to successfully achieve a state of comfort for newborns with life-limiting conditions.
5. Adequately manage pregnancy and delivery of women with fetal diagnosis of life-limiting condition who elect to continue their pregnancies.

Continuing Education Credits

The Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons designates this live activity for a maximum of 17.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

This program is Approved by the National Association of Social Workers (Approval # TBA) for continuing education contact hours.

This course has been submitted for Nursing Continuing Professional Development credits by the by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation.

Register Today!

Please direct questions to pedsneocomfortcare@cumc.columbia.edu.