Press Release

Date:  October 28, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION

New Guidelines in Incorporating Spirituality in End-of-Life Care

Long Beach, California, October 28, 2009 – The Board of Directors of the Archstone Foundation, a private foundation whose mission is to prepare for an aging society is proud to announce the release of a journal article on new guidelines incorporating spirituality in end-of-life care.  The article, “Improving the Quality of Spiritual Care as a Dimension of Palliative Care: The Report of the Consensus Conference,” has been published in the Journal of Palliative Medicine and represents the final Consensus Report of a Summit sponsored by the Archstone Foundation. 

The goal of the Summit was to build consensus around practical recommendations that will lead to improved spiritual practices while providing palliative care in hospitals and nursing homes.  According to Joseph F. Prevratil, JD, President and CEO, “The report’s recommendations seek to ensure that spiritual care is a fundamental component of quality palliative care, which strives to prevent and relieve suffering for seriously ill patients and their families.”

The Consensus Report outlines seven key areas for improving spiritual care: Spiritual Care Models; Spiritual Assessment; Spiritual Treatment/Care Plans; Interprofessional Team; Training/Certification; Personal and Professional Development; and Quality Improvement. Co-authors Christina Puchalski, MD, MS, FACP, and Betty Ferrell, PhD, MA, FAAN, FPCN, Principal Investigator from the City of Hope and colleagues from City of Hope National Medical present practical recommendations for implementing spiritual care in palliative care, hospice, long-term care, and other clinical settings.  The guidelines provide spiritual care models, recommendations for professional training, advice on how to develop accountability measures to ensure integration of spiritual care, and guidance on engaging community clergy and spiritual leaders in the care of patients and families.

The Journal of Palliative Medicine, published monthly in print and online, is an interdisciplinary journal that reports on the clinical, educational, legal, and ethical aspects of care for seriously ill and dying patients.  The Journal reports on the development of palliative care programs around the United States and the world, and on innovations in palliative care education.  The article may be viewed online at www.liebertpub.com/jpm.

For more information about the Summit and/or the journal article please contact: Elyse Salend, MSW, Program Officer, at esalend@archstone.org.