Literature Review
Today's Encouragement: The road to success ...
01/30/25 at 03:00 AMThe road to success is always under construction. ~ Lily Tomlin
U.S. Attorney’s Office recovers more than $55 million in civil settlements and judgments in calendar year 2024
01/30/25 at 03:00 AMU.S. Attorney’s Office recovers more than $55 million in civil settlements and judgments in calendar year 2024United States Attorney's Office - Western District of Texas, San Antonio, TX; 1/28/25U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza announced today that the Western District of Texas recovered $55,969,678.60 in settlements and judgments in over 25 affirmative civil enforcement cases between January 1, 2024, and December 31, 2024. ... The office’s largest civil recoveries were obtained in False Claims Act (FCA) matters. The most significant FCA recoveries include: ...
The tech shaping healthcare in 2025, per 61 leaders
01/30/25 at 03:00 AMThe tech shaping healthcare in 2025, per 61 leaders Becker's Health IT; by Naomi Diaz; 1/28/25 Healthcare leaders told Becker's that emerging technologies such as ambient listening, AI-driven automation, and advanced remote patient monitoring are set to transform healthcare in 2025 by tackling workforce shortages and boosting operational efficiency.
Carlsberg A/S: Supplier & licensee Code of Conduct
01/30/25 at 03:00 AMCarlsberg A/S: Supplier & licensee Code of Conduct MarketScreener Blog; by the Carlsberg Group; 1/28/25 ... As a UN Global Compact signatory, we are committed to its four pillars: human rights, labour, environment, and anti-corruption. The Code aligns with international stand- ards, such as the UN Global Compact's Ten Principles, the Base Code of the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI), the principles of the International Labour Organization (ILO) and ISO 14001. [Click on the title's link for the sample "Code of Conduct."]Editor's note: What ethics policies do you have in place for the suppliers and other vendors with whom you partner? How does this sample Code of Conduct align--or not--with your organization's ethics and conduct?
How a St. Louisan helps her community navigate death by filling out advance directives
01/30/25 at 03:00 AMHow a St. Louisan helps her community navigate death by filling out advance directives NPR - St. Louis on the Air; by Jada Jones; 1/28/25 When Vivial Lopez’s grandmother was on life support, her family was faced with many difficult decisions. Her grandmother did not have an advance directive, so her family did not know her final wishes. The experience of navigating her grandmother’s end-of-life plan without any direction led Lopez to advocate for families to prepare advance directives - especially those in Black and brown communities. Approximately only on ein three adults complete an advance directive for end-of-life care. Lopez works with the Gateway End-of-Life Coalition to empower members of the St. Louis community to navigate death through quality end-of-life care. Editor's note: Click here for AARP - Find Advance Directives Forms by State, also available in Spanish.
The iatrogenic consequences of medicalising grief: Resetting the research agenda
01/30/25 at 03:00 AMThe iatrogenic consequences of medicalising grief: Resetting the research agenda Sociology of Health & Illness: by Sarah Gurley-Green, Lisa Cosgrove, Milutin Kostic, Lauren Koa, and Susan McPherson; published 11/28/25, distributed via Evermore 1/28/25When the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) was published in 2013, there was a firestorm of controversy about the elimination of the bereavement exclusion. Proponents of this change and of the proposed “complicated grief” designation believed that this change would help clinicians recognise major depression in the context of recent bereavement. Other researchers and clinicians have raised concerns about medicalising grief. In 2022 “prolonged grief disorder” (PGD) was officially included in the DSM-5-TR in the trauma- and stressor-related disorders section. ... As human rights activists have argued, bereavement support is an inalienable human right, one that is centered on the right to health and well-being, for “bereavement health is as intrinsic to our humanity as any other aspect of health and citizenship” (Macaskill 2022). That is why there are increasing calls for investing in bereavement as a public good and for “cultivat[ing] a bereavement-conscious workforce.” (Lichtenthal et al. 2024, e273). As Lichtenthal notes, it is not only clinicians but also institutions and systems that must “shift bereavement care from an afterthought to a public health priority.”Editor's note: "Iatrogenic" refers to unintentional consequences/condition from a medical intervention. In the hospice context, this means bereavement/grief from the hospice death. How many patients do you serve? The CMS Hospice Conditions of Participation identify "bereavement" and/or "grief" 155 times. What priority do you give to bereavement care before, at and after your patients' deaths?
Vermont Mutual grants $10,000 to CVHHH through Charitable Fund
01/30/25 at 02:30 AMVermont Mutual grants $10,000 to CVHHH through Charitable Fund Vermont Mutual Insurance Group; by Tim; 1/28/25 Central Vermont Home Health & Hospice (CVHHH) received a $10,000 grant from the Vermont Mutual Charitable Giving Fund. ... “We are honored to award this grant to Central Vermont Home Health & Hospice,” said Sarah Young, executive director of the Vermont Mutual Charitable Giving Fund. “Their unwavering dedication to providing compassionate care and support for individuals and families during life's most challenging moments is truly inspiring.
Michigan Center for Rural Health working to expand rural palliative care
01/30/25 at 02:00 AMMichigan Center for Rural Health working to expand rural palliative care Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 1/29/25Recent studies have established a dire need for palliative care in rural areas, and the state of Michigan is no stranger to this situation. To respond to the need, the Michigan Center for Rural Health (MCRH) is partnering with Stratis Health, a nonprofit consulting firm that specializes in assisting rural communities with providing palliative care services. The two organizations, which have partnered on projects related to critical care hospitals and Medicare beneficiaries, will choose five rural communities in the state with the goal of increasing their capacity to provide palliative care. In the current phase of the project, Stratis will be training MCRH staff to apply their framework for implementing palliative care programs in the target areas.
Homecare industry facing crisis
01/30/25 at 02:00 AMHomecare industry facing crisisWFMZ-TV 69 News, Allentown, PA; by Christina Lengyel; 1/28/25 ... [Providers] across the state are struggling to hire enough staff to cover the needs of the state’s 300,000 homecare recipients. Unable to offer comparable hourly wages, the industry is losing its potential recruiting pool to gig work and jobs in the service industry. “We are in crisis. The crisis isn’t coming. We are not planning for it. It’s actively here,” said Mia Haney, CEO of the Pennsylvania Homecare Association at a meeting of the House Aging and Older Adult Services Committee. The average hourly wage for homecare workers in the state is between $13 and $14, making it hard to compete with other industries. Even within healthcare, counterparts performing the same tasks from within care facilities earn more. Home care advocates say the discrepancy doesn’t add up given the value of homecare.
Palliative care may improve quality of life in esophageal cancer
01/29/25 at 03:15 AMPalliative care may improve quality of life in esophageal cancer Cure; by Tim Cortese; 1/27/25 Palliative care consultations helped patients with esophageal cancer at end-of-life experience better quality of life and less financial strain by reducing the need for intensive interventions, according to a poster presented at the 2025 ASCO Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium. The mean length of hospital stay was 7.5 days (plus or minus 11.3 days) for patients who received palliative care and 8.9 days (plus or minus 14.9) for those who didn’t; and total charges were $97,879 (plus or minus $195,868) and $146,128 (plus or minus $321,830), respectively. Patients who received palliative care consultation had a Charlson Comorbidity Index of 9.4 (plus or minus 3.3) versus 9.1 (plus or minus 3.5) for patients who did not.
Bettis Academy instills leadership skills with Eagles L.E.A.D. Program
01/29/25 at 03:00 AMBettis Academy instills leadership skills with Eagles L.E.A.D. Program The Post and Courier, North Augusta, SC; by Bianca Moorman; 1/27/25 Bettis Preparatory Leadership Academy is helping to build the next generation of leaders with its new Eagle's L.E.A.D. Initiative. Eagle's L.E.A.D. – which stands for Learn through Experience, Excel in Academics, Aspire to Inspire and Drive for Change – aims to teach students the skills needed to become leaders through hands-on service projects. The school officially launched the program on Oct. 28, 2024. ... Each grade level has selected a unique service project for the program. ... First-graders are partnering with Gentiva Hospice to learn about the work of first responders. Second-graders are collaborating with heart doctors to raise awareness about childhood heart disease. Third-graders are creating "little libraries" to place in various locations throughout the community. [Click on the title's link for grades 4-8.]
Today's Encouragement: It's easy to make a buck. ...
01/29/25 at 03:00 AMIt's easy to make a buck. It's a lot tougher to make a difference. ~ Tom Brokaw
You’re not imagining it. The ‘quad-demic’ is making everyone sick.
01/29/25 at 03:00 AMYou’re not imagining it. The ‘quad-demic’ is making everyone sick. New Jersey Advance Media; by Jackie Roman; 1/27/25 A quadruple threat of viruses is driving up emergency room visits and hospital admissions across the United States, including in New Jersey. Public health experts warn a “quad-demic” — a contagious combination of COVID-19, influenza, RSV and norovirus — has increased pressure on New Jersey hospitals this winter. Emergency department visits and hospital admissions remain elevated for COVID-19, influenza, and RSV, according to the state’s latest respiratory illness surveillance report. ... The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that there have been at least 16 million illnesses, 190,000 hospitalizations, and 8,300 deaths from flu so far this season. Thirty-one of those deaths were among children, according to the CDC. [Click on the title's link for more data and a national map, with updates by the CDC on 1/22/25.]
Main Line Health cuts 200 administrative roles
01/29/25 at 03:00 AMMain Line Health cuts 200 administrative roles Becker's Health IT; by Naomi Diaz; 1/22/25 Bryn Mawr, Pa.-based Main Line Health has eliminated approximately 200 administrative and management positions, including roles in IT, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported Jan. 22. The majority of the cuts targeted administrative support areas such as information technology, finance, human resources, revenue cycle, and accounting, according to Main Line Health CEO Jack Lynch. "The landscape in healthcare is awful, and it's only getting worse," Mr. Lynch told the publication. He cited several factors driving the decision, including inadequate payment increases from Medicare and Medicaid — which account for 65% of the system's patient coverage — rising insurance denials, and the delayed arrival of $25 million in federal COVID-19 aid.
Health equity guide aims to improve care for Black patients with serious illnesses
01/29/25 at 03:00 AMHealth equity guide aims to improve care for Black patients with serious illnesses Healio; by Jennifer Byrne; 1/28/25 Black individuals in the U.S. with serious illnesses receive disproportionately poor pain management and health care communication, compared with white individuals, a focus group led by the Center to Advance Palliative Care showed. Black individuals with these illnesses — such as cancer, heart failure or dementia — also experience higher family caregiver burden, findings showed. To address these inequities, the Center to Advance Palliative Care (CAPC) issued a comprehensive guide titled, “Advancing Equity for Black Patients with Serious Illness.”
Best small footprint design of 2024: PACE Center with homelike charm
01/29/25 at 03:00 AMBest small footprint design of 2024: PACE Center with homelike charm Senior Housing News; by Andrew Christman; 1/27/25 Healthcare and social connections blend seamlessly in a new Program for All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) location in Winchester, Virginia. The organization behind the project, Blue Ridge, was inspired by the “community village” concept in its new concept, which is a PACE center that conjures a more homelike than clinical atmosphere. The program resides within a compact footprint of 15,540 square feet, according to SueAnn Myers, executive director and project lead for Blue Ridge Independence at Home. Prioritizing accessibility and ease of movement, the location features wide hallways, ramps and “thoughtfully placed” handrails. Recessed carpets reduce issues for visitors with wheelchairs and the building features a warm contemporary aesthetic that draws inspiration from the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains. Blue Ridge Independence at Home’s PACE center design in a small package snagged it the top spot in the small footprint category of the 2024 Senior Housing News Architecture and Design Awards.
Kaiser Permanente physicians negotiate new labor agreement
01/29/25 at 03:00 AMKaiser Permanente physicians negotiate new labor agreement Hospice News; by Holly Vossel; 1/27/25 Resident physicians at California-based Kaiser Permanente have recently negotiated a new agreement that includes compensation increases and expanded mental health and wellness employee benefits. The agreement came after months of negotiations and included salary increases over the next three years, along with more paid time off and enhanced financial support for resident physicians. It also included roughly $40,000 to fuel an annual patient-project fund.
Thinking innovatively about your nursing career development
01/29/25 at 03:00 AMThinking innovatively about your nursing career development Minority Nurse; by Keith Carlson, BSN, RN, NC-BC; 1/27/25 Your nursing career is yours to create, and with proper care, your path can be unique, innovative, and idiosyncratic. At the same time, your many obligations and responsibilities can steer you away from your uniqueness and leave you in a rut of choosing the path of least resistance. There are many strategies for choosing a career journey that fits your vision of who you want to be as a healthcare professional, and it’s worth exploring those strategies for the ones that can most readily move you forward. ... Thoughtful questions are a good place to begin your self-assessment. ...
We need to talk about hospice
01/29/25 at 03:00 AMWe need to talk about hospiceMedCity News; by Skelly Wingard, Asher Perzigian and Elizabeth Annis; 1/28/25 In the quiet corners of healthcare, there’s a conversation that needs to be had. It’s a conversation about hospice — a critical yet often misunderstood part of end-of-life care. ... Nearly three-quarters of hospice care agencies are for-profit ownership. ... The impact of these acquisitions on the industry is complex. ... On the one hand, these investments can bring valuable resources to hospice care, funding geographic expansion, scaling technological infrastructure, improving facilities and enhancing services. On the other hand, a strong focus on efficiency and optimization has led to challenges such as staff burnout, higher turnover, and decreased patient satisfaction when compared with non-profits. Coupled together, this complexity can contribute to reduced quality of care due to cost-cutting measures, aggressive marketing leading to overuse of services, increased billing and fraud and a lack of community investment. Not all for-profit hospices operate this way. ... [Click on the title's link to continue reading.]
DEA proposed telemedicine prescribing rule could burden hospice physicians and hospice operations
01/29/25 at 03:00 AMDEA proposed telemedicine prescribing rule could burden hospice physicians and hospice operations Morgan Lewis, Washington, DC; by Howard J. Young, Jacob J. Harper, and Roshni Edalur; 1/27/25 Signaling a possible future approach to regulating Schedule II-V prescribing via telemedicine in lieu of in-person examinations, on January 17 the DEA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking regarding its next iteration of controlled substance prescribing controls. With comments due March 18, 2025, the Proposed Rule is not subject to the Trump administration’s executive order freeze on new proposed regulations. [Click on the title's link to continue reading.]
What can we learn from the dying?
01/29/25 at 03:00 AMWhat can we learn from the dying? Newscastle's News Letter Journal (NLJ), Newcastle, WY; by Kelly Evans-Hullinger, MD; 1/26/25 For the last five years, I have had the great privilege of serving my local health system as Medical Director for Home Hospice. Every week I sit in a meeting with the multidisciplinary caretakers on this team ... Patients facing their own deaths want to talk about their lives. Our staff frequently tries to facilitate what they call a “life review” in which a patient can openly talk about their childhood, family, career, service, and sometimes their regrets. This is therapeutic for the dying patient and their loved ones. ... I have recently thought about this particular human need – to reflect and remember one’s life. I take this as a reminder to both seek those stories from my own loved ones (I wish I had asked my grandmother more questions about her life) and, perhaps, to tell and write about the things in my own life I would want to be remembered after I am gone. For if there is another thing I’ve learned serving patients on hospice, it is that my death is also inevitable; but, I think, life’s finality is what gives it beauty and meaning.
Hospice of the Red River Valley's Fargo office relocates
01/29/25 at 03:00 AMHospice of the Red River Valley's Fargo office relocates NewsDakota.com, Fargo, ND; by Steve Urness; 1/27/25 Hospice of the Red River Valley is thrilled to share some wonderful news that marks a significant milestone in their 25-year dream for a community-based hospice house. On January 27, 2025, Hospice of the Red River Valley moved to a new and exciting location. Their new home is now at Heather’s House on Scheels Campus in South Fargo, located at 3800 56th Ave. S., Fargo, ND 58104. This move brings them one step closer to opening Heather’s House – the very first freestanding hospice house in North Dakota. Heather’s House will offer the community a peaceful, supportive environment where patients and families can find comfort, dignity and compassionate care.
Circle of Life opens home-based care center
01/29/25 at 02:15 AMCircle of Life opens home-based care center Talk Business & Politics, Arkansas; by Talk & Politics staff; 1/28/25 Nonprofit hospice provider Circle of Life recently opened the two-story, 27,133-square-foot Joey Feek Center for Home-Based Care in Lowell after a capital campaign raised over $12.5 million. According to a news release, the center will serve 93% of the nonprofit’s patients daily. “We want to express our deep gratitude to our community, board of directors, and dedicated staff for making this expansion possible,” CEO Catherine Grubbs said. ... Dee Vaughn, chief development officer, said the campaign surpassed its $12.5 million goal and had over 350 supporters. Circle of Life has more than 170 staff based at the new center, ...
[Hospice of the Western Reserve Volunteer] WWII veteran celebrates 100th birthday, years of service
01/29/25 at 02:00 AM[Hospice of the Western Reserve Volunteer] WWII veteran celebrates 100th birthday, years of service Fox 8 WJW-TV Cleveland, OH; 1/24/25 What were you doing on this day 100 years ago? Well, if you were World War II Veteran Bob Zonneville, you were saying “hello” to the world! On Thursday, many of his friends and family got together at David Simpson Hospice House to celebrate this incredible accomplishment. Hospice of the Western Reserve hosted the event, which had a very special meaning to both the organization and Zonneville. Over the years, not only has this World War II veteran offered tireless support to the Hospice program, but he’s also responsible for raising nearly $100,000. Zonneville has been a passionate Hospice volunteer for decades. According to Hospice of the Western Reserve, Zonneville received the prestigious Chair’s Award for his extraordinary contributions to the hospice community in 2008. ...
Falls Quilt Guild celebrates “Adopt A Bear” 25th birthday
01/28/25 at 03:15 AMFalls Quilt Guild celebrates “Adopt A Bear” 25th birthday Times-Leader, Great Falls, MT; by the Falls Quilt Guild; 1/24/25 ... Kevin Sukut from Benefis Peace Hospice and Children's Bereavement Coordinator thanked guild members for the donation of quilts that accompany bears with adoption papers. It is a powerful and emotional experience participating in the gifting part of healing so many young hearts. These are given to children who accompany grieving families at Hospice. These quilts become a security blanket that brings joy to children’s faces. Kevin partners with Torene Marcum to set up and distribute bags throughout Benefis and to Choteau and Fort Benton. Torene states it is amazing how the bear and quilt makes treating children easier.