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Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Awards Grants Totaling $4.5 Million to Increase Availability of Palliative Care in US Hospitals

The Center to Advance Palliative Care (CAPC), a national program of The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), announced in August 2003 that RWJF is committing $4.5 million to increase the availability of palliative care in hospitals throughout the nation in an effort to help millions of Americans who suffer from life-threatening illness.

 

The grants will fund 6 institutions with exemplary palliative care programs, or Palliative Care Leadership Centers (PCLCs), during a 3-year period. Each will provide a site-visitor program for professionals from other healthcare institutions who intend to start palliative care programs. PCLCs will offer hands-on intensive training focused on the financial and operational aspects of building a hospital-based palliative care program.

 

Research shows that a majority of patients with cancer and other serious illnesses suffer pain and discomfort despite that their symptoms can be safely and effectively treated. Oncologists report that as many as two thirds of their patients suffer from pain, and 75% of these patients categorize their pain as moderate to very severe. According to RWJF and the CAPC, palliative care programs are needed most in hospitals and nursing homes where the sickest patients are found.

 

RWJF and CAPC solicited proposals from palliative care programs throughout the country. After a rigorous yearlong selection process, 6 centers were chosen based on clinical and program excellence, leadership, and educational experience. They represent diverse healthcare settings, including academic medical centers, a cancer center, community health systems, and a community-based hospice organization.

 

The PCLCs are:

 

* Fairview Foundation (Fairview Health Services)-Minneapolis, MN

 

* Massey Cancer Center of Virginia Commonwealth University Health System-Richmond, VA

 

* Medical College of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, WI

 

* Mount Carmel Health System-Columbus, OH

 

* Palliative Care Center of the Bluegrass-Lexington, KY

 

* University of California, San Francisco-San Francisco, CA

 

 

Key components of the PCLC site-visit program will focus on financial and operational issues, such as financial and business planning, organizational and service models, clinical operations and staffing, community partnerships, and clinical and quality outcomes.

 

The PCLC initiative is funded by The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, with technical assistance provided by the CAPC. Based in Princeton, NJ, the RWJF is the largest philanthropic organization devoted exclusively to health and healthcare in the United States. For more information, visit the Web site http://www.rwjf.org.

 

The CAPC, located at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine (NY), is a national initiative of the RWJF, providing hospitals and other healthcare settings with tools and technical assistance to develop hospital-based palliative care programs. For more information, visit the Web site http://www.capc.org.

 

(Release)

 

New York State Grant Funds Holistic Nursing Program at Bellevue Hospital

Thanks to a grant from the State of New York, New York College of Health Professions will offer its holistic nursing program at Bellevue Hospital in New York City in an intensive 5-day course that will enable hundreds of Bellevue's registered nurses to expand their professional skills in providing holistic patient care.

 

As a provider of holistic medical education for more than 20 years, New York College of Health Professions is offering this course on the basic principles of holistic nursing theory, therapeutic massage, nutrition, and traditional Chinese alternative modalities in the hope that it will serve as an innovative model for nursing education throughout the world.

 

The grant for the Bellevue Hospital program was awarded through a joint initiative of the New York State Departments of Health and Labor designed to address workforce shortages, assist professionals in developing new skills, and aid them in adapting to the changes in the healthcare system. Deputy Executive Director of Bellevue Hospital, Theresa Rejrat, said, "Patients seek these holistic services, and nurses have little or no training in this area. It is definitely a beginning of a new movement for our institution."

 

The project has been in test at Bellevue Hospital for approximately 1 year. A spokesperson for the college reported that more than half of the participants wanted to continue with holistic healthcare studies.

 

New York College is expanding its onsite nursing programs and has continuing education provider status with the New York State Nurses Association, as well as the endorsement of the American Holistic Nurses Association. The college offers undergraduate and graduate-level degree programs in massage therapy, acupuncture and Oriental medicine, and a continuing education program in holistic nursing.

 

New York College also maintains a 35-acre modern medical facility in Luo Yang, The People's Republic of China, where students can participate in 3-week or full-semester study programs. Additional information about the New York College of Health Professions can be found at http://www.nycollege.edu or by contacting the college at 800-922-7337. For professional nursing career opportunities at Bellevue Hospital, Kim Edelberg, Professional Recruiter, can be contacted at 212-562-6404.

 

(Release)