| News for physicians caring for the seriously ill |  |
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- How the "surprise question" can help in palliative screening
This excerpt from Dr. Ira Byock's book, "The Best Care Possible: A Physician's Quest to Transform Care Through the End of Life," addresses use of the "surprise question" -- some variation of "Would you be surprised if this patient died in the next year?" -- to screen patients for palliative care. Byock, director of palliative medicine at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, tells of a relative, Edith, whose condition declined while she was in the hospital but improved so much at home with hospice care that she "graduated" from the program and eight years later is going strong. TheAtlantic.com
(3/9)     
| Palliative & Hospice Care Update | | |
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- Brief screening boosts referrals to palliative care, study shows
A brief screening by a nurse led to more patients being referred to a hospital palliative care team compared with the number of referrals from standard evaluations, according to a study from Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. The study, presented at the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine and Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association annual conference, found bringing in a palliative care team resulted in more hospice discussions but did not add to the length of hospital stays. HemOnc Today
(3/12)
- It is time to change DNR discussions, Columbia physicians say
Dr. Barron Lerner of Columbia University Medical Center writes that it is time to change the do-not-resuscitate protocol, as suggested by palliative care colleagues who wrote in the Journal of the American Medical Association that physicians should have greater power to restrict CPR. The group suggested a three-tiered approach to DNR discussions based on potential benefits and risks of CPR. The Huffington Post
(3/8)
| Patient & Family Perspective | | |
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- Music-thanatology brings relaxation to hospice patients
Retired physician Harry Miller found relaxation from music-thanatology, in his case harp music tailored to his pulse, which was provided as part of hospice care. While not widely practiced, studies show music-thanatology can have benefits, and Miller liked it so much that he requested sessions continue after he returned home. Chicago Tribune
(3/14)
| Medical Research | | |
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- U.S. death rates have fallen 60% in last 75 years, CDC says
The overall mortality rate per 100,000 Americans declined from 1,860 to 746 from 1935 to 2010, down 60%, CDC researchers found. According to the report, the biggest decline was seen among children ages 1 to 4, with a 94% drop from 441 deaths for every 100,000 children to 27 during the study period. Declines grew smaller with each increasing age group, and some of the leading causes of death remained the same: Heart disease, cancer and stroke were among the top five every year. MyHealthNewsDaily.com
(3/13), WebMD
(3/13)
- Childhood cancer is tied to future developmental delays
Children who were treated for cancer before age 4 showed slower vocabulary and cognitive development compared with those without cancer, according to a study in the Journal of Pediatric Psychology. However, researchers noted that childhood cancer did not seem to influence social and emotional functions. Nurse.com
(3/11)
- Report: Childhood leukemia survival rate has improved
The overall five-year survival rate of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia increased from 83.7% in the early 1990s to 90.4% in the early 2000s, a report in the Journal of Clinical Oncology found. However, researchers noted that the survival rate of babies younger than 1 year remained steady and much lower compared with other patient subgroups. Family Practice News
(3/12)
| Health Policy & Practice | | |
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- PCORI's first definition reflects patient sentiment
The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute's Board of Governors approved its first definition of "patient-centered outcomes research," wrapping up in 210 words more than a year of deliberations. Dr. David Flum of the University of Washington Medical Center said it was very important to reflect patient sentiment, but Dr. Francis Collins of the NIH said the definition may lean too heavily toward research in how patients and caregivers communicate rather than research into care and treatments that offer the best outcomes. HealthLeaders Media
(3/8)
- Iowa's IPOST law makes advanced directives actionable
A new Iowa law creates the Iowa Physician's Order for Scope of Treatment. The document will make an advanced directive containing end-of-life care decisions actionable, according to Stephanie Anderson, hospice care director for St. Luke's Hospital in Cedar Rapids. The IPOST allows patients to make their wishes known during conversations with physicians, and Anderson says the process works best when families also are involved. RadioIowa.com
(3/13)
| Trends & Technology | | |
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- Solo and small practices see increase in EHR adoption rate
The fastest-growing segment for EHR software adoption is small medical offices with one or two doctors, according to a study conducted by California-based health care information research provider SK&A. The study also found that the EHR adoption rate for single-doctor offices increased by 6 percentage points, while the rate for offices that have six to 10 physicians improved by 2 percentage points in the last six months of 2011. Healthcare Informatics online
(3/12)
| AAHPM News | | |
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Taking the board exam? HPM PASS can help.
HPM PASS is an updated online practice test designed to simulate the board certification exam and help you assess your understanding of hospice and palliative medicine. It includes up to 150 test questions to evaluate your knowledge and uncover areas where additional review may be helpful. Learn more.
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Register now for the AAHPM Intensive Board Review Course
July 12-14 at the Kentucky International Convention Center in Louisville. This course will feature content as outlined in the HPM Certification Examination Blueprint, key leaders in the field serving as faculty, and fast paced didactic presentations that focus on salient points followed by panel discussions. Learn more.
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