Hospice and palliative medicine

Hospice and palliative medicine is a formal subspecialty of medicine in the United States that focuses on symptom management, relief of suffering and end-of-life care.

In 2006, hospice and palliative medicine was officially recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties, and is co-sponsored by[1]

Physicians who complete a residency in one of the co-sponsoring specialties are then eligible for further training in an ACGME-approved Hospice and Palliative Medicine fellowship program, after which they must pass the official examination to be board-certified in the subspecialty.

In 2007, the American Osteopathic Association Bureau of Osteopathic Specialists approved a Certificate of Added Qualifications (CAQ) in hospice and palliative medicine. By 2012 participants are the American Osteopathic Boards of

Candidates are eligible for CAQ certification after achieving board-certification following an American Osteopathic Association-approved residency.

Scope of the Subspecialty

Physicians in this subspecialty have advanced knowledge and skills to prevent and relieve the suffering experienced by patients with life-limiting, life-threatening and terminal illnesses.[3] This specialist has expertise in the assessment of patients with advanced disease and catastrophic injury, the relief of distressing symptoms, the coordination of interdisciplinary patient and family-centered care in diverse settings, the use of specialized care systems including hospice, the management of the imminently dying patient; and legal and ethical decision making in end-of-life care.[4] They work with an interdisciplinary hospice or palliative care team to maximize quality of life while addressing physical, psychological, social and spiritual needs of both patients and family members throughout the course of the disease, including through the dying process and subsequent bereavement. This care can occur within or outside of a formal hospice or palliative care team.

Professional organization

The American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM) is the leading professional organization for physicians subspecializing in hospice and palliative medicine in North America. The International Association for Hospice and Palliative Care is the major professional organization devoted to the global spread of hospice and palliative medicine.

See also

References
  1. American Board of Medical Specialties, ABMS Establishes New Subspecialty Certificate in Hospice and Palliative Medicine "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-11-16. Retrieved 2010-11-14.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link), October 6, 2006, accessed 11/9/2010.
  2. "Osteopathic Certification". American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine. Retrieved 23 September 2012.
  3. Gaertner, Jan; Siemens, Waldemar; Meerpohl, Joerg J; Antes, Gerd; Meffert, Cornelia; Xander, Carola; Stock, Stephanie; Mueller, Dirk; Schwarzer, Guido; Becker, Gerhild (2017-07-04). "Effect of specialist palliative care services on quality of life in adults with advanced incurable illness in hospital, hospice, or community settings: systematic review and meta-analysis". BMJ: j2925. doi:10.1136/bmj.j2925. ISSN 0959-8138. PMC 5496011. PMID 28676557.
  4. American Board of Medical Specialties, ABMS Guide to Physician Specialties , 2011, p. 2, accessed 11/9/2010.
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