AAHPM Fall Quarterly 2011 : Page 23

FALL 2011 23 AAHPM Communities Update Several special interest groups (SIGs) will be highlighted in each issue of the AAHPM Quarterly. Be sure to visit the SIG’s webpage, aahpm.org/membership/default/sigs.html, regularly to share best practices, ask questions, offer help-ful information, and network. To join a SIG, log in to the Members Only section of the website and update your mem-ber profile with the groups you are interested in joining. Participation is open to all Academy members at no cost. Cancer The Cancer SIG is dedicated to maximizing quality of care for patients with advanced cancer. Many members actively practice both oncology and palliative care; as such, they are at the forefront of discussions about how to integrate palliative care into the care of patients with cancer. The SIG helps members understand the needs of oncology patients and, just as importantly, oncology providers, who are partners in caring for patients with advanced cancer. In addition, the Cancer SIG is working to build ties between AAHPM and the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) to accomplish goals of educating oncologists in the practice of primary palliative care and in knowing when to consult with a palliative care specialist. The SIG was well represented at the 2011 ASCO annual meeting in Chicago, where many members presented original research. Highlights include Thomas Smith, MD, speaking on “Considerations When Standard Therapy Fails” and Michael Fisch, MD, presenting original data showing that though many ambulatory oncology patients continue to have inadequately treated pain, minority patients were twice as likely to have inadequate analgesia. Program Chiefs Several years ago, a discussion that began at a Program Chiefs SIG meeting resulted in the creation of the Academic Palliative Medicine Task Force. The task force developed “AAHPM Position Paper: Requirements for the Successful Development of Academic Palliative Care Programs,” published in the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management in 2010. The task force also initiated and has overseen the Academic Palliative Medicine Program Workforce and Member Needs Survey, which will survey Academic program directors to better understand the challenges faced in developing, maintaining, and growing robust academic programs. It will also attempt to determine the most constructive and effective role for AAHPM to support academic programs. This effort will be particularly important given the current economic climate, including the competition for educational and research funds. It will also provide critical information that may influence the future of healthcare reform. Rural “If you have seen one rural community, you have seen one rural community.” The Rural SIG, now in its ninth year, represents a wealth of regional diversity. This year’s steering committee added Steven Sohn, MD, of Perry, IA, as the Central time zone representative; John Bohlen, MD, of Circleville, OH, represents the Eastern time zone and focuses on media and communication issues; Kathryn Borgenicht, MD, of Bozeman, MT, represents the Mountain time zone and continues on the Academy’s Public Policy Committee; and Michael Knower, MD, of Prineville, OR, represents the Pacific time zone and focuses on work force and education issues. The steering committee hopes to share strategies for complying with the new face-to-face visit requirements without neglecting other facets of patient care. The group also plans to expand available medical resources by supporting the new Physician Assistants’ SIG in their endeavors to gain recognition under the Medicare Hospice Benefit and to generate proposals for presentation at the 2013 AAHPM annual meeting. Advanced Certification for Palliative Care The Joint Commis-sion’s new Advanced Certification for Palli-ative Care launched on September 1, 2011. Certifica-tion will be available for in-patient programs within Joint Commission accredited hospitals that provide full-time palliative care. The Joint Commission defines palliative care as care that identifies, prevents, and treats suffering by identification and assessment of the physical, psychosocial, intellectual, and spiritual needs of the patient. Additional eligibility details and certification expectations are available on The Joint Commission’s website, www.jointcommission.org/cer-tification/palliative_care.aspx. The new palliative care standards are available for download at www.joint-commission.org/palliativestandards. Questions about this new certification program should be addressed to palliative@jointcommission.org. VOL. 12

AAHPM Communities Update

Several special interest groups (SIGs) will be highlighted in each issue of the AAHPM Quarterly. Be sure to visit the SIG’s webpage, aahpm.org/membership/default/sigs.html, regularly to share best practices, ask questions, offer helpful information, and network. To join a SIG, log in to the Members Only section of the website and update your member profile with the groups you are interested in joining. Participation is open to all Academy members at no cost. Cancer The Cancer SIG is dedicated to maximizing quality of care for patients with advanced cancer. Many members actively practice both oncology and palliative care; as such, they are at the forefront of discussions about how to integrate palliative care into the care of patients with cancer. The SIG helps members understand the needs of oncology patients and, just as importantly, oncology providers, who are partners in caring for patients with advanced cancer. In addition, the Cancer SIG is working to build ties between AAHPM and the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) to accomplish goals of educating oncologists in the practice of primary palliative care and in knowing when to consult with a palliative care specialist. The SIG was well represented at the 2011 ASCO annual meeting in Chicago, where many members presented original research. Highlights include Thomas Smith, MD, speaking on “Considerations When Standard Therapy Fails” and Michael Fisch, MD, presenting original data showing that though many ambulatory oncology patients continue to have inadequately treated pain, minority patients were twice as likely to have inadequate analgesia. Rural “If you have seen one rural community, you have seen one rural community.” The Rural SIG, now in its ninth year, represents a wealth of regional diversity. This year’s steering committee added Steven Sohn, MD, of Perry, IA, as the Central time zone representative; John Bohlen, MD, of Circleville, OH, represents the Eastern time zone and focuses on media and communication issues; Kathryn Borgenicht, MD, of Bozeman, MT, represents the Mountain time zone and continues on the Academy’s Public Policy Committee; and Michael Knower, MD, of Prineville, OR, represents the Pacific time zone and focuses on work force and education issues. The steering committee hopes to share strategies for complying with the new face-to-face visit requirements without neglecting other facets of patient care. The group also plans to expand available medical resources by supporting the new Physician Assistants’ SIG in their endeavors to gain recognition under the Medicare Hospice Benefit and to generate proposals for presentation at the 2013 AAHPM annual meeting. Program Chiefs Several years ago, a discussion that began at a Program Chiefs SIG meeting resulted in the creation of the Academic Palliative Medicine Task Force. The task force developed “AAHPM Position Paper: Requirements for the Successful Development of Academic Palliative Care Programs,” published in the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management in 2010. The task force also initiated and has overseen the Academic Palliative Medicine Program Workforce and Member Needs Survey, which will survey Academic program directors to better understand the challenges faced in developing, maintaining, and growing robust academic programs. It will also attempt to determine the most constructive and effective role for AAHPM to support academic programs. This effort will be particularly important given the current economic climate, including the competition for educational and research funds. It will also provide critical information that may influence the future of healthcare reform.

Advanced Certification for Palliative Care

THE JOINT COMMISSION The Joint Commission’s new Advanced Certification for Palliative Care launched on September 1, 2011. Certification will be available for in-patient programs within Joint Commission accredited hospitals that provide full-time palliative care. The Joint Commission defines palliative care as care that identifies, prevents, and treats suffering by identification and assessment of the physical, psychosocial, intellectual, and spiritual needs of the patient. Additional eligibility details and certification expectations are available on The Joint Commission’s website, www.jointcommission.org/certification/ palliative_care.aspx. The new palliative care standards are available for download at www.jointcommission. org/palliativestandards. Questions about this new certification program should be addressed to palliative@jointcommission.org.

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