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June 2004

 

CAPC eNews
JUNE 2004

 

Dear CAPC eNews Subscriber,
We would like to know what you think of the CAPC eNews and Alerts so we can provide the information and resources you need. Please help us serve you better by taking a few minutes to complete a brief survey - simply go to www.surveysoftware.net/hostsg/eNews.htm to give us your feedback. To thank you for your input, we will send you the popular "Ask Me About Palliative Care" button. Your answers will remain confidential and we will not share your information with anyone.

Thank you for your assistance,
CAPC
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In this eNews:

    1. Clinical Practice Guidelines for Quality Palliative Care Released by the National Consensus Project
    2. New Tool From CAPC: A Guide to Building A Hospital-Based Palliative Care Program
    3. Palliative Care Leadership Centers (PCLCs) Receive High Ratings - Apply Now for A Site Visit
    4. CAPC's Fall Management Training Seminar Planned for October 2004
    5. Palliative Care in the News: Coverage from Continuing Care, The Oncology Watch, Cincinnati Enquirer, Oncology Times, Wall Street Journal, New England Journal of Medicine, Cleveland Plain Dealer, BlueCross BlueShield Health Issues, The Hospitalist, Santa Cruz Sentinel, and New York Times.
    6. Save the Date: Upcoming Events in the Palliative Care Field
    7. Education and Training
    8. Palliative Care Training Programs List
    9. Job Postings on CAPC's Website

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1. NATIONAL CONSENSUS PROJECT GUIDELINES RELEASED ON APRIL 30, 2004

The National Consensus Project, a consortium of five palliative care organizations including the Center to Advance Palliative Care, has published Clinical Practice Guidelines for Quality Palliative Care. The evidence-based guidelines were developed by representative leaders in the field following a process that invited input from more than 100 experts in palliative care. The guidelines reflect the urgent need for consistently high quality palliative care to care for an aging population with more serious, chronic illnesses in coming years. They are designed to help the rapidly growing number of hospitals, nursing homes, hospices and health systems that are establishing palliative care programs to ensure high-quality, state-of-the-art care of advanced illness.

To access the guidelines visit www.nationalconsensusproject.org.

2. CAPC PUBLISHES A GUIDE TO BUILDING A HOSPITAL-BASED PALLIATIVE CARE PROGRAM

CAPC’s newest publication, A Guide to Building a Hospital-Based Palliative Care Program, is a desktop tool for health professionals considering or planning a hospital-based palliative care program. This “how-to” manual provides step-by-step planning and implementation guidance complete with examples of tools and guidelines, as well as sample policies and procedures from successful programs. Drawing on the experiences of a variety of thriving palliative care programs, the Guide takes readers through seven stages to launching and running a quality program:

1. Building the Case for a Hospital-Based Palliative Care Program
2. Designing an Operational Plan
3. Presenting the Business Plan
4. Implementing Palliative Care Services
5. Measuring Program Quality and Impact
6. Marketing the Palliative Care Program
7. Sustaining and Growing the Program

This one-of-a-kind publication is available for a short time at an introductory price of $100. To obtain an order form, click here, e-mail capc@mssm.edu, or call 212-201-2671.

3. VISITORS GIVE THE PALLIATIVE CARE LEADERSHIP CENTERS HIGH MARKS

Over 70 institutions have already visited the Palliative Care Leadership Centers (PCLCs) to receive hands-on training and tools to build their hospital-based palliative care program. The PCLCs - six highly experienced programs with strong track records in palliative care - host site visits and provide ongoing mentoring to the rapidly growing number of hospitals and other institutions seeking to start or strengthen hospital-based palliative care programs.

Visitors to the PCLCs give the site visit curriculum modules extremely high ratings, with 96.2% of them saying they would recommend a site visit to others. Specific comments include:

"The site visit program made all the difference. Because of what our team learned, we have increased our patient volume and budget -- and have much more legitimacy. It really helped to work with leaders in the field and have them behind us."

"This was an excellent experience for our team. We are leaving with the tools we need to make our program successful."

There are a limited number of opportunities to receive this hands-on training and over 165 institutions have already registered. Don't miss your chance - register today at www.capc.org/pclc, or contact Sarah DeFeo at 212- 201-2683 or pclc@mssm.edu.

4. NEXT MANAGEMENT TRAINING SEMINAR SCHEDULED FOR OCTOBER 2004 - MINNESOTA SEMINAR RECEIVED RAVE REVIEWS

CAPC is scheduling its next Management Training Seminar for October 2004. Don't miss this opportunity to hear proven strategies and techniques for planning, funding, and sustaining a palliative care program from nationally renowned experts, and network with your peers. Check www.capc.org for more details in the coming weeks.


5. PALLIATIVE CARE IN THE NEWS…

"When Alzheimer's Steals the Mind, How Aggressively to Treat the Body?" by GIna Kolata. New York Times May 18, 2004. http://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/18/health/18DEME.html

"Keeping Hope Alive: Laura Bush Meets With Teen Cancer Patients" by Shanna McCord. Santa Cruz Sentinel May 15, 2004. http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/archive/2004/May/15/local/stories/03local.htm

"Keeping Hope Alive: Boxer Takes Teen's Fight to Heart" by Shanna McCord. Santa Cruz Sentinel May 14, 2004. http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/archive/2004/May/14/local/stories/03local.htm

"Keeping Hope Alive: Teen Patient Heads to Capital" by Shanna McCord. Santa Cruz Sentinel May 13, 2004. http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/archive/2004/May/13/local/stories/03local.htm

"UCSF to Mentor Hospitalists in Creating Inpatient Palliative Care Programs" by Dr. Eva Chittenden. The Hospitalist May/June 2004.

"Ethical Guidelines for Assisting Patients With End-of-Life Decision Making." BlueCross BlueShield Health Issues April 25, 2004.

“Doctor Urges Palliative Care for Sick Kids" by Sarah Treffinger. Cleveland Plain Dealer April 22, 2004.

"Pediatric Palliative Care" by Dr. Bruce Himelstein, Dr. Joanne Hilden, Ann Morstad Boldt and Dr. David Weissman. New England Journal of Medicine April 22, 2004.

"Case Study: Targeted Planning, Training, Marketing Yield Palliative Care Unit Success." The Oncology Watch April 16, 2004.

"Designing A Better Place to Die" by Andrea Petersen. Wall Street Journal April 13, 2004.

"Establishing A Palliative Care Unit: Learning From the Palliative Care Leadership Center (First of Two Parts)" by Margot Fromer. Oncology Times April 10, 2004.

"Hospice Care 'Unmet Need' in US" by Mike Boyer. Cincinnati Enquirer April 4, 2004. http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2004/04/04/biz_rotorooter04vitas.html

" Case Study: Cost Avoidance, Staff Retention, Patient Satisfaction Justify Palliative Care." The Oncology Watch April 2, 2004.

"The Potential of Palliative Care: Quality Improvement for Complex Patients" by Dr. Diane E. Meier. Continuing Care March/April 2004.


6. SAVE THE DATE: UPCOMING EVENTS IN THE PALLIATIVE CARE FIELD

For more information on these events, visit www.capc.org and click on “Events/Calendar of Events” or, simply click here.

•  Multidisciplinary Continuum of Cancer Care June 18, 2004. Embassy Suites Hotel, Cleveland, OH. For more information contact Joanna Brell, MD (The course director) from The Case Comprehensive Cancer Center at 216-844-1675.

•  Perspectives on Palliative Care June 23-24, 2004. Albany, NY. Presented by the Hospice & Palliative Care Association of New York State. Pasadena Hilton Hotel, Pasadena, CA. For more information call 518-446-1438 ext. 24, email Elaine M. Angelo eangelo@hpcanys.org or visit the website at http://www.hpcanys.org.

•  MASCC/ISOO 16th International Symposium Supportive Care in Cancer June 24-27, 2004. South Beach - Miami, FL. For information contact Steve Foster at 216-444-8420 or 1-800-238-6750, or visit http://www.clevelandclinicmeded.com/mascc.


7. EDUCATION AND TRAINING

For more information on education, training and fellowships visit www.capc.org and click on “Resources/Education and Training” or, simply click here.

Adapting Health Care to Serious Chronic Illness in Last Phase of Life: The Third National Medicaring Quality Improvement Collaborative (MC-QuIC), January through November 2004. For more information visit www.medicaring.org/nc2004/.

Mount Sinai Integrated Fellowships in Hematology-Oncology/Palliative Medicine and Geriatrics/Palliative Medicine
Two new integrated fellowships offer more than traditional clinical training. Sponsored by the Hertzberg Palliative Care Institute at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York City, the fellowships provide intensive mentoring and rigorous clinical, educational, and research training. They are designed for individuals who want to be positioned for national academic leadership in their core subspecialty of hematology-oncology or geriatrics and the rapidly growing field of palliative medicine. Apply now for academic years 2006-2008. Contact: palliativecare@mssm.edu, or call 212-241-1446.


8. PALLIATIVE CARE TRAINING PROGRAMS LIST

CAPC is compiling a list of palliative care programs offering brief clinical training. If you are offering such training, please email your contact information and a brief description of your program to carol.sieger@mssm.edu.


9. JOB POSTINGS ON CAPC’S WEBSITE

The CAPC web site is also a resource for palliative care employers and job seekers. The postings are meant to assist healthcare professionals by filling and locating positions within the palliative care field. Visit the job opportunities page (at www.capc.org) to post current openings or look for career opportunities.

Or, you can post a job opening by simply e-mailing a short description of the position to capc@mssm.edu. Be sure to include contact information and a website link, if possible.

Current jobs listed include:

The American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine is accepting applications from qualified individuals for the positions of Chair of the Council of the College of Palliative Care (CPC) and AAHPM Executive Vice President. Applicants and references should send their materials in WORD documents attached to an e-mail message no later than July 16, 2004 to: Anne Cordes AAHPM Executive Director, acordes@amctec.com .