Literature Review

Palliative-Behavioral Health Collaborations Benefit Patients with Serious Mental IllnessesPalliative Care NewsDecember 15, 2023Palliative care providers have opportunities to bridge gaps of unmet needs among patients who have serious mental illnesses and their families. ... Building up community-based palliative and mental health care collaborations will be crucial to supporting a growing population of seniors with SMIs with complex needs, he [Dr. Andrew Esch, palliative care physician and senior education advisor at the Center to Advance Palliative Care] said. ... Some of the most common SMIs among seniors include bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, borderline personality disorder and post traumatic stress and major depression, among others.

After six months of study, Kentucky certificate of need task force says more study neededKentucky LanternDecember 15, 2023Lawmakers wrapped up a six-month study of Kentucky’s certificate of need law Thursday by saying more study is needed before they can make solid recommendations for reform.

SEARHC defends Home Health closure at Sitka Assembly meetingKCAW-FM (Sitka, AK)December 15, 2023Sitka, AK—What will home health look like in Sitka without a home health department at the local hospital? The top doctor at the Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium or SEARHC gave an update on the future of home health services at the Sitka Assembly meeting on Tuesday.

LAJHealth Opens Second Brandman Center for Senior Care on WestsideJewish Journal (Los Angeles, CA)December 14, 2023The Brandman Centers for Senior Care, a PACE program of Los Angeles Jewish Health, has opened a new ... It is the second LAJH PACE program, with the first located on its Reseda campus.

Heed history’s warning on aid in dyingBy Sen. John HoffmanStar Tribune (Minneapolis, MN)December 14, 2023Legislative proposals to legalize physician-assisted suicide in Minnesota have been introduced in Minnesota every year since 2015. The bill contents change regularly as the authors try to stay ahead of the numerous legal, medical and ethical objections that are raised. Many of the changes just create new concerns. In whatever form, such legislation is dangerous and would likely have serious consequences for vulnerable populations—particularly those with disabilities.[Editor’s Note: The author is a member of the Minnesota Senate representing Champlin. He is a member of Democrat Farmer-Labor.]

Rural hospitals embrace ‘grow your own’ approach to staffingModern HealthcareDecember 15, 2023Always on the hunt for staff, some rural hospitals have been trying a less common recruitment setting: K-12 classrooms. The hospitals hope that by interesting local children in healthcare careers and investing in their education, the students will one day return to work as full-fledged providers. It’s a long game, but one that could help rural hospitals better compete for clinicians with urban health systems that have the budgets for higher salaries and bigger sign-on bonuses.

Southern Utah man admits to trying to kill wife in hospice to ease her suffering, charges sayKTVX-TV (Salt Lake City, UT)December 14, 2023Washington County, UT—A southern Utah man is facing an attempted murder charge after he allegedly admitted to investigators that he tried to kill his wife two years ago to ease her suffering from terminal cancer.

Hospice of the Western Reserve targeting $75,000 grant to address racial disparitiesCleveland.comDecember 15, 2023Lakewood, OH—For the better part of the last decade, Hospice of the Western Reserve has been focused on dispelling misperceptions within minority communities related to hospice care. “If you look at statistics across the board, traditionally African-American and Hispanic communities tend not to utilize hospice services,” Hospice of the Western Reserve Manager of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Heidi L. Barham said. “A lot of that is based on historical mistrust, so doing the outreach work helps us to break the stigma of the H-word—that hospice is not a death sentence.” That’s why Hospice of the Western Reserve applied for and recently received a Three Arches Foundation grant, with the intent to address healthcare inequity.

‘It’s Water Grinding Away The Stone’—Senior Care Providers Face Common Challenges In Continuum ExpansionsHome Health Care NewsDecember 15, 2023Home-based care providers are no longer content delivering a standard set of care services. Instead, leaders at in-home care organizations are working strategically to enhance services, creating a more integrated care delivery model—a continuum of care. At Intrepid USA, this means pairing the company’s home health and hospice services more closely together. ... Strategically, creating a continuum of services allows providers to maintain relationships with clients and patients longer—before their needs become acute, all the way through to end of life.Notable Mentions: Susan Ponder-Stansel, CEO of Alivia Care.

The $20,000 Christmas Tree—Lake County Hospice’s Annual Festival of TreesThe Bloom (Lake County, CA)December 15, 2023Imagine stepping into a place where Christmas exists in a timeless moment—it starts at the registration tables, where a train circles a beautifully decorated tree. But once you walk down the hallway and into the main tent, you enter another world. This moment, hosted by Lake County Hospice, has become a beacon of hope and compassion, bringing joy to families and touching the hearts of all who attend. ... It’s a visual feast. ... But what sets the Festival of Trees apart is its purpose. Beyond the fascinating and enchanting decorations, the event serves as a vital fundraiser for Lake County Hospice. ... People know that Hospice of Lake County fills a significant need in the community and bid accordingly. Winners of auctions donate the tree back to be auctioned again, and yes, one tree sells for $20,000.

State can finally start formal review process for Fatima and Roger Williams hospital acquisitionRhode Island CurrentDecember 15, 2023The two state regulators overseeing hospital conversions in Rhode Island have declared an application to transfer ownership of Roger Williams Medical Center and Our Lady of Fatima Hospital to a Georgia nonprofit is complete.

The Backbone of Better Care: Compliance in Home-Based HealthcareBy Jennifer Kennedy, 12/15/23In the realm of home-based healthcare, the distinction between good and great care is often defined by the role of compliance. This invisible backbone extends beyond immediate healthcare services, forming a critical framework that upholds every action and procedure to the highest standards of legal and ethical conduct.