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Who is it for?

LEAP Core is ideal palliative care training for health care professionals, such as physicians, nurses, pharmacists, social workers, and more, whose primary focus of work is not palliative care but who provides care for patients with life-limiting illnesses.

LEAP Core promotes teamwork, supports interprofessional collaboration, and fosters connections among providers in different agencies who work together (e.g., community-based family physicians, home care nurses, and community pharmacists).

Learning outcomes

Upon completion of LEAP Core, learners should be able to:

  • Identify patients who could benefit from a palliative care approach earlier in the illness trajectory.
  • Assess and manage pain; delirium; gastrointestinal symptoms, hydration, and nutrition; and respiratory symptoms.
  • Promote and undertake Advance Care Planning discussions.
  • Describe the importance of self-awareness when providing palliative and end-of-life care.
  • Develop plans to address spiritual, religious, or psychosocial needs.
  • Initiate essential discussions related to palliative and end-of-life care in daily work.
  • Prepare patients and families for last days and hours.
  • Understand and apply the criteria to be met before initiating palliative sedation.

Course features

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Collaborate and learn from interprofessional experts in an interprofessional setting.

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Choose from multiple delivery models to suit your learning preferences.

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Developed and reviewed by Canadian palliative care experts.

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Gain essential skills and competencies in the palliative care approach.

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Earn a nationally recognized LEAP certificate of completion

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Receive an electronic copy of the Pallium Palliative Pocketbook

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Collaborate and learn from interprofessional experts in an interprofessional setting.

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Choose from multiple delivery models to suit your learning preferences.

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Developed and reviewed by Canadian palliative care experts.

Image

Gain essential skills and competencies in the palliative care approach.

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Earn a nationally recognized LEAP certificate of completion

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Receive an electronic copy of the Pallium Palliative Pocketbook

Delivery modes

  • Self-paced learning: Complete 17 interactive, self-learning modules at your own pace (approximately 8 hours of work) in advance of the facilitated workshop.
  • Workshop: Participate in 6 hours of live webinars led by LEAP facilitators where learners will work through cases and discuss learnings from modules.
Pricing for online delivery

$425 for physicians
$295 for non-physicians
$175 for personal care aides

Non-physicians refers to nurses, pharmacists, social workers, occupational therapists, respiratory therapists, students, residents, etc.

Personal care aides refers to personal support workers, health care aides, health care assistants, care aides, etc.

  • Self-paced learning: Complete 17 interactive, self-learning modules at your own pace (approximately 8 hours of work) in advance of the facilitated workshop.
  • Workshop: Participate in 6 hours of in-person, face-to-face learning with LEAP facilitators where learners will work through cases and discuss learnings from modules.
Pricing for hybrid delivery:

$365 for physicians
$235 for non-physicians
$115 for personal care aides

Non-physicians refers to nurses, pharmacists, social workers, occupational therapists, respiratory therapists, students, residents, etc.

Personal care aides refers to personal support workers, health care aides, health care assistants, care aides, etc.

  • Workshop: Participate in two days of in-person learning (14 hours total), featuring group discussions and case studies for a hands-on experience.
Pricing for in-person delivery:

$295 for physicians
$195 for non-physicians
$80 for personal care aides

Non-physicians refers to nurses, pharmacists, social workers, occupational therapists, respiratory therapists, students, residents, etc.

Personal care aides refers to personal support workers, health care aides, health care assistants, care aides, etc.

Accreditation

Online and hybrid

This 2 credit-per-hour Group Learning program has been certified by the College of Family Physicians of Canada and the Quebec College of Family Physicians, a continuing professional development–accrediting organization recognized by the Collège des médecins du Québec, for up to 24.0 Mainpro+ credits.

This event is an Accredited Group Learning Activity (Section 1) as defined by the Maintenance of Certification Program of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, and approved by the University of Ottawa’s Office of Continuing Professional Development. You may claim a maximum of 12 hours (credits are automatically calculated).

Up to

24

Mainpro+ credits

The College of Family Physicians of Canada logo

Maximum of

12

hours

In-person

This 2 credit-per-hour Group Learning program has been certified by the College of Family Physicians of Canada and the Quebec College of Family Physicians, a continuing professional development–accrediting organization recognized by the Collège des médecins du Québec, for up to 28.0 Mainpro+ credits.

Up to

28

Mainpro+ credits

The College of Family Physicians of Canada logo

Course topics

LEAP Core provides health care professionals with an in-depth learning experience on the essential skills and competencies of the palliative care approach, including:

Principles of palliative care
Pain
Dyspnea
Requests to hasten death
Last days and hours
Advance Care Planning
Delirium
Gastrointestinal symptoms, hydration and nutrition
Psychosocial and spiritual care
Essential conversations
Decision-making
Depression, anxiety and grief
Palliative sedation
Hydration and nutrition

Key LEAP features

Pallium’s award-winning suite of LEAP courseware transforms health care practice across all settings of care, through practical, interprofessional and evidence-based palliative care training.

Canada’s leading suite of palliative care courses.
Created and peer-reviewed by Canadian experts.
Earn nationally recognized certification.
Collaborate with interprofessional health care professionals.
Backed by evidence and best practices.
Over 600+ courses are held every year.
The best part of LEAP is the shared discussions between the multidisciplinary professions. As a new nurse, it is so helpful to hear from all the various team members. The opportunity to have open discussions about experiences and share knowledge was absolutely wonderful.
Jessica D.
Registered nurse
I feel more confident providing palliative care myself and have a better understanding of when to refer if a case is too complicated. I now refer less often and offer more services on my own; however, I feel more comfortable knowing when a referral is appropriate.
Family physician
LEAP Core learner
It used to be that we thought palliative care required a special set of skills that we didn’t have. After the team trained on LEAP; we now have a common approach to managing and documenting care, as well as consistent protocols for when to involve home care professionals. Now, the family doctors in our health centre approach palliative care as an integral part of our practice.
Dr. Declan Rowan
Family physician
Before this course, I always tended to wait until it looked like death was close (days/weeks) before consulting. It has helped me realize that consulting with a palliative care team is an important part of ensuring well- managed care well before death. This helps ensure the best quality of care for the patient to ensure best treatment options.
Nurse
LEAP Core learner
LEAP Core was a very informative and professional course. As a health care administrator, the modules provided a good learning base for my position.
Administrator
LEAP Core learner

Course contributors

LEAP courses are developed and peer-reviewed by volunteer pan-Canadian teams of subject matter experts who are committed to promoting the palliative care approach.

Course leads

  • José Pereira, MBChB, CCFP(PC), MSc, FCFP Scientific Advisor, Pallium Canada Clinical Professor, Division of Palliative Care, Professor of Palliative Care at the Faculty of Medicine and the Instituto Cultura y Sociedad at the University of Navarra, ATLANTES Global Observatory of Palliative Care, Professor of Palliative Care in the Division of Palliative Care within the Department of Family Medicine at McMaster University
  • Maryse Bouvette, BScN, MEd., CON(C), CHPCN(C), Coordinator of the Regional Palliative Consultation Team (RPCT), Palliative Care Advance Practice Nurse Consultant, Bruyere Continuing Care
  • Lori Teeple, MD CCFP(EM), FCFP (PC), MD CCFP, FCFP (PC – Palliative Care) Associate Professor Medicine and Family Medicine Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University

Course contributors and reviewers

  • Stephanie Buchanan, RN, MHScN, EdD(cand) CHPCN(C) Professor/Clinical Instructor, Nursing Department, Centennial College
  • Sandy Buchman, MD, CCFP (PC), FCFP Associate Professor Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto Education Lead & Family Physician Practising in Palliative Care, The Temmy Latner Centre for Palliative Care, ON
  • Gordon Giddings, MD CCFP(PC), FCFP Senior Medical Advisor | Professional Conduct
  • J. David Henderson, MD, CCFP(PC) Medical Director, Colchester East Hants Palliative Care Service Assistant Professor, Dept. of Family Medicine, Dalhousie Univ.
  • Julie Johnston, BA, Dipl. Business Executive Director, St. Joseph’s – Hospice of London
  • Glen Maddison, M.D. MCFP(EM) Medical Director St. Joseph’s Hospice Sarnia Adjunct Professor Family Medicine, Western University Clinical Co-Lead Palliative Care Erie St. Clair LHIN, ON
  • Denise Marshall, BSc., MD, CCFP(PC), FCFP Medical Director, Niagara West Palliative Care Team and McNally House Hospice Associate Professor, Division of Palliative Care Dept of Family Medicine, McMaster University
  • Linda Read Paul, RN, MN, CHPCN(C) Clinical Nurse Specialist, Palliative Care Consult Service – Rural Okotoks Health & Wellness Center, BC
  • Ben Robert, MD, MBA, CCFP (CoE & PC) Medical Director, Perley Rideau Veterans’ Health Centre; Medical Director, Dementia Program, Glebe Centre Assistant Professor, University of Ottawa; Attending Physician, TOH (The Ottawa Hospital) Family Medicine, ON
  • Robert Sauls, MD, CCFP(PC), FCFP Palliative Care Physician, Trillium Health Partners – Credit Valley
    Hospital Site, Mississauga, Lecturer, Department of Community and Family Medicine, University of Toronto, ON
  • Sally Tierney, B.Sc.Phm, Clinical Pharmacist, Palliative Care Unit Bruyere Continuing Care
  • Fraser Black, MD, CCFP Victoria Hospice Society, BC
  • Velda Clark, Director; Palliative Care Program Regina Health District Regina, SK
  • Gillian Flyes, MD, B.C. Cancer Agency. BC
  • Jocelyne Lockyer, PhD University of Calgary; AB
  • Robin Love, MD, CCFP Vancouver Health Authority, MB
  • Daphne Powell, Nurse Coordinator; Palliative Care St. Paul’s Hospital Saskatoon, SK
  • Shannon Pyziak, BN, RN, CHPCN(C) Interlake Regional Health Authority, MB
  • Cheryl Smith, BN, RN, CHPCN(C) North Eastman Health Association, MB
  • Ron Spice, MD, CCFP Calgary Health Region, AB
  • Merle Teetaert, RN, CHPCN (C) Assiniboine Regional Health Authority, MB
  • Pat Trozzo, BSc. (Pharm), BSc. (Chem), BCPS CancerCare Manitoba, MB
  • Rob Wedel, MD, CCFP, FCFP Chinook Health Region, AB
  • Cornelius Woelk, MD, CCFP Central Health Authority Inc., MB

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