Literature Review

Danger on the job: Workers suffer the most injuries in these 25 jobsNewsCenter1, by Colleen Kilday; 1/9/24Editor's Note: For HR leaders, 12 of the 25 are from healthcare jobs. How does this data compare with your employees' job-related injuries and illnesses?

Labor Department issues independent contractor final ruleMcKnights Senior Living, by Lois Bowers; 1/9/24Acting Labor Secretary Julie SuThe Department of Labor this morning issued a final rule that will change how senior living companies and other employers determine who is an employee and who is an independent contractor. The rule is effective March 11. “The misclassification of employees as independent contractors may deny workers minimum wage, overtime pay and other protections,” the Labor Department said in an online post. “This final rule will reduce the risk that employees are misclassified as independent contractors while providing a consistent approach for businesses that engage with individuals who are in business for themselves.”Editor's Note: Click here for the final rule.

My husband's death in hospice care made me more opposed to assisted suicide, says Nadine DorriesThe Telegraph, by Dominic Penna; 1/10/24Paul Dorries, who died of bowel cancer in June 2019, asked to travel to the Dignitas clinic in Switzerland to end his life as soon as he received his terminal diagnosis, the former culture secretary [Nadine Dorries] said. But setting out her opposition to the “distressing” practice of assisted suicide, Ms Dorries said her husband had eventually been glad to spend his final weeks in palliative care surrounded by loved ones. ... "The peaceful way he died at home four months later – surrounded by his loving family – only reinforced my strong view that assisted dying is wrong.”

If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant: If we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome. — Anne Bradstreet

Mortality rates low among hospital-at-home patients: studyModern Healthcare, by Diane Eastabrook; 1/9/24Older patients receiving care through hospital-at-home programs across the U.S. experienced low mortality rates, Mass General Brigham researchers found.Accessing the entire article requires a subscription to Modern Healthcare

New Day Healthcare acquires Compassion HospiceHospice News, by Jim Parker; 1/8/24The home health and hospice provider New Day Healthcare has acquired Texas-based Compassion Hospice for an undisclosed amount. The transaction expands New Day’s footprint to 29 locations, concentrated in Texas, Missouri, Kansas and Illinois. The company’s nearly 6,500 employees serve close to 100,000 patients annually across all of its business lines, including home health, hospice, pediatrics, clinical decision support and personal care. Compassion Hospice will not rebrand and will retain its current leadership.

Provider partnerships driving palliative care growthHospice News, by Holly Vossel; 1/8/24An increasingly diverse base of health care providers have taken an interest in the palliative care space, a trend that could be indicative of how strategic growth is taking shape in the field. ... A range of palliative care joint ventures, care collaborations and partnerships have evolved in recent years as more health care providers work to address the needs of a swelling aging population.

Finding a voice for the terminally illHealth Affairs, by Richey Piiparinen, 1/9/24A patient with terminal illness reflects on the reluctance in health care to discuss death. Access to the full-text article requires either an online subscription or purchase of 24-hour access to this article.

Feds must decide whether 'all Canadians' have right to assisted dyingThe Canadian Press; 1/8/24A senator who pushed for people with mental illness to be able to seek a medically assisted death says the federal government must decide whether it will "allow all Canadians" their choice of end-of-life care. 

Bringing peace and joy: Evensong performs familiar music for hospice patientsThe Ellsworth American, by Jess Cummings; 1/8/24Evensong, a group of choral singers operating under the Hospice Volunteers of Hancock County, has spent the last 15 years singing for individuals nearing the final moments of their lives. The group specializes in hospice and palliative care, traveling upon request all over Hancock County to sing at the bedsides and homes of patients in need. ... “Music is a huge thing,” [musical director] Cookie Horner says. “It goes to a different part of your brain than everything else…we’ve seen that firsthand.” Evensong’s repertoire includes music like spiritual and secular hymns, familiar folk songs and even popular special requests.

Second-hand sales turn into second-chance grantsThe Daily Yonder - Keep It Rural, by Bill Bishop; 1/9/24A non-profit store in La Grange, Texas, called Second Chance Emporium created a "virtuous circle" of community-donated items that turn into grants that support that and other communities. ... The year Second Chance has made $583,000 in grants. ... The community has a stake in the store. For example, the local hospice organization even hosts an annual fashion show fundraiser with people decked out in things they picked up at Second Chance. 

What Amazon's latest healthcare play could mean for ASCsBecker's ASC Review, by Paige Haeffele; 1/8/23Amazon launched digital health monitoring services through a partnership with Omada Health. Omada's more than 20 million members are eligible to enroll in the service through Amazon, according to a Jan. 8 post on Amazon's website. ... Sri Sundaram, MD, an electrophysiologist at South Denver Cardiology Associates, told Becker's: "From a patient's perspective, it's only positive. From a physician's perspective, it can be overwhelming. I get daily reports from patients about abnormal recordings from their wearables. How do I respond when only the wearable is abnormal? Keeping up with this data and questions from patients has already become demanding."Editor's Note: What implications might such wearables have for palliative and hospice care?

Home healthcare company agrees to pay nearly $10 million to resolve false claims act allegations relating to its participation in the energy employees occupational illness compensation programOffice of Public Affairs; 1/5/24Atlantic Home Health Care LLC (AHH), a home health care agency operating in Arizona and eight other states, has agreed to pay $9,990,944 to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by submitting false claims to the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program (EEOICP or the Energy Program), a healthcare program administered by the Department of Labor (DOL) for the benefit of Department of Energy employees and contractors with occupational illnesses.