Palliative care teams help patients, reduce costs
Special palliative care teams, often made up of a physician, nurse and social worker, are helping the sickest patients and their families make an informed medical decision, which in turn helps hospitals hold down costs. Researchers say the new medical specialty could save the average community hospital $1.3 million per year by ensuring patients get the services they need without unnecessarily long ICU stays or unwanted medical tests. Click here for more.

AARP’s campaign takes aim at health care reform gridlock
A health care advocacy group has launched the “Divided We Fall” campaign that calls for a break in the health care reform gridlock on Capitol Hill. The coalition, which includes businesses, labor and the AARP, does not advocate a particular reform plan but is pushing Congress and the White House to make affordable, quality health care for all Americans a top priority. Click here for more.

Medical groups unprepared for medical home model
A study of large U.S. medical groups found many do not have the elements needed to create medical home models that allow primary care physicians to fully coordinate patient care. Critical elements include working in patient care teams, care coordination and integration, maximization of patient safety and quality of care, and ability to contact physicians in nontraditional ways, such as e-mail. Click here for more.

Editor’s Note: Case managers play an important role in the medical home concept. Those who are creative in their marketing efforts and can demonstrate to primary care physicians the value they can bring to their practice will find new opportunities.

New site provides forum for patients to discuss pain
Letstalkpain.org aims to get medical providers and patients to talk more openly, honestly and frequently about pain. The American Pain Foundation, the American Academy of Pain Management, and the American Society of Pain Management Nurses, the coalition behind the site, conducted a survey that found fewer than 50 percent of patients feel they have enough time to talk about pain with their provider.

Southern Calif. nurses collaborate to make hourly rounding successful
Southern California nurses from various facilities are working together to implement and improve hourly rounding, which can reduce use of the call light and improve patient outcomes, satisfaction and safety. To make the system work, the nurses began by sharing tips and stories through monthly teleconferences and in-person meetings. Click here for more.