Literature Review

Hospice charity’s online community ‘at huge risk’ after Meta ban ThirdSector, United Kingdom; by Emily Harle; 4/26/24The charity says it has been unable to fully access to its Facebook and Instagram accounts after the admin was banned for posting a hospice advert.  Lewis-Manning Hospice Care has lost access to its Meta Business Manager account, saying the unexpected ban has left it unable to access analytics, fundraising tools and at risk of losing its entire online community. The charity, which offers palliative care for people with life-limiting illnesses and their families across east Dorset, has been left unable to fully manage its Facebook and Instagram accounts for more than a year after an admin was banned by Meta. Olivia Girling, head of marketing and communications at Lewis-Manning Hospice Care, told Third Sector the ban was imposed on the charity’s former marketing manager’s advertising account, after she posted a fundraising advert. Girling said Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, told the charity the ad had “violated community guidelines,” but she insisted it was a “generic hospice marketing post.” When pressed for its reasoning behind the ban, Meta would not give any further explanation, she said.Editor's Note: Click on the title's link for this important information, conflicted outcomes, and horrific bans from being able to manage one's own hospice Facebook and Instagram accounts.

[Updated] CMS proposes over 4% cut to Home Health Medicare payments in 2025 Home Health Care News; by Andrew Donlan; 6/26/24 The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) published its FY 2025 home health proposed payment rule Wednesday. With it, the agency signaled that more significant cuts could be on the way for providers. To rebalance the Patient-Driven Groupings Model (PDGM) and make it budget neutral, at least according to its internal methodology, CMS is proposing a permanent prospective adjustment to the CY 2025 home health payment rate of -4.067%. For CY 2023 and CY 2024, CMS previously applied a 3.925% reduction and a 2.890% reduction, respectively.

'We may not ever be fully staffed': Health system C-suites plan for the future Becker's Hospital Review - Leadership & Management; by Laura Dyrda; 6/24/24 After the pandemic, most healthcare leaders experienced a "great resignation" as workers left for other service industries and ever since health systems have been dealing with a lack of skilled labor to backfill the vacancies. "As we have realized we may not ever be fully staffed to the degree we were pre-COVID, we now must augment our existing workforce with technology that extends their capabilities," said Mark Moseley, MD, president of USF Tampa General Physicians and executive vice president of Tampa General Hospital. "This is a two-part challenge. First, we need to deploy technology thoughtfully with sound blocking and tackling, which is expensive in both time and capital. Second, we must train our workforce to use these new technologies to aid them in their daily responsibilities in a manner that does not diminish the ethos of why many of us went into healthcare: the interactions with patients and members of the healthcare team." Physicians and nurses can fall on a wide spectrum of excitement or distaste for incorporating technology into their practice. Some may find it impersonal and challenging to understand while others see it as a tool boosting their capacity. ... [Click on the title's link to continue reading.]

Project ECHO: 5 years of fostering learning in your community Dartmouth Health; by Connections Magazine and modified for the web; 6/25/24 Teach, teach, learn, learn. That is the model Project ECHO® at Dartmouth Health uses to connect people and their communities in a virtual setting, sharing knowledge between participants and subject matter experts. The program is especially helpful for rural communities seeking expertise on a broad range of health and medical issues. ... ECHO is an acronym for Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes. ... The past three cohorts of the Palliative Care ECHO have been very successful, and the program content has continued to evolve over time. The sessions have had an average of 70 participants and have received high scores on feedback metrics. Fifty percent of participants were repeat attendees. “Our mission is to improve palliative care throughout our region, and our leadership is committed to the model,” Kathleen Broglio, DNP says. “This was the culmination of what I hoped to do in my career.” Editor's Note: Memorable quote from this article, "“Everyone is a teacher, and everyone is a learner,” says Kathleen Broglio, DNP, associate professor of medicine and a nurse practitioner of palliative medicine. Broglio has co-led the Palliative Care ECHO with Robin Larson, MD, MPH through three courses (cohorts) and with the support of the Project ECHO team at Dartmouth Health.

Risant Health plans to acquire North Carolina system Becker's Hospital Review; by Alan Condon; 6/24/24 Risant Health, a nonprofit formed under Oakland, Calif.-based Kaiser Permanente, has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Greensboro, N.C.-based Cone Health. The news comes less than three months after Risant acquired its first health system, Danville, Pa.-based Geisinger Health. If the transaction closes, Cone Health will operate independently as a regional and community-based health system under Risant, which supports organizations with technology and services to improve outcomes and lower care costs in diverse business models. 

Delaware legislature passes Medical-Aid-in-Dying law CBS WBOC, DOver, DE; by Sean Curtis; 6/25/24 The Delaware State Senate is sending House Bill 140, or the End-of-Life Options Law, to Governor John Carney’s desk after passing it Tuesday [6/25/24]. ... Medical aid in dying would only be available to adult Delawareans diagnosed with an incurable disease or illness who have been given a prognosis of six months or less to live. The prognosis must come from at least two medical professionals, according to lawmakers. Advanced age, disability, mental illness, or chronic health conditions would not qualify a person, under the law. Those seeking medical aid in dying under HB 140 would need to demonstrate an ability to understand and grasp the consequences of their decision, as determined by a licensed psychiatrist or psychologist. ... It will now head to the Governor’s Office for Carney’s signature before becoming law, unless Carney chooses to veto the legislation. 

Nancy Streber Memorial Golf Classic continues record-breaking fundraising for McLaren Hospice The County Press, Davison, MI; 6/26/24 The 76th Annual Nancy Streber Memorial Golf Classic held May 11 at Heather Hills Golf Course near Romeo, raised more than $15,000 for McLaren Hospice’s end-of-life care services — breaking its fundraising record previously reached in 2023. The event, founded by Dave Streber and his family, honors the memory of his mother, Nancy, and the care her father received as a McLaren patient. In addition to the fundraising milestone, the event hosted 140, making it one of the largest, most successful events in the memorial outing’s history. “We are profoundly grateful for the 27 years of dedication from Dave Streber and his family, as well as the numerous organizations and all of individuals who have contributed to this event and supported McLaren Hospice over the years,” said Cindy Tomlinson, MSN, RN, vice president of hospice at McLaren Health Management Group.

Garnet Health shutters palliative care program Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 6/25/24 New York state-based Garnet Health has announced a restructuring plan that spells the demise of its inpatient palliative care services. The plan includes layoffs of about 1% of the health system’s workforce, numbering 26 employees. This is estimated to save Garnett $4.6 million in salaries and benefits. “[Garnet] continues to be challenged with significant labor expenses, inflation on supplies and equipment, and low payor reimbursement rates,” the health system indicated in a statement. The restructuring is the result of financial headwinds, including decreased demand. Patient volumes are gradually increasing, but not yet to pre-pandemic levels, the company stated in an announcement.

Big Bend Hospice names leaders to head Seven Oaks Health Business Wire, Tallahassee, Florida; 6/25/24 Big Bend Hospice, a leading provider of end-of-life care in Florida's Big Bend region, announced key leadership promotions today to head its new parent company, Seven Oaks Health. The promotions position Seven Oaks Health for continued growth in fulfilling its mission of reimagining healthcare for those facing chronic, serious, or terminal illness, with a focus on empowering patients to live healthier lives wherever they call home.

Summer COVID wave emerges: 5 notes Becker's Clinical Leadership; by Paige Twenter; 6/24/24 As "FLiRT" coronavirus variants account for about 77% of infections, COVID-19 cases are ticking upward this summer, according to CDC data.  Here are five things to know from the CDC's June 21 update:

Aroostook House of Comfort hosts 11th Annual Golf Classic: Raises over $80kThe Aroostook Hospice Foundation proudly hosted its 11th Annual Golf Classic on Saturday, June 15 at the Presque Isle Country Club, successfully raising over $80,000 for the Aroostook House of Comfort. This remarkable achievement was made possible through the generous contributions of 162 sponsors, 46 teams, 60 in-kind donors and 32 dedicated volunteers. ... The unwavering generosity of community members and partners allows them to maintain a 9,800-square foot, state-of-the-art facility where individuals and families receive compassionate care, comfort, and support during their hospice journey. Editor's Note: The Aroostook House of Comfort is an inpatient hospice and respite care facility owned by the Aroostook Hospice Foundation and staffed by Northern Light Home Care & Hospice, in South Portland, Maine.

Medical aid-in-dying bill stalls in Delaware Senate Bay to Bay News, Dover, Delaware; by Joseph Edelen; 6/24/24 An act that would allow physician-assisted suicide stalled in the state Senate on Thursday. House Bill 140, if enacted as written, permits a terminally ill individual who is an adult resident of Delaware to request and self-administer medication to end their life in a humane and dignified way. ... The bill, brought by Rep. Paul S. Baumbach, D-Newark, narrowly passed the House of Representatives in April, with a vote of 21-16. On Thursday in the Senate, the measure logged 10 yes votes and nine no votes, with Sen. Kyra Hoffner, D-Dover, not voting. But Senate sponsor Bryan Townsend, D-Newark, then changed his yes vote to no. The alteration meant that the initiative stalled in the Senate but could be brought back to its floor for another vote by Sunday, the last day of this year’s legislative session. Many senators seemed emotional while speaking about the measure Thursday. ...