Literature Review



Today's Encouragement: Look at how a single candle can ...

12/27/24 at 03:00 AM

Look at how a single candle can both defy and define the darkness. ~ Anne Frank We honor Hanukkuh with this powerful quote from  Anne Frank when she was a young teenager. She died in the Bergen-Belsen concentration in February/March 1945. If she were still alive, she would be 95.

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Bellingham nonprofit introduces barnyard animal therapy for hospice patients, families

12/27/24 at 03:00 AM

Bellingham nonprofit introduces barnyard animal therapy for hospice patients, families The Bellingham Herald, Whatcom County, WA; by Rachel Showalter; 12/25/24 From bunnies and chickens to full-sized horses, a new Whatcom County program is offering mobile farm animal therapy to hospice patients. Bellingham nonprofit Animals as Natural Therapy (ANT) started the Rainbow Bridge program this fall. Volunteers bring barnyard animals to visit seniors in care facilities across Whatcom County in an effort to bring joy and comfort to local hospice patients, bereaved families and hospice staff. It’s the latest program addition for the nonprofit which has offered animal-guided mental and behavioral health programs for youth, veterans, families and seniors since 1999. “ ... Barnyard animals may have a specific effect, according to the nonprofit. “For many people from older generations who grew up with backyard chickens and goats, the animals also bring a warm sense of nostalgia,” the ANT said in the announcement.

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Increasing awareness of hospice services among Latinos on the border

12/27/24 at 03:00 AM

Increasing awareness of hospice services among Latinos on the border YouTube - Borderzine Reporting across fronteras; features Hospice El Paso; 12/25/24 El Paso's Latino Community is seeing a rise in the use of hospice care ... Hospice in Mexico is a place and so a lot of Hispanics--true Mexicans--feel that you're going to take a loved one out of their home when it comes to hospice care. ... Latino families make up a growing portion of hospice users, reflecting national efforts in bilingual outreach and cultural sensitivity programs I had heard. The term "hospice"--I didn't know I didn't know what it meant. I didn't know what it involved but after my dad was enrolled in hospice ... I realized [that it] provided emotional and medical support ... [and] comfort that respects their cultural values. We were very fortunate that the individuals that came in that met with us beforehand and after were bilingual. I noticed that they spoke in English and in Spanish so that they would look between myself, my mom my sister to make sure we were nodding, agreeing, listening, hearing. I think that made a difference. It was very comforting. My dad at one point even said, "They gave me a bath but they didn't get the bed wet." That was our big joke and the fact that he was very comfortable. As more Hispanic families turn to hospice they're finding it offers not just medical care, but a way to honor their loved ones with dignity respect and familiar comforts in their final days.Editor's note: For data on the Hispanic population in the areas you serve, click here for the 

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Maryland Department of Health to expand elderly care to serve 800 seniors by 2025

12/27/24 at 03:00 AM

Maryland Department of Health to expand elderly care to serve 800 seniors by 2025 CBS News - WJZ News, Baltimore, MD; by Christian Olaniram; 12/18/24 The Maryland Department of Health is expanding the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) from one, to four locations, the department said Wednesday. With the expansion, the state will be able to serve up to 800 seniors - and more older adults to receive care without leaving their homes as a result. Currently, there is only one location, the Hopkins ElderPlus in East Baltimore. ... The new locations and their anticipated opening dates are as follows:

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Executive Personnel Changes - 12/27/24

12/27/24 at 03:00 AM

Executive Personnel Changes - 12/27/24

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The HAP Foundation partners with Communities in Schools of Chicago

12/27/24 at 03:00 AM

The HAP Foundation partners with Communities in Schools of ChicagoHAP Foundation press release; 12/16/24The HAP Foundation has partnered with Communities in Schools of Chicago to fulfill the need for grief workshops for students in Chicago Public Schools. Through HAP’s Missing Pieces program, we have provided support for nearly 10 students and families that have experienced a death of a sibling or friend through this partnership. Missing Pieces provides grief navigation support for families who experience the loss of a child. This year, over 350 families have been served.

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CMS scraps value-based Medicare Advantage model [VBID]

12/27/24 at 03:00 AM

CMS scraps value-based Medicare Advantage model [VBID]Modern Healthcare; by Bridget Early; 12/20/24Citing overspending, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is calling an early end to an initiative that aimed to provide better, more efficient care to Medicare Advantage enrollees. The Value-Based Insurance Design model, or VBID, will sunset at the end of 2025, CMS announced, just 20 months after the agency extended it until 2030. The latest data show “substantial and unmitigable costs” totaling $4.5 billion in 2021 and 2022, an amount "unprecedented in CMS innovation center models," CMS said in a news release Monday.

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Today's 10-Second Question (Dec 2024)

12/27/24 at 03:00 AM

Today's 10-Second Question 12/24What hospice or palliative care stories or trends do you predict we'll see in 2025? Themes might include clinical, quality, regulatory, reimbursement, ethics, heartwarming, etc. (Click the link above to participate! Responses will be shared in January.)

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In Oregon and around the world, volunteer crafters are ready to finish your loved one’s projects

12/27/24 at 03:00 AM

In Oregon and around the world, volunteer crafters are ready to finish your loved one’s projects The Oregonian - Homes & Garden; by Janet Eastman; 12/20/24, updated 12/24/24 Sue Heagy touches the colorful yarn circles her late daughter, Angie Kimmel, crocheted to relieve her pain and fear of dying. Kimmel was 39 and working in Corvallis eight years ago when she made her last stitch. ... Over the years, Heagy would take the pieces out to appreciate her daughter’s fine handwork. Late last year, Heagy decided it was time for the “complicated and unusual work” to be completed. She contacted the nonprofit Loose Ends Project and was matched to Bobbie Wallace, a volunteer “finisher” who lives in Arizona near Heagy. ... Heagy, who received the completed throw blanket this summer, said, “It’s so touching, so intimate” how finishers like Wallace work. “To have the sensitivity to delve into the creativity” of someone they never met. The place where Kimmel’s final stitch continued under Wallace’s hands is marked with a tiny heart-shape red button. “When I saw that, I burst out crying,” said Heagy, who has draped the throw blanket across her favorite reading chair. “Angie’s blanket hugs me,” said Heagy, “and it was a real comfort to talk to Bobbie, who has such an open heart, about my daughter.”

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Inside the CMS plan to streamline quality measurement

12/27/24 at 03:00 AM

Inside the CMS plan to streamline quality measurement Modern Healthcare; by Bridget Early; 12/23/24 Quality measurement is burdensome and complicated. The government and the private sector are struggling to figure out a good fix. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services uses quality data to inform its reimbursement rates, so it's a high-stakes matter for providers and health insurance companies. CMS has proposed an overarching framework meant to streamline the process: the Universal Foundation. ... The Universal Foundation consists of two dozen quality measures across several categories that track wellness and prevention, chronic conditions, behavioral health, and "person-centered" care. Those include measures of breast and colorectal cancer screenings, blood pressure, blood sugar levels, vaccinations, and hospital readmissions. ... CMS has incorporated this framework into recent regulations such as the Medicare Advantage final rule for 2024 and the Physician Fee Schedule final rule for 2025. 

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The power of top 100 relationships in leadership success

12/27/24 at 03:00 AM

The power of top 100 relationships in leadership success Forbes; by David Nour; 12/18/24 In today’s fast-paced, hyper-connected world, leadership success often hinges on one defining factor: the depth, health, and relevance of your most valuable relationships. Yet, many leaders mistakenly equate having an extensive network with having a meaningful or impactful one. ... However, authentic leadership thrives not in the breadth of relationships but in their depth, quality, and relevance. As leaders, we must embrace a critical shift: moving away from collecting contacts and toward cultivating authentic, intentional, and strategic relationships. These top-tier relationships—our Top 100—are not merely assets but the foundation of professional and personal success. This fundamental mindset shift must also cascade throughout our organizations ...

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Monroe Clinic & Hospital Foundation supports hospice home with financial gift

12/27/24 at 03:00 AM

Monroe Clinic & Hospital Foundation supports hospice home with financial gift The Monroe Times, Monroe, WI; 12/25/24 The Monroe Clinic & Hospital Foundation, a member of SSM Health, recently presented the SSM Health Monroe Hospice Home with a donation of $120,000. The annual support of $120,000 fulfills the gift the Foundation Board pledged to give every year upon the opening of the hospice home. This gift is primarily comprised of dollars raised at the annual “Little Golf” & Grill event, as well as memorials and other hospice gifts throughout the year. “Gifts given to hospice through the Foundation help provide a continued option for end-of-life patients who wish to be close to their families but are unable to remain in their home,” said Jane Sybers, Monroe Clinic & Hospital Foundation Executive Director. “This cumulative gift reflects the strong support and love our community has for local hospice care, which we are so grateful for.” 

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MCS students make gifts for Iowa River Hospice patients

12/27/24 at 03:00 AM

MCS students make gifts for Iowa River Hospice patients Times-Republican; by Lana Bradstream; 12/26/24 Marshalltown Christian School students put their creativity to work and brought some Christmas cheer to Iowa River Hospice patients this year. “This is the first time we have initiated this type of request,” said Pamela Wells, Iowa River Hospice volunteer coordinator and community liaison. “We thought it would be a wonderful collaboration for the holidays. I’m hoping that we can continue to work with them throughout the year.” Seventeen first-grade students gave 40 patients cards or door hangers, using designs they created. Before the holiday arrived, the handmade gifts were delivered to the patients via chaplains, nurses, aides, social workers and volunteers. 

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Hospice sues Medicare over alleged recouped overpayment errors

12/26/24 at 03:00 AM

Hospice sues Medicare over alleged recouped overpayment errors Bloomberg Law; by Ganny Belloni; 12/23/24 A hospice sued the Biden administration over allegations an agency unlawfully attempted to recoup millions in purported overpayments through inaccurate sampling and extrapolation methods. The complaint, filed in the US District Court for the Western District of Missouri, claims that a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services contractor had extrapolated the amount the Medicare program incorrectly paid to a handful of beneficiaries under the agency’s hospice benefit to the full “universe” of claims made to Kansas City-based Crossroads Hospice from Nov. 1, 2008, through Oct. 31, 2010.

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Physician union drives skyrocketed in 2023 and 2024, data show

12/26/24 at 03:00 AM

Physician union drives skyrocketed in 2023 and 2024, data show MDedge - Cardiology; by Randy Dotinga; 12/20/24 While fewer than 10% of US physicians are unionized, the number of official union drives among private-sector doctors have skyrocketed in the last 2 years, compared with 2 decades prior, according to a new study.  Researchers counted 21 union drives in 2023 and 12 in the first 5 months of 2024, compared with 0-6 drives each year between 2000 and 2022. If the 2023 and 2024 drives succeed, unions will represent 3523 new physicians — nearly equal to the 3541 doctors who sought unionization between 2000 and 2022. “We were able to document a significant uptick in union petitions and success in certification drives,” said corresponding author Hayden Rooke-Ley, JD, of the Center for Advancing Health Policy Through Research, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, Rhode Island. “We were surprised to see such a marked shift in 2023.” ... The study authors launched their research to better understand trends in physician unionization in light of high-profile union drives, especially among residents. Rooke-Ley said: “We suspected that declining morale and increased corporate employment for physicians were leading them to consider unionization.”

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'We do more than just pray': Chaplains take active role at Milwaukee VA and in community

12/26/24 at 03:00 AM

'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.

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U.S. health care spending reaches $4.9 trillion

12/26/24 at 03:00 AM

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.

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Muslim community-engaged research highlights Muslim Americans' end-of-life-healthcare gaps and needs

12/26/24 at 03:00 AM

Muslim community-engaged research highlights Muslim Americans' end-of-life-healthcare gaps and needs WisconsinMuslimJournal.org; by Sandra Whitehead; 12/20/24 Few Muslim Americans use hospice care, despite its posited benefits. A multi-sectoral team of academicians and community leaders in southeastern Wisconsin decided to find out why. ... Muslims are one of the fastest-growing religious communities in the United States, numbering between 3 to 5 million, with projections it will double by 2050. “With an aging Muslim population, there is a growing need for specialized healthcare services like hospice and palliative care,” the team’s research explains. ... Through a qualitative descriptive study with a Muslim patient and 10 family caregivers, the research team identified their perceptions of hospice care, ethical concerns and experiences. Among their varied perceptions, many saw it as useful only in the last hours of life. Participants also had ethical concerns about the use of sedative medication and with cessation of feeding terminally ill patients. Some had concerns about how hospice care might lead to unnecessary interventions or even hasten death. ...  The team is developing an informational resource, Islamic Bioethical Considerations for the End of Life: A Guide for Muslim Americans, to help Muslims who struggle when thinking about death and dying. 

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Meet the Santas helping Pa. families with sick children weather holidays in hospitals

12/26/24 at 03:00 AM

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. ...

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CMS names first Hospice Special Focus Program Cohort, delays list of future candidates

12/26/24 at 03:00 AM

CMS names first Hospice Special Focus Program Cohort, delays list of future candidates Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 12/23/24 Finalized in the 2024 home health payment rule, the program is designed to identify poor performing hospices, mandate quality improvement and in some cases impose additional penalties. However, stakeholders in the hospice space have contended that the agency’s methodology for selecting hospices for the program is deeply flawed. For this reason, they have argued that the list of operators should not be made public. Though CMS published the list, it delayed the release of a second that would point to future candidates for the program. “CMS has also generated a list of future SFP candidates. We are not publishing the candidate list at this time, but we are sharing the underlying data used to create both lists to allow for external review, thereby ensuring transparency in the process by which low-performing hospices are identified,” the agency indicated on its website. “We will continue to work with providers, patients and their families, and industry, to improve hospice care across the nation.” Stakeholders applauded the delay, including the National Alliance for Care at Home. [Click on the title's link to continue reading.]

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Gilchrist’s 39th annual Taste of Howard County raises $230,000 for local hospice care

12/26/24 at 03:00 AM

Gilchrist’s 39th annual Taste of Howard County raises $230,000 for local hospice care Maryland The Daily Record; by Daily Record Staff; 12/23/24 Gilchrist, Maryland’s leading nonprofit provider of serious illness and end-of-life care, raised more than $230,000 at its 39th annual Taste of Howard County on Oct. 20 at Turf Valley Resort. Over 400 guests attended the 1950s-themed fundraiser, which benefits Gilchrist Center Howard County, the county’s only hospice center. The event featured live and silent auctions led by guest auctioneer Creig Northrop, an appearance by Miss Maryland, and culinary offerings from more than 20 local restaurants.

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For young adults, caregiving isn't just hard. It can shape you for life.

12/26/24 at 03:00 AM

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."

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Today's Encouragement: This little light of mine ...

12/26/24 at 03:00 AM

Leave a little sparkle wherever you go. ~ Unknown, but often attributed to the use of "This little light of mine" during the Civil Rights Movement and/or to Maya Angelou

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ProCare Hospice of Nevada names nationally recognized hospice expert Keith Everett as new CEO

12/26/24 at 03:00 AM

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.

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Beyond the logo: The healthcare executive’s guide to creating genuine healthcare technology partnerships

12/26/24 at 03:00 AM

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. 

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