Announcements
Announcing a free comprehensive online resource for palliative and supportive care – NHS Evidence
For several years, the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK has been continually developing and improving, an online, open-access service to allow healthcare professionals to find the best evidence for all aspects of medicine and health. Originally this was called the ‘National electronic Library of Health’ (NeLH) and later simply ‘National Library for Health’ (NLH). Since April 2009, it has been taken under the wing of the UK organisation called NICE, which is responsible for ensuring evidence-based healthcare and advising the British government on making choices about which treatments it should provide the public. The NLH has been re-named “NHS Evidence”.
Within NHS Evidence, there are several ‘specialist collections’ covering a broad range of topics from genetic conditions to cancer and older people. The one we feel you would be interested in is the specialist collection for ‘Supportive and Palliative Care’. We have been running this – originally under the old NeLH structure – since September 2005, from the University of Sheffield. Our partners include the UK charity Help the Hospices, the National Council for Palliative Care, St Christopher’s Hospice Library and the Association for Palliative Medicine.
The ‘NHS Evidence - supportive and palliative care’ specialist collection exists to facilitate dissemination of the latest evidence between health and social care professionals, academics, managers and consumers. The evidence covers the broad spectrum of palliative and supportive care, particularly as the latter expands into non-malignant chronic diseases and survivorship. You can access the hundreds of systematic reviews, meta-analyses, guidelines and patient information resources for free by visiting us on – http://www.library.nhs.uk/palliative/
(Please note that some of the journals we link to may not be ‘open-access’.)
One of our features is to provide ‘annual evidence updates’ on specific topics. Although evidence updates can vary in size, scope and frequency, they have a common format and objective - that of making the best current evidence easily accessible to a wider audience. Previous topics have included pain (both cancer and non-cancer), respiratory symptoms, gastro-intestinal problems, end-stage renal disease, lymphoedema and user involvement in palliative care. They demonstrate how Internet resources can be used to help healthcare workers and managers translate the best current evidence into practice in the hospice world and beyond.
From this month, we are delighted to be entering a new link-up with IAHPC. We will be offering a monthly digest of the most relevant new items from the dozens being added to the specialist collection, through a monthly email bulletin. The full list will be available on a link provided. In addition, IAHPC members worldwide are encouraged to join our email list to hear about these latest developments. Your inbox will not be swamped - it is not our policy to send out large numbers of unnecessary emails. Rather, the intention is to provide a simple way to share information about the best current knowledge in the field, because as well as receiving new resources, you will be able to post up interesting items or questions for others to share.
Many of our users are library and information staff - and we particularly invite them to share their expertise. The same goes for other experts in palliative and supportive care – medical, nursing, allied health professionals, social workers, chaplains, etc – all are welcome. It is a discussion board, so user feedback and participation is valued -
www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/supportive-and-palliative-care-evidence.html
Since we started in September 2005, we have tried to provide free, convenient and comprehensive access to the best available evidence in all aspects of palliative and supportive care. This includes giving symptom management and end of life care to patients and their families. Its scope has widened in recent years from being mostly about cancer, to patients with chronic non-malignant disease as well as those with earlier, potentially curable disease, those suffering side-effects of disease-directed management and to patients who are considered survivors but experiencing ‘late effects’ of treatment. Our broad scope therefore will be relevant for statutory health service institutions and non-governmental and charity-based services, as well as for individuals working in oncology and other mainstream healthcare disciplines.
Professor Sam H Ahmedzai
Clinical Lead and consultant in palliative medicine
Jason Boland
Editorial Adviser and specialist registrar in palliative medicine
Richard Stevens
Project Manager and Information Specialist
Denise Brady
Information Specialist. Also Librarian, St Christopher’s Hospice
Melanie Hodson
Information Specialist. Also UK information manager, Hospice information service, Help the Hospices
Legal Guide for the Seriously Ill written by the American Bar Association – a news release from the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organizatio
Guide Commissioned by NHPCO and Created by American Bar Association Commission on Law and Aging
“(Alexandria, Va) -- The onset of a serious illness or injury can affect much more than a person’s health. Knowing what steps to take to get one’s financial and legal affairs in order is often vitally important not only to the affected individual, but to his or her loved ones as well.
The "Legal Guide for the Seriously Ill" -- a project by the American Bar Association Commission on Law and Aging commissioned by the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization -- was designed for both the seriously ill individual and those caring for someone who is seriously ill. The guide explains “Seven Key Steps” in a brief, clear way while offering additional tips and resources for readers looking for more detailed information and guidance.
The recently released guide addresses societal issues that have gained prominent media attention in recent years, such as paying for health care, managing health and personal decisions, and patient rights. In addition, the Legal Guide for the Seriously Ill sheds light on recent legislative and regulatory changes, such as the recently enacted American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which provides a 35 percent subsidy of the COBRA premium for up to nine months.
“The Legal Guide for the Seriously Ill is a great resource for anyone facing a serious illness. The book provides critical tools that help readers understand their options, make informed decisions, and minimize some of the anxiety they may be feeling about their financial and legal affairs at this stage of life,” said ABA President Carolyn Lamm.
J. Donald Schumacher, president and CEO of NHPCO added, “Hospice and palliative care organizations are frequently asked for information regarding end-of-life planning and decision-making. This guide will be a tremendous resource to them as well as faith communities, caregiver organizations, aging service providers, hospitals and others who work to support people living with a serious illness.
Ellen M. Klem, staff attorney of the ABA Commission on Law and the Aging, reminded readers that the book does not give legal advice, but will “arm readers with knowledge about the options they have during this difficult time.”
The views expressed in the book have not been approved by the House of Delegates or the Board of Governors of the American Bar Association and, accordingly, should not be construed as representing the policy of the ABA.
"Legal Guide for the Seriously Ill" is available online at the Caring Connections Web site. http://tinyurl.com/yc4oacj (pdf will open in new window)
| Editor’s Note: Review copies are available by sending an e-mail to Ellen M. Klem at [email protected]. If you publish a review of this book, please send tearsheets or a copy for our files to Ellen M. Klem, American Bar Association, Commission on Law and Aging, 740 15th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20005.
With nearly 400,000 members, the American Bar Association is the largest voluntary professional membership organization in the world. As the national voice of the legal profession, the ABA works to improve the administration of justice, promotes programs that assist lawyers and judges in their work, accredits law schools, provides continuing legal education, and works to build public understanding around the world of the importance of the rule of law.
NHPCO is the oldest and largest nonprofit membership organization representing hospice and palliative care programs and professionals in the United States. NHPCO’s mission is to lead and mobilize social change for improved care at the end of life. NHPCO's Caring Connections provides free resources and information to help people make decisions about end-of-life care and services before a crisis. Learn more at caringinfo.org or by calling the HelpLine at 1-800-658-8898.
Media Contact:
Tina Lanier, ABA
Phone:202-662-1792
[email protected]
Or:
Jon Radulovic, NHPCO
Phone: 703-837-3139
[email protected]
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The Harry R. Horvitz Center for Palliative Medicine Honored
This is exciting information we would like to share with your association and reading audience. The Harry R. Horvitz Center for Palliative Medicine was recently honored by the European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO). It was recognized as an ESMO Designated Center of Integrated Oncology and Palliative Care. Dr. Declan Walsh accepted the award at the ESMO Multidisciplinary Congress held in Berlin, Germany, September 2009. Dr. Walsh holds the Harry R. Horvitz Chair in Palliative Medicine at Cleveland Clinic and is the founder and director of the Center. The ESMO award is given only to those programs which assure that the highest standards of care and organization are met and adhered to by medical oncologists within a multidisciplinary team program. The HRH Center is the only medical institution in the USA to receive this ESMO honor.
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