In this issue...
NEWS
1. OSF HealthCare Joins Supportive Care Coalition
2. Final Recommendations Released by Health Care Working Group
3. Welcome! New Coalition Directors
4. Hospice and Palliative Medicine Subspecialty Approved
5. First Hospital-Based Palliative Medicine Fellowship in State
OPPORTUNITIES
6. Articles Sought for Supportive Voice
7. Proposals for Partners Investing in Nursing’s Future
8. Submit Topic Session Ideas for 2007 Institutes of Learning
9. Clinical Scholars Sought for Robert Wood Johnson Program
10. The 2007 National Quality Healthcare Award
READINGS
11. Spiritual Issues in the Care of Dying Patients " . . . It's Okay Between Me and God"
12. Terminal Withdrawal of Life-Sustaining Supplemental Oxygen
RESOURCES
13. The Last Hours of Living: Practical Advice for Clinicians
CONFERENCES
14. Strengthening the Hospital-Hospice Connection through In-Patient Palliative Care
15. Faith Ministry and Dementia: Sharing the Spirit and Caring for Congregations
16. Focus on Pain & Symptom Management
17. Building Palliative Care Programs in Hospitals: Tools and Strategies for Success
18. 2006 Annual Meeting & Exposition "Live Your Story, Tell Your Story"
19. Dealing with Tough Situations: When Families and Caregivers Disagree
20. Spirituality & Healing in Medicine
21. How To Fast-Track Your Palliative Care Program Audio Conference
22. National Health Policy Conference 2007
23. 2007 American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine
NEWS
1. OSF HealthCare Joins Supportive Care Coalition
OSF HealthCare has joined the Supportive Care Coalition: Pursuing Excellence in Palliative Care. Representing OSF on the Coalition board of directors are Katie Jones, RN, MS, administrator of OSF Home Care; and Robert Sawicki, MD, medical director of OSF Home Care.
“As an extension of Catholic health care we must champion end of life initiatives. Our Supportive Care model is rooted in our Catholic identity and will allow us to better serve persons with the greatest care and love. We look forward to working with and learning from members of this distinguished group who are also striving to advance the care of patients, and their loved ones, who are facing a chronic progressive and/or terminal illness,” says Ms. Jones.
Owned and operated by The Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis in Peoria, Illinois, OSF HealthCare includes six acute care facilities, a long-term care facility, two colleges of nursing, a primary care physician network, a philanthropic foundation, OSF Home Care, OSF HealthPlans and other healthcare-related businesses. This multi-state health care system provides state-of-the-art, compassionate care to more than 2.5 million people through its facilities in Illinois and Michigan.
2. Final Recommendations Released by Health Care Working Group
On September 25, the Citizens’ Health Care Working Group released the Final Recommendations that will be sent to Congress and the President. As stated by law, the President has 45 days to submit a report to Congress, and no more than 45 days after receiving the President’s report, five Congressional Committees will hold at least one hearing on both the Final Recommendations and the President’s report. To view the final document, http://www.citizenshealthcare.gov/recommendations/finalrecs.php
3. Welcome! New Coalition Directors
A warm welcome to the following new board members who recently began serving on behalf of some of our current member organizations: Sr. Marilyn Perkins, DC, for Ascension Health, who serves as vice president for Mission Integration at Our Lady of Lourdes in Binghampton, NY; Lois Lane, JD, APRN, BC, for Catholic Health Initiatives, who is director of Ethics; Shirley Heintz, RN, MSA, CNAA, for Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth Health System, who serves as vice president of Patient Care Services; and Grace McCauley, for Trinity Health, who serves as CEO for Trinity Home Health Services.
4. Hospice and Palliative Medicine Subspecialty Approved
The full Assembly of the American Board of Medical Specialties voted on September 19 to establish an ABMS-sponsored subspecialty certificate in Hospice and Palliative Medicine. This action grants the discipline of Hospice and Palliative Medicine official status as a recognized subspecialty. For updates and eligibility criteria, please visit www.abhpm.org. Certification is expected to be offered for the first time in 2008.
5. First Hospital-Based Palliative Medicine Fellowship in State
Coalition member Trinity Health recently inaugurated the only community hospital-based, accredited palliative medicine fellowship in the state of Iowa at Mercy Medical Center, North Iowa. The program has just accepted its first fellow. Located in a rural community of 35,000, the fellowship will prepare physicians for the challenges and rewards of rural palliative medicine.
OPPORTUNITIES
6. Articles Sought for Supportive Voice
Submissions taken through November 15, 2006
The Supportive Care Coalition is currently seeking articles from professionals in the field of palliative and end-of-life care for the upcoming winter issue of Supportive Voice newsletter. Articles may focus on specific experiences, effective programs, initiatives or techniques. This quarterly publication reaches a nationwide audience. For more information or to submit an article for consideration, please email or call Peggy.Berwick@providence.org, 503-215-7070.
7. Proposals for Partners Investing in Nursing’s Future
Submissions taken through November 9, 2006
Partnerships Investing in Nursing’s Future, a collaborative initiative of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Northwest Health Foundation, will address nursing issues at the community level through funding partnerships with local and regional foundations. Up to 10 awards of up to $250,000 each will be made for projects lasting up to 24 months. Eligible institutions include local or regional private, family or community foundations and public charities. For complete information, http://www.partnersinnursing.org/grants_proposals.html
8. Submit Topic Session Ideas for 2007 Institutes of Learning
Submissions taken through December 12, 2006
The Institutes of Learning (IOL) Team invites Oncology Nursing Society members to submit ideas for institutes or open sessions to be offered at the 2007 Institutes of Learning conference November 9-11 in Chicago, IL. An institute provides three or six hours of intense training on a cutting-edge topic of interest, and the 90-minute open session focuses on a variety of current clinical and healthcare issues. Submissions must be made online, http://onsopcontent.ons.org/meetings/topicsubmission/
9. Clinical Scholars Sought for Robert Wood Johnson Program
Submissions taken through February 15, 2007
For more than three decades, the Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholars Program has fostered the development of physicians who are leading the transformation of health care in this country through positions in academic medicine, public health, and other leadership roles. Through the program, future leaders learn to conduct innovative research and work with communities, organizations, practitioners and policy makers on issues important to the health and wellbeing of all Americans. For application details, http://rwjcsp.stanford.edu/
10. The 2007 National Quality Healthcare Award
Applications accepted through November 21, 2006
Sponsored by the National Committee for Quality Health Care
Applications are now being taken for the 2007 National Quality Healthcare Award. This honor will recognize one healthcare organization for its proactive and exemplary response to the national call for quality improvement and accountability. Criteria used to assess applicants include: the successful use of performance measurement to drive quality improvement; fostering a culture of transparency and accountability to patients and the local community; and raising the bar of health system performance to achieve safe, timely, effective, patient-centered, equitable and efficient care for individual patients and populations. The award will be presented at the Award Gala on March 8, 2007 in Washington, D.C. http://www.ncqhc.org/about/new.cfm
READINGS
11. Spiritual Issues in the Care of Dying Patients " . . . It's Okay Between Me and God"
In the Clinician’s Corner, Br. Daniel P. Sulmasy, OFM, MD, PHD distinguishes the difference between spirituality and religion, explores meaning, values and relationships at the end of life, and defines the role physicians ought to assume in ascertaining and responding to those needs. He also discusses the particular issue of miracles. JAMA. Sept. 20, 2006;296:1385-1392.
http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/gca?gca=296%2F11%2F1385&submit.x=78&submit.y=8
12. Terminal Withdrawal of Life-Sustaining Supplemental Oxygen
Supplemental oxygen has not commonly been considered a life-sustaining therapy. Yet it clearly serves this purpose for spontaneously breathing patients in whom pulmonary gas exchange is so impaired that the needs of vital organs cannot be met with ambient air alone, notes Scott D. Halpern, MD, PhD, M.Bioethics and John Hansen-Flaschen, MD. The article addresses the concerns of the terminal withdrawal of life-sustaining supplement oxygen and offers recommendations. JAMA, September 20, 2006: 296. http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/extract/296/11/1397
RESOURCES
13. The Last Hours of Living: Practical Advice for Clinicians
This online program by Drs. Linda Emanuel, Frank D. Ferris, Charles F. von Gunten and Jamie H. Von Roenn, provides continuing education credit for physicians and nurses on topics including introduction to and preparing for the last hours of life, physiologic changes, symptom management, typical last hours, pronouncing a patient dead and notifying the family.
www.medscape.com/viewprogram/5808?src=mp. Source: Hospice News Network Sept. 19, 2006
CONFERENCES
14. Strengthening the Hospital-Hospice Connection through In-Patient Palliative Care
Audio Conference
October 19, 2006 / 1:30-2:30 pm EST 10:30-11:30 am PST
Sponsored by the Center to Advance Palliative Care
Strong partnerships between hospital-based palliative care programs and hospices help to
ensure greater access to care across the continuum. This audio conference features speakers Mary Ann Gill, MA and Philip H. Santa-Emma, MD who will detail the improved processes, systems and interventions that result when these partnerships are strengthened.
A Q&A period will follow the panel discussion. To register,
http://www.capc.org/support-from-capc/audio-conf/10-19-06-audio/
15. Faith Ministry and Dementia: Sharing the Spirit and Caring for Congregations
October 19, 2006 / Edmonds, WA
Sponsors Stevens Healthcare, Snohomish County Division of Long Term Care & Aging
Primary presenter Teepa Snow, MS, OTR/L, FAOTA, will share the complexities of dementia, how to be with persons with dementia, and how to support their caregivers. For further information contact Mary Hanke, MDiv, CT 425-640-4019.
16. Willamette Valley Regional Palliative Care Conference:
Focus on Pain & Symptom Management
October 20, 2006 / Medford, OR
November 17, 2006 / Salem, OR
Sponsored by Oregon Health & Science University Center for Ethics in Health Care
Leaders in palliative care will discuss best practices and key issues in caring for patients with life-threatening or severe advanced illness, or near the end of life. http://www.ohsu.edu/ethics/palcare.shtml
17. Building Palliative Care Programs in Hospitals: Tools and Strategies for Success
November 2-4, 2006 / Chicago, IL
Sponsored by Center to Advance Palliative Care and Mt. Sinai School of Medicine
A highly practical and comprehensive overview of the operational and financial aspects of starting and sustaining a successful palliative care program. www.capc.org
18. 2006 Annual Meeting & Exposition "Live Your Story, Tell Your Story"
November 5-8, 2006 / San Francisco, CA
Sponsored by American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging
Tap resources of more than 200 educational options addressing today's aging services needs and challenges. For more information and registration, http://www.aahsa.org/am2006
19. Dealing with Tough Situations: When Families and Caregivers Disagree
Audio Conference
November 8 and 9, 2006
Sponsored by Catholic Health Association
Carol Taylor, RN, PhD, director of the Center for Clinical Bioethics at Georgetown University will discuss these seemingly insurmountable challenges. Upon completion, participants will be able to describe common sources of conflict about treatment goals and plans of care, identify families and care giving teams at risk for decisional conflict, and evaluate strategies and best practices to prevent or resolve decisional conflict. www.chausa.org
20. Spirituality & Healing in Medicine:
Including New Intercessory Prayer Findings and the Concept of Emergence
December 2-3, 2006
Sponsors Harvard Medical School Department of Continuing Education, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Department of Medicine, Mind Body Medical Institute, The George Washington Institute for Spirituality and Health
Through interactive dialogue and experiential learning participants will gain an understanding of the role of spiritual practices in medicine and clinical care; new physiologic molecular, neurologic and clinic effects of relaxation response; the role of recently published findings related to intercessory prayer, and the possible role of emergence in spirituality and healing, www.cme.hms.harvard.edu/courses/healing
21. How To Fast-Track Your Palliative Care Program Audio Conference
An Open Forum with Leaders of the Palliative Care Leadership Centers
December 7, 2006
Sponsored by Center to Advance Palliative Care
Check Web site for details, www.capc.org
22. National Health Policy Conference 2007
February 12-13, 2007 / Washington, DC
Gain perspective on next year’s health policy priorities directly from the policymakers. Topic tracks include paying for quality, covering the uninsured, strengthening the workforce and advancing public health, www.academyhealth.org
23. 2007 American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine and
Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association Annual Assembly
February 14-17, 2007 / Salt Lake City, UT
Sponsored by the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine
A $200 scholarship funding opportunity is available for up to 50 registrants. For registration and a complete conference brochure, http://www.aahpm.org.
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