Literature Review

Palliative care initiated in the Emergency Department-A cluster randomized clinical trialJAMA; Corita R. Grudzen, MD, MSHS; Nina Siman, MA, MSEd; Allison M. Cuthel, MPH; Oluwaseun Adeyemi, MBBS, PhD; Rebecca Liddicoat Yamarik, MD; Keith S. Goldfeld, DrPH, MS, MPA; PRIM-ER Investigators; 1/25Question-What is the effect of a multicomponent intervention to initiate palliative care in the emergency department on hospital admission in older adults with serious, life-limiting illness? In this cluster randomized clinical trial, which was conducted at 29 US emergency departments and included 98,922 initial visits, there was no difference in the rate of hospital admission in older adults with serious, life-limiting illness receiving care before (64.4%) vs after (61.3%) emergency department clinical staff receipt of a multicomponent primary palliative care intervention. Relevance-This multicomponent intervention to initiate palliative care in the ED did not have an effect on hospital admission, subsequent health care use, or short-term mortality in older adults with serious, life-limiting illness.

Palliative care program for community-dwelling individuals with dementia and caregivers: The IN-PEACE randomized clinical trialJAMA Network; by Greg A. Sachs, Nina M. Johnson, Sujuan Gao, Alexia M. Torke, Susan E. Hickman, Amy Pemberton, Andrea Vrobel, Minmin Pan, Jennifer West, Kurt Kroenke; 1/25Among community-dwelling individuals with moderate to severe dementia, does a dementia care management program with integrated palliative care reduce patients’ neuropsychiatric symptoms? In this randomized clinical trial, a dementia care management program with integrated palliative care did not significantly improve patients’ neuropsychiatric symptoms.

We must always strive for excellence, no matter the circumstances. ~ Dorothy Vaughn, NASA mathematician, whose story was told in Hidden FiguresHonoring Black History Month 2025

DOGE probes CMS for Medicare, Medicaid fraud: WSJ Becker's Hospital Review; by Rylee Wilson; 2/5/25Members of Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency have been granted access to payment and contracting systems at CMS, The Wall Street Journal reported Feb. 5. Department representatives have been on-site at CMS' offices this week, examining spending data for potential fraud or waste and reviewing the agency's organization and staffing, unnamed sources told the Journal. ... DOGE aims to cut federal spending by $1 trillion, with Medicaid emerging as a likely target, according to The New York Times. CMS spent more than $1.5 trillion on healthcare programs in fiscal year 2024, accounting for 22% of total federal spending, according to the agency's 2024 annual report. "Yeah, this [CMS] is where the big money fraud is happening," Mr. Musk wrote on X in response to the Journal's article.  

Family caregivers who support older relatives are on the rise due to aging-in-place preferences HousingWire; by Chris Clow; 2/5/25 The number of family caregivers who support older relatives in either home-based or residential care settings increased by 32% between 2011 and 2022 ... Researchers also say this could be partially tied to rising preferences for aging in place. This is according to a joint study from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and the University of Michigan’s Institute for Social Research. Additional support came from the National Institute on Aging, a division of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The raw number increase went from 18.2 million in 2011 to 24.1 million in 2022. The study also found that the number of care hours provided by family and other unpaid caregivers increased by 50% during that time. The average number of weekly hours for such care stood at 21.4 in 2011, but it jumped to 31 in 2022, nine hours short of what is widely considered a full-time weekly work schedule.

Hospice Alliance hosts CNA walk-in interviews Kenosha.com, Kenosha, WI; Press Release; 2/5/25 What: Hospice Alliance is looking for dedicated Certified Nursing Aides to join our award-winning team. We will be hosting walk-in interviews on Thursdays throughout the month of February from 1 – 3 pm for full-time 1st shift aides. Wages start at $18.50 an hour, and positions are benefit eligible (i.e. PTO, 403b match, health, vision and dental insurance). Please bring your resume, CNA certification, driver’s license, and auto insurance with you (all of which are required for the position). Who: Open to anyone who is a Wisconsin Certified Nursing Aide Where: ... When: Thursdays, February 6, 13, 20 and 27 from 1 – 3 pm Applications can be completed ahead of time at ...Editor's note: We're posting this as an innovative, user-friendly recruitment initiative.

CareFirstNY announces the loss of beloved CEO, Tali Sutton CareFirstNY, Painted Post, NY; 2/5/26 It is with tremendous sadness that we announce that Tali Sutton, CEO of CareFirstNY, experienced a sudden and unexpected medical emergency on Monday, February 3. True to her giving spirit, she is an organ donor and will pass along her final gift of life to others in need. Tali’s belief in CareFirstNY, her authenticity, and her friendship created a bright light that united many people across our region. As a leader, Tali instilled a passionate culture of understanding, positivity, and trust that will be deeply missed. ... CareFirstNY’s patient care services will remain uninterrupted at this time; we will share additional information as available and appropriate. For those who would like to make a contribution to Tali’s memory, please visit our Donation Page for more information.

After 'code issue,' veterans no longer receive free care at UP hospice site MyUpNow.com, Houghton, MI; by Thomas Fournier; 2/5/25 For a veteran staying at hospice care facility, it's important family can visit, especially in rural areas. But what happens when their facility no longer qualifies as a hospice facility for the Veteran's Health Administration (VHA)? Omega House Executive Director Mike Lutz said he received a call from the local Veteran's Affairs (VA) office in Iron Mountain late December 2024 informing him that they would "no longer be servicing veterans at Omega House." ... Veterans who would usually receive a reimbursement through the VA for their hospice care would no longer be able to find that at Omega House, leaving them to get their care 100 miles away or more. 

Central Coast VNA & Hospice expands hospice and support programs in the Central Coast region Chicago News; Press Release, media contact Jane Russo; 2/5/25 Central Coast VNA & Hospice, a trusted leader in home health and hospice care for over 70 years, is proud to announce the expansion of its comprehensive hospice and support programs throughout the Central Coast. ... With an increased focus on hospice care, education, and support, Central Coast VNA & Hospice is reaching more communities, including Monterey, Salinas, Hollister, and Santa Cruz. The organization’s enhanced programs include:

How can we cultivate happiness in medicine? The Hospitalist; by Nikhil Sood, MD and Marjorie Bessel, MD; 2/3/25 Burnout has led to early physician retirements and clinicians leaving the profession, resulting in an unprecedented physician shortage and access challenges. This jeopardizes our ability to meet the community’s needs and fulfill our mission of making healthcare more accessible to improve quality of life. The question is, how can we, as a healthcare system, tackle this issue head-on? ... The CHIM strategy is a comprehensive, evidence-based approach, driven by clinicians, that supports wellness from an individual and organizational perspective. ... The six dimensions of the strategy include the following:

Hiding in plain sight: The most harmful and costly hospital-acquired infection Infection Control Today; by Dian Baker, PhD, APRN; 2/5/25 Nonventilator hospital-acquired pneumonia (NV-HAP) is among the most deadly, harmful, and costly hospital-acquired infections (HAI). In a 2023 study of 284 US hospitals, NV-HAP was attributed to 1 in 14 hospital deaths with an inpatient mortality of 22.4%. NV-HAP is associated with significant morbidity and mortality, the incidence of sepsis, longer hospital stays, increased discharges to skilled nursing facilities and hospice, costs, and higher intensive care unity (ICU) utilization.

Top news stories of the month January 2025 Teleios Collaborative Network; Chris Comeaux with Cordt Kassner; 2/5/25 In this episode of TCN Talks, Chris Comeaux and Cordt Kassner, PhD, publisher of Hospice & Palliative Care Today and CEO and Founder of Hospice Analytics, begin a new format for the “Top News Stories of the Month.” ... Chris and Cordt explore key trends in Hospice news, challenges in reimbursement, competition, workforce issues, and the impact of technology on the field.  They also touch on demographic trends, regulatory issues, and predictions for the future of Hospice Care. Their dialogue highlights the challenge of filtering vast information and the excellent service provided to Hospice and Palliative Care leaders.  This podcast and Hospice & Palliative Care Today are for the leaders in the Hospice and Palliative Care field.