| News for physicians caring for the seriously ill |  |
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- N.Y. palliative care law does not stop misconceptions
A New York state law requiring that people with life-limiting conditions who might benefit from palliative care have access to services has not eliminated misconceptions about it. Many people still believe palliative care cannot occur alongside treatment for an underlying disease. "There is a misunderstanding among the public that palliative care means end of life care," said Jay Horton, director of the Palliative Care Consult Service at the Lilian and Benjamin Hertzberg Palliative Care Institute at Mount Sinai. Low reimbursement rates remain an issue as well. Kaiser Health News/Stateline
(3/4)     
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| Palliative & Hospice Care Update | |  |
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- New sleeping pills have risks for elderly
Nonbenzodiazepine sleeping drugs can carry a higher risk of falls and hip fractures than older insomnia medications, Harvard Medical School researchers reported in JAMA Internal Medicine. Palliative care expert Dr. Eric Widera of the University of California, San Francisco, commented that a safer, nondrug approach is needed to address older patients' sleeping problems. MedPage Today (free registration)
(3/4)
 | Minimize Wage and Hour Compliance Risk in Hospice
Is your organization doing enough to minimize its wage and hour compliance risk? The regulations are changing - making it difficult to stay up to date - yet the consequences for non-compliance can be costly. Download a new whitepaper for key insights and 5 proven steps for mitigating your compliance risk now, before it's too late. |
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| Patient & Family Perspective | | |
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| Medical Research | | |
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- PTSD symptoms are common among breast cancer patients
Almost a quarter of breast cancer patients experienced post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms during the months following diagnosis, according to a study in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. Of the more than 1,100 patients included in the study, PTSD symptoms were more common among younger patients, Asian women and black women. DoctorsLounge.com/HealthDay News
(3/1)
| Health Policy & Practice | | |
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- Cleveland Clinic practitioners are divided over opioid restrictions
Some physicians at the Cleveland Clinic support FDA efforts to restrict opioid drug prescriptions while others are concerned the plan could harm patients who need long-term pain relief. Supporters of restrictive prescribing say misperceptions among clinicians lead to doses that are too high, but registered nurse and pain researcher Esther Bernhofer says proposed limits could "backfire and only harm the people who really need professional help." The Plain Dealer (Cleveland)
(3/3)
- CDC warns of deadly, antibiotic-resistant bacteria
CDC data show that in the first half of 2012, 4% of U.S. hospitals and 18% of nursing homes had at least one case of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae, a deadly bacteria resistant to even the strongest antibiotics. The CDC urged facilities to stop the spread of the bacteria by enforcing infection-control policies, grouping CRE patients together, alerting hospitals when these patients are transferred and using antibiotics judiciously. HealthDay News
(3/5)
- 22 patient safety measures backed by AHRQ
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality has issued 10 strategies for improving patient safety that should be adopted immediately and an additional 12 strategies that are encouraged. Among those strongly recommended for immediate use are preoperative and anesthesia checklists, hand hygiene and interventions for reducing urinary catheter use. The strategies were published in the Annals of Internal Medicine. DoctorsLounge.com/HealthDay News
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| Trends & Technology | | |
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- Virtual assistants to help docs boost care delivery, survey says
A survey conducted by Nuance Communications found 80% of participating physicians said virtual assistants would alter the way they utilize health care applications and EHRs over five years. Doctors also said mobile virtual assistants could boost health care delivery by improving their access to patient data and giving them more time to spend with patients. Healthcare IT News
(3/1)
| AAHPM News | | |
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Best of 2012 Annual Assembly recordings
We've made it easy for you to hear one or more of the best sessions from the 2012 AAHPM & HPNA Annual Assembly. Learn about caring for Hispanic patients, how delirium can be prevented in palliative care, practical medication tips, polypharmacy in pediatric patients and the popular State of the Science session. These and other topics are now available in the AAHPM bookstore.
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Looking for an introductory book on hospice and palliative care?
The Primer of Palliative Care 5th edition is the essential introductory text for medical students, residents, practicing physicians and others who care for patients with serious or life-threatening illnesses. New to this edition is a companion Workbook for users to apply the knowledge gained and for instructors to track progress.
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- Friday, February 15, 2013
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