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IAHPC BOOK REVIEW

INNOVATIONS IN END-OF-LIFE CARE Vol. 2

Practical Strategies & International Perspectives

Solomon MZ, Romer AL, Heller KS, Weissmand DE (eds)

Mary Ann Liebert, 2000
332 pp.
ISBN 0-913113-92-1
RRP $US 59.95, £ N/A

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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