Archive for January, 2013
New Orleans- Here we come
Jan 31st
Soon over 2,400 people will be arriving in New Orleans for the AAHPM & HPNA Annual Assembly. While the attendees will be traveling to The Big Easy for the inspiring and captivating education sessions it would be hard to deny that many attendees are excited to get to explore the amazing city and all that it has to offer. The city is probably best known for the French Quarter, Bourbon Street, and the French Market (home of Café du Monde, famous for café au lait and beignets). The amazing architecture and many beautiful cemeteries are often attractions in themselves but most people equate New Orleans with food.
There are many dining options available so be sure to take advantage of the variety of restaurants to experience while in New Orleans. With recommendations ranging from casual cafes to fine dining, several AAHPM members who are locals have graciously shared their favorite restaurants and attractions in the area.
Below are the favorites from a few of our members. Are there other suggestions?
Restaurants-
Anything by John Besch- especially Luke, Domenica and the American Sector
Arnaud’s (jacket suggested)
Central Grocery- Eat a Muffalatta
Cochon and Cochon Butcher (for a sandwich or snack)
Deanie’s Restaurant- get the Seafood gumbo
Drago’s Seafood Restaurant at Hilton New Orleans Riverside
Galatoire’s Restaurant (jacket required)
Treats-
Angelo Brocato- Ice Cream
Cafe Du Monde- café au lait and beignets
Praline Connection- Candy
Nightlife-
Carousel Bar at the Monteleone Hotel- Lena Prima and her Band Friday and Saturday nights
Maple Leaf Bar- Rebirth Brass Band Thursday nights
Sazerac Bar at the Roosevelt Hotel
Vaughn’s- don’t miss Kermit Ruffins on Thursdays (early show)
Artists to check out-
Amanda Shaw & the Cute Guys
DJ Soul Sister- “The Queen of Vinyl,” Melissa Weber, is a double threat on Saturday nights, starting with her signature soul/funk/R&B show on WWOZ-FM. Then she loads her crates in the car and heads to Mimi’s in the Marigny, where she spins dance music upstairs into the wee hours. She’s back at Mimi’s on Sundays to put a chill-down exclamation point on the weekend.
Hot 8 Brass Band
Soul Rebels
Treme Brass Band
Dr. Michael White
Other attractions-
Le Monde Creole walking tour- offers unique views of many courtyards in the French Quarter that tourists generally do not get to see
For more information on New Orleans, visit the CVB website.
Drug Shortages
Jan 24th
Drug shortages present more than a few challenges to the EOL community. Many constituencies, patients, clinicians, and the organizations that provide care, are affected. Challenges include consistent symptom management (very problematic when cascading supply shortages compel, what seems to be, continuous drug rotation), potential patient distress (you’re changing my pain medication AGAIN!), comfortable prescribing (what’s the conversion rate between midazolam and phenobarbital?) and financial control (parenteral levitiracetam costs WHAT!?).
The landscape of drug shortages is constantly changing— we even have a problem quantifying how many there are! Not a day goes by that something isn’t in a shortage situation. But, how widespread is the problem (in a specific geography) and how is it affecting care? In this quarter’s publication of the AAHPM Quarterly we discussed some of the causes of drug shortages and the steps the FDA and manufacturers can and are taking to help alleviate the problem, but we did not discuss the problem at the patient prescription level.
Unfortunately, because of the nature of our complex drug manufacturing and distribution system, we cannot clearly identify when, or if, any given shortage will affect a given community. Notification of a shortage does not come with an alternative prescribing pathway— that’s left to the prescriber community. Further complicating the problem is that substitution behaviors cause drugs that were almost never in a shortage situation to “go short.” Additionally, in search of alternate symptom management solutions, we move from the perch of what we’re experienced with and know works to that which is less clear or predictable.
What specific problems have you had and how have you managed them? How do you receive notification of drug shortages? Comment below to discuss your problems and how you solved them, or present your current problem and search for a solution.
Greg Dyke, BS RPH
The Shaping the Future Campaign is a Great Investment
Jan 22nd
Janet Bull, MD FAAHPM, chief medical officer, Four Seasons in Flat Rock, NC, fully trusts Academy leadership to invest her general contribution to the Shaping the Future Campaign wisely, no matter the area—education, advocacy, or workforce development.
“The Academy has done a fabulous job in terms of lending support to education and leadership to our field,” says the avid AAHPM volunteer who serves as a new board member, chairs the Research Committee, and serves as a member of the Campaign Committee. “I feel that my financial gift will yield a great return on investment,” she says.
“The Academy has several objectives moving forward,” Dr. Bull adds. “With all the changes going on in healthcare reform—from decreased Medicare reimbursement, workforce shortage issues, and public misconceptions around end-of-life care—we need a strong voice for our membership. This includes advocacy in policy making, increased funding for fellowship programs, and education in the public domain about hospice and palliative care.”
Dr. Bull encourages all AAHPM members to become actively involved in the Academy and its educational programs. By doing so, they, too, will learn that their time and contributions are well spent. Go to www.aahpm.org and click “Donate Now” on the lower left corner of the home page to make your donation today.
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