Course 1 of 10
Learn to define and characterize pain, recognize the prevalence of pain, understand disparities in pain management based on race, ethnicity, and gender.
Diane E. Meier, MD, FACP, FAAHPM
Dr. Diane E. Meier, FACP, FAAHPM, is Director Emerita and Strategic Medical Advisor of the Center to Advance Palliative Care, a national organization devoted to increasing access to quality health care in the United States for people living with serious illness. Under her leadership the number of palliative care programs in U.S. hospitals tripled since 2002.
Widely regarded as a preeminent change agent, Dr. Meier has received numerous awards that recognize and celebrate her achievements. In September 2008, Dr. Meier was awarded a MacArthur Foundation Fellowship (MacArthur Genius Award). She was named one of “20 People Who Make Healthcare Better in the United States” by HealthLeaders in 2010, and was elected to the National Academy of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences in 2013. In 2017 she received both the Gustav O. Lienhard Award of the National Academy of Medicine and the American Hospital Association’s HRET TRUST Award. Dr. Meier served as a Health and Aging Policy Fellow in Washington, DC, in 2009–10, working on the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions (HELP) and at the Department of Health and Human Services.
Dr. Meier has published more than two hundred works in peer-reviewed medical literature. Her most recent book, Meeting the Needs of Older Adults with Serious Illness: Challenges and Opportunities in the Age of Health Reform, was published by Humana in 2014. She has been featured in the media numerous times, including the PBS NewsHour Brief But Spectacular and the New York Times Magazine.
Books:
- Kelley AS, Meier DE, (eds.). Meeting the Needs of Older Adults with Serious Illness: Challenges and Opportunities in the Age of Health Care Reform. Humana Press: 2014. ISBN 9781493904068
- Hughes RG, Isaacs SL, Meier DE, (eds). Palliative Care: Transforming the Care of Serious Illness. Wiley/Jossey-Bass: March 2010. ISBN 9780470527177
- Cassel CK, Leipzig RM, Cohen HJ, Larson EB, Meier DE, (eds). Geriatric Medicine. 4th ed. New York: Oxford University Press, 2003. ISBN 0387955143
- Cassel CK, Leipzig RM, Cohen HJ, Larson EB, Meier DE, eds. Geriatric Medicine: An Evidence-Based Approach. 4th ed. New York: Springer-Verlag, 2003. ISBN 0387955143
- Morrison RS, Meier DE (eds). Geriatric Palliative Care. New York: Oxford University Press, 2003. ISBN 0195141911
Selected Publications:
- Meier DE, Lim B, Carlson MD. Raising the standard: palliative care in nursing homes. Health Affairs (Millwood) 2010 Jan-Feb;29(1):136-40. PMID 20048372
- Adler ED, Goldfinger JZ, Kalman J, Park ME, Meier DE. Palliative care in the treatment of advanced heart failure. Circulation 2009 Dec 22;120(25):2597-606. Review. PMID 20026792
- Weissman DE, Meier DE. Operational features for hospital palliative care programs: consensus recommendations. Journal of Palliative Medicine 2008 Nov;11(9):1189-94. PMID 19021479
- Morrison RS, Meier DE, Fischberg D, Moore C, Degenholtz H, Litke A, Maroney-Galin C, Siu AL. Improving the management of pain in hospitalized adults. Archives of Internal Medicine 2006;166:1033-1039.
- Meier DE. Palliative care as a quality improvement strategy for advanced, chronic illness. Journal of Healthcare Quality 2005;27: 33-39.
- Meier, DE; Morrison, RS. Palliative Care. New England Journal of Medicine 2004 (June)
- Meier DE; Thar W; Jordan A; Goldhirsch SL; Siu A; Morrison RS. Integrating case management and palliative care. Journal of Palliative Medicine 2004; Feb. 7(1):119-134
- Meier DE, Morrison RS. Autonomy reconsidered. New England Journal of Medicine 2002 Apr 4;346(14):1087-1089
- Meier DE, Back AL, Morrison RS. The inner life of physicians and care of the seriously ill. JAMA 2001 Dec 19;286(23):3007-3014
- Morrison R, Siu A, Leipzig R, Cassel C, Meier D. The hard task of improving the quality of care at the end of life. Archives of Internal Medicine 2000 Mar 27;160(6):743-7
Selected Original Peer-Reviewed Reports:
- Cassel JB, Spragens L, Bowman B, Rogers M, Meier DE. Palliative Care Leadership Centers are key to the diffusion of palliative care innovation. Health Affairs 2018;37:231-9.
- Meier DE, Back AL, Berman A, Block SD, Corrigan JM, Morrison RS. A national strategy for palliative care. Health Affairs 2017;36(7):1265-73.
- Spetz J, Dudley N, Trupin L, Rogers M, Meier DE, Dumanovsky T. Few hospital palliative care teams meet national staffing recommendations. Health Affairs 2016;35:1690-7.
- Meier DE. Measuring quality of care for the sickest patients. NEJM Catalyst February 2016 - http://catalyst.nejm.org/measuring-quality-of-care-for-the-sickest-patients/
- Dumanovsky T, Rogers M, Spragens LH, Morrison RS, Meier DE. Impact of staffing on access to palliative care in U.S. hospitals. Journal of Palliative Medicine 2015;18:998-9.
- Peter May, Melissa M Garrido, J Brian Cassel, Amy Kelley, Diane E. Meier, Charles Normand, Thomas J Smith, Lee Stefanis, and R. Sean Morrison. Prospective cohort study of hospital palliative care teams for inpatients with advanced cancer: earlier consultation is associated with larger cost-saving effect. Journal of Clinical Oncology 2015;33:1-10.
- Meier DE. Focusing together on the needs of the sickest 5%, who drive half of all healthcare spending. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 2014;62:1970-72.
- Meier DE. ‘I don’t want Jenny to think I’m abandoning her’: views on overtreatment. Health Affairs 2014;33(8):1492
- Tamura MK, Meier DE. Five policies to promote palliative care for patients with end stage renal disease. Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology 2013, June 6.
- Unroe K, Meier DE. Quality of hospice care for individuals with dementia. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 2013; 61:1212-14.
- Smith TJ, Temin S, Alesi ER, Abernethy AP, Balboni TA, Basch EM, Ferrell BR, Loscalzo M, Meier DE et al. American Society of Clinical Oncology provisional clinical opinion: the integration of palliative care into standard oncology care. Journal of Clinical Oncology 2012;30:880-7.
- Morrison RS, Augustin R, Souvanna P, Meier DE. America’s care of serious illness: a state-by-state report card on access to palliative care in our nation’s hospitals. Journal of Palliative Medicine 2011; 14:1094-6.
- Meier DE. Increased access to palliative care and hospice: Opportunities to improve value in healthcare. Millbank Quarterly 2011;89:343-380.
- Morrison RS, Dietrich J, Ladwig S, Quill T, Sacco J, Tangeman J, Meier DE. Palliative care consultation teams reduce hospital costs for Medicaid beneficiaries. Health Affairs 2011;30:454-463.
- Carlson MD, Lim B, Meier DE. Strategies and innovations for delivering palliative care in nursing homes. Journal of the American Medical Directors Association 2011;12:91-98.
- Kelley A, Meier DE. Palliative care: A shifting paradigm. New England Journal of Medicine 2010;363:781-2.
- Meier DE, Lim B, Carlson, MD. Raising the standard: Palliative care in nursing homes. Health Affairs 2010;29:136-40.
From the Blog
Driving Improvements in Hospital Care through Palliative Care Quality Incentives
How two health plans are using quality incentives to expand hospital-based palliative care and improve access for patients living with serious illness.
From Boomers to Gen Z: Navigating Generational Differences on Health Care Teams
All about the challenges and benefits of age diversity on health care teams—plus four key principles for leading multigenerational teams successfully.
Dr. Diane Meier on the History and Future of Palliative Care Research
Why Diane Meier, MD, is excited about the future of palliative care research and was inspired by the 2024 AAHPM State of the Science keynote.
Courses
Course 2 of 10
Learn the components of a comprehensive pain assessment and its importance in safe and effective pain management.
Course 3 of 10
Gain an overview of pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic pain treatments, including risks and benefits, and learn how to match the analgesic to pain type.
Course 4 of 10
Learn how to decide on an appropriate opioid, route of delivery, and dose, and understand how to prescribe for incident and breakthrough pain.
Course 5 of 10
Practice prescribing initial opioid doses for different pain types and characteristics. Learn to adjust dosing as needed to manage pain effectively.
Course 6 of 10
Learn to develop a pain treatment plan with realistic goals and proper documentation, and implement universal precautions to help with the risk of opioid use disorder.
Course 7 of 10
Learn how to convert from short-acting to long-acting opioids, and calculate rescue doses for breakthrough pain using updated equianalgesic tools.
Course 8 of 10
Learn how to identify and diagnose opioid use disorder (OUD) and practice communicating with patients about OUD and pain management.
Course 9 of 10
Determine which patients may benefit from buprenorphine as a treatment for pain and opioid use disorder (OUD), and learn how to transition patients to buprenorphine.
Course 10 of 10
Learn how to convert patients back and forth from oral to IV opioid formulations, how to prescribe patient-controlled analgesia (PCA), and how to treat acute pain crises.
After completing this course, learners will be equipped with evidence-based strategies to identify and treat anxiety in patients living with a serious illness.
Constipation occurs in at least 70% of patients living with a serious illness and often goes unrecognized. After completing this course, learners will have the tools to successfully identify and manage the impact of constipation.
After completing this course, learners will have the tools to accurately identify and treat depression in patients living with a serious illness.
After completing this course, learners will have the tools they need to manage dyspnea, including the physical causes of shortness of breath and the emotional impact on the patient.
Nausea and vomiting are common symptoms of serious illness and can cause dangerous complications. After completing this course, learners will be equipped with practical skills to identify, manage, and reduce these symptoms.
Course 1 of 5
Learn best practices for having patient-centered conversations about a serious illness diagnosis. These discussions are the foundation of building a trusting clinician-patient relationship.
Course 2 of 5
Learn how to effectively discuss prognosis with patients and their caregivers to ensure understanding and set the context for decision-making.
Course 3 of 5
Learn best practices for building trust, eliciting patient values, and having patient-centered conversations about goals of care.
Course 4 of 5
Learn to effectively lead conversations that address a range of concerns and emotions to help patients and caregivers become aligned around the patient’s goals.
Course 5 of 5
Learn techniques to help patients and their caregivers plan for the future, both during the early stages of a serious illness and as a disease progresses.
Course 1 of 8
Gain an overview of the experience of living with dementia and learn how to relieve distress for people living with dementia, and their caregivers.
Course 2 of 8
Learn how to discuss a diagnosis of dementia with patients and caregivers in a way that is sensitive, clear, and supportive, from diagnosis across the dementia trajectory.
Course 3 of 8
Learn techniques for supportive communication with people living with dementia, and their caregivers, to help them prepare for the challenges they may face as dementia progresses.
Course 4 of 8
Learn how to facilitate future planning discussions with people living with dementia, and their caregivers, including evaluating decision-making capacity, appointing a health care proxy, and preparing for financial, legal, and other impacts of dementia.
Available to non-members
Course 5 of 8
Learn how to support caregivers of people living with dementia, including assessment of caregiver burden and connecting caregivers to essential support systems.
Course 6 of 8
Learn about behavioral symptoms as a form of communication for people living with dementia, and how to assess their root cause and manage these symptoms.
Course 7 of 8
Learn how to mitigate and relieve common mood and sleep disturbances to improve quality of life for people living with dementia, and their caregivers.
Course 8 of 8
Learn about common health complications for people living with advanced dementia and how to support patients and caregivers.
This course provides context and best practices for identifying older adults at risk for poor outcomes, including falls, delirium, and caregiving challenges.
This course offers tools and guidance for assessing and addressing the needs of caregivers of people with serious illness.
Guidance for all clinicians on improving communication and ensuring smooth transitions of care for patients living with serious illness.
The role of the direct care worker in observing and reporting suffering in patients with serious illness.
Available to non-members
An introduction to palliative care, how it is delivered, its impact on quality of life, and the growing population of patients who need it.
Evaluating patient need, service requirements, and stakeholder priorities for the inpatient program.
Incorporating needs assessment and stakeholder priorities into design of a high-quality inpatient program.
Building a budget and a business plan for the inpatient program. Includes business planning tools.
Defining community-based palliative care: which patients need it, how it is delivered, and how it differs from inpatient palliative care.
Evaluating patient need, service requirements, care settings, and stakeholder priorities for the community-based palliative care program.
Designing and implementing an office-based palliative care program, including clinical model and operational considerations.
Translating needs assessment into service design for the community-based palliative care program.
Building a budget and a business plan for the community-based program. Includes business planning tools.
Course 1 of 6
Understand how Medicare, Medicaid, and private payers share responsibility for health care costs, and the financial impact on patients and families.
Course 2 of 6
Examine what Medicare does and doesn't cover, while exploring the rise of Medicare Advantage and its impact on patients and providers.
Course 3 of 6
Learn how Medicaid and VA benefits support vulnerable patients and families needing palliative care, and who qualifies for these programs.
Course 4 of 6
Explore how fee-for-service payment works, its impact on quality, and strategies to optimize both revenue and performance under this model.
Course 5 of 6
Learn how value-based payment models tie quality to cost, and explore strategies for balancing priorities when navigating both fee-for-service and value-based care.
Course 6 of 6
Examine the rise of for-profit health care, why investors are drawn to the field, and the impact of profit incentives on care delivery.
Hire and onboard your staff, manage program operations, and ensure a healthy high-functioning team using this toolkit.
Includes 72 resources.
Training and clinical tools for oncology clinicians from all disciplines.
Includes 32 resources.
Addressing the physical, psychological, and social impacts of serious illness, as well as the functioning of a healthy interdisciplinary team.
Includes 61 resources.
Training clinicians to support people with dementia and their caregivers, and guidance for quality improvement initiatives.
Includes 21 resources.
Tools to make the case for palliative care resources and financial partnerships, including the palliative care evidence base and downloadable tools for presenting the case.
Includes 26 resources.
Integrating palliative care practices in the Emergency Department (ED) through training and collaboration.
Includes 29 resources.
Explore recent federal palliative care initiatives, learn about opportunities for federal action, and access guidance on policy implementation.
Includes 25 resources.
Toolkit for building a business plan and budget, forming financial partnerships, and operating the program efficiently.
Includes 30 resources.
Strategic planning for program growth, including making the case, demonstrating value, and strengthening relationships with partners.
Includes 17 resources.
Practical tools and technical assistance for starting or growing a home-based palliative care program, from needs assessment to business planning, and more.
Includes 59 resources.
Tools and technical assistance for starting or expanding a hospital palliative care service.
Includes 25 resources.
Integrating palliative care practices in the ICU through training and collaboration.
Includes 34 resources.
Toolkit to support strategic planning, team leadership, and professional development for the palliative care leader.
Includes 30 resources.
Use this toolkit to evaluate models and design and operate a long-term care palliative care program.
Includes 33 resources.
Use this toolkit to select program measures that demonstrate value and support quality care delivery. Overcome common measurement obstacles and synthesize program data.
Includes 13 resources.
Tools and technical assistance for developing a palliative care program in a community clinic or office setting.
Includes 25 resources.
Toolkit for finding the right patients at the right time to address gaps in care.
Includes 31 resources.
Toolkit containing guidance on program design and program operations for the pediatric palliative care program.
Includes 64 resources.
Process and tools for stabilizing and strengthening palliative care programs in uncertain times.
Includes 7 resources.
Improving operations and training clinical staff to identify, stratify, and meet the needs of patients living with serious illness at the population level.
Includes 20 resources.
Use this toolkit to develop new programs and benefits for members with serious illness while driving improvements throughout the provider network.
Includes 40 resources.
Improving productivity and efficiency to ensure team health and operating within budget.
Includes 20 resources.
Tools for translating operational and service decisions into a realistic budget and business plan.
Includes 10 resources.
Use this toolkit to learn the issues and opportunities, explore recent state initiatives, and access guidance on implementation.
Includes 45 resources.
Tools to design and implement a training initiative for care teams from all specialties, to improve quality of life for patients and families living with serious illness.
Includes 29 resources.
Tools to develop financial partnerships including: making the case, contracting considerations, and how to use legal and financial advisers.
Includes 25 resources.
A coordinated effort to develop a national strategic plan to incentivize the delivery of high-quality care for people living with a serious illness.
Includes 11 resources.
Tools to help payers, policymakers, and providers understand best practices for delivering quality care during a serious illness, and to identify certifications that demonstrate adherence to third-party quality standards.
Includes 34 resources.
These tools can be used to make the case for palliative care investment with organization leaders, health plans, colleagues, and community partners.
Includes 23 resources.