Literature Review

'It's not about technology or dashboards': What health systems need from IT execs next Becker's Health IT; by Laura Dyrda; 2/4/25 Health system IT leaders are entering a new era of leadership amid transformational technology platform purchases, artificial intelligence integration and cybersecurity advancements. But being the most technically proficient no longer guarantees leaders the top role. ... Healthcare IT leaders can become distracted by the bells and whistles of new technology and move forward without considering the patient experience. ... Staying close to the health system's mission is critical for IT leaders, and [Christopher Hutchins, senior vice president and chief data and analytics officer at Lifepoint Health] ties the technology back to patient care. He prioritizes his teammates and colleagues, listening carefully to what they need. Notable mentions: James Forrester, Chief Technology Officer at University of Rochester (NY) Medical Center; Donna Roach, CIO of University of Utah Health; and Christopher Hutchins, senior vice president and chief data and analytics officer at Lifepoint Health 

End-of-life-care option bill in New Hampshire stirs conversation on deathMonadnock Ledger-Transcript, Peterborough, NH; by Sruthi Gopalakrishnan; 2/4/25 At age 75, Rep Bob Lynn says he loves life. But he knows he’s no “spring chicken” and his days are finite. The former chief justice of the state Supreme Court is the prime sponsor of House Bill 254, known as “The New Hampshire End of Life Freedom Act,” which gives terminally ill adults the choice to take control of their final days and end their own life with a dose of lethal medication. ... If the legislation passes, terminally ill individuals aged 18 and over with a prognosis of less than six months to live will be able to receive medications to end their lives on their own terms. It comes with a long list of requirements that two health care providers must verify, including that they have healthy mental capacity, are aware of alternative options and are competent to self-administer the drugs. Opponents warned it could encourage suicide, be misused and send a harmful message that people with disabilities are a burden. ... Michelle Flynn, a retired internal medicine physician from Bedford, said allowing terminally ill patients to end their lives opens the door to death as a treatment option. ... Lisa Beaudoin of Temple, founder of Strategies for Disability Equity, worries it would worsen the discrimination disabled people already face in health care. 

Garlock: How to prepare children for hardships and tragedies The Citizen; by Dr. Victor Garlock; 2/4/25 All of us must face hardships and tragedies. How well we are able to get through difficult times is a major factor affecting the overall quality of our lives. Sometimes these challenges arrive individually, as in a sudden serious illness, an accident, or the death of a loved one. Sometimes — as in last fall’s devastating floods in North Carolina or the recent wildfires in Southern California — entire communities must find a way to move forward. ... Resilience is the capacity to recover from challenges and adversity. Tragic optimism is the determination to remain optimistic and find meaning and purpose in the face of tragedy. [With children:]

What leaders can learn from the California wildfires Modern Healthcare; by Robert Stone, CEO of City of Hope, Duarte, CA; 1/31/25 When wildfires threatened City of Hope comprehensive cancer center near Los Angeles in recent weeks, hundreds of our leaders and staff – many with homes in the path of the blaze – rushed to campus at 2:30 in the morning to prepare to evacuate more than 200 hospitalized cancer patients. City of Hope, one of the largest research and treatment organizations in the U.S., cares for people with highly complex medical conditions. On the night the wildfires threatened our campus, our patients included people receiving CAR-T immunotherapy, novel clinical trials, and undergoing bone marrow transplants. ... Our healthcare partners in the region were also impacted by wildfires in varying ways. Every health system we spoke with prioritized the safety of not only their own patients and staff but ours as well.  ... What stands out from this middle-of-the-night experience and the days that followed are important lessons that can only emerge from an organization where people are deeply connected to the mission.

70K nursing home patients have personal data stolen in breachMcKnight's Long-Term Care News; by Zee Johnson; 1/29/25Several skilled nursing facilities in Ohio and Pennsylvania have sent letters to thousands of patients informing them of a data breach that gained access to their names, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, and other sensitive information. Approximately 70,000 HCF Management patients from facilities across the chain’s network of SNF’s had their data obtained by RansomHub, a ransomware organization.Publisher's note: Pairing this story with "Ransomware attack prompts Maryland hospital to take systems offline" article. It's likely a matter of "when not if" this happens in hospice. How are you preparing for it?

Former NAHC Leader Dombi joins Arnall Golden Gregory LLP Home Health Care News; by Joyce Famakinwa; 2/4/25 Bill Dombi, former president and CEO of the National Association for Home Care & Hospice, has joined law firm Arnall Golden Gregory LLP. Dombi will serve as senior counsel in the firm’s Washington, D.C. office. He has over four decades of experience spearheading major litigation and policy matters for the home health and hospice industry. ... Dombi first stepped into the role of NAHC’s vice president for law in 1987. He became NAHC’s interim president in 2017, and was named the association’s permanent president the following year. Throughout his time at NAHC, Dombi was a key player in the advancement of the home health and hospice industries. He officially retired from his role at NAHC at the end of 2024. The association also merged with the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, and is now known as the National Alliance for Care at Home.

Advice on navigating complex caregiving Philadelphia Corporation for Aging; by Jay Nachman; 2/3/25 The biggest challenge for someone taking care of a parent or loved one is “accepting your loved one for who they are now. Not who you knew them to be,” said Dr. Kiplee Bell, an internal medicine physician who has created a practice focused on caregiving. ... It’s not uncommon, according to Bell, for minority community members to live in multi-generational households. Additionally, in some homes, grandparents are raising grandchildren. Then there is the flipside, where young children are helping to take care of their older family members. And when English is not a native tongue, language barriers can preclude an adequate understanding of how to navigate the social service and health care systems. ...

Early palliative care improves EOL comfort in colorectal cancerTargeted Oncology; by Roman Fabbricatore; 1/30/25A real-world study presented at the 2025 ASCO Gastrointestinal Cancer Symposium found that early palliative care in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) can lead to fewer invasive treatments, improving patient comfort at the end of life. Data revealed that among patients with early-onset CRC who died during hospitalization, palliative care was associated with significant reductions in multiple invasive interventions.

Kate Middleton fingerpaints with children from hospice during royal visit[UK] Independent; by Barney Davis; 1/30/25The Princess of Wales laughed as she played with terminal children at a “lifeline” hospice. Kate Middleton joked about her “huge” hands as she left her print on the wall of the Ty Hafan children’s hospice in South Wales on Thursday. The future Queen, who confirmed earlier this month she is in remission from cancer, has become patron of the hospice as she continues her gradual return to public duties.

Never be limited by other people’s limited imaginations. ~ Dr. Mae Jemison, first African American female astronautHonoring Black History Month 2025

Telehealth vs in-person palliative care: A podcast with Joseph Greer, Lynn Flint, Simone Rinaldi, Vicki JacksonGeriPal Podcast; by Alex Smith, Eric Widera; 1/30/25It is a battle royale on this week’s GeriPal podcast. In one corner, weighing in at decades of experience, well known for heavy hits of bedside assessments, strong patient-family relationships, and a knockout punch of interdisciplinary collaboration, we have in-person palliative care consults. But watch out! Travel time can leave this champ vulnerable to fatigue and no-shows. In the other corner, we have the young upstart, able to reach patients across vast distances when delivering palliative care, all in the comfort of wearing pajamas, we have telehealth delivered palliative care. However, lack of physical presence may make this contender struggle to land the emotional support punch that is at the very heart of palliative care. Who will emerge victorious?

Owners of McHenry Village restaurant have partnered with nonprofit [hospice] to open Modesto cafe The Modesto Bee, Modesto, CA; by Dominique Williams; 2/3/25 ... Cafe Verona opened to the public Monday inside Community Hospice & Health Services, a Modesto nonprofit. It is operated by executive chef Jaime Alderete and his wife, Edwarda, owners of Verona Cucina Italiana in McHenry Village and Verona18 in Copperopolis. ... The cafe is open for breakfast and lunch. Its business hours are weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.