Literature Review



Rady Children's Hospital nurses strike begins after union turns down deal

07/25/24 at 03:00 AM

Rady Children's Hospital nurses strike begins after union turns down deal ABC News 10 San Diego, CA; by Perla Shaheen, Dani Miskell; 7/23/24 The Rady Children's Hospital nurses started hitting the picket line Monday morning. The union representing the nurses recently turned down the hospital's offer of a 25% pay bump over the next three years. The executive director for UNOCH Teamsters Local 1699 says this is the first time they've ever gone on strike. On Sunday, both sides thought they had a deal and would avoid the strike, but late last night, union members voted the agreement down.

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Medicare physician pay has plummeted since 2001. Find out why.

07/25/24 at 03:00 AM

Medicare physician pay has plummeted since 2001. Find out why. American Medical Association - AMA; by Tanya Albert Henry; 7/17/24 Medicare physician payment—often called Medicare reimbursement—must be tied to an inflation index called the Medicare Economic Index (MEI). As part of its campaign to fix the unsustainable Medicare pay system, the AMA has outlined in a quick, easily navigable fashion why this payment fix needs to happen now. ... The AMA’s two-page explainer on the Medicare Economic Index (PDF) outlines how it incorporates these two categories reflecting the resources used in medical practices:

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Education curricula need to incorporate whole-person care beyond electives

07/25/24 at 03:00 AM

Education curricula need to incorporate whole-person care beyond electives Pharmacy Times; by Ashely Gallaher; 7/21/24“[Whole-person care is] simply caring for a person and not just their pills. It's making sure that we're focusing on medications as tools to help people live better, healthier lives, and not as the focus of their lives,” Kashelle Lockman, PharmD, MA, clinical assistant professor and clinical pharmacy specialist at the University of Iowa. ... 3 Key Takeaways:

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Sasha McAllum Pilkington on grace and storytelling at the end of life

07/25/24 at 03:00 AM

Sasha McAllum Pilkington on grace and storytelling at the end of life Psychotherapy.net; by Lawrence Rubin; 7/22/24 Narrative Clinician, Sasha McAllum Pilkington [of New Zealand],  shares poignant stories she co-created with hospice clients which honor and celebrate their lives. [This interview includes: ...]

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Amorem names new Chief Executive Officer

07/25/24 at 03:00 AM

AMOREM names new Chief Executive Officer WKSK 93.5 West Jefferson, NC; 7/23/24 On Monday evening, the AMOREM Board of Directors named April Moore as the organization’s new chief executive officer. Moore began her career in hospice in 2004 ... with Caldwell Hospice and Palliative Care, which integrated with Burke Hospice and Palliative Care in 2021 to form AMOREM. ... Since the integration, she oversaw the building project for AMOREM’s palliative care center in Boone. She currently leads the building project for AMOREM’s patient care unit in Boone, set to open in early 2025. ... “The Board of Directors is thrilled to announce the hiring of April Moore as CEO of AMOREM,” AMOREM Board of Directors Chairman Jordan Greene ... “April has shown 20 years of leadership, dedication and love for our organization. Her commitment to the mission, vision and values of AMOREM is second to none. April is the definition of the hospice heart."

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Palliative care benefit work group

07/25/24 at 03:00 AM

Palliative care benefit work group Office of the Insurance Commissioner - Washington State; 7/23/24 The Washington state Legislature has directed the Office of the Insurance Commissioner, in consultation with the Health Care Authority, to convene a work group to design the parameters of a palliative care benefit and payment model for fully insured health plans. The work group must submit a report to the Legislature detailing its work and any recommendations by November 1, 2025. The work group must consider the following elements of a palliative care benefit: 

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[Bermuda] New hospice care centre breaks ground

07/25/24 at 03:00 AM

New hospice care centre breaks ground Bernews, Bermuda; 7/22/24 The future of hospice care in Bermuda has taken a leap forward with the groundbreaking on the site of the new Woodland Grove Care Centre on Spice Hill Road, Warwick. A spokesperson said, “Community partners and board members of Friends of Hospice were present to mark the symbolic first shovel-strike of the multi-year construction of Bermuda’s first purpose-built hospice and eldercare care facility. The Care Centre will significantly increase and improve on the care options available on island. ... The building will have an aesthetic character heavily inspired by traditional Bermudian residential character, massing, and vernacular. The provision of functional gardens and landscaped outdoor areas, around the building, contribute to the home environment and will offer tranquil and calming spaces.

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Making DEI matter in post-acute care

07/25/24 at 03:00 AM

Making DEI matter in post-acute care HomeCare; by Jerry Farmer; 7/18/24 In today’s dynamic health care landscape, the importance of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) cannot be overstated. DEI represents policies and procedures that promote the representation and participation of diverse groups of individuals who encompass all ages, races, ethnicities, abilities, disabilities, genders, religions, cultures and sexual orientations. ... Here are some of the key factors our company focused to reach diversity, equity and inclusion milestones: 

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Readers write: Why RCM is the most interesting opportunity in healthcare

07/25/24 at 03:00 AM

Readers write: Why RCM is the most interesting opportunity in healthcare HIStalk - Healthcare IT News & Opinion; by Kim Waters, MBA; 7/22/24 Revenue cycle management (RCM) isn’t for everybody, but it certainly is for me. ... In a 2023 study, HFMA reported on the rising cost of claims, with as much as 60% of claims not resubmitted and the average denial rate’s total percentage of gross revenue at 11%. What’s more is that they found that the cost per claim appealed is $118 and the denial rate is increasing 20% year over year. In an era when budgets are tight and margins are lower, organizations need to improve on these numbers to survive and eventually thrive. Opportunities for improvement can be easy to see. Reconsider any processes or solutions that:

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‘My sibling died and my parents never talked about her again’

07/25/24 at 03:00 AM

‘My sibling died and my parents never talked about her again’ The Telegraph; by Steph Clarkson; 7/20/24 Julia Martin has few memories of her sister Karen, but remembers the last time she saw her. “She was five years old. I was seven. We were playing on the swing in the park. Then she went off to the hospital with Mum and Dad for a scheduled operation. “She never came home.” Losing a sibling is tragic enough, but for Julia the death of her sister following an operation to repair a hole in the heart was just the start of years of trauma. “I remember my father telling me Karen had died,” says Julia, ... “But that was it. There were no hugs, no comforting words. “Mum barely came near me. She tucked herself away. I had no other siblings to talk to. I was alone.” Things got worse as Julia’s parents built a wall of silence around their loss: ‘‘I wasn’t taken to see Karen in the hospital, I was kept away from the funeral, so there was no closure,” she says.

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UVM Medical Center reaches new contract for nursing employees, 23% wage hike

07/25/24 at 03:00 AM

UVM Medical Center reaches new contract for nursing employees, 23% wage hike VB Vermont Biz; by The University of Vermont Medical Center; 7/22/24 Nurses employed by University of Vermont Medical Center who are part of the Vermont Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals (VFNHP) voted to ratify a new three-year contract for nursing staff this past weekend. The contract includes a 23% wage increase for nurses over the next three years.

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Today's Encouragement: Nothing can substitute for ...

07/25/24 at 03:00 AM

Nothing can subsitute for just plain hard work. I had to put in the time to get back. And it was a grind. It meant training and sweating every day. But I was completely committed to working out to prove to myself that I still could do it. ~ Andre Agassi, USA Tennis, 1996 Olympic gold medalist

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Why home health providers should expect to see a ‘less draconian’ final payment rule

07/25/24 at 03:00 AM

Why home health providers should expect to see a ‘less draconian’ final payment rule Home Health Care News; by Joyce Famakinwa; 7/22/24 As home health providers continue to digest the proposed payment rule for 2025, National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC) President William A. Dombi believes that the industry will ultimately see a comparatively toned down final rule. “We believe we will not end up with this proposed rule as a final rule,” he said during the opening presentation at NAHC’s Financial Management Conference in Las Vegas on Sunday. “We will end up with something less draconian. The cuts will be reduced because, No. 1, that’s what they’ve done for the last several years, and, No. 2, it’s an election year.” Even with a prediction of a “less draconian” final payment rule, NAHC is still gearing up to fight against home health cuts and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) payment-setting methodologies.

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Show You Care: 10-year-old donates profits from greenhouse to hospice unit

07/25/24 at 02:30 AM

Show You Care: 10-year-old donates profits from greenhouse to hospice unit

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NAHC President Bill Dombi: Hospices in for a ‘bumpy ride to new era’

07/25/24 at 02:00 AM

NAHC President Bill Dombi: Hospices in for a ‘bumpy ride to new era’ Hospice News; by Holly Vossel; 7/23/24 The Medicare Hospice Benefit is ripe for change nearly four decades after its establishment, but moving the needle will include a heavy lift around evolving regulations. This is according to Bill Dombi, president of the National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC). The hospice industry is undergoing tremendous changes amid rising demand and increased regulatory oversight, Dombi said at NAHC’s Financial Management Conference in Las Vegas. ..."[Hospice] hospice has moved into a new era. It’s a very mature benefit at this point and all signs are that people in Congress and at [the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)] think it’s overdue for some reform. Hospice is facing potential massive reform.” Among the signs of major reform on the horizon is an intensified survey and auditing climate in recent years, Dombi stated. 

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Millions burdened by the cost of long-term care

07/24/24 at 03:10 AM

Millions burdened by the cost of long-term care AHCJ - Association of Health Care Journalists; by Breanna Reeves; 7/18/24 ... [Robert] Ingenito shared the mounting costs of caring for his father, who became really sick in 2023. During the panel, Ingenito shared the estimated total cost of caring for his father for just a few months: $57,000. ... [In the U.S.] 8 million people over age 65 need long-term care services, but 3 million were not receiving them. ... Most people in the U.S. are cared for by unpaid caregivers, which are oftentimes spouses and daughters who have no prior experience in caregiving.

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Celebrating the life and legacy of Marion Keenan

07/24/24 at 03:10 AM

Celebrating the life and legacy of Marion KeenanCoastal Hospice press release; 7/23/24Salisbury, MD – Coastal Hospice announced today with profound sadness the passing of its inaugural President, Marion Keenan and extend heartfelt condolences to her family and friends. “On behalf of Coastal Hospice, I would like to express our sadness in the passing of our founder and former President, Marion Keenan. Marion was part of a committee of innovators that brought hospice care to our community over 44 years ago,” said Ann Lovely, Interim President and CEO of Coastal Hospice. “Her leadership and spirit of service made a profound impact in our organization and those we cared for during her tenure. Marion will forever be missed as we continue to carry on her vision.” Marion's obituary is posted here.

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Vital Signs: Digital Health Law Update | Spring 2024

07/24/24 at 03:00 AM

Vital Signs: Digital Health Law Update | Spring 2024 Jones Day - Vital Signs; by Vital Signs' Editors; July 2024Welcome to Vital Signs, a curated compilation of the latest legal and regulatory developments in digital health.  [Topics include the following:]

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Today's Encouragement: I am building a fire ...

07/24/24 at 03:00 AM

I am building a fire, and every day I train, I add more fuel. At just the right moment, I light the match. Mia Hamm, American soccer player and two-time gold medalist

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Local whistleblowers help in federal hospice investigation

07/24/24 at 03:00 AM

Local whistleblowers help in federal hospice investigation CBS WKBN-27, Austintown, OH; by Patty Coller; 7/22/24 The parent company that operates a hospice provider in Austintown has agreed to a settlement in a federal lawsuit alleging that the local location, along with others in the southern part of the country, defrauded the government, according to federal prosecutors. Gentiva, formerly known as Kindred at Home, has agreed to pay $19 million to resolve allegations that it and other entities of Gentiva knowingly submitted, or caused to be submitted, false claims for hospice services provided to patients who were ineligible for hospice benefits under Medicare and other federal health care programs because the patients were not terminally ill, according to Department of Justice. ... The Employment Law Group said in a news release that there were 20 whistleblowers in the case, including two from the Youngstown area involving SouthernCare, who helped to recover about $2.13 million in alleged fraudulent billing.

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Hospital CEOs solve an old problem with new ideas

07/24/24 at 03:00 AM

Hospital CEOs solve an old problem with new ideas Becker's Hospital Review; by Laura Dyrda; 7/15/24 A persistent problem for health system CEOs is emerging as the most important challenge to solve this year: work/life balance. Work/life balance isn't just a "nice to have" as a "thank you" to clinicians who spent thousands of extra hours during the pandemic in a stressful workplace; it's a business imperative. And many organizations haven't invested in it enough. [Click on the title's link to continue reading identification of problems and new solutions by multiple helath system CEOs.]

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Asheville nurse strike? Mission/HCA 'gave some ground'; groups support nurses with fund

07/24/24 at 03:00 AM

Asheville nurse strike? Mission/HCA 'gave some ground'; groups support nurses with fund Asheville Citizen Times; by Joel Burgess; 7/22/24 A nurse union negotiator has said HCA HealthCare, the owner of Mission Health, has "given some ground" on key issues — but nurses are still preparing for a potential strike over staffing numbers at Western North Carolina's biggest hospital. Local activists including WNC Workers Assembly, meanwhile, are rallying residents and raising money to help nurses in case of a strike. Mission nurses unionized in 2020, a year after HCA — a for-profit Tennessee corporation and the biggest hospital company in the country − bought the nonprofit Mission for $1.9 billion. Editor's Note: Mission/HCA provides hospice, palliative, and PACE care.

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New medication, staging criteria signal a potential shift in Alzheimer’s care

07/24/24 at 03:00 AM

New medication, staging criteria signal a potential shift in Alzheimer’s care Psychiatric News; by Linda M. Richmond; 7/12/24 The latest antibody treatment for Alzheimer's disease may prompt the industry toward the use of biomarkers--rather than traditional cognitive and functional testing--for diagnosis and staging. Will the new drug make a meaningful difference in patients' lives despite its risks and hefty price tag?

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Factors affecting palliative care collaboration with pain medicine specialists

07/24/24 at 03:00 AM

Factors affecting palliative care collaboration with pain medicine specialists Hematology Advisor; by James Maitlall, MD; 7/22/24 Structured collaboration between physicians working in palliative care (PC) and pain medicine (PM) may increase PC physician referral of seriously ill patients to PM specialists and potentially optimize their care, according to study results published in the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management. ... The investigators concluded, “Although we found that PC physicians have highly positive attitudes about the value of PM specialists, referral rates remain low, even for IDDS implantation, which has perhaps the largest body of evidence for patients with complex cancer-associated pain.” They added, “Facilitating professional collaboration via joint educational/clinical sessions is one possible solution to drive ongoing interprofessional care in patients with complex pain.

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Salvation Army in Lufkin, Harbor Hospice, and other businesses hold ‘Beat the Heat’ fan drive

07/24/24 at 03:00 AM

Salvation Army in Lufkin, Harbor Hospice, and other businesses hold ‘Beat the Heat’ fan drive ABC KTRE TV9, Lufkin, TX; by Vanessa Johnson; 7/21/24 “We have a fan drive going on right now from July 1st to July the 31st,” Amy Allen, the director of nursing with Harbor Hospice in Lufkin, said. The fan drive is for those in both Angelina and Nacogdoches counties that need one but do not have the means to get one. ... “They have no resources, they have no money, they have no way to get this. During the hurricane I know we all suffered from the heat, and we felt what they feel like daily,” Jenny Wright, the volunteer coordinator at Harbor Hospice, said. 

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