Pain and palliative care In 2004, the Clinical Center Pain and Palliative Care
Service became one of only nine palliative care fellowship training programs in the
United States to be accredited by the American Board of Hospice and Palliative
Medicine (ABHPM). Accreditation is giving credibility to a new and growing field —
palliative care — in this country. Getting the accreditation was more than a mere
formality. The requirements led many of the staff through training they’d never
before received. Fellows in training care for patients in inpatient settings,
community settings (including Medicare-certified hospices), and ambulatory care settings, and are
exposed to consultation services, longitudinal care, and bereavement support. They
learn how to provide physical, psychosocial, and spiritual treatment for a patient and
family experiencing a chronic, life-threatening illness.They learn to work in
interdisciplinary teams and to value the contributions of other disciplines
In its fourth year, the service saw an average 25 to 30 inpatients a day (7,500 a year)
and 30 outpatients in two weekly outpatient clinics. Under the leadership of
Dr. Ann Berger, the core team has grown — adding three nurses and 2.5 physicians
(including a half-time anesthesiologist). The larger team, which meets weekly,
includes the patient representative and members of several disciplines, including
nutrition, spiritual ministry, recreation therapy, and social work. |