Literature Review
Dia De Los Muertos can provide powerful healing for anyone who is grieving a loved one
10/31/24 at 02:30 AMDia De Los Muertos can provide powerful healing for anyone who is grieving a loved one Santa Barbara Independent; by Hospice of Santa Barbara; 10/29/24 Many of those who have lost a loved one are looking for ways to manage their grief and Hospice of Santa Barbara (HSB) helps to navigate this often-painful journey in a variety of ways. This may include grief counseling, support groups, and healing modalities such as poetry and art. ... Day of the Dead (Dia de Los Muertos) has become an increasingly popular holiday in the United States as it is seen as a valuable way to reconnect with those who have died and relieve grief in an individual and shared ritual of celebration. Dia De Los Muertos is a two-day holiday that reunites the living and dead, November 1 and 2. Families create ofrendas (offerings) to honor their departed family members that have passed. These altars are decorated with bright yellow marigold flowers, photos of the departed, and the favorite foods and drinks of the one being honored. The offerings are believed to encourage visits from the land of the dead as the departed souls hear their prayers, smell their food and join in the celebrations. Day of the Dead is a holiday for celebrating death and life where mourning is combined with celebration.
Chapters Health System launches new Chapters Health West Division
10/31/24 at 02:00 AMChapters Health System launches new Chapters Health West DivisionCision PRWeb; by Chapters Health System; 10/30/24 Chapters Health System, in collaboration with four highly respected not-for-profit organizations — Hospice East Bay (Pleasant Hill, CA), Hospice of Santa Cruz County (Santa Cruz, CA), Nathan Adelson Hospice (Las Vegas, NV) and Willamette Vital Health (Salem, OR) — is proud to announce the creation and official launch of Chapters Health West. This landmark partnership signifies the beginning of a new era in not-for-profit hospice care across the Western United States, blending innovation with a commitment to compassionate, community-based care. "We are building a future where we can do more, innovate more and serve more," said Andrew Molosky, MBA, CHPCA, president and chief executive officer for Chapters Health. "By aligning our strengths, we will continue to deliver exceptional care while expanding our capacity to meet the growing needs of those navigating serious illness and grief in our communities."
A priceless business leadership lesson from The Grateful Dead
10/31/24 at 02:00 AMA priceless business leadership lesson from The Grateful Dead Forbes; by Eli Amdur; 10/26/24 Phil Lesh, the Grateful Dead’s singularly iconic and beloved bassist, died last week at age 84. ... And the lessons we learned from him – and the boys – are more applicable to business than ever before. The timeliest of all comes from Phil ... The essence of the Grateful Dead, he explained, is “the infinite mutability of our music.” ... And if anything signals a business survival mandate in today’s dizzyingly changing world, that’s still it: infinite mutability. ... Every time they stepped on stage, they were a living, breathing experiment in creativity, fearless about treading new ground, easily drifting into their 20-minute jams (or more) on “Dark Star” or “Goin’ Down the Road” or “Morning Dew” or just about anything else … [They] stayed fresh, new, fearless, and constantly innovative. ... And who pointed us to this lesson? Phil, that quiet, unassuming bassist who usually could be seen stage right, away from the glare of the spotlight, while Jerry and Bobby took vocal and instrumental leads and Mickey and Billy wove together an integrated drum partnership ... All the while. There was Phil – the most innovative bassist I ever saw – laying down a foundation to support the Dead’s infinite mutability ...
Happy Halloween!
10/31/24 at 01:55 AMWith some fun for Halloween--also known as The Day of the Dead (el Día de los Muertos)--we offer today's "Headlines" to "treat" your day.
A new low? Hacker group targets end-of-life pharmacy provider
10/30/24 at 03:00 AMA new low? Hacker group targets end-of-life pharmacy provider TechInformed (TI); by Ann-Marie Corvin; 10/28/24 OnePoint Patient Care, an Arizona-based hospice pharmacy serving over 40,000 patients per day, has informed customers about a data breach impacting personal information. OnePoint said it first detected suspicious activity on its network in early August. A later investigation revealed that by this point, the attackers had already obtained files containing personal information from the pharmacy’s systems, including names, residence information, medical records, and prescription and diagnosis information. OPPC told the US Department of Health and Human Services that the data breach impacted over 795,000 people.
How today’s hospice fraud could warp tomorrow’s reimbursement outlook
10/30/24 at 03:00 AMHow today’s hospice fraud could warp tomorrow’s reimbursement outlook Hospice News; by Holly Vossel; 10/28/24 This is the second of a two-part Hospice News series that explores how fraud, waste and abuse in the hospice space could create headwinds for the industry at large. Fraudsters misspend millions of Medicare dollars annually, though the actual hospice-specific amounts are difficult to determine, regulators previously told Hospice News. Industry stakeholders have questioned whether the malfeasance will stymie the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) ability to justify future reimbursement rate increases, which many hospice providers already consider insufficient to support the full range of their interdisciplinary services in today’s economic climate.
LeadingAge: Diverting patients from SNF to home health does more harm than good
10/30/24 at 03:00 AMLeadingAge: Diverting patients from SNF to home health does more harm than good McKnights Home Care; by Adam Healy; 10/28/24 Mounting evidence suggests that Medicare Advantage plans are directing beneficiaries to home health when they should receive skilled nursing facility care, which is negatively affecting providers’ care quality, according to LeadingAge. The Senate Committee Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations recently reported that MA plans may be diverting patients in need of SNF care to home health as a means of saving money. In an Oct. 25 letter, LeadingAge said this practice damages care quality and patient health outcomes, and asked the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) to investigate the issue further.
Cigna considers Humana acquisition – What it means for the stocks
10/30/24 at 03:00 AMCigna considers Humana acquisition – What it means for the stocks MarketBeat; by Jea Yu; 10/29/24 There has been speculation of a massive merger in the medical sector between two massive health insurers. Specifically, the rumor is The Cigna Group NYSE: CI is interested in acquiring Humana Inc. NYSE: HUM. The conjecture caused both stocks to react, as Cigna stock fell 10% as the rumored surfaced on Oct. 18, 2024, and Humana stock remained relatively flat. Based on the reactions, the market doesn't see this as a favorable merger, and for good reason. While there are many potential synergies in a merger, assuming it passes the regulatory antitrust sniff test (which is a big "if"), there is also a major sticking point that sinks any possibility of it coming to fruition called Medicare Advantage (MA).
Family caregiver experience at heart of new project
10/30/24 at 03:00 AMFamily caregiver experience at heart of new project McKnights Home Care; by Foster Stubbs; 10/27/24 In healthcare, the needs of the patient are paramount. But for every patient there is at least one caregiver with needs of their own. Former first lady of the United States Rosalynn Carter understood this and established The Rosalynn Carter Insitute for Caregivers (RCI) to serve this underserved population. ... More than 40 years later, RCI continues Carter’s mission through its newest caregiver support resource. Using over two decades of research on caregiving combined with feedback from actual caregivers, RCI composed a series of 10 different Caregiver Profiles that reflect the unique and diverse experiences of family caregivers. These profiles revolve around the following:
Less activity, more sitting linked with higher death risks: study
10/30/24 at 03:00 AMLess activity, more sitting linked with higher death risks: study McKnights Long-Term Care News; by Kristen Fischer; 10/28/24 Low physical activity is associated with a higher risk of dying from all causes as well as from cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and kidney disease. In addition, the combination of reduced activity and longer sitting time every day is linked with a higher risk of death from any cause, a new study finds. Staying active and reducing sitting time may lower the risks, authors of the report wrote. The report was published Oct. 26 in BMC Geriatrics.Editor's note: Calling all leaders who have desk-bound employees, and who sit too long (yourselves) ... What creative ways do you encourage healthy work habits, movement, and more? Do you provide ergonomic sit/stand desks? Healthy chairs? More? Read this and remember that as we will age, today's habits impact tomorrow's health.
Today's Encouragement: It is better ...
10/30/24 at 03:00 AMIt is better to look ahead and prepare than to look back and regret. ~ Jackie Joyner-Kersee
Top 10 Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) tools
10/30/24 at 03:00 AMTop 10 Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) tool eSecurity Planet; by Claire dela Luna; 10/28/24 In today’s global economy, even small businesses operate across multiple regions and markets, each with its own regulatory landscape. Without effective GRC tools, organizations can quickly fall out of compliance, exposing themselves to security risks and operational disruptions. GRC software solutions enable businesses to manage these risks by automating policies, tracking controls, and providing real-time compliance monitoring across international borders. .. Here’s a guide to help you make the best choice.
Is compassion a strategic or soft leadership style?
10/30/24 at 03:00 AMIs compassion a strategic or soft leadership style? HRZone; by Victoria Brookbank; 10/28/24 Compassionate leadership is an emerging management style that offers strategic benefits to numerous businesses. But is it truly worthwhile? ... More recent approaches to leadership – placing compassion at the forefront of expected management skills – have also been making inroads in complementing workplace culture shifts. But they’ve not been universally accepted. Some have labelled new leadership approaches as “soft” or even a “woke”, seeing such changes as an inconvenience to getting on with the rigorous demands of driving business success. But more and more studies are proving that both are possible. Compassionate leadership is turning out not to be just a feel-good, optional practice. It’s becoming a strategic imperative – significantly enhancing organisational performance, psychological safety, employee engagement and wellbeing, as well as overall business outcomes. [Click on the title's link to continue reading.]
The ‘perfect way to die’ in North Dakota
10/30/24 at 03:00 AMThe ‘perfect way to die’ in North Dakota CBS KX News, Bismarck, ND; by Brendan Rodenberg; 10/27/24 Death is not something people tend to look forward to at the end of their lives, but it is important to discuss nonetheless — and while many have ideas of how they would like to pass away, these vary immensely across America. This begs the question: How would North Dakotans like to spend their last moments? ... [An insurance poll that surveyed 3,000 people from across the nation indicated] that the perfect death for a North Dakotan would be to pass while hiking White Butte, the state’s highest point. ... The survey also delved deeply into other aspects of one’s last moments, including those surrounding them and what occurs after the moment of death. Below is a list of the most prevalent takeaways from this part of the study.
Palliative care in the ED reduces costs, improves patient outcomes
10/30/24 at 03:00 AMPalliative care in the ED reduces costs, improves patient outcomes Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 10/28/24 The presence of an embedded palliative care practitioner in the emergency department can significantly improve patient outcomes and reduce costs. A pilot program at the Michigan-based Corewell Health system in which a palliative physician was embedded in the ED effectively reduced inpatient mortality, readmissions, intensive care unit utilization and the total cost of care, while also boosting staff satisfaction, Lisa VanderWel, senior director for Corewell Health Hospice and Palliative Care, said during a presentation at the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) Annual Leadership Conference in Denver. ... “When you do really good palliative care, what happens?” she said during the presentation. “You have those [goals-of-care] conversations in a more timely manner. You have an earlier conversion to hospice. You avoid all the stress and crisis that’s involved if you wait until the last minute.”
Top 5 workforce priorities for leaders in 2025
10/30/24 at 03:00 AMTop 5 workforce priorities for leaders in 2025 Forbes; by Brent Gleeson; 10/26/24 As organizations evolve and face new challenges, leaders and managers are preparing to tackle pressing workforce priorities that will shape the future of work. Based on our data and experience at EXCELR8, and supported by extensive research conducted by Gartner, these priorities reflect the most significant areas HR leaders (and all leaders in the organization) need to focus on to remain competitive, retain top talent, and drive business outcomes. Below are the top five workforce priorities leaders must incorporate into their strategic imperatives for 2025. We highlight the key trends that will influence human resources strategies moving forward.
Providence Alaska Medical Center tests virtual care model, announces hospice partner
10/30/24 at 03:00 AMProvidence Alaska Medical Center tests virtual care model, announces hospice partner Alaska Business - Healthcare, News; 10/28/24 Providence Alaska Medical Center (PAMC) recently launched a new way of caring for patients that combines bedside nursing with a virtual or remote nurse and a dedicated patient care technician or certified nursing assistant. Known as co-caring or virtual nursing, the bedside nurse manages direct patient-care duties while the virtual nurse coordinates other support tasks. Also this month, the Washington-based not-for-profit healthcare system that operates PAMC announced it will partner with Compassus...Co-Caring Model Leverages Skilled Nurses: Virtual nursing is a response to a strained labor market. A study by the National Center for Health Workforce Analysis shows Alaska is projected to lead the nation in nursing vacancies, with as many as 23 percent of openings unfilled, by 2030. The co-caring model helps address the impending shortage while providing added patient care, Providence officials say.
Terminally ill patients from other states can’t come to N.J. to end their lives, court rules
10/30/24 at 03:00 AMTerminally ill patients from other states can’t come to N.J. to end their lives, court rules NJ.com; by Chris Sheldon; 10/29/24 A federal judge ruled Wednesday that the residency requirement in New Jersey’s medical aid in dying law does not violate the U.S. Constitution, meaning the state can continue to keep its right to die law exclusively for residents. The ruling was in response to a lawsuit filed in August 2023 by Compassion & Choices on behalf of terminally-ill cancer patients in Delaware and Pennsylvania and two New Jersey doctors, according to a statement from the non-profit, which works to expand choice for the end of life.
Terminally ill Illinois woman meets her idol, Jelly Roll
10/30/24 at 03:00 AMTerminally ill Illinois woman meets her idol, Jelly Roll NBC WETM 18, Elmira, IL; by Taylor Harris; 10/27/24 An Illinois woman battling terminal cancer fulfilled the dream of a lifetime Wednesday — meeting country music sensation Jelly Roll. Keita Miller, of Granite City, was diagnosed with a terminal illness in February 2022 and given just months to live. She has defined the odds, and now she’s been able to meet her musical hero, country star Jelly Roll. Her favorite Jelly Roll song is “Son Of A Sinner,” and she says his music has been a source of comfort during her illness. But more than just meeting the artist, Miller had one special request. ... The James Bess Foundation, a nonprofit that grants dreams to adults from 21 to 65 years old who are battling terminal illness, is making this dream come true.
Hurricane Helene: NC recovery update after one month
10/30/24 at 01:00 AMHurricane Helene: NC recovery update after one monthHospice & Palliative Care Today; Chris Comeaux with Cordt Kassner; 10/29/24This is an ongoing series of interviews with Chris Comeaux, President / CEO of Teleios Collaborative Network, who lives and works in Western North Carolina – the area most impacted by Hurricane Helene. Chris framed today’s discussion as the good, the bad, and the ugly:
Hospices: Boost quality assurance, training amid switch to HOPE, compliance experts say
10/29/24 at 03:00 AMHospices: Boost quality assurance, training amid switch to HOPE, compliance experts sayMcKnight's Home Care; by Adam Healy; 10/22/24The new Hospice Outcomes and Patient Evaluation (HOPE) tool officially launches in less than a year, so now is the time to begin modifying operations and training staff to adapt to the new quality reporting framework, according to Jennifer Kennedy, vice president of quality, standards and compliance, and Kimberly Skehan, vice president of accreditation at Community Health Accreditation Partner. On Oct. 1, 2025, the HOPE tool will replace the Hospice Item Set for hospice quality reporting. For providers, HOPE demands more critical thinking than the legacy Hospice Item Set, Kennedy said Monday during the 2024 National Association for Home Care & Hospice conference in Tampa, FL. HOPE’s quality measures include hospice’s health outcomes, sociodemographic impacts, administrative performance and more. For some, adapting to HOPE might require internal Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement (QAPI) program upgrades.
After extensive renovation, original Wright-Patt Fisher House expected to reopen soon
10/29/24 at 03:00 AMAfter extensive renovation, original Wright-Patt Fisher House expected to reopen soon Dayton Daily News, Dayton, OH; by Thomas Gnau; 10/28/24 Renovation ends in time to mark home’s 30th anniversary. The original Fisher-Nightingale house at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base has been renovated, and an open house in December is expected to mark its reopening, the executive director of the Fisher-Nightingale Houses in the Dayton area said. The house itself is expected to reopen to serve families in a few weeks. ... The Fisher House Foundation is a national organization, building comfortable homes where active-duty military and veteran families can stay free of charge, while a loved one is in a hospital or in nearby hospice care.
Palm Harbor family suffers flood after Milton, less than month after mother dies from breast cancer
10/29/24 at 03:00 AMPalm Harbor family suffers flood after Milton, less than month after mother dies from breast cancer ABC WFTS Tampa Bay, FL; by Jessica De Leon; 10/26/24 One Palm Harbor family is gutting the first floor of their home, destroyed by flood waters after Hurricane Milton. Cali Gignac’s childhood home is not in a flood zone or near any large bodies of water, yet more than two feet of water entered her parents' townhome and destroyed everything just a month after her mother died. “We haven’t had a chance to sort her mementos. We haven’t had a chance to grieve her or anything. And now it’s like... everything is garbage.” Now, they are trying to save what they can, sometimes stopping to take a snapshot of notes or photos that they find. But as tears come, they quickly move on, knowing they have so much to do.“Our photo albums are just, like, melting.”Editor's note: Click here for a public service educational video, "Community Crisis and Grief," with a significant section devoted to coping with "normal" bereavement in the midst of a community crisis. Disclosure, provided by Composing Life Out of Loss, a sponsor of this newsletter.
The usage of family audiobooks as a legacy for grieving children — an exploratory quantitative analysis among terminally ill parents and close persons
10/29/24 at 03:00 AMThe usage of family audiobooks as a legacy for grieving children — an exploratory quantitative analysis among terminally ill parents and close persons Springer Nature Link - Open Access; by Gülay Ate, Michaela Hesse and Henning Cuhls; 10/25/24Since 2017, terminally ill parents with dependent children under the age of 18 have been able to record an audiobook for their dependent children. This service allows them to narrate how they would like to be remembered in their voice. The family audiobook is a professionally supported, voluntary, free service that is unique in Germany. ... Conclusions: The family audiobook provides a valuable opportunity for terminally ill parents with dependent children under the age of 18 to tell their own biographical story, offer support to the bereaved in remembering, and preserve the voice of the deceased for the children. In addition, this approach could help healthcare professionals to reduce the stress associated with providing end-of-life care for terminally ill parents. Editor's note: While this service and this evaluation are located in Germany, it can be replicated easily with today's user-friendly technologies. First and foremost are patient empowerment, privacy, and ownership of these most personal messages. Examine using your spiritual care, social work, and/or grief counselors to facilitate this project.
New from MedPAC: 2024 Payment Basics series - Hospice
10/29/24 at 03:00 AMNew from MedPAC: 2024 Payment Basics series - HospiceMedPAC press release; 10/25/24MedPAC announces the release of the updated 2024 Medicare Payment Basics series. MedPAC's mission is to advise the Congress on Medicare issues, and part of that mission is providing clear and accessible information about how Medicare works. Payment Basics is a series of explainers on how Medicare's payment systems function. These "basics" are typically no more than 5 pages long and feature handy diagrams that visually depict how the payment systems calculate providers' payments. MedPAC produces "basics" for the major payment systems (20 in all), and updates the series once a year in the fall. The updated versions are now available here.Publisher's note: Hospice Payment Basics linked in the title above.