September 28, 2011

San Diego is Site of National Conference Focusing on Clinical Aspects of Hospice and Palliative Care

The Hospice Interdisciplinary Team: Leading and Innovating Quality throughout the Care Continuum WHO:        National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization WHAT:      12th Clinical Team Conference and Pediatric Intensive WHEN:      Thursday, October 6 – Saturday, October 8, 2011 WHERE:    Town & Country Resort and Conference Center, San Diego, California More than 1,200 hospice and palliative professionals and industry experts will gather to explore best practices that expand hospice and palliative care service delivery, define excellence and enhance quality throughout the care continuum. NHPCO’s annual Pediatric Palliative Care Intensive is included. The conference is presented in collaboration with the California Hospice and Palliative Care Association.

The conference features more than 100 concurrent sessions, three plenary presentations, volunteer awards, an exhibit hall, and more. Highlights:

• Jeffery Zaslow, Wall Street Journal columnist and author A Heartfelt and Humorous Look at Life’s Transitions Thursday, October 6, 8:30am – 10:00am Opening remarks from NHPCO President and CEO J. Donald Schumacher, PsyD.  
• Torrey DeVitto, actress, advocate and hospice volunteer will present Volunteers are the Foundation of Hospice Awards Friday, October 7, 8:30am – 9:00am.  
• Scott Irwin, MD, PhD, and Charles F. von Gunten, MD, PhD, FACP, FAAHPM Delirium Assessment and Management Friday, October 7, 9:00am – 10:00am.  
• Taren Sterry, hospice volunteer manager and actor “180 Days” – a one woman performance piece about hospice Saturday, October 8, 8:30am – 9:15am.  
• Exhibit Hall featuring 70 vendors and organizations Thursday, October 6, 5:00pm – 7:00pm and Friday, October 7, 7:00am – 1:00pm.  
• Additional activities: Distinguished Researcher Award presentation; We Honor Veterans summit; “From San Diego to Africa” celebration hosted by FHSSA; poster sessions, and numerous networking opportunities.

Conference supporters include: Hospice Pharmacia, Hospice and Community Care Insurance Services, Suncoast Solutions, CareAnywhere, Inc., CHAP, Inc., Home Healthcare Solutions, mumms® Software by Secure Computing Systems, Inc., and The Corridor Group, Inc.

Members of the professional print and broadcast media are invited; social media professionals may register at the advanced conference rate. Check in at conference desk or contact: Jon Radulovic Vice President of Communications Office: 703-837-3139 Cell: 571-259-5016 jradulovic@nhpco.org

The conference brochure is available online  

NHPCO is the oldest and largest nonprofit membership organization representing hospice and palliative care programs and professionals in the United States. NHPCO’s mission is to lead and mobilize social change for improved care at the end of life, www.nhpco.org.