Elsevier Announces New Partnership Between the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management and the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine

Many opportunities to provide bridges to a growing international community

Philadelphia, PA - Elsevier, world-leading publisher of scientific, technical, and medical information products and services, is pleased to announce that, beginning in January 2009, the internationally respected Journal of Pain and Symptom Management (JPSM) will be the official journal of the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM). The JPSM will continue to serve as the official journal of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) and the United States Cancer Pain Relief Committee (USCPRC).

JPSM is the leading international forum for publication of the latest clinical research and best practices related to the relief of illness burden among patients afflicted with serious or life-threatening illness. The peer-reviewed content includes original articles, reviews and clinical reports that together address the key issues in patient care and an array of topics as varied as the international diversity of palliative medicine, the economics of palliative care, and bioethics in end-of-life care.

Editor-in-Chief Russell K. Portenoy, MD, noted that, “The collaboration between the journal and the AAHPM comes at a propitious time, one characterized by the mainstreaming of palliative medicine in the U.S. health care system, increasing access to specialist palliative care in diverse venues, and a growing desire to anchor the field of palliative medicine to both evidence-based medicine and health care quality initiatives.” He added, “The collaboration among the AAHPM, the NHPCO, the USCPRC, and the JPSM offers many opportunities to provide bridges to a growing international community that shares these goals.”

Publishing Director Christine Rullo at Elsevier added, “With this new relationship with the AAHPM, the journal begins its 24th year of publication better positioned to respond to the needs of the community it serves.”


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About the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine
AAHPM is the professional organization for physicians specializing in hospice and palliative medicine. Membership is also open to nurses and other health care providers who are committed to improving the quality of life of patients and families facing life-threatening or serious conditions. For 20 years, the Academy has dedicated itself to advancing hospice and palliative medicine. Originally organized as the Academy of Hospice Physicians in 1988, AAHPM began with 250 charter members and has grown to over 3,600 members in 2008.

About the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO)
The NHPCO is the oldest and largest nonprofit membership organization representing hospice and palliative care programs and professionals in the United States. The organization is committed to improving end-of-life care and expanding access to hospice care, with the goal of profoundly enhancing quality of life for the dying and their loved ones. The NHPCO also works closely with other organizations that share an interest in end-of-life care. NHPCO members include hospices, palliative care programs, grief and bereavement centers, education and research organizations, home health agencies, and related organizations. Over 90% of the patients served in 2007 received hospice care by NHPCO members.

About the United States Cancer Pain Relief Committee (USCPRC)
The USCPRC is a tax-exempt, nonprofit organization that has owned the JPSM for more than two decades. Its goal is to reduce pain and suffering associated with cancer and other serious or life-threatening illnesses, particularly through the dissemination of information to the professional community.

Elsevier is a world-leading publisher of scientific, technical and medical information products and services. Working in partnership with the global science and health communities, Elsevier’s 7,000 employees in over 70 offices worldwide publish more than 2,000 journals and 1,900 new books per year, in addition to offering a suite of innovative electronic products, such as ScienceDirect, MD Consult, Scopus, bibliographic databases, and online reference works.

Elsevier is a global business headquartered in Amsterdam, The Netherlands and has offices worldwide. Elsevier is part of Reed Elsevier Group plc, a world-leading publisher and information provider. Operating in the science and medical, legal, education and business-to-business sectors, Reed Elsevier provides high-quality and flexible information solutions to users, with increasing emphasis on the Internet as a means of delivery. Reed Elsevier’s ticker symbols are REN (Euronext Amsterdam), REL (London Stock Exchange), RUK and ENL (New York Stock Exchange).