Summaries of projects done, publications achieved, and recognitions gained…
We surveyed hospice medical directors to identify what care they provide for heart failure patients and what education their staff receives. A wide rane of services are provided and vary with the size of the agency. More information is available in the publication: Goodlin SJ, Kutner J, Connor S, Ryndes T, Hauptman PJ, Hospice Care for Heart Failure Patients, J Pain Symptom Manag 2005; 29:525-528.

We created a survey tool to identify nurses’ knowledge of heart failure and management of advanced heart failure patients. A manuscript is in press in Patient Education and Counseling.

We created an educational program for health care providers about management of advanced heart failure and tested this in hospices in Northern Utah. We also regularly lecture to groups about management of advanced heart failure, communication with patients and their families and management at the end of life.

We conducted a national conference on Ethical Issues in Care for Oersons with Advanced Heart Failure in Washington DC in April 2006. A manuscript is in progress summarizing conference conclusions.