(BLACK PR WIRE) ST. LOUIS, Mo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 7, 2008--A nationally recognized continuing education program providing clinical training and insight into caring for African Americans at the end of life will be held Friday and Saturday, October 24 and 25, 2008, at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, North Campus, JC Penney Conference Center, 8001 Natural Bridge Rd.

Designed for those working with African American patients and families facing serious illness in hospitals, hospices, outpatient clinics, nursing homes and office-based settings, APPEAL (A Progressive Palliative Care Educational Curriculum for the Care of African Americans at Life's End) will be conducted by the Duke Institute on Care at the End of Life and is sponsored locally by VITAS Innovative Hospice Care(R) of St. Louis.

"Caring for African Americans at the end of life requires insight into traditions, culture and spirituality," says Alan D. Smith, VITAS director of market development. "Participants will leave this training with increased palliative care knowledge and skills as well as greater confidence and ability to communicate with African American patients and their families."

The one- and a half-day program is open to physicians, nurses, social workers, medical chaplains and other clergy, psychologists, counselors, hospice and hospital administrators, pharmacists and family caregivers. Continuing education credits will be awarded.

APPEAL will provide information and education on:

-- Death and dying in African American communities

-- Comprehensive patient evaluation

-- Quality end-of-life care

-- Fundamentals of hospice care

-- Culturally appropriate communication

-- Pain treatment and racial disparities

-- Spirituality and end-of-life care

-- Patient-centered decision-making

Registration fees are $250 for physicians, $175 for other healthcare and clergy-based providers, $50 for students, trainees and family caregivers, and $450 for interdisciplinary teams of three (one physician and two other healthcare/service providers, e.g., nurse, social worker, chaplain). The fee includes an APPEAL training DVD, a CD with training materials, continuing education credits, all meals and parking.

To register or for more information, visit www.iceol.duke.edu, e-mail iceol@div.duke.edu, or call 1-919-660-3553.

VITAS Innovative Hospice Care(R) is one of the nation's oldest and largest providers of end-of-life care. A pioneer and leader in the hospice movement since 1978, VITAS has been caring for the terminally ill and their families in St. Louis since 2005.