Literature Review

Hospital to hold focus groups after Facebook controversyBecker's Health IT; by Giles Bruce; 8/29/24An Idaho hospital plans to host focus groups after a Facebook post received a flood of negative comments about its emergency care. Local resident Cassidy Chun posted Aug. 13 on Facebook about her grandfather's emergency department experience at Rexburg, Idaho-based Madison Memorial Hospital, where she said he had to wait hours to see a physician after crushing his hands in an accident and deal with apathetic staff along the way. Her post on the Life in Rexburg Facebook group received more than 200 comments, many of them echoing similar problems with the hospital's ED.Publisher's note: How does your hospice track social media comments? How do you respond?

TRU PACE removes barriers for older adults wanting to age in place and avoid nursing homes[CO] My Prime Time News; 8/29/24September is National PACE Month—an opportunity to celebrate PACE (the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly). PACE is an innovative care model that allows older adults over age 55 with long-term care needs to live independently in their communities for as long as possible... TRU PACE provides a better quality of life with dedicated caregivers, transportation, homecare, full medical care, rehabilitation, medication, medical equipment, mental health support, meals, and opportunities for socialization at the day center. The PACE Center serves as the central hub of all services, including scheduling and transportation to and from all appointments. In PACE networks there is never a co-pay, deductible or coverage gap so you can access the care, services and medications you need. PACE’s comprehensive services and interdisciplinary team can be an invaluable solution for the older adult and their caregivers who are balancing the needs of family and work.

Matters of life and death: Our health (and lack thereof) is worth talking aboutPsychology Today; by Samantha Stein; 8/29/24In his book Being Mortal, Dr. Atul Gawande, a practicing surgeon, discusses how having the hard conversations about end-of-life medical interventions (or not) may lead to a shorter life but a more fulfilling one. In his book Telltale Hearts, Dr. Dean-David Schillinger, a physician and public health advocate, discusses how accurate diagnosis, treatment, and true healing come from listening deeply to patients and their stories. Medical advances in the past century have been astounding. We live significantly longer and are able to survive repeated health crises that once would have killed us. Nearly everyone would agree that in many, if not most, cases that’s a positive thing. However, many would argue that our hyperfocus on prolonging life at all costs, along with our tendency to treat symptoms rather than looking for underlying causes, has caused us to lose sight of the importance of quality of life and true health.

Hoffmann Hospice to host Grief Support Camp for Children of first responders KGET Bakersfield, California; by Jaspreet Multani; 8/29/24 Hoffmann Hospice will host its second annual free grief support camp for children and teens of first responders on Saturday, Sept 14, 2024. The event called “A Heart for Hero’s Art Camp,” provides a safe space for young people grieving the loss of a loved one such as a parent, sibling, or grandparent. ...  Led by experienced grief counselors, the camp offers therapeutic activities and support to help children express their grief in a nurturing environment. ... “We have a huge heart for kids, especially those who put themselves on the line for us every day,” said Ryan D’ Amato of Hoffmann Hospice.Editor's Note: While many hospices provide excellent grief camps for children and teens, this one stands out for tending the unique experiences for families of first responders. Many of these deaths will have been sudden and tragic--without hospice care--and often more complex to grasp and grieve. Hoffman Hospice's website indicates support for other non-hospice deaths: Miscarriage, Still Birth or Sudden Loss; Suicide. Bravo and thank you to Hoffman Hospice and other hospices who utilize your grief services to support your larger communities through often-disenfranchised deaths and grief.

1,100 Providence hospital workers end strike: 7 things to knowBecker's Hospital Review; by Kelly Gooch; 8/29/24About 1,100 SEIU Healthcare 1199NW-represented workers have ended their weeklong strike at Richland, Wash.-based Kadlec Regional Medical Center and its Kennewick ER, as contract negotiations continue. [Click on article link above for] seven things to know about the strike and negotiations.Publisher's note: We're including this story because 1) about half of palliative care is provided in hospital settings, 2) hospital referrals are important for hospices, and 3) changes in hospital workforce may be opportunities for hospital-based palliative care and community-based hospice providers.

I wonder if my first breath was as soul-stirring to my mother as her last breath was to me. ~ Lisa Goich-Andreadis, 14 Days: A Mother, A Daughter, A Two-Week Goodbye

Monday is for people with a mission. ~ Cristina Imre

I can't change you and you can't change me, but together we can work to change the world!  ~ Germany Kent

If you don't like the road you're walking, start paving another one. ~ Dolly Parton

If you want to be the best you have to do things that other people aren't willing to do. ~ Michael Phelps, Olympic swimmer 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016, the most decorated Olympian of all time with a total of 28 medals. Click here for his post-Olympic Foundation, with its vision "to save lives and help build healthier families."

It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light. ~  Aristotle

Back to school: Let us remember - One book, one pen, one child, and one teacher can change the world. ~ Malala Yousafzai