IAHPC BOOK REVIEW
INNOVATIONS IN END-OF-LIFE CARE Vol. 1
Practical Strategies & International Perspectives
Mildred Solomon, Anna Romer and Karen Heller (Eds)
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| Mary Ann Liebert, 2000
224 pp.
ISBN 0-913113-87-5
RRP $US 69, £ N/A 
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The Innovations in End-of-Life Care series, parts of which are published in the Journal of Palliative Medicine, is about the innovators in
the field of palliative care, people who developed programs that made a difference and which led to institutional change and better clinical practice. Featured innovations are discussed in an
interview format by the people that made them happen, providing inspiring insight into all aspects of the process - conceptualizing problems, developing strategies for change, marshalling support,
overcoming barriers and hurdles, even making mistakes. Each featured innovation is accompanied by critical commentary on the topic from around the world or by people affected by the program.
These volumes certainly deserve a place in the palliative care service library. They are valuable, thought-provoking references for anyone involved in developing or furthering palliative care.
And isn't that all of us?
The Innovations discussed in Volume 1 are advance care planning, family centered care, improving pain control and promoting meaning in the lives of patients with advanced dementia. The "Respecting
Your Choices" advance care planning program is discussed by Bernard Hammes. The results are well known, but not what he had to do to get there. The development of the pain treatment algorithm
by du Pen and du Pen, which is still the only intervention that has been shown in a randomized controlled trial to improve patient care, is an exercise in thoughtful determination.
Roger Woodruff
Director of Palliative Care, Austin & Repatriation Medical Centre, Melbourne, Australia
(March 2003)
Author Information
Mildred Solomon, Anna Romer and Karen Heller are from the Center for Applied Ethics and Professional Practice, Education Development Center, Inc., Newton, Massachusetts, USA
Table of Contents
Part 1. Innovations in End-of-Life Care: Mission and Purpose
Solomon
Part 2: Communication, Truth Telling, and Advance Care Planning
Editorial: Why Are Advance Directives a Non-Issue Outside the United States?
Solomon
Featured Innovation: The Lessons from Respecting Your Choices™
Hammes
International Perspectives
The Truth, the Whole Truth, and Nothing But the Truth?
Glick
Advance Care Planning in the Australian Context
Kristjanson
Cultural Attitudes Toward Death and Dying in Spain
Olarte
Speaking in a Particular Way: Individualizing Communication for Each Patient
Ripamonti
Limitations to Advance Directives: A Dutch View
Zylicz
Part 3: Moving Toward Family-Centered Care
Editorial: Listening to Patients and Families Moves Practice Toward Family-Centered Care
Romer
Featured Innovation: Family Letter-Writing
Harlow
Featured Innovation: Living with a Serious Illness
Farber
International Perspectives
Common Sense
Blackhall
Cancer Disclosure and Family Involvement with Japanese Patients in the U.S.
Fetters
Part 4: Pain Management Near the End of Life
Editorial: Implementing Pain Management Guidelines
Heller
Featured Innovation: Designing and Implementing a Cancer Pain Algorithm
Du Pen and Du Pen
International Perspectives
Pain Management in Germany
Zenz
Part 5: Promoting Meaning in the Lives of Patients with Advanced Dementia
Editorial: Only Connect: Promoting Meaning in the Lives of Patients with Advanced Dementia
Romer
Personal Reflection
Separate and Yet Together: Living with a Spouse Suffering from Alzheimer's Disease
Cassirer
Featured Innovation: Caring for Patients with Advanced Dementia
Hurley and Volicer
Featured Innovation: Bright Eyes: A Sensory Stimulation Intervention
Trudeau
International Perspectives
Promoting Person-Centered Care for People with Advanced Dementia
Marshall
Appendix A: Resources and Tools and Related Web Sites
Appendix B: End-of-Life Care Web Sites
Index
 
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