Hospice & Palliative Medicine
Video
VIDEO: Consistency is key to monitoring patients on opioids
Employ the same protocol with all patients to monitor opioid therapy, even when the abuse potential is considered to be low.
Video
VIDEO: Use fiduciary duty to set pain medication boundaries
Physicians should use the concept of fiduciary duty to set appropriate boundaries with patients taking pain medications.
Conference Coverage
ICOO: Opioid self-dosing falls short of pain control
Cancer patients often do not pursue or do not achieve complete freedom from pain when permitted control over their opioid dose.
News
Nursing home residents have poor outcomes after lower-extremity revascularization
Key clinical point: Many nursing home residents undergo lower-extremity revascularization every year, but few survive and are ambulatory 1 year...
News
Palliative surgery eases pain at end of life
Key clinical point: Palliative surgery in patients with advanced cancers can relieve pain with minimal morbidity. Major finding: Pain scores...
News
California physicians sue state over suicide law
News
Rise in reports of pain, depression in last year of life in oncology patients
Key clinical point: Despite an increase in the use of hospice, moderate or severe pain continues to be a problem at the end of life for over half...
News
Advisory panel: Advanced dementia patients need better access to end-of-life care
News
NIH report on long-term opioid treatment cites lack of data, research needs
News
‘Material need insecurities’ impact diabetes control, despite access to health care
Key clinical point: In a setting of near universal health care, many patients with type 2 diabetes still have trouble paying for food, medications...
Conference Coverage
Palliative consult helps geriatric trauma patients avoid futile interventions
Key clinical point: Geriatric patients who receive a palliative medicine consult usually forgo procedures. Major finding: About 90% of patients...