Addressing Spiritual Pain Challenges Palliative Clinicians

Efforts to support patients’ spiritual needs can sometimes be overlooked given more immediate symptom management demands. While most clinical education programs don't incorporate spiritual care, all clinicians need awareness of spiritual pain as a vital component of end-of-life care.

Palliative Care and Public Policy in California

Judy Thomas, CEO of the Coalition for Compassionate Care of California (CCCC), delivers an update on recent public policy developments that positively impact POLST and palliative care in California.

Teaching Primary Palliative Care in a Large Health System

Ensuring all clinicians in any setting caring for patients with serious illness have communication and symptom management skills is a top priority—but requires leadership and training. Several models are available.

Dr. Ronit Elk to Address Health Equity in Palliative Care

Ronit Elk, PhD, a renowned researcher, educator and clinician will be a presenter at the 2022 National Symposium for Academic Palliative Care Education and Research.

Dr. Jean Watson to Address Caring Science in Palliative Care

Jean Watson, PhD, RN, AHN-BC, FAAN, nurse, author, and nursing professor, best known for her theory of human caring, will deliver the keynote address at the 2022 National Symposium for Academic Palliative Care and Research in San Diego, California.

Symposium to Highlight Research, Education, and Practice

2022 marks the return of the in-person National Symposium event. Back by popular demand is plenary speaker, palliative care leader, researcher, analyst, and author, Jeri Miller, PhD, MS, MSc.

Nominations Open for Annual Doris A. Howell Award for Advancing Palliative Care

Nominations are sought for annual award recognizing a health professional whose contributions, dedication, and compassion have helped advance palliative care in San Diego County.   

Palliative Care Education Scholarships Available for San Diego County Health Professionals

To recognize National Hospice and Palliative Care Month in November, the California State University Shiley Haynes Institute for Palliative Care is offering $25,000 in scholarships to San Diego County health professionals seeking convenient, high-quality, online palliative care education. 

National Symposium: Come for the Sunshine, Stay for the Program

Jennifer Moore Ballentine, MA, executive director, discusses the theme chosen for the 2022 National Symposium and offers a glimpse of what attendees can expect, from plenary speakers to exhibit opportunities and more.

What Does the Hospice Carve-In Demo Mean for Hospices and Their Business Model?

Hospice innovation points to a world where hospice care is a “carve-in” to Medicare Advantage (MA) plans, rather than carved out as a separate benefit provided by Medicare-certified hospices, as it is currently.

Palliative Pain Management Must Include Mitigation of Opioid Misuse

For hospice and palliative care clinicians, pain management is an essential responsibility in managing the symptoms of serious illnesses. But the unabated tragedy of prescription opioid misuse and overdoses requires close attention. Incorporating mitigating approaches into palliative care training is critical.

The Expanding Role of PAs in Serious Illness and Palliative Care

Few physician assistants are working in palliative or hospice care. But this is changing. PAs are in high demand, and having a palliative care skill set offers them a significant advantage.

Hospital at Home and Palliative Care: How Should They Work Together?

Interest in the hospital at home concept has gained momentum as health systems, the Veterans Administration, and managed care organizations are testing the approach for treating seriously ill adults in a more familiar and comfortable setting.

POLST Comes of Age, Moves Toward Greater Standardization

In recent years, Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) has become almost a routine part of the health care system, and it continues to spread and become standardized as more states work to ensure portability, across settings and state lines, through electronic registries.

CSU Shiley Institute for Palliative Care Renamed to Honor President Emerita Karen Haynes

On July 13, the California State University Board of Trustees voted and approved renaming the CSU Shiley Institute for Palliative Care as the CSU Shiley Haynes Institute for Palliative Care, honoring Karen Haynes, President Emerita of CSU San Marcos.

Can Policy Help to Expand Advance Care Planning?

As the world re-emerges from the coronavirus pandemic, health care advocates work to remove barriers to advance care planning, expand completions of advance directives, and ensure interoperability for advance directives in electronic health records (EHRs).

Gender Questions Challenge Hospice and Palliative Professionals to Come Down on the Side of Inclusivity

Hospice and palliative care nurses play an important role in understanding the care needs of LGBT patients, honoring their journey, and promoting awareness and inclusivity within the inter-disciplinary team.

Respect for Direct Care Workers in Hospice Care

For hospices and home health agencies, home health aides are vital members of the care team. But in other models of home and community-based care, their roles may be less clear. Offering them meaningful career development opportunities can go a long way in helping to address disparities in palliative care.

San Diego Physician Awarded Institute’s 2021 Doris A. Howell Award

A palliative care physician, educator, and leader whose work has helped to expand access to pediatric palliative care for seriously ill children across the San Diego region has been named the 2021 recipient of the CSU Shiley Institute for Palliative Care Doris A. Howell, MD, Award for Advancing Palliative Care.

Community Health Workers Offer Access to Underserved Groups

Before COVID hit, Resolution Care Network – a telemedicine palliative care service in Eureka, Calif. – employed community health workers (CHWs) as an extension of its interdisciplinary palliative care team. They were the agency’s feet on the ground, its eyes and ears in the field, said CEO Michael Fratkin, MD.

PA Certificate in Palliative and Serious Illness Care

Learn evidence-based approaches essential to primary palliative care, including communication, advance care planning, prognostication, assessing, and treating common physical symptoms of serious illnesses, care at the end of life, and more.