2018; Volume 19, No 7, July

Announcements & Resources

Each month, we publish a selection of items that may be of interest to our global readership. Contributions are welcomed; we reserve the right to edit content.

Please also consider promoting your education and training events in the IAHPC Global Directory of Education in Palliative Care. It’s quick and easy — just submit your content online.

Announcements

Online IAHPC Calendar Has Replaced Dates to Note

IAHPC has implemented a Calendar of palliative care events in the ​organization's website​ as a free ​service to the global palliative care community. This IAHPC Calendar will serve as a permanent log of upcoming events of interest to the global palliative care community, replacing the monthly Dates to Note. You can submit your listing for free here.

Details of selected conferences will continue to appear in Announcements.

Virtual Conference in July to ‘Master Transitions’

A virtual conference titled ‘Turning Points: Mastering transitions in care’ is being held 18-19 July 2018. It aims to ‘help hospice and palliative care professionals improve their care during “transitions” — the challenging times when providing excellent continuity, communication, continuing assessment, and quality care are most critical yet sometimes go awry,’ according to the conference web page.

‘Some of the sessions will tap into families’ experiences with hospice and palliative care; they will teach us how to better respond to their needs. Other sessions will help us better navigate and facilitate turning points in care, with topics such as prognostication, deprescribing, when mental illness is present, and other hot topics that require a shift in our assessment, intervention, and even the direction of care. All will be focused on mastery and help ensure that care of the highest caliber is provided.’

Plenary speakers will be live streamed, concurrent Webinars are planned, and a video library has been set up. CE/CME credits are possible for nurses and physicians during the live event. Unlimited access is available for three months after.

The conference is jointly hosted by a trio of U.S. organizations: National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO), American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM), and Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association (HPNA).

2018 NHPCO Interdisciplinary Conference

John A. Mulder, MD, FAAHPM, HMDC

The U.S. National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization’s 2018 Interdisciplinary Conference is being held 3-4 November 2018 (preconference) and 5-7 November 2018 (main conference) in New Orleans, Louisiana. Early bird registration ends 15 August 2018; the cost to members is $600, $850 for non-members.

‘The Myth of Patient-Centered Care’ is the topic of one of the plenary speakers, John A. Mulder, MD, FAAHPM, HMDC. ‘Every day in health care systems across the United States, patients are receiving treatments that they don’t need, don’t want, are inconsistent with their values, are contrary to good medical care, and sometimes are frankly harmful to them. And they don’t realize it. In fact, they think they’re receiving the “best care in the world”,’ Mulder has written in a brief introduction to the topic online.

He continues, ‘Doctors with exceptional training and access to the most sophisticated medical technology and contemporary pharmaceuticals are treating these patients with what they believe to be the “best care in the world,” unaware that their interventions often foster poor quality of life and deliver outcomes among the lowest in industrial nations. And they don’t realize it.’

At the closing plenary titled ‘Opioid-Related Deaths: Hospice bereavement programs respond,’ the speakers will be Patti Anewalt, PHD, LPC, FT; Sam Snodgrass, PhD; and Diane Snyder Cowan, MA, MT-BC, CHPCA.

Uganda Conference: Celebration of 10-year-old unit, & PcERC launch

Celebrating 10 years of palliative care provided by the Mulago & Makerere Palliative Care Unit is one component of an upcoming conference that takes place 9-10 August 2018 in Kampala, Uganda. The theme of the conference is ‘Building Momentum for Palliative Care: Transforming lives, changing systems, bringing hope.’

A Palliative care Education & Research Consortium (PcERC) will be launched at the conference. The consortium goal is to achieve ‘quality palliative care for all in Uganda.’ The strategic areas of concern are: clinical service provision, education and training, advocacy, research, and sustainability.

The conference’s other objectives include:

Speakers include: Dr. M.R. Rajagopal, head of Pallium India; and Professors Scott Murray and Liz Grant of the University of Edinburgh.

Colombia Congress Combines 2 Goals

The theme of the combined 4th Congreso Internacional de Cuidados and the 5th Encuentro de Residentes Medicina del dolor y Cuidado paliativo is ‘Integrative and Innovative Palliative Care.’ Sessions will cover a wide range of topics, including symptom control, pediatrics, cannabinoids, non-oncological palliative care, public politics, opioids, interventionism, nursing, and psychology.

The conference takes place 4-6 October 2018 in Medellín, Colombia. The cost varies for physicians, nurses, and students, ranging from $238 to $95. The conference is free for members of Asociacion Colombiana de Cuidados Paliativos.

Universal Health Care Takes Center Stage at Kenya Conference

The theme of the 5th Kenya National Palliative Care Conference taking place in Nairobi, Kenya, from 7-9 November 2018 is ‘Investing in Palliative Care for Universal Health Coverage.’

Uhuru Kenyatta, President of Kenya

Kenya President Uhuru Kenyatta has said that, ‘Over the next five years, my administration will target 100% universal health care coverage for all households.’

‘Without palliative care, health coverage is not universal,’ says Stephen Connor, Executive Director of the Worldwide Hospice Palliative Care Alliance, which is one of the conference partners.

The deadline for abstract submissions is 3 August 2018. Authors must indicate their preference for oral or poster presentation; 500 words is the maximum for either. Guidelines for submitting an abstract are available here.

Paraguay Congress Focuses on Humanizing Care

The theme of the I Congreso Internacional y II Congreso Paraguayo de Cuidados Paliativos taking place 20-22 September 2018 in Asunción, Paraguay, is ‘Humanizing Care until the End of Life.’ Visiting speakers include: Drs. Marvin Delgado, Pedro Ramón Rodrigues, Hyun Suk Chong, and, by videoconference, Eduardo Bruera of the United States; Dr. Mercedes Bernardá of Uruguay; and Maricarmen Afaro of Peru.

For more information, contact [email protected].


Call for Abstracts for 2019 IAPCON Conference

The 26th International Conference of the Indian Association of Palliative Care will take place in the Ernakulam District of Kerala, India, from 8-10 February 2019. The conference is called Kochi 2019; Kochi is the location of an important spice trading center on the country’s west coast from the 14th century onward. It continues to be the financial, commercial, and industrial capital of Kerala.

The deadline for abstract submissions is 30 November 2018; confirmation of successful candidates will be sent by email before 15 December 2018. Sixteen broad topics are listed as suitable, including: pain, palliative care in chronic illnesses, rehabilitation, communication, spiritual care, bereavement care, public health and policies. The complete list of topics and detailed guidelines for those submitting an abstract are here.

The scientific program has not yet been finalized.

Costa Rica Congress Targets Comprehensive Cancer Care

The theme of the I Congreso Costarricense de Investigación en Cuidados Paliativos is taking place in San Jose, Costa Rica from 8-9 March 2019 is ‘Together in the Comprehensive Care of People with Cancer.’

The conference is being organized by InterOncology Latinoamerica.

2019 AECPAL Nurses’ Symposium Set for April

The 8th Symposium of the Asociación Española de Enfermería en Cuidados Paliativos (AECPAL) takes place 4-5 April 2019 in Mérida, Spain. The theme is ‘Invisible Care, Essential Care,’ a topic inspired by The Little Prince quote that ‘the essential is invisible to the eyes.’

According to organizing committee president Mrs. Ángeles Martón Fuentes de la Rosa, the scientific program will address topics such as: patient safety in palliative care; the safe use of medicines; care for chronic pain; preventing complications of grief; and accompanying care with music, humor, or art.

The early bird deadline for registration is March 23, 2019. Excluding students, the cost ranges from 100€ to 250€; students are advised to consult directly with the secretariat ([email protected]) to determine their cost.


CAPC Invites Submissions for its Annual Poster Session

Have you developed an innovative, sustainable, and high-quality model for palliative care service delivery? The U.S. Centre to Advance Palliative Care invites you to submit your poster for display at its National Seminar being held in Orlando, Florida, from 8-10 November 2018.

The Poster Session on 8 November ‘is an opportunity for your work to be displayed and discussed among other professionals in the palliative care community,’ according to the CAPC. ‘If your poster is accepted for display, all seminar attendees will have an opportunity to speak with you and learn from your work during the poster session and reception.’

Posters will also be displayed throughout the seminar and, following the conference, will be featured on the CAPC website. Find more information on submissions here.

Resources

Free E-Learning for Oncology Professionals

Ecancer runs an e-learning program that offers the health care community a wealth of free resources to support continued professional development.

Currently, ecancer is offering an online palliative care course for health care professionals in Africa, and another for those in India.

Courses are created in collaboration with leading societies, institutes, and key opinion leaders. Ecancer has been designated an accredited e-learning platform by the European Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education, which means that health care professionals will be able to claim CME points when they complete e-learning modules. CME credits can be converted to AMA PRA credits for those based in the U.S.

All courses are free, but you must register for a free ecancer membership before you can start taking modules.

APHN Webinar Lecture Series is Underway

The Asia Pacific Hospice Palliative Care Network has launched its 2018 Webinar Lecture Series, available for free to APHN members.

In August, the ‘Management of Dyspnea’ will air in English. Other English lectures include ‘Because I Matter’ in October, and ‘Palliative Approach in ICUs’ in November. In September and December, Webinars will be held in Chinese.

Exact dates and times will be posted on its website closer to the events.

The first event, a May Webinar with Dr. Amy Chow speaking on ‘Communication Skills Training,’ can be accessed by emailing the [email protected]. If you would like to give a lecture, please contact Joyce Chee at the same email address.

Hospice New Zealand Guide for Carers

There are many people who are caring for someone who is dying. Sometimes it can be difficult to know what to do. This is the reasoning that spurred Hospice New Zealand to create its Guide for Carers.

The free booklet, which can be downloaded chapter by chapter or all at once, offers resources specific to New Zealand, but goes beyond in providing ‘a clearer picture of the situation and to answer some of the questions or issues that might come up as part of this journey.’

Topics covered in the guide include: being a caregiver, caring for a loved one, circles of support, home nursing tips, and practical matters.

‘There are few experiences more difficult than caring for someone at the end of their life,’ the organization notes. ‘Each of us faces death as uniquely as we lead our life. We all hope that when death comes it will be as peaceful and dignified as possible. We also hope we'll face it feeling comfortable in our surroundings, well cared for and that those we love are well supported.’

HospiceUK’s Wide Range of Resources for Palliative Care Professionals

HospiceUK.org is an organization that describes itself as the national voice of hospice care in the UK. Its website has a large category of information and resources under the heading ‘What We Offer.’

One tab, titled ‘Clinical and care support,’ aims to ‘promote clinical excellence and ensure high quality hospice care. From support with clinical leadership to tools for measuring quality, we give hospice care providers the means to improve their services and ensure the best possible care for patients and their families.’

The category has 14 subgroups, including: bereavement, clinical leadership, quality assurance, hospice-enabled dementia care, nutrition in palliative care, transition, and what to expect.

Each of these has information and resources of interest both for and beyond the UK. For instance, the bereavement section includes a link to a free, downloadable Guide for Bereavement Needs Assessment in Palliative Care, 2nd ed., a 44-page document designed for palliative care professionals.

‘The authors of this publication have made a significant contribution to ongoing work to improve practice,’ says Dame Barbara Monroe, Chief Executive, St. Christopher’s Hospice, London, in her foreward to the guide.

‘This significantly revised and expanded second edition offers an update on the use of Machin’s adapted Range of Response to Loss (RRL) model, which is both thought provoking and thorough,’ she adds. ‘The model seeks to understand the adequacy of individuals’ coping responses to the demands of the situations they are facing and to use this understanding to assess both vulnerability and resilience. It considers the strategies people are using to cope with the strain of impending bereavement. This new approach to bereavement assessment was piloted in three hospices...

‘This second edition rehearses the issues raised in practice and contains revisions to both the implementation guidance and the matrix itself, prompted by the action research study. Several key elements in successful implementation are emphasized: the importance of staff induction training; of organizational ‘buy-in’ at the most senior level, as well as from practitioners; and the commitment to collaborative work with families. It is underlined that the matrix has been developed for use in settings where a bereavement service is an integral part of the organization.’

Skylight: Support for Grieving, Traumatized Children in New Zealand

Skylight is a national not-for-profit trust that enables children, young people, their families/whānau, and friends to navigate through times of trauma, loss, and grief by building resilience. The organization’s motto sums up its goal: ‘The Right Help at the Right Time in the Right Way.’

Skylight offers ‘support and specialist resources to children, teens, adults and their families and friends who are impacted by any kind of grief — whatever the cause, whatever their age, and wherever they live in New Zealand.’

Its resources include counseling, support groups, professional development training, and the Travellers Programme, ‘an innovative small group program for young people to build resilience and key life skills. Travellers is an in-school program that enables young people to learn skills to cope with change, loss, and transition, and to build their self esteem and confidence to be able to face life's future challenges.’

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