2014; Volume 15, No 2, February
Announcements
World Health Organization Palliative Care Resolution:
This past month, the WHO Executive Board adopted a resolution on palliative care. The Board considered a report by the WHO secretariat on palliative care, before adopting the resolution: ‘Strengthening of palliative care as a component of integrated treatment within the continuum of care' to be referred to the World Health Assembly in May. To read and download the resolution, click here.
Caring for the human spirit conference
Driving the research agenda for spiritual care in health care.
The conference, supported by HealthCare Chaplaincy Network, will take place on March 31-April 3, 2014 at the New York Academy of Medicine in New York City, USA.
With growing recognition of the importance of spiritual care in patient-centered care, it is crucial to take a proactive role in providing evidence of its effectiveness.
The conference is designed for chaplains, physicians, nurses, social workers and other professionals interested in understanding, or participating in, research in spiritual care in health care.
It is an opportunity to hear from leaders in the fields of Chaplaincy, Oncology and Palliative Care.
Second palliative care conference
The conference, supported by the “Hearts and Hands” Palliative Care Program with the auspices of the Ministry of Health will take place on April 13 – 15, 2014, in Kuwait.
This 3 days international conference “Palliative Care Prospective View” will be attended by physicians, pharmacists, nurses, psychologists, social workers, dietitians, physiotherapist, other healthcare professionals from all over Kuwait and other countries. Its purpose is to provide a forum to update information on a broad range of topics covering palliative medicine, its therapies, current guidelines and clinical research, as well as fundamental background studies.
More information here.
Palliative Care policy development award
The award, launched by the European Journal of Palliative Care (EJPC) in collaboration with the European Association for Palliative Care (EAPC), is aimed at professionals working in palliative care worldwide who have made a substantial contribution to policy development through research, clinical practice or as policy activists.
Do you know someone who has made a major contribution to palliative care policy development?
Do you think they deserve to have their contribution recognized by their peers?
Would you like to nominate them for the inaugural Palliative Care Policy Development Award?
The deadline for applications is 20 March 2014.
Please click here to nominate the person of your choice using the online form.
Hungarian palliative medicine reaches another milestone.
By Dr. Csikós Ágnes (Hungary)
As of 2014, physicians in Hungary will be able to take a one-year course to qualify for a license in palliative medicine. Dr. Agnes Csikos, palliative care physician and founder of the Department of Hospice-Palliative Medicine in Pécs, has announced the signing of a Ministerial Decree confirming approval of the licensure program, which supersedes the previous 40-hour training requirement for physicians wishing to qualify for a hospice-palliative position. The program will interface with (be built on) basic clinical specialties such as internal medicine, surgery, family medicine, pediatrics, or oncology, and will be offered through the four participating Hungarian medical schools in Pecs, Debrecen, Szeged, and Budapest.
The course includes both a theoretical and practical section, which will require candidates to do clinical rotations in inpatient and home hospice programs. Participating physicians will receive training in communications skills as well as pain, symptom management, and bereavement. Although the program has yet to include a pediatric section, there will be a visit to a pediatric unit. Physicians who pass the final exam will receive a license to practice palliative medicine in Hungary.
According to Dr. Csikos, this milestone is a joint effort of many dedicated professionals working in the field from the beginning of the Hungarian hospice movement. The program will be coordinated through the Department of Hospice-Palliative Medicine at the University of Pecs Medical School Institute of Family Medicine in close collaboration with the Hungarian Hospice-Palliative Association and experts in the field within the country.
Dr. Csikós Ágnes
PTE ÁOK Családorvostani Intézet
Hospice-Palliativ Tanszék
Pecs, Hungary