Hospice Management Advisor articles from July 2002

Hospice Management Advisor archives from July 2002

Lessons in helping others cope with death: What hospices learned from Sept. 11 terrorist attacks: apply their knowledge to your own bereavement programs.
July 1, 2002... It has been 10 months since two planes toppled the World Trade Center towers and a third plane slammed into the Pentagon. In the hours that followed, hospices mobilized to offer bereavement services to the thousands of people who lost loved...

Misuse of OxyContin stalls effective pain care: fear of scrutiny can lead to underuse.
July 1, 2002... In the vast expanse of cyberspace, there is a photo of Eddie Bisch, a cherub-faced 18-year-old with blue eyes and cropped platinum-blond hair. The picture shows him dressed in a tuxedo, mingling among family and friends during a family wedding....

Report from UK shows abuse of bereaved children: study says small number of children are at risk.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... Some children who suffer the loss of a mother or father are being abused or neglected by the remaining parent, according to a study by children's charity ChildLine in London. The organization has called for urgent research into the subject...

Sept. 11 aftermath shows the value of simply asking: just give people a chance to give. (Guest Column).(Column)
July 1, 2002... As the first anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks approaches, the media relations wheels of every hospice should begin turning. The terrible emotions that are sure to resurface on that day will not be limited to people in the affected...

Docs don't know Medicare home health rules. (Guest Column).(Brief Article)(Column)
July 1, 2002... According to the Office of the Inspector General's report, "The Physician's Role in Medicare Home Health 2001," 50% of physicians surveyed say they are not clear about the definition to apply when certifying medical necessity for a patient, and...

Series offered on caring for terminally ill patients. (News From the End of Life).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... Research indicates that quality end-of-life care has been sorely lacking in the United States. Ongoing surveys reveal that nurses feel inadequately prepared to care for dying patients. To address this knowledge gap, the American Journal of...

Study: cancer patients need more services. (News From the End of Life).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... A new study reports that patients who suffer from breakthrough pain in cancer, which affects as many as two-thirds of cancer patients, require increased medical services that result in higher medical costs than cancer patients without...

HHS awards new Native American grants. (News From the End of Life).(Health and Human Services )(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Tommy G. Thompson has announced $27.6 million in grants to support community programs and services for tribal elders and their caregivers. This amount reflects an 8.5% increase in funding for fiscal...

Helping caregivers to communicate with MDs. (News From the End of Life).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... The National Family Caregiver's Association (NFCA) in Kensington, MD, has launched an innovative program to help family caregivers communicate effectively with health care professionals. Family caregivers provide over 80% of all home care...

Assisted living facility pays $1.5 million for hiring felon. (News From the End of Life).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... A Virginia jury has found Summerville Assisted Living facility in Woodbridge negligent for not properly caring for a former patient, and has awarded the patient $1.5 million. The jury deliberated for fewer than 90 minutes. Barbara Crowe,...

Most support caps on pain and suffering awards. (News From the End of Life).(Brief Article)(Polling Data)(Statistical Data Included)
July 1, 2002... The vast majority of Americans support medical liability reform, including a cap on pain and suffering awards, according to a survey released by the Health Care Liability Alliance (HCLA). Donald J. Palmisano, MD, JD, secretary-treasurer of...