In this issue...

1.   AMA Resolutions Advance Palliative Medicine Subspecialty and End-of-Life Education
At the 2006 Annual Meeting of the American Medical Association (AMA), June 10-14, the House of Delegates approved a resolution to establish a Specialty Section Council on Pain and Palliative Medicine. Adoption of this resolution gives Palliative Medicine a voice within the AMA along with other specialties that have Specialty Section Councils such as General Surgery, Internal Medicine, Pediatrics and Neurology.  Additionally, the association voted to increase education efforts about the importance of end-of-life planning.

2.   Health Progress Article by Coalition Director
Coalition board member Sr. Peggy Egan, OSF, PhD, Catholic Health Initiatives, offers instructive discussion and tools to help U.S. Catholic health organizations extend their mission work into the international community in her article, Health Care and the Global Community, which appeared in the July-August 2006 issue of Health Progress.

3.   Prime Opportunity for Advocacy
Comment deadline is August 31, 2006
 
The Citizens’ Health Care Working Group interim recommendations are out for a 60-day comment period.  Recommendation six is directed to Palliative Care. To offer comments on the interim report, through August 31, 2006, or to view the entire document and share with colleagues, visit the group’s web site.  Once finalized, the recommendations will be forwarded to President Bush.  www.CitizensHealthCare.gov.

4.   Oncology Nursing Award
Nomination deadline is August 15, 2007

The Oncology Nursing Society is accepting nominations for the 2007 Excellence in Supportive Care Award.  The award’s intent is to support and recognize an oncology nurse for excellence and dedication to supportive care.  Eligible registered professional nurses must have at least two years of experience in oncology and be active in ONS.  For a complete list of requirements and a nomination form, http://www.ons.org/awards/onsawards/supportCare.shtml

5.   Hospice and Palliative Care Photography, Writing, and Film Contest
Entry deadline is July 28, 2006

Submissions for the 2006 National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization’s contest in photography, writing and film are being accepted.  All NHPCO members are eligible to participate.  For details, http://www.nhpco.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3299

6.   Proposals for 92nd Catholic Health Assembly
Submission deadline is August 10, 2006

Presentation proposals are being taken for the 92nd Catholic Health Assembly, “Touching Lives, Healing Communities,” to be held June 17-19, 2007, in Chicago.
Proposals should illustrate your organization’s program, service, or leading practice that exemplifies how the Catholic health ministry serves individuals and communities. Examples include presentations about community benefit activities, responses to market challenges, human resource solutions, as well as others. Application forms are available at, www.chausa.org/07presentations

7.   Heart of Hospice Award Accepting Nominations
Nomination deadline is August 1, 2006

This award recognizes National Council of Hospice and Palliative Professionals members who have attained repeated outstanding achievements in hospice and made contributions with impact beyond hospice. These persons have shown creativity and courage to achieve a demonstrated difference in the areas of exceptional service, program creation, administrative development, innovative research, or educational advancement. This is the highest recognition for hospice professionals given by hospice professionals.

8.   Awards of Excellence in Education Accepting Nominations
Nomination deadline is August 1, 2006

National Council of Hospice and Palliative Professionals sponsors these awards to recognize hospice and palliative care programs that demonstrate outstanding achievement and excellence in the design, promotion and offering of educational programs.
Nomination and Criteria Form

9.   Nominations for 2007 Circle of Life Award
Application deadline is August 14, 2006

Applications are available for the prestigious 2007 American Hospital Association Circle of Life Award: Celebrating Innovation in End-of-Life Care.  The award will be presented at next year’s American Hospital Association Health Forum Summit, July 22-24, 2007, in San Diego. To nominate an organization or program,
http://www.aha.org/aha/awards-events/circle_of_life/awards.jsp
To download an application,
http://www.aha.org/aha/awards-events/circle_of_life/cofapplication.html

READINGS

10.  Report on Congressional Briefing on Pain
The Congressional Briefing on Pain, held June 13, 2006 on Capitol Hill, was attended by over 100 congressional staffers and pain advocates who joined forces in support of H.R. 1020, the National Pain Care Policy Act.  For a complete briefing, www.painfoundation.org

11.  End-of-Life Care Revisited
Recent Debates Have Raised Some Important Foundational Questions
Br. Daniel P. Sulmasy, OFM, MD, PhD, contends that a number of claims made in recent discussions about Catholic teaching and the use of life-sustaining treatments utilize points that seem to deviate from established, traditional forms of Catholic argument.
Health Progress, July-August 2006, 50-56.

12.  Barriers and Facilitators to Replicating an Evidence-Based Palliative Care Model
The purpose of this article is to describe the barriers and facilitators encountered by two managed care organizations while replicating an evidence-based, end-of-life, in-home palliative care model. Using Diffusion of Innovation Theory as a theoretical framework, results from focus groups and interviews with the project's clinical, administrative and research teams are presented and recommendations made for improving translational efforts. PMID: 16803742  Home Health Care Services Quarterly 2006; 25(1/2), 149-165

13.  Nurses' and Patients' Perceptions of Expert Palliative Nursing Care
A phenomenological study was carried out using in-depth interviews and thematic content analysis. A sampling of 22 registered nurses and 22 dying patients revealed that both groups agreed that the most important characteristics of an expert palliative nurse were interpersonal skills and qualities such as kindness, warmth, compassion and genuineness. Although the study was conducted in the United Kingdom, the findings have relevance for palliative care practice globally in terms of dependence, issues of patient choice, nurses being interpersonally skilled and building therapeutic relationships with patients. Journal of Advanced Nursing, Volume 54, Number 6, June 2006, pp. 700-709(10)

14.  When Treatment Fails Should Medical Treatment Stop?
One woman's final journey sheds light on the abandonment some dying patients feel.
HealthDay Tuesday, June 20, 2006.
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_35098.html

 
CONFERENCES

15.  Artificial Nutrition and Hydration: Drawing Lines in the Sand
July 13, 2-3:30 pm EDT
Audio Web Seminar sponsored by National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization
 
This seminar will present current medical evidence to frame the professional’s understanding of ANH and to assist them in working with patients and families at the end of life, helping them explore options, consider preferences and weigh risks and benefits. The position of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization with respect to ANH will be explained, and case studies that demonstrate the complexity of the concerns around ANH will be presented. 

16.  Managed Care and Medicare Advantage:  Impact on Hospice and Palliative Care
July 25, 2-3:30 pm EDT
Audio Web Seminar sponsored by National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization

Participants will be given an overview of the commercial managed care market as well as the Medicare Advantage program, and will learn how hospice and palliative care services are typically accessed and financed with each.  Additionally, faculty will share the importance of outreach and collaboration between health insurance plans and hospice providers to improve care coordination, reimbursement and access to services. http://www.nhpco.org/i4a/pages/Index.cfm?pageID=4820

17.  Excellence in End-of-Life Care
August 17-18, 2006 / Destin, FL
Sponsored by Studer Group & Covenant Hospice

Participants will learn to apply specific leadership tools and principles to strategically improve the quality of end-of-life care in their community.  850-934-1099  www.studergroup.com

18.  Touch Awareness in Caregiving For Hospice Caregivers
August 22, 2006 / Portland, OR
Sponsored by Everflowing

Upon completion of this course, attendees will be able to more clearly define the dimensions of touch in daily caregiving, incorporate skillful touching with clients who are fragile, anxious, in pain and/or confused, provide a session in laying on of hands to ease pain, anxiety, insomnia and depression.  Register with Mary Malinski, (503) 684-6296, masski@easystreet.com, http://www.everflowing.org/

19.  Catholic Charities USA 2006 Annual Gathering Program
Reviving the Common Good, Renewing Covenant with the Poor
September 13-17, 2006 / St. Paul - Minneapolis, MN
Sponsored by Catholic Charities USA

Discussions, presentations, workshops, networking opportunities and social events are designed to enlighten, uplift and reenergize those in attendance.
www.CatholicCharitiesUSA.org/gathering

20.  Mission Possible:  The Calling. The Honor. The Privilege
October 8-11, 2006 / San Antonio, TX
Sponsored by American Health Care Association, National Center for Assisted Living, Texas Health Care Association

This 57th-annual national convention and exposition will address issues from compliance to resident care to organizational performance, and play host to hundreds of suppliers showcasing an array of long term care products.  www.AHCAconvention.org
 
21.  2007 Call for Candidates: The End-of-Life Care Practitioner Program
Application deadline is October 15, 2006
Sponsored by The Alaya Institute

Applicants should have a regular and committed spiritual practice, experience in end-of-life care, and a desire to live and work in accord with their highest values.  Highlights and themes include compassionate service, suffering and transformation, mystery and awe, cultivating presence, transition and completion. Course includes four extended weekend sessions, an eight-day intensive session and eight-day contemplative retreat. www.alayainstitute.org

22.  From a Grain of Sand to the Pearls of Education, Research, and Expert Practice
October 26-28, 2006 / Hartford, CT
Sponsored by the Association of Pediatric Oncology Nurses

Conference offerings will give hematology/oncology nurses and allied healthcare professionals an in-depth knowledge base and understanding of the principles of caring for patients with hematological disorders, and educational sessions focusing on research, clinical, management, and psychosocial issues.
http://apon.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=463

23.  4th International Multidisciplinary Conference on Spirituality & Health
Interweaving Science, Wisdom, and Compassion
November 9-11, 2006 / Vancouver, BC
Sponsored by University of British Columbia Inter-professional Continuing Education

This international conference will address how spirituality relates to health and the health sciences. A growing body of scientific evidence shows a relationship between spirituality, spiritual practices and positive health outcomes. This spirituality-heath interface has the potential to influence clinical practice, education, health policy and research. The conference will offer presentations by and for scholars, scientists, and practitioners from multiple disciplines.
www.interprofessional.ubc.ca

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