News Briefs
October 1, 2000 3 minutes read
News Briefs
Guidelines available for terminally ill children
The American Academy of Pediatrics has outlined recommendations for providing palliative care to terminally ill children.
Each year, 53,000 children in the United States die from trauma, extreme prematurity, hereditary disorders, and other conditions, according to the Elk Grove Village, IL-based organization.
Children’s needs are different than those of adults, and medical professionals are obligated to ensure that suffering is minimized and medical technology is used when the benefit to the child outweighs the burden, the organization states.
Start care upon diagnosis
Some of the recommendations recently announced include:
• Development of widely available palliative care and respite programs to alleviate suffering and promote the welfare of children and their families living with life-threatening or terminal conditions.
• Implementation of a comprehensive palliative care program from the time a child is diagnosed with a life-threatening or terminal condition to complement life-prolonging care, as well as assist if it becomes clear that the child will not survive.
• Changes in the regulation of palliative care to allow broader eligibility criteria, equitable reimbursement of simultaneous life-prolonging and palliative care, and respite care and other therapies beyond those currently mandated.
• An increase in support for research into effective pediatric palliative care. The pharmaceutical industry must provide labeling information for symptom-relief medications applicable to children. The recommendations also reiterate the AAP's continued opposition to physician-assisted suicide or euthanasia for children.
Health Care Education Week 2000
The Health Care Education Association (HCEA) in Philadelphia has paired with Atlanta-based Pritchett & Hull Associates to sponsor Health Care Education Week 2000 on Nov. 5-11. The theme this year is "Act 1, Scene 1, Let’s Teach!" An educational packet of materials to help design a celebration is available. Quantities are limited, but packets can be reserved by calling Pritchett & Hull at (800) 241-4925. The packets are free to HCEA members, the cost for nonmembers is $7, which includes shipping.
Fall patient education conference scheduled
The Health Care Education Association (HCEA) has scheduled its patient education conference for Oct. 20-22 at the Hampton Inn and Suites in New Orleans. This year’s theme is "Setting the Stage for Health Care Education." Room rates are $165. For more information or a brochure, contact: Health Care Education Association, 1211 Locust St., Philadelphia, PA 19107. Telephone: (888) 298-3861 or (215) 985-0216.
New patient-centered book on fibromyalgia
A new book released in September by fibromyalgia expert Mark J. Pellegrino, MD, helps readers achieve the ability to guide their own treatment and develop coping skills to make the most of their lives with this chronic illness.
Inside Fibromyalgia, contains the same help and advice Pellegrino gives his own patients, including the latest information on medications and alternative therapies. Each reader is em-powered to determine the best individualized plan. The author’s special understanding of treating fibromyalgia comes from personal experience — because he has the disease and treating over 10,000 patients.
The cost of the book is $23, plus $3.75 shipping and handling. Volume discounts are available for health care institutions. For more information or to order, contact: Anadem Publishing Inc., 3620 N. High St., Columbus, OH 43214. Telephone: (800) 633-0055 or (614) 262-2539. Fax: (614) 262-6630. E-mail: [email protected].
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