Literature Review

Risk factors for and health status of socially isolated adultsJAMA Network Open; Tarun Ramesh, BS; Kushal Kadakia, MSc; Marcela Horvitz-Lennon, MD, MPH; Joshua Breslau, PhD, ScD; Hao Yu, PhD; 1/25In 2023, the Surgeon General issued an advisory on the epidemic of loneliness and social isolation, calling for more research and policy interventions to address these challenges. The overall prevalence of social isolation in our study was 3%, which is lower than other determinants of health, such as smoking, poverty, and inadequate health insurance. Our results indicate 3 broad and likely interrelated populations at risk for social isolation, including racial and ethnic minority groups, those with financial insecurity (ie, unemployed, uninsured, lower income), and those with chronic health conditions, with depression being a large factor. We also found that the socially isolated adults reported worse health status compared with those without social isolation.

Measures to prevent and control COVID-19 in skilled nursing facilities-A scoping reviewJAMA Health Forum; Benjamin E. Canter, OTD; Agne Ulyte, MD; Brian E. McGarry, PhD; Michael L. Barnett, MD, MS; 1/25Skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) experienced high mortality during the COVID-19 pandemic, leading them to adopt preventive measures to counteract viral spread. This scoping review identified 16 preventive measures, both nonpharmacologic (eg, staffing, visitor restrictions) and pharmacologic (eg, vaccines, antivirals) interventions. Nonpharmacologic measures were widely implemented but lacked evidence for effectiveness, whereas vaccinations and antivirals showed substantial benefits but were underutilized; up-to-date vaccination status was suboptimal in residents and staff and only a minority of infected residents received antiviral treatment.

Partnership grows to help more clinicians of color find community in Vermont Vermont Business Magazine - Vermont Biz (VB), South Burlington, VT; by Tim, The University of Vermont Medical Center; 2/18/25 A growing partnership between University of Vermont Medical Center and the Vermont Professionals of Color Network (VT PoC) aims to help people of color adjust to life in Vermont and build the personal and professional relationships community leaders say are crucial to both individual wellbeing and keeping residency students in the state after they complete their clinical training. “During my 20 plus years here, I have heard from so many black and brown people about how difficult it can be to adjust to life in Vermont – and this goes for medical residents too,” said Tino Rutanhira, co-founder and co-executive director of VT PoC. "... Without support, many of these professionals decide to leave Vermont at a time when our state desperately needs young, skilled and diverse people to help it grow.” Editor's note: Parteners listed include The University of Vermont Health Network - Home Health & Hospice.

Hospice finance 101 and the gift of mortalityPost Independent; by Peter Schoomaker, Homecare & Hospice of the Valley CFO; 2/19/25... [Practical information about hospice expenses, like labor and mileage reimbursement with. "For our agency, we estimate our clinicians will drive more than 250,000 miles in 2025, slightly more than the distance from the Earth to the Moon."] And now a more personal note … I am grateful for the last seven years of my career working in hospice care. Most importantly, I am grateful for the opportunity to integrate into the clinical experience of hospice. When I shadow an admission visit or attend the hospice interdisciplinary meeting, I am reminded that hospice is a world of YET (You’re Eligible Too). The only thing that separates me, and our hospice patients, is time. My relative physical strength will eventually shrink. My mental faculties will fade. And there is a large possibility, at some point in my life, that I will depend almost entirely on others to help with most activities of daily living. This is true for all of us. ... ... Recognizing this truth opens a path to humility. A path to step away from the ego, even for a moment, and really let go. ... When I reflect on this, I realize what a gift our mortality is. To know that our choices matter because we never know much time we have left. A sincere thank you to all our hospice, homecare and private duty clinicians — and our administrative teams that support them. It is genuinely noble work.Editor's note: "A sincere thank you" to Peter Schoomaker, Homecare & Hospice of the Valley CFO

Over a quarter of adolescents, young adults with cancer who want to die at home do not Healio; by Jennifer Byrne; 2/20/25 More than one-fourth of adolescents and young adults with cancer who wished to die at home did not attain this goal, according to research published in JAMA Network Open. Researchers conducted a retrospective cohort study that included adolescents and young adults (AYA; age range, 12 to 19 years) with cancer who died between 2003 and 2019. The cohort included patients treated at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Kaiser Permanente Northern California or Kaiser Permanente Southern California. ... Healio spoke with Odejide about the rationale for the study, the importance of the findings, and strategies oncologists can employ to ensure more goal-concordant end-of-life care for AYA patients with advanced cancers. [Click here for Helio's discussion with the lead researcher, Oreofe O. Odejide, MD, MPH, associate professor of medicine at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.]  Editor's note: Examine this JAMA article, which we posted in our Saturday Research issue, 1/18/25: "Preferred and actual location of death in adolescents and young adults with cancer."

New tech, new problems: Why application development needs a big-picture view Software Development Times (SD Times); by Sharul Sangl; 2/19/25... [Many] organizations have approached [technology] innovation without a comprehensive strategy or holistic view of their applications, simply focusing on adding the latest features or trendy tools. As a result, they are facing challenges related to application performance, scalability, efficiency, and security. To ensure the success of application innovation, enterprises must maintain a big-picture view of their applications.  ... When approached strategically, organizations are in a prime position to capitalize on current technologies to truly innovate. ...

Historic flooding hits Kentucky: Death toll rises to 14 as recovery efforts continue NBC WLWT-5, Cincinnati, OH; by Emily Sanderson; updated 2/18/25The death toll is continuing to rise across Kentucky amid devastating flood conditions. Beshear says at least 14 people have died due to the severe flooding, weather. The deaths include a mother and her child who were swept away by flood waters in their car. The governor confirmed hundreds of people have been displaced. Swift Water Boat Teams and 146 Kentucky National Guard soldiers have been activated. Beshear says there have been over 1,000 water rescues already. Ohio Task Force 1 has also been activated as a Type III team in response to heavy flooding in Kentucky and surrounding states. [Additionally, snow is expected with temperatures] set to drop significantly, with wind chills dropping below zero. Officials said 300 roads are still impacted or closed, with standing water still an issue across the state. ... The governor also started a donation fund for those impacted by flooding. Donations can be made at TeamKyReliefFund.ky.gov. Beshear stressed the first things the fund will be used for is funerals for victims. ... 

'Fast and furious' AI sparks health system refocus Becker's Health IT; by Laura Dyrda; 2/19/25Health systems are beginning to hire chiefs of artificial intelligence and other AI leaders to bring new expertise into the system with the goal of becoming a more sophisticated, data-driven organization. Lisa Stump, executive vice president, chief digital information officer and vice dean of information technology at Mount Sinai Health System and Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City, participated in the search and hiring process for Girish Nadkarni, MD, Mount Sinai's first chair of artificial intelligence and human health to create a formal department at the Icahn School of Medicine dedicated to AI. She now partners with him and the system's chief clinical officer – calling themselves the "digital and technology partners" group – to structure a center of excellence around AI and digital health, focusing on the patient and consumer experience.

[UK] Campaign focuses on hospice's work: [This is Hospice Care] The Free Library; by Sam Volpe; 2/17/25 Tyneside Hospice is taking part in a new national campaign highlighting their "vital role" - while one son has paid tribute to the care his mother received in her final days. St Oswald's Hospice in Newcastle is one of more than 140 hospices taking part in a new campaign called "This is Hospice Care" which is designed to demystify the role hospices play in our communities. [England, Scotland and Wales] Click here for "This is Hospice Care | UK," on the St. Oswald's Hospice website.

Harley Owners Group & Community make splash for JRMC Hospice NewsDakota.com, Jamestown, ND; by Steve Urness; 2/18/25 The spirit of generosity and adventure was alive and well at the 19th annual Polar Pig Walk the Plank & Chili Cook-off, held Feb. 1 at Stutsman Harley-Davidson. ... This year, Polar Pig reached an incredible milestone—surpassing $300,000 raised for JRMC Hospice since its inception. ... This year alone, $19,405 was raised, directly benefiting the care provided by the JRMC Hospice team. Braving the winter air, dozens of participants in a wide variety of costumes took the plunge, leaping into the water in the name of hospice care. Spectators cheered as JRMC team members, community members and families joined in the fun, embracing the cold for a cause. The event also featured a chili cook-off and silent auction.Editor's note: We don't know the temperature for this North Dakota polar plunge on Feb 1. However, the weather on Thu 2/20 in Jamestown, ND is -8°.  Bravo to these brave souls!

Mayo Clinic Hospice to present improv show on end-of-life care at Marion Ross theater Albert Lea Tribune; 2/18/25 In honor of Mayo Clinic Hospice celebrating 45 years of service to Southeast Minnesota, in collaboration with Danger Boat Productions, the Naeve Health Care Foundation, and the Mayo Clinic Dolores Jean Lavins Center for Humanities in Medicine, invites the community to attend “End-of-Life: Live and Unscripted.” The event will be held at the Marion Ross Theatre from 6 to 7 p.m. March 27, with doors opening at 5:30 p.m. This unique improv show aims to bring the community together for an evening of laughter and learning. Attendees will gain insights into advanced care planning, important end-of-life care considerations and ways to support the community during end-of-life stages.Editor's note: Though readers surely will not be able to attend, we post this to spark your collaborations for community engagement and education through the arts. 

Part payer, part provider: VNS Health embraces the futureHome Health Care News; by Joyce Famakinwa; 2/18/25As one of the biggest home-based care organizations in New York, VNS Health is leaning into its size and capabilities. ... “Our real challenge is, how do we leverage the large number of programs and services we already offer to ensure a seamless journey through the most difficult times in a person’s life,” VNS Health CEO and President Dan Savitt told Home Health Care News. ... "Being both a payer and provider allows us an opportunity to work with people in our community throughout their health care journey." ... "We use analytics to identify home care patients with late stage conditions who can benefit from enrollment in our advanced illness management program. Then we use analytics to determine when it may be appropriate to consider moving this patient population into hospice care." 

ViVE 2025: Improving clinical workflows amid workforce shortages HealthTech; by Teta Alim; 2/18/25 As the U.S. braces for a dearth of physicians and nurses, healthcare organizations are transforming processes to attract and retain talent. By 2034, experts have projected, there will be a shortage of between 17,800 to 48,000 primary care physicians. For full-time registered nurses, 2030 projections are even steeper. Healthcare organizations are well aware of these forecasts and have been testing and deploying solutions to improve employee satisfaction and retention and attract new talent. At ViVE 2025 in Nashville, Tenn., industry leaders discussed how improvements supported by artificial intelligence (AI) are offering promising results for streamlining workflows. [Click on the title's link to read this discussion.]