Literature Review

HPNA and HPNF announce 2025 Board of Directors HPNA and HPNF; Press release; 1/2/25 The HPNA 2025 Board of Directors consists of:

Humana's 2024 in 10 headlinesBecker's Payer Issues; by Rylee Wilson; 12/31/24Here are the 10 biggest stories about Humana Becker's covered in 2024:

'Never waste a good crisis': The keys behind a Louisiana system's financial comebackBecker's Hospital CFO Report; by Alan Condon; 12/27/24Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System, a 10-hospital system headquartered in Baton Rouge, La., achieved a $241 million turnaround in fiscal year 2024 under the leadership of CFO Mike Gleason, who told Becker's the feat was "a total team effort." By reimagining operational strategies, shifting from a holding company to an operating company model, and fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration, the 10-hospital system not only stabilized its finances but positioned itself for sustained growth. Mr. Gleason joined the Becker's Healthcare podcast to discuss the strategies that turned a financial crisis into an opportunity for sustainable growth and strengthened the health system's ability to reinvest in its people and future.

5 ‘Hidden Gem’ Palliative Care News Stories in 2024Palliative Care News; by Holly Vossel; 12/27/24Palliative care providers have explored diverse routes to improve quality and access to their services in 2024. Below are five under-the-radar stories that, while important, didn’t make our most read this year. The topics spanned evolving reimbursement trends, innovative care delivery partnerships and research examining the biggest barriers among undeserved populations.

St. Petersburg doctor coerced minors into producing child sex abuse material, feds sayTampa Bay Times; by Emily Wunderlich; 1/7/25 A St. Petersburg doctor who is the husband of the chief administrative officer of the Juvenile Welfare Board of Pinellas County is facing charges that he coerced minors into producing child sexual abuse material and even directed a girl to hang herself, federal prosecutors announced this week. ... Court records show Leedy was indicted on Oct. 24 and arrested Dec. 20. He is being held in federal custody in Atlanta. He is facing three counts of production of child sexual abuse material and two counts of coercing or enticing a minor to engage in sexual activity. If convicted on all counts, he faces up to life in federal prison.

Bride holds emotional dress reveal at hospital for her nana — fearing she wouldn’t be there on the big day Scoop; by Baisakhi Mishra; 1/4/25 Realizing her grandmother would miss her wedding, a bride-to-be makes her way to the hospital with a surprise that will warm your soul. Grandparents eagerly wait to see their grandchildren walk down the aisle. Perhaps, for them, it's like reliving a moment they've dreamed of since they first held their grandchildren in their arms. Through every milestone and memory, the grandparents patiently watch their grandchildren grow and dream about witnessing the beginning of a new chapter in their lives. Similarly, months before her wedding, Gianna Huber (@gianna on TikTok) wanted to make her ailing grandmother, Jo Ann, feel truly special. Fearing her grandma might not make it to her big day, Huber planned a heartfelt surprise—a special wedding dress reveal just for Jo Ann.

Seven trends in senior living that will define 2025 and beyond McKnights Senior Living; by Michele Hollerand, PhD, MBA; 1/6/25 Senior living is in the midst of a major transformation, and seven major trends have emerged as key drivers of the strategic plans adopted by boards across the country. Those trends will shape the way organizations position themselves for the future to capture a new customer base in 2025 and beyond.

Here’s what experts expect for hospitals in 2025Healthcare Brew; by Cassie McGrath; (emailed 1/6/25) 12/5/24Two experts talked with Healthcare Brew about possible upcoming trends in leadership development and health equity initiatives, and they’re also eyeing potential changes to federal regulations for drug discount programs as well as Medicare and Medicaid. Here’s what providers are anticipating for 2025, according to industry experts. [Including:]

Ascension Living residents, employees among 6 million affected by data breach McKnights Senior Living; by Kathleen Steele Gaivin; 1/6/24 Senior living and care residents and employees are among the six million people Ascension said Dec. 19 that it was notifying of potential stolen personal information in the wake of a May 8 ransomware attack. The St. Louis-based nonprofit healthcare network, which includes Ascension Living, operator of three dozen senior living and care communities and also a provider of home care and hospice services, announced Dec. 19 that a review by third-party experts of the attack was complete. On that date, Ascension began notifying individuals whose personal information was involved and is providing them with free credit monitoring and identity protection services.

Masonicare completes merger with UMH, facility acquisition McKnights Senior Living; by Kathleen Steele Gaivin; 1/6/25 Wallingford, CT-based Masonicare has completed its planned merger with United Methodist Homes, the companies said Thursday in a joint statement. Masonicare Corp. is Connecticut’s largest not-for-profit senior living and care organization, offering independent living, assisted living, memory care and skilled nursing as well as short-term rehabilitation, respite care and hospice care. UMH, a 150-year-old organization, has five locations in the Nutmeg State. The communities provide independent living, assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing and short-term rehab. The merger moves UMH under the Masonicare brand and extends to UMH access to Masonicare’s comprehensive continuum of care, the companies said.  Also on Jan. 2, Masonicare announced the acquisition of Atria Greenridge Place in Rocky Hill, CT, rebranding the assisted living and memory community to Masonicare at Greenridge Place.

Holistic and seamless: How health systems advocate, Mass General Brigham are advancing at-home care Home Health Care News; by Joyce Famakinwa; 1/6/25 A big part of the evolution of health systems has been more meaningful engagement with the home as an extension of brick-and-mortar operations. In recent years, organizations like Advocate Health and Mass General Brigham have exemplified this shift. These major health systems are reevaluating their home-based care capabilities and partnerships, and leveraging technology and innovative care models–including hospital-at-home–to enable more integrated and cost-efficient services. ... In August, the organization was awarded $4.6 million from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services to study short-term rehab at home. The study is a randomized controlled trial that examines the impact of delivering short-term rehab care at home compared to a traditional post-acute care setting.

The beginning is the most important part of the work. ~ Plato

The Jimmy Carter White House Connection to Hospice & Palliative Care TodayCohen-Fyfe Communications; by Mark Cohen; 1/3/25Jimmy Carter’s impact on the hospice movement goes further than his very public decision to be admitted to hospice in February 2023 ... and even further than his administration’s decision in 1980 to launch the Hospice Demonstration Project that directly led to congressional passage of the Medicare Hospice Benefit, with strong bipartisan support, in 1981 during the first year of the Reagan Administration. How much further? You might not be reading this daily newsletter if were not for the Carter White House. If you were a fan of Hospice News Today, which I published from 2012 to 2023, and/or if you’re a fan of Hospice & Palliative Care Today, then you should know that Jimmy Carter(and his long-time senior aides Jody Powell and Hamilton Jordan) deserve some of the credit for these two unique daily environmental scans that have served the hospice movement now for more than a dozen years. ... [Fascinating story and with this spoiler alert:] So, Inauguration Day in 1977 found me walking into the Old Executive Ofice Building as the youngest person on the 369-person staf of The Office of the President. My job? One of six stafers who produced the daily News Summary for the President and nearly 200 senior oficials throughout the White House and the Cabinet and executive agencies. [Click on the title's link to read more.]Editor's note: As President Carter's body is taken to the Capitol today, we celebrate the simple moments that can change the course of another's life. Did you read Jimmy Carter's questions to the young Mark Cohen? At Hospice & Palliative Care Today, we are grateful for Mark's journey and long-lasting impact. What interest are you taking in the lives of those who serve in your organization? May we pause. Learn. And live.