Here is a collection of posters from the recent Asia Pacific Hospice Conference in Taipei – primarily by researchers and clinicians from Australia and New Zealand. Enjoy!
Over 1300 delegates from the Asia-Pacific region and beyond congregated in the Taipei International Conference Centre at the beginning of May for the 11th Asia Pacific Hospice Conference (APHC). With a theme of “Transforming Palliative Care”, there was a particular focus on public health and the development of palliative care in countries where it is not yet well established. It was wonderful to meet clinicians, policymakers, teachers and researchers from near and far – from China to the Philippines, Mongolia to Saudi Arabia, Argentina and the United Kingdom – and discuss shared problems and discover new ways of doing things!
(Jacaranda tree in the Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney)
A comprehensive review of Medicare was announced this week, which has the potential to significantly impact how healthcare is delivered in Australia. Opinions abound (a small sample here, here, here, and here) but details are scarce. This announcement is timely, with the release of Australian Medical Association’s annual report card on public hospital services last week (reactions here and here) and the upcoming launch of Choosing Wisely Australia on April 29th (more on this here, here and here).
Also this week, Queensland and Victoria joined New South Wales in conducting clinical trials on the use medicinal cannabis (other reports here, here and here). Information about the trial and law reform process can be found here, here and here. Palliative Care Australia has also provided a submission.
Other reads:
Finally, it’s ANZAC Day: Lest we forget.
(Another beautiful day in Apollo Bay)
Conversations that Count Day took place across New Zealand this week (on April 16th). Read a selection of the various conversations and discussions generated around this event here, here, here, here, here and here.
At the same time, the US National Healthcare Decision Day promoted similar conversations across the pacific. An excellent collection of resources from Pallimed can be found here.
The Victorian Auditor-General’s Office released its report on the provision of palliative care services in the state this week. It’s findings and recommendations are both heartening and worrying. Mainstream and palliative care media responses can be found here and here.
The Australian Medical Association also released its position statement on Palliative Approach in Residential Aged Care Facilities earlier this week.
Many of us love a great TED talk. Haven’t heard of them? Or simply looking for a few more to feed your addiction? Check out this playlist on “New ways to think about death”.
A few reflective pieces to fill your head and heart this weekend:
And finally, here’s another plug for our new fellow survey.
Have a lovely weekend everyone!
(Image via wikipedia)
Are you a “new fellow”? Have you recently qualified (or about to qualify) as a palliative medicine specialist (FAChPM +/- FRACP)?
Transitioning from advanced training to consultant-hood can be a challenging time in one’s career. Help us understand how best to support you by completing this brief and anonymous survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/NZ97VVL
Thank you!
Thanks to everyone who joined us in person or online today for our presentation at the PCRNV Forum. A special mention must go to James for his great webinar effort! Here is the transcript and analytics for you to enjoy! If you would like to join the Researchers Database, please fill in this Database invitation and send it back to us at Palliverse@gmail.com
Team Palliverse is excited to be presenting at the upcoming Palliative Care Research Network Victoria (PCRNV) Forum on March 24th at 5pm AEDT (2pm AWST; 7pm NZDT). We will be talking about the use of social media in palliative care research and clinical practice. Join us in person, via webinar or on twitter!
Here is the long awaited second part of Dr Chris Sanderson’s thoughts about #lettertome, where doctors write letters to PATIENTS instead of other doctors……
The idea of #lettertome goes further than sharing a copy of the standard doctors’ letter with the patient. Instead of writing about patients, maybe we could be writing to them. When we reconceptualise what we do in terms of patient-centered care, a letter can have very valuable functions:
Hospice New Zealand is once again presenting a lecture series on palliative care this year. The lectures are held on the first Thursday of every month at 7:30am NZDT/NZST and are available by teleconference at various sites across New Zealand. The first lecture on nausea and vomiting was delivered last week by Dr Michael Downing.
You can also listen to lectures from the previous series by simply registering here. Awesome!
Did you work over the holiday break?
Unlike many times in the past – this year I didn’t work a shift on Christmas Eve; or Christmas day, or even New Years. I spent this time with my family. And I turned off my electronic gadgets (well, for the most part)!
I spent quiet time reading. How refreshing it was to have no agenda, and nothing that just had to be done. The only trouble was that, somehow, this felt quite indulgent.
After all, we are trained to care for others – but perhaps not so enlightened on the art of self-care. Is it selfish? Or does genuine care for others perhaps start with yourself? Continue reading
palliverse.com 
