For Professionals

Continuing Education Programs for Nurses Provided by VNS

Advanced Infusion Services Physician Referral

Care Plan Oversight for Physicians

Quality of Life Matters Newsletter
Now in its tenth year of publication, Quality of Life Matters is recommended as an educational resource by the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine. The periodical is dedicated solely to end-of-life care news and clinical findings and is researched and written by professional medical journalists who specialize in covering palliative care issues. It is an independent publication; it is not affiliated with any health care organization or company. The quarterly newsletter is published by Quality of Life Publishing Co., a firm dedicated to easing the way for patients with life-limiting illnesses and their families. If you’d like to be added to the Hospice of VNS mailing list for this publication, email Kelly Ward-Smith, Communications Specialist, at kward@vnsa.com or call 330-848-6206.

• August - October 2011: Improving Care, Cutting Costs: Oncologists Encouraged to Change Their Treatment Choices for Seriously Ill Patients  
• May-July 2011: 97% of Americans Believe Patients and Families Should Be Educated about End-of-Life Care Options
• February - April 2011: Record 1.56 Million Patients Served by Hospice
• November 2010 - January 2011: Cancer Patients Have Improved Survival, Better Quality of Life with Early Palliative Care.
• August - October 2010: Physicians Urged to Serve As 'Advocate and Guides' for Patients in Their Final Years and Months
• May - July 2010:Physicians Urged to Recognize and Support Major Role of Family Caregivers
• February - April 2010: As Hospice Use Continues to Grow, Late Referral Resulting in ‘Short Hospice Experience’ Raises Concerns
• November 2009 - January 2010: Words Matter: How to Reframe Common 'Bad News' Phrases for More Effective Communication and Improved Care
• August - October 2009: Self-Awareness Approach Offered to Protect Physicians from Burnout and Compassion Fatigue
• May - July 2009: Selecting Palliative or Hospice Care That Is ‘Competent, Compassionate, Coordinated’
• February - April 2009: Non-Cancer Diagnoses Continue to Outnumber Malignancies in Patients Served by Hospice
• November 2008 - January 2009: End-of-Life Discussions Offer Patients Benefits, Not Distress
• August - October 2008:Pulmonary Diseases and Critical Illnesses: New Clinical Guidelines Endorse Palliative and Hospice Care
• May-July 2008: Advanced Dementia:Physicians Offered Approach to Support Decision Making for Patients
• February-April 2008: Number of Veterans Receiving VA-Supported Home Hospice Care Triples
• November 2007 - January 2008: Hospice Care Still Underutilized and Misunderstood?
• August – October 2007: Hospice Care Linked to Longer Patient Survival