January 21, 2009
CONTACT: Melissa DelaCalzada
San Diego Hospice
619-278-6139 or mdelacalzada@sdhospice.org
MEDIA ADVISORY
WHO: The Institute for Palliative Medicine at San Diego Hospice
WHAT: “International Insights on Palliative Care” lecture series featuring Dr. Xavier Gomez-Batiste, Oncologist and Director of the World Health Organization (WHO) Center for Public Health Palliative Care Programs, Catalan Institute of Oncology, Barcelona, Spain
WHEN: 12 noon • Monday, January 26, 2009
WHERE: Institute for Palliative Medicine, 4311 Third Avenue, San Diego
WHY: Dr. Gomez-Batiste is one of the world’s pioneers in delivering palliative care. Thanks to his leadership, 95% of the population across Catalonia in Spain has easy access to palliative care services.
Dr. Gomez-Batiste has been able to demonstrate the long-term cost savings of this program. Lessons from Catalonia could be applied to improve the experience of patients living with chronic illness and their families in California, as well as enhancing our healthcare delivery models.
In San Diego County, nearly half of all residents who could benefit from palliative care and hospice services do not receive them.
Members of the news media are welcome to attend this program. You may also arrange to interview Dr. Gomez-Batiste prior to the program. Contact Melissa DelaCalzada at 619-517-2053 to schedule an interview.
About The Institute for Palliative Medicine at San Diego Hospice
The Institute for Palliative Medicine (IPM) at San Diego Hospice is internationally recognized for its excellence in palliative care education and research. Dedicated to the relief of suffering through the transformation of health care, it focuses on discovering, demonstrating and disseminating strategies for palliative care in existing health care systems whether here in San Diego or throughout the world. Home to the country’s largest palliative medicine physician fellowship program, the Institute also provides education to more than 1700 health care students and professionals each year. The Institute helped pioneer the palliative medicine subspecialty approved by the American Board of Medical Specialties in 2006.
Palliative care is the prevention and relief of suffering by a specialized medical team that focuses on managing symptoms, relieving pain, and improving quality of life, whatever the diagnosis.
Physicians and healthcare professionals from around the globe come to The Institute for Palliative Medicine to study. The Institute helped pioneer the palliative medicine subspecialty approved by the American Board of Medical Specialties in 2006.
