Literature Review

I am not afraid of storms for I am learning how to sail my ship. – Louisa May Alcott

Coercive careSTAT; by Eric Boodman; 5/21/24For decades, physicians have steered sickle cell patients toward sterilization. I want to bring to your attention a deeply disturbing but vital series of stories STAT is publishing beginning today. It reveals that an injustice often relegated to the distant past persists to this day: For decades, physicians have steered sickle cell patients toward sterilization, their stories echoing the ugly history of eugenics in America. This series had its origins when reporter Eric Boodman read a research paper about the increased risk of pregnancy complications associated with sickle cell disease, which is most prevalent among people of African descent. As he began interviewing physicians and patients, they kept telling him about people who’d been discouraged from having kids — and in some cases, felt pressured to have sterilizations they weren't sure they wanted.Publisher's Note: This series of articles may require subscription.

From theory to practice: Collaboration shows how law and healthcare work together in real life Iowa College of Law; 5/22/24 A recent workshop collaboration between the [Iowa] College of Law and College of Nursing gave students preparing for both professions an opportunity to learn more about legal and healthcare issues surrounding end-of-life decision-making. The two-hour event, “Navigating the Intersection of Law and Healthcare: An Interactive Workshop for Future Practitioners,” brought together students from the Estate Planning and Law & Policy in Action clinics and graduate students in the College of Nursing. Topics included Medical Powers of Attorney (Medical POA), Living Wills, and other decision-making considerations for critical health issues. Elise Fenton, JD Candidate (2025), said the workshop illustrated the difference between how advance directives like Living Wills work in theory versus how they may be utilized in practice. 

New CEOs Tapped at Adory, Montgomery, Prince George HospicesHospice News; by Holly Vossel; 5/23/24[Several leadership changes discussed in this article, including:]

Hospice and the care continuum: Achieving Age-Friendly CareHospice News; by Jack Silverstein; 5/23/24When Jennifer Hale thinks of age-friendly care in hospice, her mind goes first to what might seem an unusual place: man’s best friend. As the VP of Clinical Quality and Standards of hospice provider Compassus, Hale views age-friendly care as an approach to care that is “focused specifically on the needs of people as they age in their home setting,” she says. That means hospice providers listen to what their patients need and want to make them comfortable and give them dignity at the end of life. Compassus uses its clinical assessment not just to capture a patient’s health information but also to inform their goals, hopes and fears. “Age-friendly care certification was another way for us to validate our care model,” Hale says. “We worked with Homecare Homebase to implement their person-centered care plan which actually further validated the approach to care that we were already taking.”

US News adds Medicare Advantage data to rankingsBecker's Hospital Review; by Laura Dyrda; 5/22/24U.S. News & World Report is now including Medicare Advantage data in the rankings for Best Hospitals, according to a U.S. News blog post. The publication previously relied on Medicare data, but as more beneficiaries opt for commercial Medicare Advantage plans, U.S. News decided to expand its scope. The next set of rankings, scheduled for publication on July 16, will include risk-adjusted mortality rates for Medicare Advantage beneficiaries in 11 adult specialties. U.S. News weighted mortality scores at 36% of the overall ratings with traditional Medicare data. The weight will shift with the combined mortality score from both Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans.

Oncologists should 'revisit' end-of-life care goals: Yale, MD Anderson studyBecker's Hospital Review; by Ashleigh Hollowell; 5/22/24Administering more treatments to advanced, end-of-life cancer patients did not increase their length of survival, according to a joint study from researchers at Yale Cancer Center in New Haven, Conn., and the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. Both the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the National Quality Forum have previously recommended a cancer quality metric aimed at reducing these therapies at the end of life, according to the study, which was published May 16 in JAMA Oncology.Publisher's Note: See Systemic Anticancer Therapy and Overall Survival in Patients With Very Advanced Solid Tumors for the JAMA Oncology article.

25 best places to live: US NewsBecker's Hospital Review; by Alan Condon; 5/21/24Naples, Fla., is the best place to live in the country, with Boise, Idaho, following closely behind, according to U.S. News & World Report's "150 best places to live in the U.S. in 2024-25" list, published May 21. U.S. News & World Report ranked 150 major U.S. cities across four indexes: quality of life (including crime rates, well-being scores, and availability of healthcare), value (including housing availability and price parity), desirability (including weather temperateness and net migration levels) and the job market (including average salary and unemployment rate).

Great leaders in healthcare | 2024Becker's Hospital Review; by Anna Falvey, Carly Behm, Paige Haeffele, Riz Hatton, Claire Wallace; 5/23/24Healthcare is rapidly evolving and the best leaders have embraced change and are leading organizations on the forefront of transforming care delivery. The [leaders listed] are using innovative digital technology, novel care delivery approaches and creative care solutions to shape the future of healthcare.Publisher's Note: The article includes a long list - mostly large hospital system leaders, which is appropriate given the source. It's likely at least one of these people is in your service area. As always, it's interesting to consider who is selected, why, and where they are. A quick word search for "hospice" occurred once, "palliative" not at all - who might be included in a similar "great leaders in hospice and palliative care" list?

National Hospice Locator updatedBlog; by Cordt Kassner; 5/27/24The National Hospice Locator (NHL) is an online directory of every known hospice location, and for over a year default search results have been sorted by a quality matrix. On 5/22/24, CMS released updated Hospice Care Compare files. Part of the NHL's quality matrix includes Hospice Care Compare information, and the NHL has now been updated. Search on your state or city and see how your hospice is listed.

Hospice of the Chesapeake celebrates 45 years at event, raising $500k The Baynet; by Hospice of the Chesapeake; 5/23/24 Around 300 guests mixed and mingled at the Fluegel Alumni Center to celebrate Hospice of the Chesapeake’s history of caring for life at its 45th Anniversary Celebration on May 11. The event raised $500,000 to support the organization’s hospice, supportive and grief care programs and services provided to patients and families in Anne Arundel, Calvert, Charles and Prince George’s counties.

Nurse charged with stealing pills while taking care of hospice patient Fox56; by Emily Cherkauskas; 5/22/24Pennsylvania State Police say a registered nurse stole hundreds of prescription pills while taking care of a hospice patient. According to Pennsylvania State Police, on Feb. 12, troopers were contacted by the director of operations at the Amedisys Home Health / Hospice Care. Troopers were told that Registered Nurse Ashley Laura Miller, 36, of Mohrsville, had become a suspect in the theft and diversion of Oxycodone and Ativan prescriptions. ... [Upon] the passing of the patient, an additional nurse noted that 200 Oxycodone and 30 Ativan pills were missing from the narcotics count. ... On Wednesday, May 22, Miller was arraigned with bail set at $5000.

Spread of assisted dying shines spotlight on difficult decisions Financial Times; by Charlotte Middlehurst; 5/22/24 The right to control your death is a principle that societies have debated for centuries. But, as more countries prepare to legalise medically-assisted dying, the reality of allowing the practice is sparking fresh ethical arguments. Some form of assisted dying is now legal in 9 countries, as well as in 11 US states and parts of Australia. [Click on the title's link for data and discussion regarding international policies; concerns about increased "unassisted suicide"; rapid legislative/medical decisions; inducing death; devaluing the lives of disabled persons; ethical choices based on economic factors; doctors' choices; and more.]