Literature Review
NHPCO and the National Alliance for Care at Home celebrate healthcare leader and volunteer award honorees at final NHPCO Conference
09/20/24 at 02:00 AMNHPCO and the National Alliance for Care at Home celebrate healthcare leader and volunteer award honorees at final NHPCO Conference NHPCO Press Release; by Elyssa Katz; 9/19/24This week, the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) and the new National Alliance for Care at Home (the Alliance) honored standout members of the hospice and palliative care community during the 2024 NHPCO Annual Leadership Conference in Denver, Colorado. [Click on the title's link for the full list and its descriptions.]
Private Equity's impact on hospice care: The good, the bad, and the ugly of private equity
09/19/24 at 03:00 AMPrivate Equity's impact on hospice care: The good, the bad, and the ugly of private equity TCN Talks - Teleios Collaborative Network; by Chris Comeaux; 9/18/24 In this episode, Private Equity's Impact on Hospice Care, The Good, the Bad, and Ugly of Private Equity, Chris interviews Laura Katz Olson, a professor of political science at Lehigh University. It’s a fascinating discussion based on Laura’s book Ethically Challenged. During their conversation, they delve into the impact of private equity in the healthcare industry. Private equity firms prioritize making oversized profits and have a short-term focus, often selling companies within six years, relying heavily on debt financing and putting the burden of servicing the debt on the acquired companies. Leaving a company worse than when the started is the opposite of what leadership is supposed to do for any organization, especially one with such a critical mission. Editor's note: TCN / Teleios Collaborative Network sponsors our newsletter.
When should you refer patients with COPD to palliative care?
09/19/24 at 03:00 AMWhen should you refer patients with COPD to palliative care? Physician's Weekly; by Jennifer Philip; 9/17/24 Researchers identified 17 major and 30 minor criteria to guide physicians in referring their patients with COPD to specialty palliative care. ...
The Journey Home receives inaugural $20K grant from BCF
09/19/24 at 03:00 AMThe Journey Home receives inaugural $20K grant from BCF Bartlesville, OK Local News; by Nathan Thompson; 9/17/24 The Journey Home, a nonprofit and free hospice facility, has received the Tell Your Story Grant of $20,000 from the Bartlesville Community Foundation. The award was announced Tuesday during the BCF's inaugural "Celebrate Together" luncheon at the Bartlesville Community Center. The competitive grant is structured to provide $10,000 of endowment support, $5,000 in operational funding and $5,000 worth of video and social media production. The Journey Home opened its doors in January 2014 as a specialized end-of-life care facility — only the second one of its kind in Oklahoma. It is a six-bedroom home staffed with professional caregivers and trained volunteers who provide continuous personal care for terminally-ill guests.
Artists on death, grief, and cancer [Honoring Hispanic Heritage Month]
09/19/24 at 03:00 AM[Honoring Hispanic Heritage Month] Artists on death, grief, and cancer Burnaway; by Carolina Ana Drake; 9/17/24... Living in Miami and raising my toddler in this city, I’ve discovered artists who similarly lost a parent to cancer. Many, like me, happen to be the children of immigrants. Their works exemplify challenging, at times experimental, art that doesn’t fit the glitzy, market-driven Miami narrative. Through conversations and email exchanges, I learned more about how these artists transformed the darkness and grief of that period into something beautiful that is worth sharing with others. [Click on the title's link to see photos from the following exhibits.]
Honoring National Hispanic Heritage Month
09/19/24 at 03:00 AMHonoring National Hispanic Heritage Month CMS.gov - CMS Office of Minority Health Menu; for 9/15-10/15 September 15 through October 15 is National Hispanic Heritage Month, a time to honor the 63.7 million Hispanic people living in the United States. This month, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Office of Minority Health (CMS OMH) would like to raise awareness of the health disparities that impact Hispanic Americans and highlight efforts to reduce gaps in health care. Hispanic Americans are at greater risk of various health conditions due to a lack of preventive care and health insurance, as well as language barriers. In 2022, almost 28% of Hispanic adults didn’t have health insurance compared to Black (13.3%), White (7.4%), and Asian (7.1%) adults. Resources:
CMS updates guidance for rural emergency hospitals: 16 things to know
09/19/24 at 03:00 AMCMS updates guidance for rural emergency hospitals: 16 things to know Becker's Hospital CFO Report; by Alan Condon; 9/17/24 CMS has updated guidance for hospitals interested in converting to a rural emergency hospital, a Medicare designation that was made available Jan. 1, 2023. REHs are a provider type established by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, to address concerns over rural hospital closures and provide rural facilities a potential alternative to closure. Since 2005, 106 rural hospitals have shut down, with another 86 facilities no longer providing inpatient services, according to data compiled by the University of North Carolina's Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research. Of those, 37 closures have occurred since 2020. Here are 16 things to know about REHs, including designation requirements, qualifying facilities, conditions of participation and how many hospitals have converted to REHs.
10 most, least diverse states in 2024
09/19/24 at 03:00 AM10 most, least diverse states in 2024 Becker's Hospital Review; by Erica Carbajal; 9/17/24 ... For the ranking, the financial services company compared all 50 states across six key dimensions: socio-economic diversity, cultural diversity, economic diversity, household diversity, religious diversity and political diversity. ... Here are the 10 most and least diverse states in 2024, per the ranking: Most diverse: [Starting with highest diversity] 1. California 2. Texas 3. Florida 4. New Mexico 5. Hawaii 6. Nevada 7. New Jersey 8. New York 9. Maryland 10. ArizonaLeast diverse: [Starts with lowest diversity] 1. West Virginia 2. Maine 3. New Hampshire 4. Vermont 5. Montana 6. Kentucky 7. Wyoming 8. Iowa 9. Utah 10. North Dakota
The ROI of interoperability in home health
09/19/24 at 03:00 AMThe ROI of interoperability in home health Home Health Care News; by Elizabeth Ecker; 9/16/24 Today’s home-based care organizations know there is value in interoperability among their technology vendors. Allowing for seamless data integration as well as ease-of-use for staff and clinical professionals, interoperability is an important consideration for technology decisions in today’s operating environment. But what is the true value of interoperability, and how can home-based care agencies measure their return on investment? Several leading professionals share their perspectives on how they approach ROI calculations in their organizations.
4 traps to avoid as you transition into a leadership role
09/19/24 at 03:00 AM4 traps to avoid as you transition into a leadership role Harvard Business Review; by David Lancefield; 9/17/24 Lisa came to me for help at the end of the first 90 days in her first C-suite role. She had started confidently, sharing her story, setting out her hopes for her new organization, and working hard to create some quick wins — but soon the problems started piling up: Investors were confused about the strategic direction, employees felt let down by unfulfilled promises, and customers remained unimpressed by the service they received. We reflected on what she could have done differently. ... She had fallen into four traps I’ve observed in my work with C-suite executives over the last 25 years. They divert attention from what matters and impair decision-making — just when you need to be on your A-game. Here’s what to watch out for and what to do instead.
Gran comforted by cat in final moments at hospice: 'Never leaving her side'
09/19/24 at 03:00 AMGran comforted by cat in final moments at hospice: 'Never leaving her side' Newsweek; by Alice Gibbs; 9/17/24 A woman has shared the heartwarming moment her grandmother's final wish was fulfilled when hospice staff allowed her beloved cat to spend her last day with her. In a video with more than 2 million views on TikTok, Allison Kuhn shared the beautiful way her grandmother Elaine got to spend her final moments with her cat, named Baby. "I'll never stop thinking about how all my grandma wanted during her last month in hospice was her cat," Kuhn said in the video. "The same cat, who during that month started dying and was diagnosed with a 'heartbreak' from being away from grandma. Hospice let the cat stay with my grandma on her last day. The cat didn't leave that bed for 24 hours."
Former M&S chairman: ‘Planning for my wife’s death with her made it easier to cope’
09/19/24 at 03:00 AMFormer M&S chairman: ‘Planning for my wife’s death with her made it easier to cope’ The Telegraph; by Leah Hardy; 9/17/24 When Patricia Swannell was diagnosed with incurable breast cancer, she planned both how she wanted to die and her legacy beyond the grave. On the first anniversary of her death, Patricia’s husband Robert speaks about her “beautiful” death, how she achieved it, and how it has helped the family in their grief. [Robert Swanell tells their story with the following key themes.]
Three Oaks Hospice reportedly begins sales process
09/19/24 at 03:00 AMThree Oaks Hospice reportedly begins sales process Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 9/16/24 Dallas-based Three Oaks Hospice has reportedly begun seeking a buyer. The private equity-backed hospice launched in 2019 with more than $21 million in investment dollars from Granite Growth Health Partners, Health Velocity Capital and Petra Capital Partners. Rumors of the potential sale were first reported by the website Ion Analytics, which indicated that Three Oaks generates between $12 million and $15 million EBITDA.
Family members' health can suffer when relative has cancer: Study
09/19/24 at 03:00 AMFamily members' health can suffer when relative has cancer: Study Becker's Hospital Review; by Elizabeth Gregerson; 9/13/24 Individuals are at an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and psychological illness after a family member is diagnosed with cancer, according to a study published Sept. 9 in Cancer. Researchers from institutions across the U.S. analyzed data of patients diagnosed with genitourinary cancer between 1990 and 2015 who had first-degree relatives or spouses, from the Utah Population Database. The cohort of 49,284 patients and 77,938 relatives was matched with a similar control group and followed up within one-, three- and five-year periods. Among patients with genitourinary cancer, their family members had a "10% increased risk of developing a psychological illness and a 28% increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease" one year after diagnosis, according to the study. "This study provides population-level evidence to support the hypothesis that cancer diagnoses will lead to adverse health outcomes for family members of patients with cancer," the study authors wrote.
Death is no enemy
09/19/24 at 03:00 AMDeath is no enemy Psychiatric Times; by Sidney Zisook, MD; 9/17/24... As mental health clinicians, we often confine our conversations about death and dying to recognizing suicide risk and preventing suicide. And for good reason. Suicide is the 11th leading cause of death in the United States, ... Far less attention is paid by mental health clinicians to other aspects of death and dying. But we are human, first and foremost, and coping with a host of issues related to the end of life is inextricably bound to both our professional and personal lives. Like it or not, death is part of life. We, as mental health clinicians, are not always as prepared as we would like to be to help ourselves, our loved ones, our patients, and their loved ones deal with loss, dying, death, and bereavement. For many physicians, 1 or 2 hours in medical school and perhaps another few hours during residency are all the training we receive in these complex and challenging clinical issues. ... Chochinov provides a clinician’s guide for “being with” dying patients. He offers ways of providing intensive caring to enhance empathy, respect, connectivity, and hope, and to make the experience of a dying patient more tolerable than it otherwise might be. ... I have utilized his Patient Dignity Question, which asks, “What do I need to know about you as a person to take the best care of you possible?” on several occasions with gratifying results for both the patient and me.
Today's Encouragement: I hope I'll see in my lifetime ...
09/19/24 at 03:00 AMI hope I’ll see in my lifetime a growing realization that we are one world. And that no one is going to have quality of life unless we support everyone’s quality of life. ~ Dr. Helen Rodríguez-Trías
Waterbury nursing home residents, caregivers push back against plan to close facility
09/19/24 at 03:00 AMWaterbury nursing home residents, caregivers push back against plan to close facility NBC Waterbury, CT; by Amanda Pitts; 9/17/24 A nursing home in Waterbury could close in less than 30 days after losing its federal funding. Abbott Terrace Health Center is home to 180 people and employs 287 caregivers, who are newly unionized and pushing back against the closure. ... The funding was pulled by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) after the Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) found that the facility didn’t meet safety requirements. It has left residents to find a new place to live and caregivers to find a new place to work.
Blue Ridge Hospice Thrift Shop reaches $1M milestone
09/19/24 at 03:00 AMBlue Ridge Hospice Thrift Shop reaches $1M milestone LoudonNow.com, Leesburg, VA; by Staff Report; 9/17/24 Blue Ridge Hospice Thrift Shop in Purcellville surpassed $1 million in sales this year, a threshold of success the organization attributes to unwavering community support. Money raised at the Main Street store supports its efforts to provide quality and compassionate care for those facing serious illness and end-of-life challenges. “Our thrift shops serve as windows into the living rooms of our community. They reflect the spirit of giving and caring that defines Loudoun County. Reaching the $1 million mark is not just a financial achievement that supports our purpose and mission-driven work; it’s a testament to the collective effort of a community that truly values and supports its neighbors,” President and CEO Jason Parsons stated.
Final HOPE materials released
09/18/24 at 03:45 AMFinal HOPE materials releasedNAHC email; 9/17/24Hospices will begin completing the Hospice Outcome & Patient Evaluation (HOPE) on October 1, 2025. The final HOPE item sets – HOPE Admission v1.00, HOPE Update Visit (HUV) v1.00, HOPE Discharge v1.00 and HOPE ALL Item v1.00 – and accompanying HOPE Guidance Manual v1.00 were released on September 16. These documents can be accessed from the downloads section on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) HQRP HOPE webpage.[Accessing full article may require membership login.]
Historic numbers of Americans live by themselves as they age
09/18/24 at 03:00 AMHistoric numbers of Americans live by themselves as they age California Healthline, originally published by KFF and ran in The Washington Post; by Judith Graham; 9/17/24Gerri Norington, 78, never wanted to be on her own as she grew old. ... Norington is part of a large but often overlooked group: the more than 16 million Americans living alone while growing old. Surprisingly little is known about their experiences. This slice of the older population has significant health issues: Nearly 4 in 10 seniors living alone have vision or hearing loss, difficulty caring for themselves and living independently, problems with cognition, or other disabilities, according to a KFF analysis of 2022 census data. ... Multiple studies find that seniors on their own are at higher risk of becoming isolated, depressed, and inactive, having accidents, and neglecting to care for themselves. As a result, they tend to be hospitalized more often and suffer earlier-than-expected deaths. ... The most reliable, up-to-date data about older adults who live alone comes from the U.S. Census Bureau. According to its 2023 Current Population Survey, about 28% of people 65 and older live by themselves, including slightly fewer than 6 million men and slightly more than 10 million women. (The figure doesn’t include seniors living in institutions, primarily assisted living and nursing homes.) By contrast, 1 in 10 older Americans lived on their own in 1950. ... [Click on the title's link for the full article. Includes information to republish for free.]
AI 'early warning' system shows promise in preventing hospital deaths, study says
09/18/24 at 03:00 AMAI 'early warning' system shows promise in preventing hospital deaths, study says Pique NewsMagazine, Toronto, Canada; by Nicole Ireland; 9/16/24 An AI early-warning system that predicts which patients are at risk of deteriorating while in hospital was associated with a decrease in unexpected deaths, a new study says. The study, published Monday in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, found a 26 per cent reduction in non-palliative deaths among patients in St. Michael's Hospital's general internal medicine unit when the AI tool was used. "We've seen that there is a lot of hype and excitement around artificial intelligence in medicine. We've also seen not as much actual deployment of these tools in real clinical environments," said lead author Dr. Amol Verma, a general internal medicine specialist and scientist at the hospital in Toronto. "This is an early example of a tool that's deployed that was rigorously tested and evaluated and where it's showing promise for actually helping improve patient care." ... The technology called CHARTwatch continuously analyzed more than 100 different pieces of information about each patient in the unit, Verma said. When the AI tool predicted that a patient was deteriorating, it sent an alert to physicians and nurses, prompting them to quickly intervene.
How music therapy helps this young cancer patient in Louisville hold on to 'pure joy'
09/18/24 at 03:00 AMHow music therapy helps this young cancer patient in Louisville hold on to 'pure joy' ABC WHAS-11, Louisville, KY; by Brooke Hasch; 9/17/24Music therapists come prepared for any mood, hoping to bring light to a dark situation. Within the Norton Healthcare system, they help patients cope with pain, discomfort, and anxiety often associated with hospitalization. Brett Northrup's the music therapist for Norton Children's Cancer Institute, a role he stepped into 13 years ago. "I didn't know it existed, and then when I discovered this field, I said, 'this is it. This is what I'm going to do the rest of my life,'" he said. Northrup doesn't miss a beat when a patient's in need of a smile or a moment of normalcy. He's been there many times for 4-year-old Trey Lowman, who's gone through more than most people will in a lifetime. ... "When you put [Trey] and Brett together, it's magic," [Trey's mom] said. "He's full of joy and that's one thing that cancer hasn't been able to take from him."
Global collaboration launches culturally inclusive palliative care education tool
09/18/24 at 03:00 AMGlobal collaboration launches culturally inclusive palliative care education tool Hospice News; by Holly Vossel; 9/16/24 An international collaboration has led to the development of a new palliative care training tool aimed at improving quality and equitable access. Health systems across the globe are recognizing a growing need to boost the supply of providers able to care for a swelling, aging population of serious and terminally ill patients. Rising demand was among the driving forces behind the newly unveiled COllaboratively DEveloped culturalY Appropriate and inclusive Assessment tool for Palliative Care Education (CODE-YAA@PC-EDU). The palliative care education tool was developed in concert by the Council of Europe, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations. The organizations joined forces to design a sustainable training model that could build up the palliative workforce. The project is supported in part by the research network European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST).
National Alliance for Care at Home CEO Dr. Steven Landers: Build a better future for hospice, home health
09/18/24 at 03:00 AMNational Alliance for Care at Home CEO Dr. Steven Landers: Build a better future for hospice, home health Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 9/16/24 Spreading the home-based care community’s message is about more than health care, it also speaks to the priorities and values of society at large, according to Dr. Steven Landers, the newly appointed CEO of the National Alliance for Care at Home (NACH). The alliance last month announced that it had tapped Landers as its top executive. NACH is the newly combined organization formed by the June merger of National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC) and the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO). Landers on Monday outlined a vision for the alliance at legacy NHPCO’s Annual Leadership Conference in Denver. “The story of this work needs to be told louder, more clearly, with the best possible data, with the strongest team, the best resources, because it’s easy to get drowned out. It’s easy to get drowned out in a world where there’s so many people competing for federal dollars, for attention. I think we’ve got a chance with this alliance,” Landers said at the conference. “This isn’t just about health care. It’s about our society. It’s about our compassion, our love for one another, connectedness. It’s a deep and important cause.”
[Oregon] Samaritan Health Services lowers executive pay, reduces workforce
09/18/24 at 03:00 AM[OR] Samaritan Health Services lowers executive pay, reduces workforceModern Healthcare; by Alex Kacik; 9/16/24Corvallis, Oregon-based Samaritan laid off 80 employees in response to inflation, cyber incidents, inclement weather, volume reduction and declining reimbursement rates, a spokesperson said Monday. Most of the layoffs were not patient-facing positions, the spokesperson said.