Palliative Care News and Research

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Palliative care is an approach that improves the quality of life of patients and their families facing the problem associated with life-threatening illness, through the prevention and relief of suffering by means of early identification and impeccable assessment and treatment of pain and other problems, physical, psychosocial and spiritual.

AMGA convenes leadership teams from 16 medical groups, organized systems of care

The American Medical Group Association recently convened leadership teams from 16 leading medical groups and organized systems of care at the inaugural meeting of the AMGA ACO Implementation Collaborative in Scottsdale, Arizona.

5 Feb 2011

BCBSIL, IHA partner to reduce Illinois hospital readmissions through PREP initiative

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois and the Illinois Hospital Association are joining forces to reduce Illinois hospital readmissions through a new quality initiative—Preventing Readmissions through Effective Partnerships.

5 Feb 2011

RNAO calls on Ontario political parties to address nurses shortfall

As political parties look ahead to this fall's provincial election, registered nurses say hiring more RNs must be a top priority to help bring Ontario's RN to population ratio in line with the rest of the country.

4 Feb 2011

VNA's Hospice of Philadelphia becomes national partner of We Honor Veterans

It may surprise people to learn that 25 percent of those who die every year in the U.S. are Veterans. To provide care and support that reflect the important contributions made by these men and women, Hospice of Philadelphia, a service of Visiting Nurse Association of Greater Philadelphia, has become a national partner of We Honor Veterans, a pioneering campaign developed by National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization in collaboration with the Department of Veterans Affairs.

29 Jan 2011

Phase III study affirms safety and efficacy of Cumberland's Caldolor for post-operative pain

Cumberland Pharmaceuticals Inc. today announced the publication of data affirming the safety and efficacy of Caldolor® (ibuprofen) Injection in treating post-operative pain in hospitalized patients. A Phase III study published in the peer-reviewed journal Pain Practice concluded that IV ibuprofen significantly reduced both morphine use and self-reported pain intensity in patients recovering from abdominal hysterectomy compared to morphine alone.

27 Jan 2011

ASCO urges physicians, medical schools to improve quality of life for people with cancer

The American Society of Clinical Oncology today called on physicians, medical schools, insurers, and others to help improve quality of life for people with advanced cancer.

25 Jan 2011

New study provides insight into developing therapeutics for airway disease

Researchers from Duke University Medical Center have identified how nanoparticles from diesel exhaust damage lung airway cells, a finding that could lead to new therapies for people susceptible to airway disease.

19 Jan 2011

NCI sponsors fourth REOLYSIN clinical trial in pancreatic cancer

Oncolytics Biotech Inc. announced today that the Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program, Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis, U.S. National Cancer Institute (NCI), which is part of the National Institutes of Health, has agreed to sponsor a 2-Arm randomized Phase II study of carboplatin, paclitaxel plus REOLYSIN® versus carboplatin and paclitaxel alone in the first line treatment of patients with recurrent or metastatic pancreatic cancer.

18 Jan 2011

PecFent accepted in Scotland for treatment of breakthrough cancer pain

Archimedes Pharma Ltd., a leading international specialty pharma company, today announced the decision by the Scottish Medicines Consortium to accept PecFent for use within NHS Scotland. PecFent is indicated for the treatment of breakthrough pain in adults who are already receiving maintenance opioid therapy for chronic cancer pain.

18 Jan 2011

AMGA ACO Implementation Collaborative to meet January 26-28, 2011 in Scottsdale

The American Medical Group Association (AMGA) today announced 16 leading medical groups and organized systems of care that will be participating in its ACO Implementation Collaborative, scheduled to have its first meeting January 26-28, 2011 at the Westin Kierland Resort and Spa in Scottsdale, Arizona.

12 Jan 2011

Behavioral therapies help improve bladder control in men following prostate cancer surgery

Behavioral therapies such as pelvic-floor-muscle training and bladder-control strategies can reduce incontinence episodes by more than 50 percent in men following prostate-cancer surgery, according to new research from the Center for Aging at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and the Birmingham/Atlanta Veterans Affairs Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center.

12 Jan 2011

Quality of life measures most useful for clinical decision-making in trials with QOL as primary outcome

Quality of life measures tend to be most useful for clinical decision-making in trials in which quality of life is the primary outcome, according to a recent study published online January 7 in The Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

10 Jan 2011

LHC Group announces acquisition of hospice locations in Alabama and Louisiana

LHC Group, Inc., a national provider of home health and hospice, announced today that it has acquired hospice locations in Alabama and Louisiana and entered into a home health joint venture in Kentucky.

3 Jan 2011

Researchers discover allium vegetable consumption may lower hip osteoarthritis

Researchers at King's College London and the University of East Anglia have discovered that women who consume a diet high in allium vegetables, such as garlic, onions and leeks, have lower levels of hip osteoarthritis

16 Dec 2010

Chinese hospital uses UNIQUE radiotherapy system to treat cancer patients

Prince of Wales Hospital in Hong Kong, China, has become the first treatment center in Asia to commence treating cancer patients using the UNIQUE™ medical linear accelerator from Varian Medical Systems (NYSE: VAR).

14 Dec 2010

First standard-of-care guidelines for children with congenital muscular dystrophy

In 2008, Eunice and Andrew Kim were facing a situation that would bewilder any parents: Two expert pediatric surgeons were giving opposing advice about treatment for their daughter.

8 Dec 2010

End-of-life care raises difficult questions about quality issues

PBS Frontline has kicked off a series called Facing Death, which explores the way Americans die, issues around extending life or prolonging death, uncertainty, talking about the end of life and modern medicine's trade offs.

24 Nov 2010

Ontario Cancer Plan third edition to address growing needs

The third edition of the Ontario Cancer Plan (OCP) ensures our cancer system serves the changing and growing needs of Ontarians. The Cancer Plan outlines priorities for cancer services, sets a course to transform cancer services from the patient perspective, and is driven by a commitment to quality across the cancer journey - from prevention to survivorship or palliative care - as the most effective way to manage cancer.

23 Nov 2010

Physicians and consumers agree on quality of hospice and amount of service, reveals survey

Physicians say that hospice is great, but there's too little service and it's offered too late. That's one of the top findings of a new national survey conducted to compare attitudes and perceptions about hospice care among consumers and physicians. Consumers agree with physicians on the quality of hospice and the amount of service that should be provided. But when it comes to the right time to discuss hospice—it's an individual preference.

20 Nov 2010

COG to conduct Phase I REOLYSIN trial in pediatric patients with solid tumors

Oncolytics Biotech Inc. announced today that the Children's Oncology Group (COG) intends to conduct a Phase I trial of REOLYSIN in combination with cyclophosphamide in pediatric patients with relapsed or refractory solid tumors.

19 Nov 2010