Detroit, April 23, 2014 – Hospice of Michigan is pleased to announce that Cynthia Bell has received the Palliative and End of Life Care Research Recognition Award from the Midwest Nursing Research Society.
The award formally recognizes the outstanding contributions of a member who has advanced or has the potential to advance nursing science and practice. A nurse-researcher with the Hospice of Michigan Institute and assistant professor in Wayne State University’s College of Nursing, Bell was awarded for her research that explores the readiness of seriously ill adolescents to have an end-of-life discussion.
“Cancer is the leading cause of death by disease in adolescents,” Bell said. “While we strive to improve experiences at end-of-life, we lack research about the process of helping teenagers who are living with incurable cancer. The goal of my research is to build a better understanding of a teenager’s readiness to engage in meaningful discussions and prepare for end of life.”
With more than 30 years of nursing experience, 10 of which focused on behavioral oncology research, Bell has a strong background in both pediatrics and oncology. She recently received a $20,000 award from the Oncology Nursing Society Foundation to develop a questionnaire type instrument that measures the readiness of seriously ill adolescents to have an end-of-life discussion.
As the recipient of the Award, Bell presented her research, Advancing Theoretical Understanding of Readiness and End-of-Life Preparedness in Adolescents Living with Advanced Cancer, at the Midwest Nursing Research Society’s annual meeting in March in St. Louis.
About the Hospice of Michigan Institute
The Hospice of Michigan Institute is the premier hub for research, education and community outreach initiatives aimed at improving care for people who are seriously ill and providing support for their caregivers. As the only research and innovation center in Michigan focused on end-of-life care, the Institute provides a place where palliative care experts can exchange ideas on enhancing the care of the seriously ill and dying, and where health care providers can learn new ways to improve the care they provide their patients in the last phase of life.
About Hospice of Michigan
A nationally recognized leader in end-of-life care, Hospice of Michigan is the original – and largest – hospice in the state. The non-profit cares for more than 1,400 patients each day in 56 counties across Michigan, raising more than $4 million each year to cover the cost of care for the uninsured and underinsured. HOM offers a broad range of services to enhance the quality of life at the end of life, including At Home Support™, our advanced illness management program, community-based palliative care and pediatric care programs. HOM provides grief support and counseling, caregiver education and support, and education programs for physicians and healthcare professionals through its research, training and education arm, the Hospice of Michigan Institute. For more information, call 888.247.5701 or visit www.hom.org.