Table 1.

A Sampling of Professional Organizations

American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM) www.aahpm.org	The AAHPM is an organization of physicians and other medical professionals dedicated to excellence in palliative medicine, the prevention and relief of suffering among patients and families by providing education and clinical practice standards, fostering research, facilitating personal and professional development of its members, and advocating public policy changes.
American Geriatrics Society (AGS) www.americangeriatrics.org	The AGS is a nationwide, not-for-profit association of geriatrics health care professionals, research scientists, and other concerned individuals dedicated to improving the health, independence, and quality of life of all older people.
American Hospital Association (AHA) www.aha.org	The AHA aims to advance the health of individuals and communities. The AHA leads, represents, and serves hospitals, health systems, and other related organizations that are accountable to the community and committed to health improvement.
American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) www.asco.org	The ASCO is the world's leading professional organization representing physicians who treat people with cancer. ASCO's members set the standard for patient care worldwide and lead the fight for more effective cancer treatments, increased funding for clinical and translational research, and, ultimately, cures for the many different cancers that strike millions of people around the world every year.
Association of Professional Chaplains www.professionalchaplains.org	The Association of Professional Chaplains is an interfaith professional pastoral care association of providers of pastoral care endorsed by faith groups to serve persons in physical, spiritual, or mental need in diverse settings throughout the world.
Center to Advance Palliative Care (CAPC) www.capc.org	The CAPC provides healthcare professionals with the tools, training, and technical assistance necessary to start and sustain successful palliative care programs in hospitals and other health care settings. The CAPC is a national organization dedicated to increasing the availability of quality palliative care services for people facing serious illness. As the nation's leading resource for palliative care program development, the CAPC offers comprehensive training for palliative care programs at every stage—from strategic planning and funding to operations and sustainability. The CAPC provides seminars, audio conferences, tools, reference materials, a robust website, and the Palliative Care Leadership Centers™ (PCLC).
HealthCare Chaplaincy healthcarechaplaincy.org	HealthCare Chaplaincy is a national leader in the research, education, and practice of multifaith, patient-centered care. It helps people find meaning and comfort—regardless of religion or beliefs—in stressful health care situations. For nearly 50 years it has collaborated with major academic medical centers and other professional organizations to integrate spiritual care within health care. It is a thought leader for accessible, affordable, and quality palliative care.
Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association (HPNA) www.hpna.org	The purpose of the HPNA is to exchange information, experiences, and ideas; to promote understanding of the specialties of hospice and palliative nursing; and to study and promote hospice and palliative nursing research.
Institute for Health Care Improvement (IHI) www.ihi.org	The IHI is an independent not-for-profit organization helping to lead the improvement of health care throughout the world. Founded in 1991 and based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the IHI works to accelerate improvement by building the will for change, cultivating promising concepts for improving patient care, and helping health care systems put those ideas into action.
National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) www.nhpco.org/templates/1/homepage.cfm	The NHPCO is the 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 dying Americans and their loved ones.
Social Work in Hospice and Palliative Care Network www.swhpn.org	SWHPN is an emerging network of social work organizations and leaders who seek to further the field of end-of-life and hospice/palliative care. The organization is advancing the role of the social worker in caring for the seriously ill, providing relief from pain, improving quality of life, supporting family and friends, assisting with difficult decision making, and helping people deal with trauma, grief, and loss.