Applying and Preparing for Hospice Medical Director Certification through HMDCB

HMDCB is currently accepting applications to become Hospice Medical Director Certified™ (HMDC™) in 2015. HMDCB’s certification exam is for hospice physicians seeking to demonstrate an essential skill set that comprises the administrative, regulatory, legal, and clinical skill necessary in hospice medicine. Early applications are due February 9, 2015 and late applications will be accepted until … Read moreApplying and Preparing for Hospice Medical Director Certification through HMDCB

Highlights of the January Issue of the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management

Listed below are a few articles from the most recent issue of the journal: EMPOWER: An Intervention to Address Barriers to Pain Management in Hospice John G. Cagle, Sheryl Zimmerman, Lauren W. Cohen, Laura S. Porter, Laura C. Hanson, and David Reed Feasibility of Using Algorithm-Based Clinical Decision Support for Symptom Assessment and Management in … Read moreHighlights of the January Issue of the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management

Call for Action: The IOM Report

Larry Beresford, freelance medical journalist in Alameda, CA (Twitter: @larryberesford) The Institute of Medicine’s landmark new report, Dying in America: Improving Quality and Honoring Individual Preferences Near the End of Life, developed with the active participation of several AAHPM leaders in an exhaustive, 2-year process of evidence-based deliberation, was released on September 17. It contains … Read moreCall for Action: The IOM Report

AAHPM Unveils List of Inspiring HPM Leaders Under 40

Congratulations to These Inspiring Hospice and Palliative Medicine Leaders Under 40 In fall 2014, AAHPM called upon members to nominate accomplished hospice and palliative medicine professionals under the age of 40. More than 75 nominations were submitted highlighting exceptional work contributions by the next generation of hospice and palliative medicine leaders. Eligible candidates were evaluated … Read moreAAHPM Unveils List of Inspiring HPM Leaders Under 40

Organizational Advocacy Key to Promoting Advance Care Planning… Now it’s Time for Individuals to Make Their Voices Heard!

By Gregg VandeKieft, MD MA FAAFP FAAHPM Co-chair, AAHPM Public Policy Committee The following is part of a three-post progressive blog about advance care planning, prompted by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (CMS) decision not to pay for the new “complex” advance care planning codes in this year’s Medicare Physician Fee Schedule. Now is … Read moreOrganizational Advocacy Key to Promoting Advance Care Planning… Now it’s Time for Individuals to Make Their Voices Heard!

Highlights of the December Issue of the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management

Listed below are a few articles from the most recent issue of the journal: Original Articles Strategies to Support Recruitment of Patients With Life-Limiting Illness for Research: The Palliative Care Research Cooperative Group Laura C. Hanson, Janet Bull, Kathryn Wessell, Lisa Massie, Rachael E. Bennett, Jean S. Kutner, Noreen M. Aziz, and Amy Abernethy Symptom … Read moreHighlights of the December Issue of the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management

Integrating with Palliative Care- Opportunities and Challenges

Recently, I attended the yearly National Seminar given by the Center to Advance Palliative Care. I was honored to be a member of the faculty and on the planning committee. The attendance was over 900- up over 50% from a year ago- a tribute both to the growth of palliative care as a discipline and … Read moreIntegrating with Palliative Care- Opportunities and Challenges

Highlights of the November Issue of the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management

Listed below are a few articles from the most recent issue of the journal: Promoting Evidence in Practice Methylprednisolone for the Prophylaxis of Pain Flare: Commentary on Yousef and El-mashad Susannah Ellsworth Challenges to Pain Medicine Management at Home: Commentary on the Schumacher et al. Papers Jane B. Hopkinson Original Articles Pre-Emptive Value of Methylprednisolone … Read moreHighlights of the November Issue of the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management

Suffering is in the Eyes of the Beholder

A recent morning brought the news that 29 year-old Brittany Maynard had ended her life rather than continue what she perceived to be intolerable suffering from an incurable brain tumor. About an hour later I watched a sports report on college freshman, Lauren Hall who the previous day fulfilled her dream of playing in a … Read moreSuffering is in the Eyes of the Beholder

Spirituality + Religion? Spirituality vs. Religion? Spirituality includes Religion?

Discussion around spirituality and religion are more evident and public in our academic circles and in our society in general. A good thing I believe. A stroll through my Twitter feeds this morning yielded an article about a legal challenge in New York State to the tax exempt status of a pagan group presumably in … Read moreSpirituality + Religion? Spirituality vs. Religion? Spirituality includes Religion?