Hospice Management Advisor articles from January 2002

Hospice Management Advisor archives from January 2002

Dobutamine and milrinone acceptable for in-home hospice care: but high cost may prevent hospices from using them.
January 1, 2002... Dobutamine has long been used to help patients suffering from heart failure. Cardiologists have used it and milrinone to help a weakened heart pump more efficiently. Unfortunately, it is not a cure for patients suffering from heart failure,...

Applying strategic planning to end-of-life decisions: business computer models improve palliative care.
January 1, 2002... Question: What do managing investment portfolios, designing video games, and end-of-life issues have in common? Answer: They can all use the same computer-based advanced technology to make sound decisions -- high-tech tools that take users...

DEA pledges balance in OxyContin debate: concerns and education hinder progress.(Drug Enforcement Agency)
January 1, 2002... With federal drug enforcers promising a balance between enforcement and education on use of OxyContin, end-of-life care palliative care experts are hoping physicians will once again feel confident in prescribing it and other pain drugs without...

Ohio puts teeth in its payment law: speedy payment may become the norm.
January 1, 2002... You've all been there, expecting payment from that managed care organization that once convinced you that doing business with them would benefit your hospice. That trust has been answered by payment delays and denials. Many have complained...

Consider hiring an internal case manager: good communication is the goal.
January 1, 2002... One way to smooth out problems with insurers is to have a managed care case manager on your staff. The managed care case manager would be responsible for communicating with the managed care organization's (MCO) case manager. Keeping the...

Grant will help hospice prepare support `tool kit': the goal: a national training program.
January 1, 2002... Caring for a loved one who is dying can put physical, emotional, and financial strains on even the strongest of families, and it is a challenge that more families face with the aging of the baby boomers and society in general. To help meet...

Finding may lead to Alzheimer's treatment. (News From the End of Life).
January 1, 2002... Over-the-counter pain relievers like Advil and Motrin appear to protect against Alzheimer's disease by thwarting production of a key protein found in the disease's brain-clogging deposits, a study has found. Since 1997, scientists have...

VA offers fellowships in palliative care. (News From the End of Life).
January 1, 2002... The Department of Veterans Affairs is offering one-year fellowships in palliative care at six sites in 2002. Beginning between July and September 2002, each of the six training sites will be selecting up to four one-year fellows/trainees. At...

Conference planned on palliative care. (News From the End of Life).(Center to Advance Palliative Care to have a conference on "Planning a Hospital-Based Palliative Care Program")
January 1, 2002... The Center to Advance Palliative Care (CAPC) of New York City will host a national conference on hospital-based palliative care programs. The conference, titled "Planning a Hospital-Based Palliative Care Program," will be held Feb. 21-23 at the...

Oregon vows to fight ruling on assisted suicide. (News From the End of Life).
January 1, 2002... Oregon officials have denounced U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft's ruling that blocks the use of Oregon's physician-assisted suicide law, and they promise to fight the ruling in court. Opponents of physician-assisted suicide applauded...