Spring 2021
Featured
Feature
What Is-and Could Be-Palliative Care’s Role in Humanitarian Crises?
by Larry Beresford It seems as though humanitarian crises—whether from natural or human-caused disasters; sudden onset catastrophes such as earthquakes; devastating storms or wildfires; warfare, political conflicts, and ethnic violence; mass refugee displacements and relocations; epidemics such as Ebola; or...
In this Issue
A Message from the CEO
Lessons Learned in a Difficult Year
When asked to reflect on the past year as the new CEO for the Academy, I took a deep breath. Times have been and continue to be unpredictable. Our safety, health, and well-being moved to center stage. I found joy...
Meet the President
Meet AAHPM President Nathan E. Goldstein, MD FAAHPM
What led you to the specialty of hospice and palliative medicine? Having attended Mount Sinai for both medical school and my internal medicine residency, I was exposed to palliative care from the earliest days of my training. Throughout my medical...
Clinical Pearls
Oropharyngeal Symptoms in Palliative Care
Amanda Charity Sommerfeldt, MD FAChPM FAAHPM Oropharyngeal symptoms like oral mucositis (OM), xerostomia, and dysgeusia are common but underreported, underrecognized, and undertreated. Oral care is seldom prioritized, and inadequate treatment can result in complications and poorer outcomes.1–3 Published studies on...
Art of Caring
Behind the Mask
Case Study 2020 has been the hardest year of my career for anyone to die. Visitor restrictions and physically distant approaches to living life and caring for others highlight the preciousness of previously routine interactions with patients, families, and team...
Interview with AAFP President
“You Can’t Become What You Can’t See”
An Interview with Dr. Ada D. Stewart, President of the American Academy of Family Physicians Cory Ingram, MD MS FAAHPM For Ada D. Stewart, MD FAAFP HMDC, growing up in public housing in Cleveland, OH, was the beginning of what...
Advocacy Update
2021 Physician Fee Schedule: Congress Stems Cuts, CMS Expands Telehealth
Jacqueline M. Kocinski, MPP Like with so many other sectors of the US economy, COVID-19 has inflicted significant financial strain on our nation’s healthcare system. So although stakeholders had heralded changes to office/outpatient evaluation and management (E/M) services scheduled to...
Pathways to Palliative Care
Asking and Answering Beautifully Crafted Questions: A Conversation with Dr. Yael Schenker
Cory Ingram, MD MS FAAHPM For Yael Schenker, MD MAS FAAHPM, medicine always has been about the people, not the diseases. This likely rings true for many of us in hospice and palliative medicine; it's all about the patient's story....
Let's Think About It Again
Treating Distress in a Patient with Parkinson’s Disease
Case Study Mr. Jones is a 70-year-old man, happily retired from a long career as a chef, who lives in a rural area with his wife. His grandchildren and children live nearby, and he enjoys the outdoors, especially hiking. Food...
Diversity Equity & Inclusion
LGBTQ+ Inclusion and Cultural Humility in Geriatric Medicine
John Liantonio, MD MBA HMDC, and Michael Danielewicz, MD When thinking about diversity, equity, and inclusion, it is important to think about how to increase access and visibility while creating safe spaces for the people for whom we care. In...
HMDCB Update
Exam and CCP Updates
Initial Application Cycle Now Open The 2021 Application Cycle for initial certification is open. Highlight your knowledge and skills as a hospice physician by becoming HMDCB-certified. Join nearly 1,100 hospice physicians from across the country who currently hold the HMDC...
PCQC Update
PCQC Registry Open for Data Collection
The Palliative Care Quality Collaborative's (PCQC) Registry opened in February 2021 for patient-level data entry. Robust palliative care data provides insights and supports advancements in care for those with serious illness. The PCQC registry collects and collates your data, generates...
AAHPM News
AAHPM Recognizes Leaders in Hospice and Palliative Medicine with Awards
We were excited to celebrate our award winners this year at the Annual Assembly. For those who were unable to attend, please take a moment to view the award winners' videos at youtube.com/aahpm. Lifetime Achievement Award For his outstanding contributions...