Hospice and Palliative Medicine

Michael Paletta, MD FAAHPM Many of us practicing hospice and palliative medicine have long struggled with the gap between persons coping with advancing illness and persons failing despite aggressive management. Patients seem to cross from the first group to the second quickly, almost without notice. Late referral to hospice is a natural result of this … Read moreBridging the Gap in Advanced Illness

In my first year as attending physician in a large homecare-based hospice, I have encountered many personal and professional struggles. The biggest of these for me has been that of accountability. Having trained in a tertiary care center where most everyone comes through the emergency department, there is information galore on each palliative care and … Read morePuzzles with Missing Pieces

Sharon Tapper, MD About 5 years ago, it became clear to me that patients seen by our Palliative Care Service in the acute hospital (1) needed follow-up when they were discharged, (2) many would not have wanted to be there in the first place, and (3) most did not have their wishes documented in an … Read moreHow to Start an Outpatient Palliative Care Program

Conrad Williams IV, MD Conrad Williams IV, MD, serves as fellow section editor on the Quarterly Editorial Board. In the Q&A below, Williams reflects on the path that led him to hospice and palliative medicine and what, as a fellow, he can expect for his future. What compelled you to choose to specialize in this … Read moreThe Learning Curve of Fellowship

Nicky Quinlan, MBBChBAO MRCPI, and Conrad Williams IV, MD Hospice and palliative medicine (HPM) is growing as an accredited specialty, in keeping with the growing need for timely palliative care for the seriously ill population of all ages. Currently, the only route to HPM board certification is through an accredited fellowship. HPM has not yet … Read moreThe Pros and Cons of a Fellow Match

Larry Beresford The opportunities—and the imperatives—for the palliative care field to collaborate with other physicians, and with oncologists in particular, are detailed in an article I wrote for the latest issue of AAHPM’s Quarterly newsletter. The Academy is partnering with oncology groups on a number of fronts, including a joint project with the American Society … Read moreCollaboration Between Palliative Medicine and Oncology

One of the many vexing problems in U.S. health care is that patients repeatedly and by a wide margin express their preference for dying at home rather than in a hospital or other setting of care. However, despite that oft-expressed wish and the apparently increasing public awareness of hospice and palliative care options, most people … Read moreWhat’s Going on with Dying in America?

Health care has become a world of dizzying change as more and more people realize that the current system is not working for anyone. There are new regulatory models, new care delivery models, and new funding models, but no one has the silver bullet. Along with the increasing pace of change comes a flood of … Read moreNavigating the Changing Landscape of Health Care

This past Tuesday was the annual National Healthcare Decisions Day when patients are encouraged “to express their wishes regarding healthcare and for providers and facilities to respect those wishes, whatever they may be.” To be clear, this is not about getting people to agree to a Do Not Resuscitate order or agreeing to limit their … Read moreShould Failure to Follow Preferences be a Medical Error?