When an individual is suffering from a life-threatening illness, many aspects of mental health come into play. Palliative care psychiatry focuses on the emotional and social issues that arise with someone who is experience an advanced illness or receiving hospice or palliative care. It's the duty of a hard working Management Psychiatrist to balance Palliative Care with traditional Psychiatry to provide quality care to patients in need.
What is a Palliative Care Psychiatrist?
Palliative Care Psychiatrists aid both patients and their families through the assessment and treatment of psychiatric issues associated with life-threatening illnesses. Palliative Care is a team approach, often including a doctor, nurse and social work Palliative Care specialists. Other common team members are massage therapists, pharmacists, nutritionists, chaplains and Psychiatrists.
Unlike most forms of treatment, Palliative Care does not focus on a cure. The objective becomes improving a patient’s quality of life. That being said, palliative care can be provided alongside curative treatment. As part of these teams, Palliative Care Psychiatrists’ expert clinical decision-making and advanced knowledge of psychotherapeutic and psychopharmacologic interventions serve as a valuable contribution. Psychiatric Palliative Care may sometimes focus on helping patients with the acceptance of death, allowing them to face the end of life in peace.
Understanding the Educational Path to Become a Psychiatrist
A four-year medical school degree, psychiatric residency and Palliative Care Psychiatry fellowship are the primary educational requirements for a profession as a board-certified Palliative Care Psychiatrist. However, the educational path begins by receiving a Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university.
Palliative Care Psychiatry is a highly complex field of study; as such, a successful candidate will possess strong skills in math and science, written and verbal communications and interacting with the elderly and those is distressful situations. They must be sensitive to life-and-death issues.
Strong interpersonal skills and specialized training in the social, psychological and medical aspects of the human mind are also requirements for becoming a successful Palliative Care Psychiatrist. This skill set is often the focus of core educational course study while in college. Additionally, a Palliative Care Psychiatrist needs to develop an expertise in treatment options, theories of therapy and the prescription/administration of medications.
Educational Path of a Psychiatrist
Earn a bachelor's degree.
A bachelor’s degree is the first higher-education step toward becoming a Palliative Care Psychiatrist. Although candidates complete a broad range of undergraduate majors, students should complete the courses the American Association of Medical Colleges found most medical schools require as prerequisites: biology, physics, and chemistry, along with written and oral communication course study.
During their undergraduate degree, students wanting to gain an edge in the competitive medical school application pool would benefit from taking career and advanced education oriented steps like joining pre-medical organizations, completing community service at mental health centers, shadowing physicians and studying for the MCAT (Medical College Admissions Test). Before graduating, a candidate should apply to medical school. Medical school is a four-year process, leading to an advanced degree in the medical field, either a M.D. or D.O.
Complete a medical school program
During medical school, future Palliative Care Psychiatrists spend their first year primarily in the classroom absorbing knowledge in areas like anatomy, histology, pathology, biochemistry, psychology, ethics and preparing for Objective Structured Clinical Exams. The second year, while still in the classroom, is more clinically focused. Third and fourth year student's move into clinical rotations and gain exposure to a wide range of potential specializations, including psychiatry.
Complete a Residency
Following medical school, graduates pursuing psychiatry should elect to complete their four-year residency in the specialty. Psychiatry residents need to complete 36 months of additional training after the first year of general residency, as required by the American Psychiatric Association. These three years focus on specific training areas, such as psychopharmacology, substance abuse and cognitive behavioral therapy.
Complete a Fellowship in Palliative Care and Management
A one-year, post-residency fellowship in the subspecialty of Palliative Care Psychiatry is essential for doctors aiming to enter the field. When searching for a fellowship, physicians should ensure the program they are pursuing is certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and will both qualify and prepare them to sit for the subspecialty examination. Solid fellowships will include instruction and experience in inpatient adult and pediatric palliative medicine inpatient hospice and home hospice, and a longitudinal ambulatory care experience.
Pass Sub Specialty Exam in Palliative Care and Management
Upon successful completion of a Palliative Care fellowship, all psychiatrists must submit an application for examination. Once reviewed by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology credentials department, candidates are permitted to take the exam. After passing the exam, candidates become diplomats and start the “Maintenance of Certification” process, adhering to the Board's requirements for continued education.
Continuing Education
Palliative Care Psychiatrists should be aware that board certification, which is necessary for legal practice, must be renewed every 10 years. Continued education is required in order to renew certification, and credits for the psychiatric field must meet specific standards. For more information about continuing education requirements, review the ABPN website.
Understanding the Career Path of Becoming a Palliative Care Psychiatrist
Career Options
Palliative Care Psychiatrist working in a number of settings such as education, research and policy development. They might be found at hospitals, in personal residences or nursing homes.
Some Palliative Care Psychiatrists may also choose to work in pediatric Palliative Care Psychiatry. Since children experience illness differently that adult, they need specialized medical care, including palliative care. With children, Palliative Care Psychiatrists might engage in treatments such as play therapy.
Professional Organizations
Professional organizations can be used as a means for networking, community service, think tanks, research, continued education and specialized learning. Palliative Care Psychiatrists should consider joining the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, a healthcare organization for professionals interested in hospice and palliative medicine, from pediatric to geriatric.
For general psychiatry, the American Psychiatric Association (APA) dominates the market with a membership of more than 36,000. It is currently the world’s largest professional organization focused on psychiatry.
Average Salary
Although the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics does not track data for the Palliative Care and Management subspecialty, the mean annual wage for psychiatrists in general is $182,660.While a 2013 Medscape report found average compensation for psychiatrists was higher the pediatrics, internal medicine and family medicine, it still ranked in the lower third of physician incomes by specialty.
Career Outlook
A 2013 National Public Radio article reported a severe shortage of Palliative Care professionals, with one specialist for every 20,000 senior adults living with a severe chronic illness. This notes a critical industry need and a promising job outlook.
According to research by AMN Healthcare Company Merritt Hawkins, psychiatry is one of the most in demand medical professions. The National Institute of Mental Health reports that 1 in 4 adults suffer from a mental disorder each year. Although psychiatric specialties have increased among medical residents, there is still a growing need for psychiatrists, offering a promising job outlook.
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