March 2012 – AAHPM Blog

Dual Diagnosis, aka Substance Abuse, Mental Illness, and Palliative Care

March 11, 2012November 9, 2017 by AAHPM

It seems innocuous, but the term ‘dual diagnosis’ describes a very complicated subset of patients — those who have a substance use disorder as well as a primary psychiatric disorder (anything from depression to schizophrenia). Throw a serious medical illness into the mix, and you have a recipe for one very overwhelmed palliative care physician. … Read moreDual Diagnosis, aka Substance Abuse, Mental Illness, and Palliative Care

Driving Miss Daisy

March 10, 2012 by AAHPM

You’ve all been there – the elderly couple shuffles into your office, peering through oversize glasses, slightly disoriented but helping each other out. Did you ever stop to think how they got to your office? They almost certainly drove – but should they? Shouldn’t it be their children’s job to tell them to stop?? Focus … Read moreDriving Miss Daisy

The Why, How , What and “So What” of developing Clinical Informatics Tools

March 10, 2012February 24, 2020 by AAHPM

This am has been an interesting juxtaposition of following Twitter during the state of the science, and being reminded of the power of a graciously led small group meeting. I would not qualify myself as a skeptic, but more as a user without training in the multiple areas for which a Clinical informatics system can … Read moreThe Why, How , What and “So What” of developing Clinical Informatics Tools

Communication as a dance

March 9, 2012February 24, 2020 by AAHPM

Ok -so it only took me 40 min to post the first one so this posting will get better. This session was about motivational interviewing and was led by Julie Childers and Bob Arnold. We were very interactive and engaged and it was very heartwarming to see a large roomful of colleagues who have really … Read moreCommunication as a dance

palliative care and wellness

March 9, 2012February 24, 2020 by AAHPM

Newly inspired by Christian Sinclair’s presentation I am happy I challenged myself to be a blogger at this meeting. I certainly agree that the title “An unlikely union- Palliative Care and Wellness “seems apt, and quite intriguing. And at a session I attended yesterday the emphasis was on integrating palliative care, and so I was … Read morepalliative care and wellness

Chemo in the last 2 weeks of life

March 9, 2012 by AAHPM

Yes, chemotherapy can and should be part of good palliation in many settings

Model for Running a Palliative Care Interdisciplinary Team Case Conference

March 9, 2012February 24, 2020 by AAHPM

Our palliative care interdisciplinary team (IDT) meets every morning, and reviews nearly all the patients on the inpatient service, new patients seen in the outpatient clinic, outpatients in need of active management of some aspect of their care (typically pain medication), and patients under our care who have died. It’s a unique and comprehensive meeting … Read moreModel for Running a Palliative Care Interdisciplinary Team Case Conference

Concurrent Session – Delirium

March 8, 2012 by AAHPM

Trust psychiatrists to give an afternoon session that makes you completely forget about that nap you were craving! “Delirium: A Study of Difficult Cases” consisted of 3 vignettes about various forms of delirium, complete with very realistic role playing and chock full of wisdom from palliative care psychiatrists. First there was a case of reversible … Read moreConcurrent Session – Delirium

“Bending the Cost Curve:” reflections on this morning’s plenary session

March 8, 2012 by AAHPM

America, your bluff has been called…the verdict is in, and the old adage remains true: you cannot have your cake and eat it too (shocking news, I know). Clichéd as it may sound, that message rang true this morning as the annual assembly opened in a blaze of introspection and criticism of the status quo. … Read more“Bending the Cost Curve:” reflections on this morning’s plenary session

AAHPM pre-conference workshop: Junior faculty bootcamp

March 8, 2012 by AAHPM

“Early Career Hospice and Palliative Medicine faculty Development Bootcamp”: Drs Bernacki, Carey, Sanchez-Reilly, Periyakoil, Kapo, DeLima Thomas, Morrison, and Bunch O’Neill I was a little apprehensive about this workshop, since I’m still a fellow and not even junior faculty yet. I will be taking a faculty position when I finish my fellowship, so I figured … Read moreAAHPM pre-conference workshop: Junior faculty bootcamp