Members Come First

Hospice and palliative medicine physicians face special challenges in treating patients dealing with life-limiting illness: They not only provide top quality care, they also strive to restore comfort, dignity, and control in their patients' lives.

It's a tall order—and these physicians need support to meet these challenges. That's why one AMC client, the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM), is working hard to assist its members to advance their own careers and to help them spread the word on hospice and palliative care.

First, AAHPM recently introduced HPM PASS™ for physicians interested in becoming board certified in the relatively new subspecialty area of hospice and palliative medicine. This online assessment and self-study tool—a practice test comprised of 150 test questions—simulates the hospice and palliative medicine board certification test. Physicians receive immediate test results that pinpoint their areas of knowledge and, importantly, target areas where additional review may be helpful.

AAHPM also recently published a new, attractive trifold brochure for any practicing physician in need of information and consultation on hospice and palliative care. Inside, the brochure reads: "Is your patient appropriate for a palliative care referral? A hospice and palliative medicine consultation will help you manage complex pain, symptoms, comorbidities, patient and family communication, and other issues." Included are case examples of appropriate patient referrals: A 62-year-old grandmother in treatment for breast cancer, a teenager who is receiving cancer treatments, and an 84-year-old man with heart disease and Alzheimer's disease.

Meanwhile, AAHPM provides another new brochure—this one for patients seeking information on hospice and palliative care. The brochure not only provides case examples of patients, but also describes how hospice and palliative medicine physicians work to restore control and dignity in the lives of their patients.

"AAHPM continues to develop high quality programs of interest to our members in the field of hospice and palliative medicine," states Executive Director/CEO Steve R. Smith, CAE. "Academy membership has grown to over 4,000 physicians and other healthcare professionals interested in learning how best to care for patients facing serious or life-threatening conditions. We're here to support them." For more information about HPM PASS™, or to purchase the brochure online, visit www.aahpm.org.