The 2009 HPCCV Annual Hospice & Palliative Care Conference

On Thursday, June 11^th, 2009 more than 260 Hospice + Palliative Care nurses, doctors, therapists, volunteers and singers from every part of Vermont, gathered at Lake Morey for the 18^th Annual Conference of the Hospice & Palliative Care Council of Vermont.  

Diana Peirce, President of HPCCV, and Hospice Director for CVHHH, was surprised at the podium by a salute to her 20 years of leadership. Virginia Fry, director of HPCCV presented her with a plaque, an actual crown, a royal scarf, paintings of snow and Vermont barns, and of sunny terraces and roses to celebrate her coming retirement to San Diego. A collection of testimonials was read, and Don Schumacher, PSYD, President and CEO of the National Hospice & Palliative Care Organization sang a song of appreciation to Diana for her years of work with the National Board.  Dr. Patrick Clary also dedicated his poem “5 Tasks Hospice Nurses have taught me” (from Dying for Beginners) to Diana.  

A keynote presentation by Don, presented the view of hospice care from inside Washington DC, which is being transformed from 8 years of “Belt Way Blues to Songs of Hope”. While the federal stimulus package has restored proposed Medicare cuts to hospice reimbursement, he warned of changes aiming to homecare funding and efforts to limit the growth of Medicare spending for hospice services, even as the elderly population grows rapidly.  

Bob Macauley, MD and Director of Clinical Ethics, Associate Professor of Pediatrics at FAHC/UVM and Episcopal priest, spoke about the long history of medical paternalism and the ongoing transformation to patient-centered care. His keynote and workshop balanced medical ethics and spirituality, exploring the laws and practices concerning the “medical F-Word  ____ Futility.  

Jim Bernat, MD, Dartmouth Medical School Neurologist focused on Ethics in Dementia, distinguishing between consent, capacity and consensus in decision-making.  

Other workshops explored the healing power of Reiki, Stories, innovative physical therapy, and a panel on current challenges to budgets and creative strategies for survival of programs. Conference participants witnessed a bold eagle scoop, a fish from Lake Morey, while enjoying excellent food, Hospice Singers, Vermont Arts Puzzzle Palooza – which completed a day of renewal for all. We also raised over $ 1500 for our sister hospice in Iambi, Tanzania.   

       Ginny Fry