Restrictions and possibilities within the academy

It is good to have possibilities and spaces within the work of the Academy as matters of education have presently been hit hard in these complicated times. It was particularly regrettable that both the official trips to Moldavia and Ukraine and the annual forum “Spirituality” were canceled. The general education program could not be carried through and the further education in palliative care for nurses had to be postponed twice. It will now start in September in larger rooms, specially rented for this purpose. But there are also chances. The time, for instance, could be used for writing contributions to a textbook on palliative care for Ukraine (see next heading), the print version of the new mission statement of Johannes-Hospiz could finally be completed, and there was time for research issues. Recently, the scientific evaluation of a multi-disciplinary course in palliative care, held in Ivano-Frankvisk, has been published. Colleagues from Austria, Switzerland, Germany and Ukraine have contributed to the text. It can be loaded down here.

Another important activity at the time being is the work on an application for financial support for measures of digitalization in all areas of Johannes-Hospiz. Specifically, the Academy is expected to strengthen its competence in e-learning whether by building up a platform for education or by improving the use of video systems for conferences. As international cooperation is one of the main areas of the Academy – it is, for instance, a partner of the WHO Collaborating Center in Salzburg – developments on this field have a great importance, particularly in times of COVID-19.