Literature Review

Beyond the logo: The healthcare executive’s guide to creating genuine healthcare technology partnerships Healthcare IT News; by Notable; 12/23/24 Understanding both the perspective of the healthcare technology buyer and that of builders and sellers can give healthcare executives greater insight into vendor-customer dynamics and what goes into successful partnerships. Healthcare vendor-customer relationships can vary greatly: some are built on trust and some lack it; some succeed and some don’t; some meet expectations and some fall short. Following these best practices can help both parties to achieve their strategic goals, maximize success, minimize frustration and find true joy in their work. 

U.S. health care spending reaches $4.9 trillion Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 12/20/24 The nation’s total health expenditures rose 7.5% to $4.9 trillion in 2023, a new analysis by the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) found. This growth took place at a faster pace in 2023 than prior years. In 2022, health care spending rose at a rate of 4.6%. Total Medicare hospice spending accounted for $25.7 billion last year, according to a separate report from the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC). ... About 21% of U.S. health care spending in 2023 was via Medicare, with private insurance representing a 30% share. Medicaid accounted for 21%, and the remaining 10% were out-of-pocket costs. “Hospital care, physician and clinical services, and nursing care facilities and continuing care retirement communities, which collectively accounted for 33% of all out-of-pocket spending in 2023, were the main contributors to the faster growth in 2023,” CMS indicated.

'We do more than just pray': Chaplains take active role at Milwaukee VA and in community U.S. Government Veterans Administration; by David Walter; 12/23/24 If you think hospital chaplains just pray at bedsides, think again. At the Milwaukee VA Medical Center, chaplains are much more than comfort providers. They are fully integrated into the everyday workings of the hospital, serving on committees, participating in numerous events and consulting with other subject matter experts. Their work also goes beyond the walls of the hospital, interfacing with the community to help better reach those Veterans who may not venture into the hospital. And while they continue to meet one-on-one with patients on a daily basis, they also extend their services to hospital staff, providing solace and support for those dealing with the emotional toll that caregiving can sometimes take on health care professionals. “There’s been a really big shift here,” said Chaplain Robert Allen, chief of the Milwaukee VA’s Chaplain Services, adding that for too long chaplains were “put in this corner, thinking that we only just pray.” Editor's note: To strengthen your understanding of chaplaincy roles, standards, training, and certification, examine the national Association of Professional Chaplains.

Meet the Santas helping Pa. families with sick children weather holidays in hospitals PennLive.com; by Sarah Boden; 12/24/24 Katelyn Pownall wasn’t sure her 3-year-old son would ever meet Santa Claus. Nash was born with Menkes disease, a rare genetic disorder that disrupts the body’s ability to absorb and distribute copper. This causes severe damage to the nervous system, as well as connective tissue abnormalities in the skin, joints, and bones.  Menkes is terminal, and since May, Nash has lived at the Children’s Home of Pittsburgh, Pownall told Spotlight PA. The hospital provides specialized pediatric care to medically fragile children. “We just count our moments, not our days,” Pownall said. Earlier this month, Pownall and Nash relished a magical moment: They met both Santa and Mrs. Claus at the hospital. ...

For young adults, caregiving isn't just hard. It can shape you for life. National Public Radio - CAI - Local NPR for the Cape, Coast & Islands; by Kat McGown; 12/23/24 ... There are days when Jordyn Glick, 27, can't eat or drink at all. She gets so tired and weak she can barely stand up. She has gastroparesis, where food stalls out in her stomach and doesn't get digested. It comes with unpredictable bouts of nausea, periods of agony in her guts, and malnutrition. ... Dakota Heath, her 26-year-old boyfriend of four years, is her watchman, "always picking up on the small things," he says. He's on alert for her next flareup, the kind that can leave her bedridden for a week. ... Young caregivers have always been there, doing all the same things that adults do — ... About one-quarter of all family caregivers are between 18 and 36, according to the National Alliance for Caregiving. One survey suggests that almost half of them are men. They're more likely to be Latino or Black; a survey in 2018 found that only 17% were white. They've just been invisible. "They fall into every potential crack that exists," says Melinda Kavanaugh, a professor of social work at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee who is one of the few researchers who study this population. In terms of resources, "Nothing is targeted for a 22-year-old. Nothing."

ProCare Hospice of Nevada names nationally recognized hospice expert Keith Everett as new CEOProCare Hospice press release; 12/9/24In a move that underscores its vision to transform the cultural perceptions of advanced illness care, ProCare Hospice of Nevada (PCH) proudly announces Keith Everett as its new Chief Executive Officer. Everett, a proven leader in hospice care, most recently served as the President and CEO of Hospice of Acadiana in Lafayette, Louisiana.

Family and friends deliver early Christmas cheer to woman in final days of her life  CBS News, Antioch, IL; by Dana Kozlov and Tracy O'Brien; 10/16/24 Driving by a home in the far northwest suburbs, you might wonder what happened to Halloween, as each day more Christmas decorations keep showing up. The answer is a touching tribute to a loving mom, wife and friend; with a special message for everyone. Voices of holiday cheer rang outside a home on a warm fall day in Antioch during a festive gathering for Jamie Haley, a woman loved by many, watching from the front window. "It couldn't be better. I could not be happier," Jamie said. Hearing those words, you wouldn't realize Haley is in the final stages of her life, with hospice coming daily. Known for her lifelong love of Christmas, her family is bringing the joy of the season to her in a big way. "Everybody is showing up and strangers are showing up," said her daughter, Anna. "It's Christmas for as long as it can be. We just love her so much.  … We are going to love her until we have to miss her." ... [Click on the title's link to continue reading this beautiful story.]

Video: Former MLB pitcher placed on hospice throws one last pitch at grandson's game Fox23 News, Tulsa, OK; 7/26/24 A former major league baseball pitcher, who was placed on hospice, threw one last pitch at his grandson's game in Owasso ... [Click on the title's link for this inspiring video.]

PositivelyJAX Award - The purple bench of compassionate St. AugustineNews4JAX; by Melanie Lawson; 11/1/24 [Posted as a Headline as we move through this important Election Week.] This month’s PositivelyJAX Award goes to something unique: a bench. But it’s no ordinary bench—it’s The Purple Bench, powered by people and conversation. The concept was brought to life by a group called Compassionate St. Augustine, sparking empathy and understanding in anyone willing to sit down and listen. This purple bench, located just outside the gates of the Lincolnville Community Garden in St. Augustine, often sits empty, waiting for someone to take a seat and begin a conversation.  When I approached, Eileen Reid was happy to join me. In just a short 10-minute conversation, I got to know her—a retired hospice nurse ... “I’ve been around a lot of endings, and endings are beginnings, but now, now I’m beginning a whole different phase of my life, and it’s interesting. ...”Editor's note: Click on the title's link for the community news article. Click here for a photo and description of this Purple Bench Initiative: "The Purple Bench initiative was formed to challenge the community to engage in compassionate practices despite different backgrounds, religions, ethnicities, and views. In a world divided by polarizing opinions, it is increasingly important to find common ground to help those in need." May we find creative ways to use these principles in our own settings and relationships.

Music therapist helps patients navigate end-of-life journey on Long Island CBS New York / YouTube; by Jenna DeAngelis; 10/15/24 The healing power of music is being brought to hospice patients on Long Island, by Yuzuko DeGrottole, LCAT, MT-BC, a board-certified music therapist with MJHS Hospice.  “Everyone has a song that takes them to a special place. “Are you going to sing with me?” [Sings a beautiful Jewish song.] That's the power of music. It moves us. It connects us, and for Sarah Jacobowitz it just makes her feel good. “I like it.  It makes me happy.”  The 95-year-old Holocaust Survivor is proud of her Jewish Heritage which she celebrates in song since she's bedridden.  Yuzuko brings the music to her, even learning to sing in many languages for her patients. Music communicates with you directly to your heart. Music brings up a lot of emotion, with or without words. … Sarah's son who often sits bedside says music therapy hits all the right notes. Sarah is attentive instead of just sleeping all day or just doing nothing. Music brings back memories and it gives her pleasure just to be alive.Editor's note: Having a board-certified music therapist is significantly more valuable--therapeutically, clinically, meaning-making, mission-oriented--than simply having musicians play music. For more information visit "Facts for Music Therapy in Hospice Care" by American Music Therapy Association and the Certified Board for Music Therapists.

SPECIAL EDITION: December 24, 2024

'I've already had my miracle': 26-year-old Savannah mom enters hospice care with only weeks to live ABC WJCL 22 News, Savannah, GA; by Savannah Younger; 12/4/24 As the holiday season begins, Sara Long, a 26-year-old Savannah woman, is entering hospice care after a prolonged battle with kidney failure. Now the wife and mother is preparing to say her final goodbyes to family and friends. "I wanted to make sure that everything's kind of ready to go for when family visits and all that kind of stuff," Long said. "So, I just want to make things as easy as possible for everybody." Long has been told she has two to three weeks left to live and is now preparing her family for her passing. ... Their daughter, Riley, 4, is too young to understand what is happening, but Long is creating a hope chest so Riley can always remember her. "There are probably dozens, if not hundreds, of letters at this point, to open at different various points in her life. So, like her first day of school all through, or a graduate degree, potentially," Long said. "I feel like I've already had my miracle," Sara said. "I feel like Riley is my miracle. ..."Editor's note: If you spend time on nothing else in today's newsletter, click here to view this memorable, meaningful video/article. Surely, you will see your own life in a new light.  See our "Today's Encouragement" for today, with a beautiful quote from Sara Long.

Nonprofit organizes free home cleanings for cancer patients The Dallas Express, Dallas, TX; by Patti Villegas; 10/27/24 When facing a serious illness, even simple tasks can become overwhelming. However, one nonprofit organization is stepping in to help alleviate some of that burden for individuals with cancer. Cleaning for a Reason, founded in 2006, has facilitated free home cleaning services for more than 57,133 cancer patients in the U.S. and Canada, providing services valued at a total of more than $19 million. The non-profit organization partners with residential cleaning companies and community volunteers to “clean the homes of cancer patients to provide hope, relief, control, and cleanliness,” the group’s website states. The volunteers’ work not only enhances the patients’ physical environment but uplifts their spirits as well.