NEWS
1. CMS Releases Proposal for 2008 Wage Index for Hospice, Comments Invited
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services released its proposed rule and update for the fiscal year 2008 hospice wage index. The index, updated annually, is used to adjust payment rates for hospice agencies under the Medicare program to reflect local differences in area wage levels. The proposed rule would set forth the hospice wage index FY 2008 and would also revise the methodology for updating the wage index for rural areas without hospital wage data and provide clarification of selected existing Medicare hospice regulations and policies. Comments will be taken through 5 pm on July 2, 2007. For more information, http://www.cms.hhs.gov/center/hospice.asp
2. Putting Evidence into Practice Cards Available from Oncology Nursing Society
The new 6-card set of Oncology Nursing Society’s PEP cards is available for purchase through ONS. The cards feature new topics: caregiver strain and burden, constipation, depression, dyspnea, mucositis, and peripheral neuropathy. To order, please visit http://esource.ons.org/ProductDetails.aspx?sku=KTPU0010
OPPORTUNITIES
3. New Ethics Newsletter Seeks Articles, Suggestions, Ideas
Health Care Ethics USA, is seeking feature articles, news from the field such as case studies complete with suggested readings, sample policies, successful educational programs and tools; as well as information for the Resources section for upcoming issues. The quarterly publication is published jointly by the Center for Health Care Ethics, CHCE, at St. Louis University and the Catholic Health Association. http://www.chausa.org/Pub/MainNav/News/HCEthics/overview.htm
Applications accepted through June 15, 2007
Currently in its second year, the Pain Policy Fellowship Program aims to improve the availability of opioid analgesics for pain management in patients with cancer, HIV/AIDS, or other chronic diseases. Applications are being accepted from mid-career-level physicians, pharmacists, health care administrators, policy makers; social workers or lawyers from a health care facility, policy center, or university in low or middle income countries. The Fellow must commit to spending 20 percent of his/her professional time on the project. An application may be found at http://www.soros.org/initiatives/health/focus/ipci/grants/palliative.
5. Advanced Practice Nursing Conference Abstracts Sought
Abstracts accepted through July 10, 2007
Abstract submissions are being accepted for the Advanced Practice Nursing Conference to be held November 8-10 in Chicago. Abstracts must describe cutting-edge original nursing research or nursing innovations in the areas of administration/ leadership development, clinical/evidence-based practice, or education. Selection will be based solely on blind review, and all abstracts accepted in 2007 will be presented as posters. The primary author for the abstract must be an advanced practice nurse. Advanced practice nurses (APNs) are RNs who have acquired specialized knowledge and skills by completing a master's or doctorate degree in their specialty.
RESOURCES
6. Social Worker E-Mail Network
The Social Work Network in Palliative and End-of-Life Care is a joint effort of the Project on Death in America and the Department of Pain Medicine and Palliative Care, Beth Israel Medical Center, New York. This list provides an opportunity for social workers in such fields as oncology, geriatrics, HIV, hospice, nephrology, and pediatrics to network and discuss multidimensional aspects and issues related to palliative and end-of-life care. To join the list, please complete and return the registration form at the following http://www.stoppain.org/for_professionals/content/education/education.asp#listserv
7. National Cancer Institute Offers Spanish Web Site
The most reliable, up-to-date information about cancer is now available in Spanish at the National Cancer Institute's (NCI) Spanish Web site, http://www.cancer.gov/espanol
NCI, the Federal government’s premiere cancer research institute, is committed to reducing cancer health disparities by making cancer information readily available to underserved populations. The Web site features themes of prevention, detection, treatment, and survivorship. http://www.cancer.gov/espanol
READINGS
8. On How Increasing Numbers of Newer Cancer Therapies Further Delay Referral to Hospice: The Increasing Palliative Care Imperative
This article describes how the proliferation of newer anticancer therapies, although desirable overall, may further increase delays in referral of cancer patients to hospice until very near the end of life, and may deny patients and families optimal palliative care. American Journal of Hospice & Palliative Medicine, April/May 2007, Vol. 24, No. 2, 126-130.
9. Medical Care at the End of Life: A Catholic Perspective
In this book, David F. Kelly, a veteran ethicist in the classroom and hospital, has developed a no-nonsense, jargon-free, accessible text on end-of-life health care decision-making for a wide range of publics and especially for the faithful confident in the Catholic Church and U.S. law. For more information, please read the Book Review in Health Progress, May-June 2007. http://www.chausa.org/Pub/MainNav/News/HP/Archive/2007/05MayJune/Departments/BookReview/
10. POLST: Honoring Wishes at the End of Life
In his article published in the inaugural issue of the new Health Care Ethics USA, Supportive Care Coalition board member Jim Shaw, MD, Medical Director of Providence Center for Faith and Healing at Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane, WA, explains POLST, Physicians Orders for Life Sustaining Treatments. Additionally, a sample POLST form as well as a select bibliography of articles further explaining POLST are shared. http://www.chausa.org/Pub/MainNav/News/HCEthics/overview.htm
11. Older Persons Relocating With a Family Caregiver - Processes, Stages, and Motives
A significant number of families who care for an elderly relative relocate in the same residence. However, research has paid little attention to the process that precedes such relocation. This article aims at studying this process by examining the experiences of a sample of Canadian elderly and their caregivers, born in Quebec and in Haiti. The article highlights that in spite of diversity, moving in together usually occurs in stages and follows a relatively lengthy process in which transitory living arrangements are not uncommon. In addition, a range of events, hospital stays in particular, act as markers between stages or shorten their duration. It appears that cohabitation trajectories differ according to origin and generational group. Noteworthy is that home care services did not greatly influence the cohabitation decision of respondents from either group. Journal of Applied Gerontology, Vol. 26, No. 2, 182-207 (2007)
12. Decision Making at End of Life Among Japanese American Families
This exploratory study describes decision making at end of life among Japanese American families. Using qualitative methods including a one-time, semi-structured interview, 16 Japanese American family participants described their experiences with the death of 22 family members. A grounded theory analysis led to the development of a model of a process that reflected the influence of age-cohort generational differences and health care providers' involvement. The model also included four dimensions of family understanding. The four dimensions: awareness of the seriousness of the family members' condition, decision-making about life-sustaining treatment, readiness for impending death, and experience of the dying process. The results suggest that nurses and other health care providers can impact the level of understanding within each of the dimensions in culturally sensitive ways and contribute to improving the experience with end-of-life decision making for Japanese Americans. Journal of Family Nursing, Vol. 13, No. 2, 201-225 (2007)
CONFERENCES AND COURSES
13. Palliative Care Leadership Centers 2007 Training Dates
Jump-start your palliative care program by training at one of the Palliative Care Leadership Centers. To register for any session, visit http://www.capc.org
The remaining training locations and dates for 2007 are:
Minneapolis, MN July 18-20 & October 17-19
Milwaukee, WI June 11-13, August 22-24, October 24-26, December 19-21
Columbus, OH May 17-18, July 11-12, October 4-5
Lexington, KY June 13-15, August 22-24, September 19-21, October 10-12, November 7-9
San Francisco, CA May 21-22, October 25-26
Richmond, VA May 21-22, September 24-25, November 12-13.
14. Understanding, Utilizing, and Managing Change in your Organization
Audio Web Seminar
May 22, 2007 / 2-3 pm ET
Sponsored by the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization
This seminar will help leaders better understand the components of change and its role within organizations and how to be effective “change agents.” Specific strategies shared will ensure that managers and leaders attend to all aspects of change in an effort to temper the strong reaction and resistance that often accompanies it. A case study (focused on the implementation of “point of care” documentation/use of computer technology in clinical care) will bring concepts and understandings to life and enable participants to successfully apply them to their organizations. http://www.nhpco.org/i4a/pages/Index.cfm?pageID=5149#topic2
15. Integrating Palliative Care in the ICU
Audio Conference
Tuesday, June 5, 2007 / 1:30-2:30 pm EDT
Sponsored by the Center to Advance Palliative Care
Featured speaker is Daniel E. Ray, MD, MS, FCCP, Director, Critical Care Unit and Co-Director, Neuroscience Intensive Care Unit, Co-Principal Investigator, Palliative Care in the ICU Project at Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network. Through a look at current best practices in the integration of palliative care into the ICU, participants will learn the palliative care principles that are pertinent to the ICU setting, practical interventions to immediately integrate palliative care in the ICU, and methods to facilitate cultural change around palliative care in the ICU. Cost is $75 per phone line. http://www.capc.org/support-from-capc/audio-conf/06-05-07-audio
16. MDs & Long-Term Care
July 8-10, 2007/Orlando, FL
Sponsored by Eli Healthcare Conferences
Clinical, payment and operational sessions will be offered at this conference that spans topics such as diversity, quality, complaints, organizational management, communication, liability and Medicare compliance. www.elihealthcare.com/conference.htm
17. Children’s Hospice International (CHI) 18th World Congress
September 6-9, 2007 / Singapore
Sponsored by CHI, KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Asia Pacific Hospice & Palliative Care Network
The Congress anticipates over 200 pediatric palliative and hospice care providers from around the world to share information and insights about caring for children with life-threatening conditions, and to learn about the latest trends in pediatric palliative and hospice care. http://www.chionline.org/
18. Where Knowledge Meets Practice
October 7-10, 2007 / Boston, MA
Sponsored by American Health Care Association
This convention/exposition features 13 tracks and 70 education sessions and workshops. One of the new tracks will be devoted to Not-for-Profit Constituency and the association’s Advancing Excellence Campaign. www.AHCAconvention.org
19. National Forum on Cancer Care for All Canadians - Improving Access & Minimizing Disparities
November 1-3, 2007 / Vancouver, BC
The purpose of this national forum is to prepare an action plan to improve access to culturally competent quality cancer care for all Canadians. Themes to be addressed: access, service utilization and quality care; systematic cancer care and health care providers; research methods, data and evaluation. www.interprofessional.ubc.ca.
20. Hospice Palliative Care: At a Crossroads
November 4-7, 2007 / Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Sponsored by Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association
The conference will showcase innovative developments, explore current issues, challenge the concept of hospice palliative care, and provide opportunities to reflect on the meaning and impact of working in the field of hospice palliative care. http://conference.chpca.net/
21. Advanced Practice Nursing Conference
November 8-10, 2007 / Chicago, IL
Sponsored by Oncology Nursing Society
22. Eighth Annual Institutes of Learning