In this issue...
NEWS
1. Dartmouth Report Data Refutes “More is Better”
2. Coalition’s Spirituality Initiative Featured in Health Progress
3. James Shaw, MD Presents to Chaplain Association
4. Sheila MacMaster Addresses Conferences
RESOURCES
5. A Lion in the House Provides Opportunity for Outreach
6. Musical CD Loom of Love
7. Family Caregiver Alliance Urges Improved Caregiver Assessment
READINGS
8. Providing a “Good Death”: Critical Care Nurses’ Suggestions
9. Focus on African American Perceptions of Hospice Programs
10. Physician with Firsthand Knowledge About Pain Advocates Opium-Based Drugs
OPPORTUNITIES
11. Using SBAR to Improve Communication Between Caregivers
12. Call for abstracts: Ovarian Cancer Research Symposium: From Prevention to Cure
13. Call for abstracts: 16th International Congress on Care of the Terminally IlI
14. End-of-Life Care Obstacles and Facilitators in Critical Care Units
15. Data Base Papers Published From Nursing Education Consortium Programs
16. Hospitalists and Palliative Care Audio Conference
17. True Compassion: End-of-Life Care for Body and Soul
18. 91st Catholic Health Assembly
19. Excellence in End-of-Life Care
20. Current Concepts in Palliative Care: Update and Review Course
Hospice Medical Director Course
21. Palliative Care: Best Practices for Advanced Illness
22. 16th International Congress on Care of the Terminally Ill
23. Promoting Excellence in Pain Management for Social Workers
24. End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium Courses
25. Building Academic Palliative Care: Palliative Care Leadership Center Training
NEWS
1. Dartmouth Report Data Refutes “More is Better”
Chronically ill patients had no better outcomes, and in some cases worse outcomes in communities where they had access to more medical resources than in communities with fewer medical resources, concludes the 2006 Dartmouth Atlas Report. Since most Americans say they prefer to avoid a very "high-tech" death, the report concludes that Medicare spending for the care of the chronically ill could be reduced by as much as 30%, while improving quality, patient satisfaction, and outcomes. http://www.dartmouthatlas.org/
2. Coalition’s Spirituality Initiative Featured in Health Progress
An article co-authored by board member Christina Puchalski, MD, MS, and former coalition executive director Sylvia McSkimming, PhD, RN, “Creating Healing Environments,” was published in the May-June 2006 issue of Health Progress. The article is a reprint from the coalition’s May 2006 newsletter Supportive Voice.
http://www.chausa.org/Pub/MainNav/News/HP/Archive/2006/05MayJun/Articles/SpecialSection/HP0605e.htm
3. James Shaw, MD Presents to Chaplain Association
“Palliative Care: Opportunities for Advancing Effective Physician and Chaplain Relationships,” and “Palliative Care, Chaplains and Physicians: Going Forward to Basics,” were presented by coalition board member James Shaw, MD, Medical Director for Providence Center for Faith and Healing, Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane, WA. He addressed attendees of the National Association of Catholic Chaplains Conference in March.
4. Sheila MacMaster Addresses Conferences
“The Philadelphia Story,” a parish-based outreach program helping the fragile and elderly, was presented by coalition board member Sheila MacMaster at the joint National Counsel on Aging and the American Society on Aging conference in Anaheim. Additionally, she presented the Catholic Care Options Program for the Elderly (CCOPE) at the April Catholic Continuing Care Symposium in St. Pete Beach, Florida.
RESOURCES
5. A Lion in the House Provides Opportunity for Outreach
The June 21 and 22 PBS broadcast of A Lion in the House, an unprecedented look at the cancer journeys of five young people and their families, seeks to galvanize public attention around childhood cancer and spur a national dialogue, support families and caregivers, and inspire local and regional action. An outreach kit, fact sheets, learning guides, promotional items, DVD clips from the program and other support materials are available. http://www.itvs.org/outreach/lioninthehouse/
6. Musical CD Loom of Love
Trained music thanatologists from various hospitals, hospices and practices throughout the Pacific Northwest have created a rich musical tapestry woven with harps and voices to refresh the spirit. This CD was produced by Strings of Compassion, the music-thanatology practice at Sacred Heart Medical Center and Hospice in Eugene, Oregon.
541-686-7402 www.peacehealth.org/stringsofcompassion
7. Family Caregiver Alliance Urges Improved Caregiver Assessment
This two-part report, issued by the National Center on Caregiving at the Family Caregiver Alliance, calls for significant improvement in healthcare and long-term care that relies too much on families without recognizing and assessing family caregivers’ own support and health needs. Volume I, Caregiver Assessment: Principles, Guidelines and Strategies, contains an overview and significance of the report, principles and guidelines for practice and strategies and actions for change. Volume II, Caregiver Assessment: Voices and Views from the Field, contains background papers and personal accounts. www.caregiver.org.
READINGS
8. Providing a “Good Death”: Critical Care Nurses’ Suggestions
This study collected responses and suggestions to improve end-of-life care from 861critical care nurses. Of those who responded, 485 offered 530 suggestions for providing a “good death” for their patients. American Journal of Critical Care, January 2006;15(1):38-45.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=16391313&query_hl=1&itool=pubmed_DocSum
9. Focus on African American Perceptions of Hospice Programs
This report, Attitudes, Values and Questions of African Americans Regarding Participation in Hospice Programs, explores the perceptions and experiences of African Americans regarding end-of-life care and participation in hospice programs. Journal of Hospice and Palliative Nursing, 2006;8(2):77-85) www.medscape.com/viewarticle/530363?src=mp.
10. Physician with Firsthand Knowledge About Pain Advocates Opium-Based Drugs
Pain. He lives it, he studies it, he works to reduce it for himself and his patients. Dr. Howard Heit virtually personifies the contentious national dispute between Drug Enforcement Administration and the Justice Department, and the many pain doctors and patients who have protested the DEA’s approach at prosecuting scores of pain doctors who allegedly misused their authority to write prescriptions for narcotic painkillers. This, according to the article, Pitching Relief, in The Washington Post’s April 23, 2006 edition.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/22/AR2006042201369.html?sub=new
OPPORTUNITIES
11. Using SBAR to Improve Communication Between Caregivers
(Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation)
A Web & ACTION Program
June 29, July 20, August 9, 2006
One of the important lessons from the coalition's CALL Care demonstration project (Comprehensive, Adaptable, Longitudinal, Life Affirming Care) is that patients are best served when care is coordinated across and within care settings. The Joint Commission now requires facilities to implement a standardized approach to handoff communications (National Patient Safety Goal 2). Towards that end, the Institute for Healthcare Improvement is offering this web- based program on structured communications to improve team effectiveness:
Making the Case, June 29, 1-2:30 pm EST
Application and Critical Success Factors of Implementation, July 20, 1-2:30 pm EST
SBAR Implementation - Being Successful and Sustaining the Change, August 9, 1-2:30 pm EST
12. Call for abstracts: Ovarian Cancer Research Symposium: From Prevention to Cure
Submission deadline June 1, 2006; Late-breaking abstracts accepted through July 15, 2006
The 6th Biennial Ovarian Cancer Research Symposium Planning Committee is seeking abstracts with direct or potential applicability to ovarian cancer. Selected authors will be invited to present during scientific sessions or at the poster session at the Seattle, WA conference set for September 7-8, 2006. Notification will be by August 1, 2006. 206-215-6200 www.marsharivkin.org
13. Call for abstracts: 16th International Congress on Care of the Terminally Ill
Submission deadline June 1, 2006
Abstracts are being accepted for consideration as a poster presentation for the
September 26-29, 2006 conference. 514-481-7408, ext. 227 www.pal2006.com
CONFERENCES
14. End-of-Life Care Obstacles and Facilitators in Critical Care Units
This project investigated critical care nurses’ perceptions of obstacles to and facilitators of end-of-life care in critical care units of a community hospital. Journal of Hospice and Palliative Nursing, March/April 2006; 8(2):92.
15. Data Base Papers Published From Nursing Education Consortium Programs
Data base papers from the End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium (ELNEC) graduate and core training programs have been published in two journals:
Graduate Nursing Education Regarding End-of-Life Care: Solutions to an Urgent Need. Nursing Outlook, 54(1):46-52. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=16487780&query_hl=13&itool=pubmed_docsum
Evaluation of End-of-Life Nursing Education for Continuing Education and Clinical Staff Development Educators. Journal for Nurses in Staff Development, 22(1): 31-36
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=16465096&query_hl=17&itool=pubmed_DocSum
16. Hospitalists and Palliative Care Audio Conference
May 18, 2006 / 1:30 - 2:30 pm EST; 10:30 - 11:30 am PST
Sponsored by Center to Advance Palliative Care & Society of Hospital Medicine
Increasingly the dominant providers of care for hospitalized patients, hospitalists are also the physicians caring for the people who need palliative care. By joining a palliative care team, hospitalists benefit from job diversity and high satisfaction.
http://www.capc.org/products/audio-conferences/2006-05-18/
17. True Compassion: End-of-Life Care for Body and Soul
June 1-3, 2006 / Calgary, Alberta
Sponsored by Canadian Catholic Bioethics Institute
This conference will explore the meaning of suffering and dignity for those at
the end of life and raise the deeper questions concerning important ethical,
theological and spiritual dimensions. http://www.utoronto.ca/bioethic/Pages/frameset.htm
18. 91st Catholic Health Assembly –
Always With Us, Living our Commitment to Persons in Need
June 4-6, 2006 / Orlando, FL
Sponsored by the Catholic Health Association
Rooted in God’s justice and inspired by the words and actions of Christ, the Catholic health ministry is committed to healing and bringing hope to all people in need – especially the sick, elderly, dying and those at the margins of society. This assembly will honor the ministry’s response to this ongoing commitment, and explore possibilities and describe new strategies to expand and enhance the services ministry organizations deliver. Presentations by Paul Farmer, MD, PhD.; Sr. Karin Dufault, SP, RN, PhD.; Mary Pipher, PhD.; Bishop William Skylstad, DD.
http://www.chausa.org/Pub/MainNav/Events/Assembly/
19. 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
20. Current Concepts in Palliative Care: Update and Review Course
Hospice Medical Director Course
August 17-19, 2006 / Las Vegas, NV
Sponsored by American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine
The course provides a thorough update on current practice and a basis for review for the American Board of Hospice and Palliative Medicine Certification Examination.
http://www.aahpm.org/education/course.html
21. Palliative Care: Best Practices for Advanced Illness
August 24-25, 2006 / Minneapolis, MN
Sponsored by Allina Hospitals & Clinics
This two-day intensive course will provide foundational knowledge for best practices for palliative care. http://www.allina.com/ahs/HCHS.nsf/page/education
22. 16th International Congress on Care of the Terminally Ill
September 26-29, 2006 / Montréal, Canada
Presented by Palliative Care Division, Departments of Medicine and Oncology, McGill University
Sr. Karin Dufault and Dr. Christina Puchalski, MD, will present the coalition’s spirituality initiative project at this premier international palliative care conference. Focus will include pediatric palliative care, healing and whole-person care, non-cancer end-of-life care, self-esteem, respiratory palliative care, and volunteerism. The deadline for submission of abstracts for consideration as a poster presentation is June 1, 2006.
514-481-7408, ext. 227 www.pal2006.com
23. Promoting Excellence in Pain Management for Social Workers
September 27, 2006 / Duarte, CA
Sponsored by Southern California Cancer Pain Initiative
Participants will learn how to maximize their interventions in pain and symptom management and to address the critical needs facing patients and their families.
http://sccpi.coh.org/Social%20Workers%20Course/SW%20Course%202006.html
24. End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium Courses
2006/2007 / Throughout the United States
Presented by End of Life Nursing Education Consortium
Continuing its role as the foremost developer of end-of-life curricula for nurses, ELNEC is now offering an ELNEC course focused on critical care nursing. This will complement its core curriculum and specialty courses in oncology, pediatric palliative care, and geriatric care. http://www.aacn.nche.edu/ELNEC/06Courses.htm
25. Building Academic Palliative Care: Palliative Care Leadership Center Training
2006 / Throughout the United States
Sponsored by Center to Advance Palliative Care (CAPC)
New training opportunities to assist academic medical centers secure their status as national leaders in the emerging field of palliative care.
http://www.capc.org/palliative-care-leadership-initiative/training-dates/