2021; Volume 22, No 2, February
Extend Your IAHPC Membership
Up To 2½ Years (At No Cost!)
When you participate in the Global Palliative Care Database (GPCD), IAHPC will reward you by extending your membership by one month for each patient whose data is uploaded—to a maximum of 30 patients.
Click here for a 46-second YouTube demo showing how the data you contribute is presented, and reporting options available.
If you have any questions, please contact Genevieve Napier, IAHPC Programs Officer.
Why Join IAHPC?
The better question is: why not join?
This month, we heard from Dr. Galina Khemlina, a palliative care physician at Kaiser Permanente in San Diego, California, USA.
“I decided to join IAHPC to help countries where patients still suffer tremendously at the end of life. I have been inspired by the extraordinary work done by [former Board Member] Dr. Eric Krakauer, Advocacy Officer Dr. Katherine Pettus, and other very passionate physicians and professionals who are part of IAHPC. (By the way, Dr. Pettus is now my esteemed mentor.)
“I guess it is all about happiness and meaning in life, and I would say for me, a more difficult question would be: why would not I join this amazing organization! IAHPC provides opportunities, contacts, and resources to help people in other countries and change things for the better. It gives, at least me, happiness and energy (it is like another cup of coffee!) to get up in the morning!
“Jana Stanfield encourages me by her quote that ‘I cannot do all the world needs, but the world needs all the good that I can do.’ “
In other news
Act Fast to Submit Your Abstract to the EAPC Congress
Help shape the 17th European Association of Palliative Care World Congress by submitting your abstract that relates to its theme, “Exploring New Dimensions in Palliative Care.” The deadline fur submissions is February 14, 2021.
The virtual congress will run online from October 6-8, 2021. “We’d love to have input from readers of the IAHPC newsletter,” says Avril Jackson, EAPC’s head of social media.
A big part of the congress program is built on submitted abstracts for:
- Oral presentation
- Poster presentation with accompanying two-minute video
- Poster presentation
“We welcome research abstracts and also service- and practice-based abstracts for our congress. This year’s theme is particularly relevant to the wider community with whom we work. Globally, people from all disciplines are adapting and delivering new services and ways of working during a period of huge demand, and often-declining resources,” says Jackson. “We want to hear about your research, your challenges, and your innovations—it’s a great place to share your practice and research.”
The 2019 world congress attracted more than 3,000 delegates from across the globe.
Find out more and submit your abstract here.
Free Information Hub throughout the Pandemic
The US Center to Advance Palliative Care has created a COVID-19 Response Resources Hub that includes technical assistance, clinical training, and convening/support opportunities to help during the pandemic. These tools will remain free and open to all during the pandemic and can be accessed on any device. The website is updated on an ongoing basis.
The site is organized into 11 categories:
- communication
- symptom management
- emotional PPE
- palliative care team
- telehealth
- waivers
- home & long-term care
- patients & family
- health equity
- end of life
- FAQs
Free, New Online Tools during COVID
for ICU & All Health Care Providers
MyGrief.ca has made two new modules available day or night.
A series of modules to train clinicians to better support grieving families, developed by Canadian Virtual Hospice, is aimed at ICU practitioners to help them guide support for families in acute grief and share practical strategies to intervene sensitively.
For people working in healthcare: COVID-19 and grief provides strategies for coping with the uncertainty, anxiety, stress, and grief involved in working during the pandemic. The module is informed by interviews with healthcare providers across disciplines and care settings; it has been added to the Canadian Medical Association’s support portal for physicians.
Kenya PC Association Seeks Executive Director
Kenya Hospices and Palliative Care Association (KEHPCA) is accepting applications for the position of executive director. The closing date is February 12, 2021, at 4 p.m. Candidates should have the following qualifications:
- Master’s Degree in Palliative Care/Public Health/Global Health or the equivalent
- minimum 10 years’experience in a related field at senior management level
- experience working in health care or a health-related sector
- involvement in advocacy work
KEHPA is a non-governmental organization that exists to promote access to quality palliative care for all in need. With more than 15 years of advocacy, it is a powerful voice for those with palliative care needs.
Forward your application, with documentation (copy of your certificates, testimonials, the names of three references): [email protected]. You can also bring your application to us at the Top Plaza Building, Second Floor, Suite-2-2, Kindaruma Road, Kilimani, Nairobi, weekdays between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.
To learn more about the European Association for Palliative Care (EAPC), the Canadian Virtual Hospice, and Kenya Hospices and Palliative Care Association (KEHPCA) visit the IAHPC Global Directory of Palliative Care Institutions and Organizations.
What’s New in the IAHPC Calendar
Asia-Pacific region
Palliative Care for Children Learning & Fellowship Forum: Mind Transformation & Transition for Parents Who Experience a Child Loss. Webinar. February 23, 2021.
1st Virtual Trans-Pacific Pediatric Palliative Care Symposium. Education in Palliative and End-of-Life Care (EPEC) Pediatrics. Virtual. March 2-4, 2021.
Asia Pacific Hospice Palliative Care Network: Practising Patient Centred Care in the Community. Webinar. March 17, 2021.
Palliative Care for Children. Learning & Fellowship Forum. Virtual. April 13, 2021.
14th Asia Pacific Hospice Palliative Care Conference: "Building Bridges Hospice—Palliative Care Beyond Borders." Online conference. November 13-14, 2021.
Australia
The Oceanic Palliative Care Conference 2021. Call for abstracts deadline: April 7, 2021.
Canada
Advanced Learning in Palliative Medicine (ALPM) Conference. Virtual. Feb 25-27, 2021.
India
28th International Conference of Indian Association of Palliative Care-IAPCON2021. Virtual. March 19-21, 2021.
Virtual Walk for Life: “Stride against Cancer 2021.” February 7, 2021.
Kazakhstan
Palliative Care: Global Agenda and Kazakhstan Realities. Virtual Conference. February 15-19, 2021.
Uganda
First Online Health Professional Course for Palliative Care Initiators. Combined face-to-face and virtual. February 2-April 30, 2021.
USA
Centre to Advance Palliative Care: Prescribing An Opioid. Open course.
Briefing: Palliative Care Outlook in 2021–Results of a National Survey. Center to Advance Palliative Care free webinar. February 25, 2021.
Interdisciplinary Aging, Public Health, and Palliative Care Certificate Program. Virtual Course. March 19 -June 6, 2021.
Find a workshop, seminar, congress, or conference to interest you in the IAHPC Calendar of Events, updated monthly, that lists activities of special interest to those who work in palliative care. Or submit an event for consideration; it’s free!
Do you have any questions regarding the IAHPC Calendar of Events?
Each month, we publish items that may be of interest to our global readership. Contributions are welcomed.
- Content should describe opportunities to advance palliative care and improve knowledge, skills, and networking, e.g., education and training, travel grants, access to online resources, etc.
- 150 words maximum.
- Copy deadline: 20th of each month.
- Please submit your copy to the editor together with any JPEG images. 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.