Palliative Care in Oncology: A Partner in Patient-Centered Care

SELF STUDY / ENDURING - ESTIMATED TIME TO COMPLETE ACTIVITY: 38 Minutes

Overview

This program provides a comprehensive overview of palliative care in oncology, emphasizing its role as an essential partner in patient-centered cancer care. Participants will explore early integration strategies, symptom assessment, and evidence-based management of pain, neuropathy, nausea, and fatigue. The session highlights guideline-driven interventions and practical approaches to improving quality of life across the cancer continuum.

Target Audience

This CME initiative was designed for oncologists, surgeons, radiation oncologists, NPs, PAs, pharmacists, nurses, and other healthcare professionals involved in the treatment of patients with cancer.

Learning Objectives

  1. Differentiate the scope of palliative care from hospice care, with a focus on its application in oncology
  2. Describe the evidence-based benefits of early palliative care integration for patients with advanced cancer, including impacts on quality of life, symptom burden, and survival outcomes
  3. Assess best practices for managing common cancer-related symptoms using a palliative care approach

 

Course summary
Available credit: 
  • 0.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™

    This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME). Horizon CME is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

    Horizon CME designates this Enduring activity for a maximum of 0.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Course opens: 
06/12/2026
Course expires: 
06/12/2027
Cost:
$0.00
Rating: 
0

Faculty

Kelsey Watson, MSN, AGNP-C

Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner
Colorado HomeDoc
Denver, CO

Kelsey is an experienced Nurse Practitioner with a strong clinical background in oncology—spanning both solid tumor and blood/cellular therapies—as well as palliative care. She began her career at UCHealth’s Anschutz Medical Campus in 2015, providing care to patients in both inpatient and outpatient settings. During her time there, she played a key role in developing the Virtual APP Program for the Blood Disorders Center, aimed at improving access to care, enhancing symptom management, and supporting advanced care planning for patients newly diagnosed with cancer.

Currently, Kelsey serves as the Lead Nurse Practitioner for the Palliative Care Program at Colorado HomeDoc, while continuing per diem work at UCHealth. At Colorado HomeDoc, she leads efforts to expand access to in-home palliative care through both in-person visits and telehealth services. Kelsey is deeply committed to delivering high-quality, patient-centered care and improving quality of life for individuals facing serious illness.

Disclosures:

In accordance with the ACCME Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education, Horizon CME (HCME) ensures that continuing education activities are balanced, independent, objective, and scientifically rigorous. 

All persons in a position to influence the content of an accredited continuing education activity provided by Horizon CME are required to disclose to HCME any relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies within the past 24 months. All reported relevant financial relationships have been mitigated by Horizon CME.

Kelsey Watson, MSN, AGNP-C discloses no relevant financial relationships with any entity producing, marketing, re-selling, or distributing healthcare goods or services consumed by, or used on, patients during the past 24 months.

Available Credit

  • 0.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™

    This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME). Horizon CME is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

    Horizon CME designates this Enduring activity for a maximum of 0.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Price

Cost:
$0.00
Please login or register to take this course.

There are no fees for participating and receiving CME credit for this enduring activity. To receive CME credit participants must:

  1. Read the CME/CE information and faculty disclosures.
  2. Participate in the online activity.
  3. Complete the post-test
  4. Submit the evaluation form

DISCLAIMER:

This activity is designed for educational purposes. Participants have a responsibility to utilize this information to enhance their professional development to improve patient outcomes. Conclusions drawn by the participants should be derived from careful consideration of all available scientific information. The participant should use his/her clinical judgment, knowledge, experience, and diagnostic decision-making before applying any information, whether provided here or by others, for any professional use.

Required Hardware/software

Access to the internet is required.

Supported Browsers:

Internet Explorer 8.0+ for Windows 2003, Vista, XP, Windows 7, Windows 8.1 and above

Google Chrome 28.0+ for Windows, Mac OS, or Linux

Mozilla Firefox 23.0+ for Windows, Mac OS, or Linux

Safari 6.0+ for Mac OSX 10.7 and above

 

Supported Phones & Tablets:

 Android 4.0.3 and above

iPhone/iPad with iOS 6.1 or above