News You Can Use:
New Regulations for Hospice
On June 5, 2008, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued new regulations governing the hospice industry, the first overhaul since 1983. The new Medicare Conditions of Participation (CoP) will include explicit language on patient rights, including their rights to choose palliative care over curative treatment, to participate in their treatment plan, to choose their own physician and their right to effective pain management. The new regulations reflect comments received since the publication of the proposed rule in May 2005. For more information, visit:
CMS - Press Release
CMS - New Regulation
Dementia Care Guide for Direct Care Workers
The Michigan Dementia Coalition has released a new "Every Day Language" edition of Knowledge and Skills Needed for Dementia Care: A Guide for Direct Care Workers. It identifies the knowledge and skills direct care workers need when working with dementia patients in particular, and it includes an appendix with notes for trainers and supervisors of direct care workers. The guide describes seven competency areas, including knowledge of dementia disorders, person-centered care, interacting with families, and direct care workers' self-care. For more information, visit:
Michigan Dementia Coalition
An article in the June 2008 issue of the Journal of Neuroscience Nursing (Volume 40, Number 3) describes 39 comprehensive educational guidelines for stroke survivors and their family caregivers for the first six months after discharge from inpatient rehabilitation. In "Evidence-Based Educational Guidelines for Stroke Survivors After Discharge Home," Sharon Ostwald and colleagues explain that stroke patients are often discharged home soon after their stroke and that families are often ill-prepared for the full extent of caregiving responsibilities that are required. The guidelines were tested with 72 survivors and families during 1,150 home visits. For more information, visit:
Journal of Neuroscience Nursing