In this issue…
NEWS
1. Coalition Response to AAHPM Position Statement on PAS
2. Supportive Voice Articles Referenced at Health Reform Briefing
3. Coalition Chair Participates in National Advance Directives Planning Session
OPPORTUNITIES
4. Call for Candidates, 2008 End-of-Life Care Practitioner Program
5. Call for Nominations, 2008 CHA Awards
6. National Advance Directives Planning Session and Funding Opportunity
RESOURCES
7. Key Health and Health Care Indicators by Race/Ethnicity and State
READINGS
8. Medical Students Receive Lessons That Will Live On
9. Care with Compassion
10. What Motivates Individuals to Plan for End-of-Life Care?
CONFERENCES and COURSES
11. American College of Healthcare Executives
12. The Key Components to Implementing Dementia Care
13. From Continuous Care to Hospitalization and Respite Care
14. Calming the Storm: Addressing Terminal Restlessness
15. Effective Closure with Clear Boundaries for Hospice Team Members
16. Intensive Update with Board Review in Geriatric and Palliative Medicine
17. Save the Date! 2008 National Congress in February
NEWS
1. Coalition Response to AAHPM Position Statement on PAS
In a June 4, 2007 letter to the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM), the Coalition urged the organization to reconsider its change in position regarding physician assisted suicide. The Academy altered its position statement in February, renaming physician assisted suicide, physician assisted death. An excerpt from the letter: “Precisely because you are a national organization affirming the best quality of life for patients, we urge you to reconsider your “studied neutrality” position. Such a position is, in fact, neither value-neutral nor helpful for the vast majority of patients who need to know that they will be cared for safely, compassionately and competently. We cannot afford to be neutral toward practices that will undermine that trust.” To read the entire letter, visit http://www.supportivecarecoalition.org/news/2007/Coalition+Response+to+AAHPM+Change+in+Position+on+PAS.htm
2. Supportive Voice Articles Referenced at Health Reform Briefing
The “Quality Care and Comfort at the End of Life: Changes Needed?” Web cast
co-sponsored by the Alliance for Health Reform and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, included two articles from Supportive Voice as resource materials for the June 8 presentation: “Implementing a Continuum of Palliative Care,” click here to view, and “PACE is a Model for Excellence in End-of-Life Care,” click here.
The Coalition collaborated with Catholic Health Association to offer suggestions for resource materials. To view the briefing or print a transcript of the presentation, http://www.kaisernetwork.org/health_cast/hcast_index.cfm?display=detail&hc=2172
3. National Advance Directives Planning Session and Funding Opportunity
Sr. Gretchen Elliott served as the Coalition's representative to the June 4 meeting of the National Advance Directives Day planning session. The 50-state initiative is focused on creating an annual national recognition event(s), beginning in 2008, to showcase the importance of and steps to making advance health care decisions, with advance directives documents an integral part. In addition to the Coalition’s participation, other organizations involved in the effort include: American Hospital Association, American Bar Association, American College of Physicians, Association of Professional Chaplains, Center for Practical Bioethics, Federation of American Hospitals, National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, and the National Association of Social Workers. Additionally, several representatives from the state of Virginia, where the second annual Virginia Advance Directives Day was observed in April, shared lessons learned.
Funding Opportunity
An opportunity to support this national initiative via a funding opportunity is being offered by American Express, who has adopted the initiative as part of the AMX Members Project. AMX cardholders are invited to visit www.membersproject.com to vote for the project of their choice. The advance directives initiative is titled “Advance Care Plans for Americans,” project ID #2720. Votes will be taken through June 17. The top 50 projects will be announced in July, when they will become eligible for an additional round of voting to determine the final winner. AMX will earmark up to $5 million in funding, based on voter turnout.
OPPORTUNITIES
4. Call for Candidates, 2008 End-of-Life Care Practitioner Program
Applications accepted through October 1, 2007
Sponsored by Metta Institute, formerly The Alaya Institute
The program is designed to provide essential clinical competencies, innovative approaches to improve care of the dying, practices to strengthen individual capacity for compassionate service and enhance spiritual development. 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 the highest values. www.mettainstitute.org
5. Call for Nominations, 2008 CHA Awards
Applications accepted through October 31, 2007
Sponsored by Catholic Health Association
The Catholic Health Association is accepting applications for four unique awards to honor distinguished individuals and member organizations for their efforts in furthering the healing ministry of Jesus. Recipients will be honored at the 2008 CHA Assembly, June 22-24. Categories of recognition are for innovative programming that changes lives – Achievement Citation; and distinguished leadership – Sister Concilia Moran Award, Lifetime Achievement Award and the Midcareer Award. To place a nomination, www.chausa.org/awardnominations
RESOURCES
6. Key Health and Health Care Indicators by Race/Ethnicity and State
This data update from the Kaiser Family Foundation shows variation across states and racial and ethnic groups for six key health and health care indicators. The data update takes a look at disparities in infant mortality, diabetes-related mortality and AIDS cases among African Americans and Hispanics in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. It also provides similar breakdowns showing the percentage of each group in each state that is uninsured, enrolled in Medicaid and living in poverty. The information was released in April 2007. To view the report, http://www.kff.org/minorityhealth/7633.cfm
READINGS
7. Medical Students Receive Lessons That Will Live On
“Living with a Life-Threatening Illness,” a new course offered at Oregon Health & Science University and the first of its kind on the West Coast provides OHSU medical students a one-on-one match with a patient facing the end of life. In addition to a weekly seminar, the student and patient/teacher meet weekly. This feature article shadows and interviews both a medical student and her patient/teacher. To view the article, published May 21 in the Portland, Oregon newspaper The Oregonian, http://www.oregonlive.com/oregonian/stories/index.ssf?/base/news/1179717936137120.xml&coll=7
8. Care with Compassion
"Care with Compassion,” presents a clear picture of the rapid growth trend and benefits of palliative care programs for hospitals and their C-suite leaders. The article may serve as a useful springboard to help bolster support and strategic placement of palliative care programs. The article was published in the May issue of Trustee Magazine, a periodical of the American Hospital Association.
http://www.trusteemag.com/trusteemag_app/jsp/articledisplay.jsp?dcrpath=TRUSTEEMAG/Article/data/05MAY2007/0705TRU_FEA_Care&domain=TRUSTEEMAG
9. What Motivates Individuals to Plan for End-of-Life Care?
What truly motivates people to plan for medical care at life's end? With record numbers of Americans now reaching senior status, surprisingly little is known about these decisions or the factors that shape them, says University of Wisconsin-Madison sociologist Deborah Carr. A study by Carr and her Rutgers University colleague Dmitry Khodyakov now offers insights into a critical aspect of end-of-life planning: the choice to appoint a "health care proxy" who will make treatment decisions should a person become incapacitated. Their findings indicate that education, religious attitudes and experience with a loved one's death - especially a painful death - are all powerful influences on this decision. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, June 2007.
http://search.eurekalert.org/e3/query.html?col=ev3rel&ht=0&qp=&qs=&qc=ev3rel&pw=100%25&ws=0&la=&si=1&fs=&qt=end+of+life&ex=&rq=0&oq=&qm=0&ql=&st=1&nh=10&lk=1&rf=1
CONFERENCES & COURSES
10. American College of Healthcare Executives
May – December, 2007 / various locations
Educational seminars that offer information and tools to survive and thrive in today’s healthcare environment are offered throughout the end of the year. Topics focus on executive skills, finance and metrics, organizational effectiveness, physician relations and strategy. For a complete list of offerings, www.ache.org
11. The Key Components to Implementing Dementia Care
June 21, 2007 / Germantown, NY
Sponsored by the Avila Institute of Gerontology, Inc.
This one-day training course will focus on the quality of care for residents with dementia, including an overview of dementia, communication, encouraging positive behaviors, care for dementia patients and their care givers, and stress relieving techniques.
www.avilainstitute.org
12. From Continuous Care to Hospitalization and Respite Care –
Continuity and Communication
Audio Web Seminar
July 12, 2007
Sponsored by National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization
For session description, information about the presenter, continuing education and registration information, http://www.nhpco.org/i4a/pages/Index.cfm?pageID=5065
13. Calming the Storm: Addressing Terminal Restlessness
Audio Web Seminar
August 9, 2007
Sponsored by National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization
For session description, information about the presenter, continuing education and registration information, http://www.nhpco.org/i4a/pages/Index.cfm?pageID=5065
14. Saying Goodbye and Meaning It!
Effective Closure with Clear Boundaries for Hospice Team members
Audio Web Seminar
September 20, 2007
For session description, information about the presenter, continuing education and registration information, http://www.nhpco.org/i4a/pages/Index.cfm?pageID=5065
15. Intensive Update with Board Review in Geriatric and Palliative Medicine
September 30-October 3, 2007 / New York, NY
Sponsored by Brookdale Department of Geriatrics & Adult Development, Lillian and Benjamin Hertzberg Palliative Care Institute, Mount Sinai School of Medicine
The course highlights include small case-based workshops, one-on-one mentoring opportunities, the latest evidence-based knowledge in geriatric and palliative medicine and board review Q & A sessions. www.sporg.com/registration?form_id=82307.
16. Save the Date! 2008 National Congress in February
Plan to join the Supportive Care Coalition in San Antonio, Texas for the 2008 National Congress - Recovering Our Traditions III, A Journey of Transformation: Expanding the Horizons of Compassionate Care. Plans for the February 10-12 conference are still being finalized and will be shared here and on the Coalition Web site as they become available. Registration will begin in the fall, www.supportivecarecoalition.org