AAHPM’s First RFS Representative’s Perspective on AMA Interim Meeting

My name is Devon Fletcher. I’m a Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellow at the Virginia Commonwealth University Health Systems in Richmond, VA. I recently had the opportunity to attend the American Medical Association’s Interim Meeting in San Diego this November as the AMA’s first ever AAHPM representative to the Resident and Fellow Section (RFS). I’d … Read moreAAHPM’s First RFS Representative’s Perspective on AMA Interim Meeting

Happy 100th Anniversary, PC-FACS

The 100th issue of PC-FACS, an AAHPM signature service, represents a milestone. Celebrating this century issue, Editor-in-Chief Amy Abernethy commented on trends in palliative care since the digest’s inception. Read the 100th issue of PC-FACS. (1) Increasing acceptance of palliative care as a discipline. The palliative care philosophy now extends into diverse settings including mainstream … Read moreHappy 100th Anniversary, PC-FACS

Concurrent Palliative Care-Peace of Mind in the Setting of an Uncertain Prognosis; Part 1

This post is Part 1 of a multi-part series. Concurrent Palliative Care – Peace of mind in the setting of an uncertain prognosis Jean S. Kutner, MD, MSPH   I was in Asheville, N.C. for a professional meeting when I received a call from a medicine resident at our hospital saying that she was transferring … Read moreConcurrent Palliative Care-Peace of Mind in the Setting of an Uncertain Prognosis; Part 1

Academy Voices Vital Role of Palliative and Hospice Care in Improving Quality of Health Care

Many health care initiatives launched by the Affordable Care Act focus on improving the quality of health care. The Academy and its members have been participating in these efforts, trying to bring wider visibility to the role that palliative care and hospice care can play in improving the quality of health care for patients with serious, advanced illness.

Every continent except Antarctica

I had the opportunity to represent AAHPM at the 18th International Congress of Palliative Care in Montreal in early October. This was my first time at this Congress and, with the help of AAHPM member and Congress attendee, Dr. Nancy Hutton, we talked with people practicing palliative care from every continent of the world except Antarctica at the opening reception.

Quality and competency: Invisible members of the palliative care team, the Medical Interpreter

We spend a lot of time speaking of physician, nursing, social work, pharmacist expertise in palliative care. We often see and support formal training for volunteers. (www.volunteertrainingonline.com/hospice; www.hospicevolunteertraining.webs.com) We teach the importance of culturally competent care and use of interpreter services to enhance communication with patients and families of other cultures and with limited English. … Read moreQuality and competency: Invisible members of the palliative care team, the Medical Interpreter

Palliative Care Represented at Critical Care Conference

On September 27 and 28 the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) held a conference of stakeholders at their headquarters in Chicago, to discuss the problems patients face after a stay in intensive care. In addition to ICU physicians and nurses, physiatrists, psychiatrists, counselors, and representatives of patients and other groups (including palliative care) were … Read morePalliative Care Represented at Critical Care Conference

Palliative Care Grand Rounds 2.9

Welcome to the monthly edition of Palliative Care Grand Rounds the monthly review of the best of hospice and palliative care content from blogs. We started in February of 2009 and are almost done with our second full year. To see previous editions of Palliative Care Grand Rounds go the http://palliativecaregr.blogspot.com/. This summer has been … Read morePalliative Care Grand Rounds 2.9