“Moribund Obesity”: Palliative care diagnosis or poorly chosen label?
September 16, 2009
I’ve always had a fascination with how certain phrases influence practice and how established terms frame and reinforce provider attitudes…
Bedrest as a danger of hospitalization
September 15, 2009
There is an important study in the current issue of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. This study addresses…
Overuse of Pain Medications in Hospice and Palliative Medicine
September 12, 2009
This week’s Lancet includes an article titled “The Death of Ivan Ilyich and pain relief at the end of life”…
Sometimes You’re Paranoid, but Sometimes They Really Are Out To Get You
September 11, 2009
With the endless news cycle surrounding health care reform lately, it’s easy to have missed some other breaking and troubling…
The Rise of Social Media in Medical Education: Part 1 in a series
September 5, 2009
In the course of a typical year I generally take about 10-15 structured online mandatory training courses. I also have…
Rational vs rationing medicine
September 3, 2009
This morning on NPR’s Morning Edition, Atul Gawande was interviewed to explain the difference between Rationing Care and Rational Care.…
Palliative Care Grand Rounds Coming to GeriPal
September 1, 2009
Leigh Kramer from the blog “Confessions of a Young (Looking) Social Worker” will be hosting Palliative Care Grand Rounds this…
Interview with Seth Landefeld about Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine Leadership Summit
August 31, 2009
The John Hartford Foundation supported the inaugural summit of leaders from geriatrics and palliative medicine in July to encourage opportunities,…
A Rant on Terminology
August 27, 2009
News Headlines read: Sen. Edward Kennedy loses battle with cancer. Really, he lost? I thought he died from a malignant…
Trying to Integrate Advance Care Planning Into Clinic
August 27, 2009
As a geriatrician who primarily sees patients in clinic, I find myself often wondering how best to apply what I’ve…