About AAHPM

• Who We Are
  
  
• Core Mission
  
  
• Core Purpose
  
  
• Core Values
  
  
• Strategic Goals
  
  
• Definition of Hospice and Palliative Care
  
  
• Who provides hospice and palliative care and where can patients get it?
  
  

Who We Are

The Academy is the professional organization for physicians specializing in hospice and palliative medicine. Membership is also open to nurses and other healthcare providers who are committed to improving the quality of life of patients and families facing life-threatening or serious conditions. For 20 years, the Academy has dedicated itself to advancing hospice and palliative medicine and improving the care of patients with life- threatening or serious conditions. Originally organized as the Academy of Hospice Physicians in 1988, the Academy began with 250 charter members and has grown to well over 3,300 in 2008. 

To get involved in AAHPM, visit our Membership Web pages.

Core Mission

The American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM) is dedicated to expanding access of patients and families to high quality palliative care, and advancing the discipline of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, through professional education and training, development of a specialist workforce, support for clinical practice standards, research and public policy.

Core Purpose

To improve the care of patients with life- threatening or serious conditions through advancement of hospice and palliative medicine.

Core Values

The following statements describe the essential and enduring principles that guide our organization.

Advancement
AAHPM will encourage growth and expansion of the field and increased access to hospice and palliative care through increased awareness, quality care, education, scientific advancement and evidenced-based medicine.

Collaboration 
AAHPM is a professional community that respects diverse experiences and perspectives, appreciates the process of discovering consensus, and supports an interdisciplinary team approach to hospice and palliative care.

Responsiveness 
AAHPM operates as a flexible organization adapting to an ever-changing environment, continually striving for improvement, and growing in value to its members.

Ethical Leadership 
AAHPM leads in an ethical and transparent manner, making decisions and taking actions that enhance quality of care, uncompromised by inappropriate influences.

Organizational Effectiveness
AAHPM will be a well managed, effectively governed, fiscally sound physician organization that operates in collaboration with other palliative care organizations and related medical specialties.

Respect for Patient & Family-Centered Care 
AAHPM and its members are dedicated and committed to patient focused/family centered care as a patient’s illness or condition advances, through the time of death, and during the bereavement process.

Strategic Goals

In 2007 the Board of Directors identified the following five strategic goals to guide the organization in the next 3-5 years.

Strengthen communities within AAHPM
Members of AAHPM will collaborate through participation in unique professional communities that reflect specific areas of expertise and provide opportunities for constructive contribution to the field of hospice and palliative care.

Build workforce and leadership
AAHPM will help attract, develop and retain the workforce of tomorrow, composed of competent leaders and prepared physicians – including researchers, educators and clinicians – who practice in hospice and palliative medicine and help the organization to reach its goals.

Advance knowledge and competency
AAHPM will work to educate physicians at all career stages and practice settings to achieve high levels of competency in palliative care.

Promote quality care and evidence-based research
AAHPM will disseminate clinical standards and best practices in palliative care and promote training, funding and implementation of research that expands the evidence base for these practices.

Increase external awareness and reach
AAHPM will improve the lives of patients and families facing life-limiting illness by increasing understanding, acceptance and utilization of palliative medicine.

Members can review the complete strategic plan in the members-only section of this Web site.

Definition of Hospice and Palliative Care

Both hospice and palliative care focus on helping a person be comfortable by addressing issues causing physical or emotional pain or suffering.

Palliative medicine relieves the pain and other symptoms patients suffer due to serious illness, including cancer, cardiac disease, respiratory disease, kidney failure, Alzheimer’s, AIDS, ALS, and MS. The goals of palliative care are to: 

• reduce suffering, 
• improve the quality of a seriously ill person’s life, and
• support that person and their family during and after treatment.

Hospice care is for patients with a terminal diagnosis who are no longer seeking curative treatment. The focus of their care is on relieving symptoms and supporting them as they approach the last stages of life.

There currently are more than 3,500 hospices in the United States, and more are being built every year. Approximately 500 new hospice licenses were issued in the last two years.

Who provides hospice and palliative care and where can patients get it?

Care is usually provided by an interdisciplinary team of experts, including palliative care doctors, nurses and social workers. Chaplains, counselors, massage therapists, pharmacists, nutritionists, and others might also be part of the team. The team addresses the physical, psychological, spiritual and practical burdens of illness and provides support to and works in partnership with the doctor. Care is offered in hospitals, long-term care facilities, hospices or at home.