Literature Review
VITAS Healthcare Expands Hospital-Based Inpatient Hospice Center
12/15/23 at 03:12 AMVITAS Healthcare Expands Hospital-Based Inpatient Hospice CenterHospice NewsDecember 13, 2023Chemed Corp. VITAS Healthcare recently expanded its inpatient hospice care unit at the Florida-based Broward Health Medical Center. The inpatient facility now has 12 patient beds, up from eight prior to the renovations. VITAS expects to serve roughly 550 patients annually at the center.
New documentary revisits Terri Schiavo case
12/15/23 at 03:11 AMNew documentary revisits Terri Schiavo caseAxiosDecember 13, 2023A new documentary revisits the decades-old legal fight concerning Terri Schiavo—a Tampa Bay woman who remained in a persistent vegetative state for over ten years before she died in 2005. “Between Life & Death: Terri Schiavo’s Story” explores how the pro-life movement used Schiavo to further their aims and examines how her right-to-die case laid “the groundwork for a post-Roe America.”
Rumored Help at Home sale ‘par for the course’ of PE ownership, expert says
12/15/23 at 03:11 AMRumored Help at Home sale ‘par for the course’ of PE ownership, expert saysMcKnight’s Home Care DailyDecember 14, 2023Three years after it was bought by private equity firms Centerbridge Partners and the Vistria Group, Help at Home could be exploring a possible transaction in what experts have called an unsurprising move. On Tuesday, Bloomberg reported that Vistria Group and Centerbridge Partners were “gauging interest” in a transaction involving Help at Home.
Washington, D.C., Needs to Address Hospice Care Utilization Disparities
12/15/23 at 03:08 AMWashington, D.C., Needs to Address Hospice Care Utilization DisparitiesBy Donna Gayles and Audrey EasawWashington (DC) InformerDecember 13, 2023Our nation’s capital ranks high in many things, from access to outdoor activities and number of museums to its ethnic and cultural diversity and vibrant LGBTQ+ population. But the city lags far behind in one key area: hospice care utilization. While on average, just under half of Medicare decedents are in hospice care at their time of death, in the District of Columbia, only 25% are—ranking lower than 49 of the 50 states. This is especially meaningful when considering how medical mistrust plays into this underutilization among the city’s extremely diverse population.
2023 NHPCO Facts and Figures Report Now Available
12/15/23 at 03:00 AM2023 NHPCO Facts and Figures Report Now AvailableNews ReleaseDecember 13, 2023Alexandria, VA—The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization has published its 2023 edition of Facts and Figures, an annual report on key data points related to the delivery of hospice care, including information on patient characteristics, location and level of care, Medicare hospice spending, and hospice providers. NHPCO Facts and Figures is the leading resource for hospice providers and others interested in understanding the work of the community. Editor's Note: Click here to access NHPCO's Report
Today's Encouragement: "Enjoy the little things"
12/14/23 at 03:51 AM"Enjoy the little things in life, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things." Robert Brault
Report spots care planning gaps for nursing home residents
12/14/23 at 03:47 AMReport spots care planning gaps for nursing home residentsMcKnight’s Long Term Care NewsDecember 12, 2023A new report looks at what’s working to help residents in long-term care communities prioritize care planning and advanced care planning, or ACP. The study was published on Dec. 6 in The Journal of Long-Term Care. Researchers set out to look at studies and surveys on care planning interventions for older adults in long-term care communities. The team wanted to understand what types of programs are being used to drive better care planning overall
Repositioning Nursing Homes For Acuity, More Closures, Less Deal Making Expected in 2024
12/14/23 at 03:45 AMRepositioning Nursing Homes For Acuity, More Closures, Less Deal Making Expected in 2024Skilled Nursing NewsDecember 12, 2023As the skilled nursing industry heads toward a new year with continued labor shortages and reimbursement gaps, service repositioning and closures among operators are expected trends for the space. And although there are signs of positivity in the form of increased Medicaid reimbursement in some states, extensive rural closures are creating “nursing home deserts” and up to 450,000 nursing home residents are still at risk of displacement without a sufficient workforce.
New bill would overhaul nation’s workforce training and development system
12/14/23 at 03:44 AM
LeadingAge CEO Calls Out Political Inaction on ‘Dangerously Broken’ Nursing Home Funding System
12/14/23 at 03:43 AMLeadingAge CEO Calls Out Political Inaction on ‘Dangerously Broken’ Nursing Home Funding SystemSkilled Nursing NewsDecember 12, 2023Decades-long underfunding of nursing homes continues to create unnecessary hardships for aging Americans as access issues deepen. And yet, attempts to change the current financial system have fallen on deaf ears. In an effort to get the attention of lawmakers in Washington, LeadingAge President and CEO Katie Smith Sloan took aim with this view at the long-term care financing system in an editorial for The Hill on Monday, calling reimbursement “dangerously broken.”
Assaults on healthcare workers now carry enhanced criminal fines
12/14/23 at 03:42 AMAssaults on healthcare workers now carry enhanced criminal finesMcKnight’s Senior LivingDecember 12, 2023Michigan is the latest state to codify protections for healthcare workers assaulted on the job, which one senior living association said will positively impact the state’s workforce shortage problem. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D-MI) recently signed into law two bills that create enhanced criminal fines for assaults, aggravated assaults and assaults with a deadly weapon against health professionals or volunteers while on the job. ... In signing the bills, Whitmer said healthcare workers face “rising rates of bullying, viciousness and violence.”
US Supreme Court refuses to hear fraud appeal for South Florida health care executive pardoned by Trump
12/14/23 at 03:41 AMUS Supreme Court refuses to hear fraud appeal for South Florida health care executive pardoned by TrumpSouth Florida Sun-SentinelDecember 11, 2023The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday refused to take up an appeal by a South Florida nursing-home operator whose 20-year prison sentence was commuted by former President Donald Trump after being convicted in what prosecutors called a “massive health care fraud scheme.” The Supreme Court rejected a petition by attorneys for Philip Esformes, who was found guilty in 2019 on 20 counts related to kickbacks, money laundering, obstruction of justice and conspiracy, according to court documents.
Fitch downgrades Butler Health System’s bond debt
12/14/23 at 03:39 AMFitch downgrades Butler Health System’s bond debtPittsburgh Post-GazetteDecember 12, 2023Butler Health System’s financial challenges continued Monday with a ratings downgrade of its bond debt. Fitch Ratings issued a one-notch downgrade to ‘BBB-,’ outlook negative, because of accelerating losses and a “weaker than budgeted operating loss” of $12.97 million for the three months ending Sept. 30, up from a $1.6 million loss posted for the same quarter in 2022. BHS, a subsidiary of Independence Health System, is seeking a waiver from a debt service coverage requirement from bondholders, which otherwise could lead to a default.
Nurses’ union renews push for safe staffing levels in Maine hospitals
12/14/23 at 03:39 AMNurses’ union renews push for safe staffing levels in Maine hospitalsMaine BeaconDecember 12, 2023The Maine State Nurses Association, the state’s largest nursing union, has renewed its legislative campaign in support of a bill to address unsafe staffing levels at Maine hospitals. The Maine Quality Care Act, a bill sponsored by Sen. Stacy Brenner (D-Cumberland) that would establish minimum staffing requirements based on patient needs, will be one of the top labor proposals that lawmakers will consider when a new legislative session begins early next year.
Workers set to strike at 4 Prime hospitals
12/14/23 at 03:37 AMWorkers set to strike at 4 Prime hospitalsBecker’s Hospital ReviewDecember 11, 2023Members of the Service Employees International Union-United Healthcare Workers West are set to launch a five-day strike Dec. 20 affecting four Prime Healthcare facilities in Southern California. The union represents about 1,800 workers ... Union members, which include emergency room technicians, licensed vocational nurses, certified nursing assistants, radiology technicians, medical assistants, respiratory technicians, and others, voted to authorize a strike earlier this year.
Kaiser Permanente lays off 115 IT employees
12/14/23 at 03:36 AMKaiser Permanente lays off 115 IT employeesModern HealthcareDecember 12, 2023Kaiser Permanente has joined a growing list of health systems cutting back their IT teams. The Oakland, California-based health system confirmed it eliminated 115 workers from IT positions last month. Kaiser declined to specify how many IT employees were retained or provide detail about the roles and locations affected. Overall, Kaiser has about 220,000 employees.
WelbeHealth Opens First Bay Area PACE Center Serving Vulnerable Seniors in San Jose
12/14/23 at 03:35 AMWelbeHealth Opens First Bay Area PACE Center Serving Vulnerable Seniors in San JosePRNewswireDecember 12, 2023San Jose, CA—Today, the physician-led senior health services provider WelbeHealth, in partnership with Northern California-based health care system Sutter Health, announced the opening of a new Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) center in San Jose. The new center will provide essential health care and wrap-around services to diverse low-income older adults. ... Over 4,000 PACE eligible seniors reside within 15 miles of the San Jose location, and the population of these seniors is anticipated to increase.
Letters of Love—Nonprofit provides emotional support for children in hospitals
12/14/23 at 03:32 AMLetters of Love—Nonprofit provides emotional support for children in hospitalsWCCO-TV (Minneapolis, MN)December 11, 2023Orono, MN—It’s the time of year for giving and a Minnesotan is doing so on a scale so large, it can’t be measured. It’s a mission one woman started after her greatest gift was taken away. Grace Berbig grew up with so much love, but also a lot of pain. When she was 10, her mother was diagnosed with leukemia and eventually lost her battle with the disease. Editor's Note: Click the title to read more of this inspirational story.
Home Health Industry Leaders Scoff At ‘Distorted Picture of Reality’ Painted By MedPAC
12/14/23 at 03:32 AMHome Health Industry Leaders Scoff At ‘Distorted Picture of Reality’ Painted By MedPACHome Health Care NewsDecember 12, 2023The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission recommended that the Medicare base payment rate for home health care be reduced by 7% for CY 2025. The recommendation is another chapter in the contentious relationship between the commission and the home health industry. It also recommended that Congress eliminate any payment updates for hospice providers in 2025.
Moving through the holidays with grief—crafting a plan can help
12/14/23 at 03:29 AMMoving through the holidays with grief—crafting a plan can helpMorgan Messenger (Berkeley Springs, WV)December 12, 2023Christmas and winter holidays are portrayed as festive, bright and jolly times to celebrate and enjoy life. But the holidays can look and feel different for someone who has lost a loved one, is in the midst of major illness, or for someone who has suffered a traumatic event that’s brought significant change to their lives. Navigating the balance between celebration and grief is unique for everyone. Grief Counselor Deanna Rudy of Hospice of the Panhandle said acknowledging the change in life is an important step in making this holiday season manageable for families.
Palliative Care Yield Cost Savings Lymphoma Patients, But Racial Disparities Exist
12/14/23 at 03:26 AMPalliative Care Yield Cost Savings Lymphoma Patients, But Racial Disparities ExistPalliative Care NewsDecember 12, 2023Lymphoma patients who receive palliative care have fewer hospitalizations that those who do not, but racial and ethnic disparities persist. ... The study found that on average palliative care generated cost savings of $24,269 per patient. However, patients that identified as Black or Hispanic were much less likely to receive palliative care than white patients, reflecting widespread inequities in palliative care and the health care system at large, the research found.
Sunset Hospice Cottage faces staffing shortage, temporary closure
12/14/23 at 03:20 AMSunset Hospice Cottage faces staffing shortage, temporary closureThe Globe (Worthington, MN)December 12, 2023Worthington, MN—The Sunset Hospice Cottage has announced a temporary closure due to acute staffing shortages, an unfortunate side effect of the broader healthcare staffing crisis impacting rural America. Sunset Hospice Cottage has provided comfortable living for Worthington residents nearing the end of life since 2003, but now, due to an unprecedented shortage of healthcare workers, the cottage is forced to close its doors for the first time in 20 years.
The Vistria Group, Centerbridge Partners Reportedly Weighing Help at Home Sale
12/14/23 at 03:19 AMThe Vistria Group, Centerbridge Partners Reportedly Weighing Help at Home SaleHome Health Care NewsDecember 12, 2023The Vistria Group and Centerbridge Partners are “weighing options” around the future of Help at Home, including a potential sale. Bloomberg first reported the news late Tuesday, citing “people with knowledge of the matter.” Based in Chicago, Help at Home is one of the largest providers of home- and community-based services in the country. It has more than 180 branch locations across 11 states, and provides care to more than 66,000 people via its 53,000 caregivers.
VyncaCare CEO Schulte—Redesign Serious Illness Care for Patients’ Changing Needs
12/14/23 at 03:18 AMVyncaCare CEO Schulte—Redesign Serious Illness Care for Patients’ Changing NeedsHospice NewsDecember 12, 2023The needs of today’s seriously ill patients necessitates the development of new, longitudinal care models that integrate the patient-centered principles of hospice and palliative care, Dr. Darren Schulte, CEO of VyncaCare, told Hospice News. Vynca launched as an advance care planning technology platform and expanded into the palliative care provider space through its 2021 acquisition of California-based Resolution Care.
Center for Hospice Care a Giving Tree Partner for Wellfield Gardens’ Winter Wonderland Holiday Lights
12/14/23 at 03:16 AMCenter for Hospice Care a Giving Tree Partner for Wellfield Gardens’ Winter Wonderland Holiday LightsValpo Life (Valparaiso, IN)December 12, 2023Elkhart, IN—Wellfield Botanic Gardens’ Winter Wonderland Holiday Lights transports visitors to a magical setting with lights, sound and beauty, perfect for families to enjoy during the holiday season. Enjoy this special opportunity to see Wellfield after hours in a wintry paradise. Each year, local nonprofit organizations are chosen to have a “Giving Tree” at the Winter Wonderland and Center for Hospice Care is honored to be chosen again for 2023.