Patient Education Resources

University of Pittsburgh

• Consortium Ethics Program — A regional bioethics education network, sponsored by the University of Pittsburgh Center for Bioethics and Health Law and the Hospital Council of Western Pennsylvania.
• Center for Bioethics and Health Law — Includes information on faculty, programs, events, and other bioethics resources.
• Division of General Internal Medicine
• University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute (UPCI) — A wealth of cancer-related information, including patient education, research, and physicians who specialize in cancer care at UPCI and UPMC.

Pain and Oncology

• Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality — Lists various resources on pain and cancer pain.
• American Pain Society — APS information, calendar, database of archived APS Bulletin articles, resources for patients and professionals.
• American Society of Clinical Oncology — Offers site visitors a connection to information and each other.
• Hillman Cancer Center — Cancer Pain and Supportive Care (PDF)
• Magee-Womens — Cancer Pain and Supportive Program (PDF)
• National Cancer Institute — Wide range of accurate, credible cancer information.
• OncoLink, the University of Pennsylvania Cancer Resource — Fast access by disease, specialty, etiology; current clinical trials, and more.

Pain and Heart Disease

• Patients and Advanced Heart Disease (PDF)

Palliative Care and Hospice

• American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine — Originally organized as the Academy of Hospice Physicians in 1988, the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM) is the only organization in the United States for physicians dedicated to the advancement of hospice/palliative medicine, its practice, research, and education. AAHPM members are physicians from many medical specialties who are committed to furthering and fostering the practice of hospice/palliative care for the terminally ill and their families.
• DyingWell.org — Resources for patients and families facing life-limiting illness.
• ElderWeb — ElderWeb is one of the oldest and most comprehensive eldercare gateways on the World Wide Web. It's a collection of hundreds of reviewed links to online information about health, financing, housing, aging, and other related issues. This website is designed for caregivers, family, health care providers, and professional advisors of elderly people with care needs.
• Growth House — Monthly guide to Best of the Internet sites for life—threatening illness and bereavement.
• Hospice Foundation of America — Information about hospices and hospice care.
• National Association for Home Care and Hospice
• UPMC Supportive and Palliative Care Program — Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC (PDF) 
• UPMC Supportive and Palliative Care Program — UPMC Shadyside (PDF)
• What is Palliative Care? — UPMC Supportive and Palliative Care Program —UPMC Presbyterian (PDF)
• "When Death is Sought: Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia in the Medical Context" — In May 1994, the New York State Task Force on Life and the Law published this 217-page report. Since this particular issue has received so much public attention, the report is available on the NYSDOH website. The report is posted in individual chapters.

Patient and Caregiver Forums and Support

• Breast Cancer Network of Strength — Written materials, access to support groups nationwide, and lists of breast cancer facilities nationwide.
• Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Family Alliance — Written materials and more than 400 national peer support groups and contacts for all family members.
• Caregiver Survival Resources — Caregiving — the process of providing constant, vital care to a loved one — is becoming a significant issue for many people. This resource provides help to others to cope with the demands of caregiving.
• Compassionate Care for All
• Living Beyond Breast Cancer — Help line and a wide variety of breast cancer-related information.
• Long Term Care Planning Network — Caregiver Bulletin Board enables you to talk to other caregivers to find help and answers to questions.
• National Alliance of Breast Cancer Organizations — Information and access to support groups nationwide and in Canada.
• National Family Caregivers Association — NFCA espouses a philosophy of empowerment and self-care that is predicated on the belief that caregivers who choose to take charge of their lives, and see caregiving as but one of its facets, are in a position to be happier and healthier individuals.