MCCG's Hospice Palliative Medicine Fellowship Receives Accreditation

MCCG's Hospice Palliative Medicine Fellowship Receives Accreditation

New Program One of Two in State   

MACON, GA (Wednesday, December 12, 2012) – The Medical Center of Central Georgia (MCCG) is pleased to announce that its Hospice Palliative Medicine fellowship has received a four-year accreditation from the Accreditation Counsel for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME).

MCCG's Hospice Palliative Medicine fellowship, founded in 2011, is one of two physician training programs for hospice and palliative care in the state of Georgia.

“This is a relatively new field that specializes in patients with severe chronic illness and those facing terminal disease,” said Dr. Richard Ackermann, fellowship director. “Palliative medicine seeks to empower patients and families to direct their care at the end of life especially with life-sustaining technology and medications that have both benefits and burdens. The fellows help patients and families facing end-of-life issues.”

Fellows in MCCG's program work with patients and their families to create end-of-life care goals, and aggressively treat symptoms to improve patients' quality of life. The fellows care for patients at the hospital, long-term care facilities, home, or Pine Pointe Hospice and Palliative Care, Central Georgia Health System's new 15-bed hospice facility.

Representatives from ACGME evaluated MCCG's program, curriculum, facilities and innovative Transitions program before granting accreditation. The Transitions program provides medically trained therapists who assist patients with the transition from curative to end-of-life care.

ACGME is the professional organization responsible for accrediting residency education programs. Residency education is the period of clinical education following graduation from medical school. Participants in MCCG's Hospice Palliative Medicine fellowship are physicians who have chosen to receive additional training.