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Growth House News
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Bill introduced to improve access to investigational drugs by terminally ill patients
Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kans.) and Rep. Diane Watson (D-Calif.) have introduced the Access, Compassion, Care, and Ethics for Seriously Ill Patients Act (ACCESS) to make it easier for terminally ill patients to use treatments in the investigational phase of Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval.
(Fri, 23 May 2008 10:45:00 GMT)
OIG Presents Ways to Improve Quality of Nursing Home Care
Lewis Morris, Chief Counsel to the Inspector General, testified before Congress on ways to improve the quality of nursing home care.
(Sat, 17 May 2008 19:50:00 GMT)
Nursing home enforcement needs to get tougher, study says
Center for Medicare Advocacy review of nursing home enforcement decisions shows that serious deficiencies often get only modest fines and penalties, calls for tougher action.
(Fri, 16 May 2008 20:13:00 GMT)
Inspectors Often Overlook Serious Deficiencies at U.S. Nursing Homes, GAO Report Finds
State nursing home inspectors miss or minimize deficiencies such as malnutrition, severe bedsores, overuse of medications and abuse that pose threats to patients, according to a report by the Govenment Accountability Office .
(Thu, 15 May 2008 9:50:00 GMT)
Clock Ticking To Stop Medicare Physician Cuts That Hurt Seniors
The American Medical Association (AMA) urged Congress to take immediate action to avert looming Medicare physician payment cuts that will harm seniors' access to care.
(Sun, 11 May 2008 18:16:00 GMT)
FDA approves Relistor for treatment of opioid-induced constipation
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Relistor™ (methylnaltrexone bromide) subcutaneous injection for the treatment of opioid-induced constipation in patients with advanced illness who are receiving palliative care, when response to laxative therapy has not been sufficient.
(Tue, 6 May 2008 16:41:00 GMT)
Size of the Medicare funding shortfall exceeds that of the mortgage crisis
American Enterprise Institute study says that if Medicare is to pay all of its bills over the next seventy-five years, $36 trillion in general taxes, measured in today's dollars, must be transferred to the trust funds.
(Tue, 6 May 2008 20:50:00 GMT)
"Slow medicine" helps elderly be heard at life’s end
Grounded in research at the Dartmouth Medical School, slow medicine encourages physicians to put on the brakes when considering care that may have high risks and limited rewards for the elderly.
(Tue, 6 May 2008 18:34:00 GMT)
BMJ poll shows importance of palliative care
A British Medical Journal (BMJ) poll says palliative care is the area in which doctors can make the greatest difference to patient care.
(Tue, 6 May 2008 20:50:00 GMT)
Health care meets online social media
California Healthcare Foundation issues report on online social media and Health 2.0.
(Tue, 6 May 2008 18:16:00 GMT)
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"palliative medicine" - Google News
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Palliative Care Access Varies Widely in the US According to New ... - MarketWatch
(Thu, 02 Oct 2008 14:44:10 GMT)
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Yahoo! News Search Results for hospice
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Event raises money for Hospice (The Marion Star)
MARION - Buffalo Wild Wings of Marion recently raised nearly $800 for Marion General Hospital Hospice.
(Sat, 11 Oct 2008 11:15:08 GMT)
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NYT > Money & Policy
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Child Warning Added to Cold Remedies
Manufacturers of pediatric cough and cold medicines said Tuesday that they would voluntarily change their products’ labels.
(Wed, 08 Oct 2008 07:05:43 GMT)
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BMC Palliative Care - Latest articles
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Prevalence of distressing symptoms in hospitalised patients on medical wards: A cross-sectional study
Background:
Many patients with advanced, serious, non-malignant disease belong to the population generally seen on medical wards. However, little research has been carried out on palliative care needs in this group. The aims of this study were to estimate the prevalence of distressing symptoms in patients hospitalised in a Department of Internal Medicine, estimate how many of these patients might be regarded as palliative, and describe their main symptoms.
Methods:
Cross-sectional (point prevalence) study. All patients hospitalised in the Departments of Internal Medicine, Pulmonary Medicine, and Cardiology were asked to do a symptom assessment by use of the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS). Patients were defined as "palliative" if they had an advanced, serious, chronic disease with limited life expectancy and symptom relief as the main goal of treatment.
Results:
222 patients were registered in all. ESAS was completed for 160 patients. 79 (35.6%) were defined as palliative and 43 of them completed ESAS. The patients in the palliative group were older than the rest, and reported more dyspnea (70%) and a greater lack of wellbeing (70%). Other symptoms reported by this group were dry mouth (58%), fatigue (56%), depression (41%), anxiety (37%), pain at rest (30%), and pain on movement (42%).
Conclusion:
More than one third of the patients in a Department of Internal Medicine were defined as palliative, and the majority of the patients in this palliative group reported severe symptoms. There is a need for skills in symptom control on medical wards.
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Medicare.gov Site Updates
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Medicare.gov Data Updates
This week the data for the following tools was updated on Medicare.gov:
Medicare Options Compare
Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Finder.
(Thu, 09 Oct 2008 11:09:45 GMT)
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"united states" "health care policy" - Google News
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Wait-time insurance condemned as latest assault on public health care - The Canadian Press
(Sun, 05 Oct 2008 15:35:33 GMT)
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James Hallenbeck, M.D.
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Improving the quality of palliative care
Joanne Lynn and colleagues have just come out with a great new book, The Common Sense Guide to Improving Palliative Care. (OxfordUniversity Press, 2007). Like their prior work in this area (Improving Care for the End of Life, now in...
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