Summer 2020
Featured
Feature
How Does the Hospice and Palliative Care Field Relate to Cannabis for Medical Use?
By Larry Beresford Dispensing cannabis for medical use is legal in 33 states and the District of Columbia, as well as many US territories and recreational marijuana use is allowed in 11 states plus the District of Columbia. Even where...
In this Issue
A Message from the President
We Truly Are All in This Together
Dear AAHPM members, First, I want to reflect on how the pandemic has affected us all. Some are on the front lines in hot spots. Others are less affected professionally and helping to support the profession and providers in other...
Meet New AAHPM CEO
Meet New AAHPM CEO Wendy-Jo Toyama, MBA CAE
Wendy-Jo Toyama, MBA CAE, became the new CEO of AAHPM in April. In this article, she responds to questions about some of her personal interests and what led her to association management as a career. You can reach her at...
Annual Assembly
Annual Assembly Cancelled
It was with heavy hearts that we announced the cancellation of the 2020 Annual Assembly of Hospice and Palliative Care in light of the COVID-19-related public health situation. The Assembly was scheduled for mid-March in San Diego, CA. It was...
State of the Science
Sharing Our Gratitude
Dear colleagues, We are grateful for this community's support and solidarity during this unprecedented time. Cancelling the inaugural State of the Science in Hospice and Palliative Care meeting was bittersweet. We were excited to welcome, celebrate, and grow our research...
Clinical Pearls
Parenteral Artificial Hydration in Palliative Care
Clay M. Anderson, MD FACP FAAHPM Palliative artificial hydration (PAH) is one of many potential tools available in hospice and palliative care settings. The data are inconclusive regarding the benefits and burdens of PAH, but anecdotal experience suggests a significant...
Art of Caring
Just a Pen and Paper…Please
Cory Ingram, MD MS FAAHPM This is a piece for anyone with the burning desire to translate their wonderful ideas, fleeting thoughts, and profound perspectives to the written page. My advice is simple. Write. Just write. Write daily. And if...
Advocacy Update
As Policymakers Focus on Hospice Care, AAHPM Weighs In
Jacqueline M. Kocinski, MPP Last summer, as the US Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (OIG) published two headline-grabbing reports focused on hospice vulnerabilities, it was not difficult to imagine policymakers would be spurred to respond...
Feature
How Does the Hospice and Palliative Care Field Relate to Cannabis for Medical Use?
By Larry Beresford Dispensing cannabis for medical use is legal in 33 states and the District of Columbia, as well as many US territories and recreational marijuana use is allowed in 11 states plus the District of Columbia. Even where...
Pathways to Palliative Care
Matthew Gonzales, MD FAAHPM—From Technology to Compassionate Care
Marcin Chwistek, MD FAAHPM "I was 90 minutes late for dinner with Ira Byock and his wife, Yvonne Corbeil!" Matthew Gonzales, MD FAAHPM, told me over the phone when we connected in late March to discuss his captivating path to...
AAHPM News
New Leadership For PC-FACS Editorial Board
Recently, AAHPM issued a call for new editorial board members for PC-FACS, and more than 30 AAHPM members applied to serve. Abby Rosenberg, MD MA MS, was selected as the new associate editor in chief; she will assume the editor...
HMDCB Update
Changes to the CCP and a Practice Analysis Update
Practice Analysis Update The HMDCB Practice Analysis Task Force met for the first time in January. The group had robust conversations about the current role of a hospice physician, with the goal of creating a survey to validate their findings....
PCQC Update
PCQC Aims to Improve the Care and Well-Being of Those Dealing with Serious Illness
Palliative care data is being leveraged in new ways with the efforts of the Palliative Care Quality Collaborative (PCQC), a 501(c)(3) organization set to launch a unified data registry across palliative care. PCQC was created with support from the Gordon...
Quarterly Progress Report
AAHPM Points of Progress
More than 30 committees and task forces representing the efforts and expertise of hundreds of Academy members have made significant progress toward implementing AAHPM's goals. This progress report highlights accomplishments within each goal area of the Strategic Plan during the...