Winter 2019
Featured
Feature
How Do We Identify Who Needs Palliative Care Most?
By Larry Beresford Anyone with a serious illness can benefit from palliative care interventions, according to palliative care advocates. But because palliative care resources are finite, the question becomes, who should receive those limited services? What do we really know...
In this Issue
President's Message
What Our Littlest Patients Teach Us About Palliative Care
How often have you heard from pediatric palliative care colleagues, "Kids are not simply little adults"? Although this statement is factual, I have come to think that adults are just big kids! By this I mean there is so much...
Editor's Message
Your Input Guides Our Success
Marcin Chwistek, MD FAAHPM Dear Academy members, I remember the 2011 Annual Assembly in Vancouver fondly. The scenery was spectacular and so were the conversations. I had a chance to meet and talk with the first group of international fellows...
Clinical Pearls
The Compounding Costs of Constipation
Diane Danly, MD HMDC FAAFP "How are your bowels moving?" This isn't a comfortable subject for our patients, and they are unlikely to bring up the topic of constipation unless we ask.1,2 Constipation is a big player in chronic disease,...
Art of Caring
Maybe Dying Is Like ‘The Blues’
Kevin Dieter, MD FAAHPM On a recent Friday night, I found myself at an intimate music venue outside of Cleveland listening to a female singer and three male musicians performing "the Blues." She was middle-aged, wearing glasses and an outfit...
Annual Assembly
Community-Endorsed Sessions at the Annual Assembly
AAHPM Special Interest Groups and Forums will be presenting several sessions during the 2020 Annual Assembly. Consider attending one or more of these Community-Endorsed Sessions. Thursday, March 19 7–8 am Using Film as a Tool to Promote and Enhance ACP...
Advocacy Update
CMS Accepting Applications for New Payment Model for Serious Illness Care
Jacqueline M. Kocinski, MPP The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released a Request for Applications (RFA) for practices in 26 regions to participate in a Seriously Ill Population (SIP) option under its new Primary Care First (PCF)...
Pathways to Palliative Care
Susan Block, MD FAAHPM—From Humanism into Action
Marcin Chwistek, MD FAAHPM It was a warm and sunny day when I made my trip to the campus of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. Susan Block, MD FAAHPM, was invited to present "How Serious Illness Communication Translates Humanism...
State of the Science
Get an Exclusive State of the Science Sneak Peek
You might have heard the buzz. A research meeting? Yes! AAHPM, along with 12 supporting partner organizations, will host a new research symposium, State of the Science in Hospice and Palliative Care, the first meeting created by and for researchers...
HMDCB Update
HMDCB Announces New Practice Analysis, Upcoming Application Cycles, and Future Conference Participation
New Practice Analysis to Be Completed In early 2020, the Hospice Medical Director Certification Board (HMDCB) will launch a survey regarding a new practice analysis, which is meant to ensure the HMDCB exam evaluates candidates' knowledge and competence based on...
AAHPM News
Hospice and Palliative Care Community Mourns the Loss of Kathy Brandt
The hospice and palliative care community lost a friend, colleague, and advocate in the passing of Kathy Brandt, author and editor of the NCP Clinical Practice Guidelines for Quality Palliative Care, 4th edition. Kathy championed hospice and palliative care for...
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...