Literature Review



Hospice of the Foothills announces umbrella name, Foothills Compassionate Care

09/11/24 at 03:00 AM

Hospice of the Foothills announces umbrella name, Foothills Compassionate Care YubaNet.com; by Hospice of the Foothills; 9/10/24 As we celebrate 45 years as this community’s only nonprofit hospice, Hospice of the Foothills is excited to announce that we are formalizing our structure a bit to fit all of our programs under one all-encompassing organizational name. Going forward, Hospice of the Foothills, Sierra Community Palliative Care, Foothills Gift & Thrift Stores, and our Bereavement Programs will operate under the unified umbrella of Foothills Compassionate Care. Each program/service will maintain its name and identity but will be united under one umbrella.  We feel his strategic alignment will highlight all that we do more clearly and reinforce our commitment to providing compassionate, community-centered care without changing the ownership, staff, or core mission that our community has trusted for years. ... This is not about changing what works; it’s about creating a formal structure that reflects the comprehensive care we’ve always provided.

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2024 NHPCO Facts and Figures Report now available

09/11/24 at 03:00 AM

2024 NHPCO Facts and Figures Report now available National Alliance for Care at Home, Alexandria, VA and Washington, DC; Press Release; 9/10/242022 Data Show First Increase in Hospice Utilization Rates Since COVID The National Alliance for Care at Home (the Alliance) published the 2024 edition of National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) 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. Facts and Figures – the leading resource for hospice providers and others interested in understanding the work of the community – has been published annually for over two decades by NHPCO. ... The findings in this report reflect patients who received care in Calendar Year (CY) 2022, or Fiscal Year (FY) 2022, provided by hospices certified by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and reimbursed under the Medicare Hospice Benefit. This year COVID-19 continued to impact patient care as COVID-19 waivers were still in place through May 2023. These waivers included increased telehealth services. With 49.1% of all Medicare decedents in 2022 choosing hospice care, utilization of hospice increased in 2022 for the first time since 2019. The increase hints at a normalization of the utilization rates back to pre-COVID data. Hospice utilization rates increased across all race and ethnicity groups, with the largest increase among Hispanic Medicare beneficiaries seeing. The total number of beneficiaries enrolled in hospice care in 2022 was 1.72 million. Due to the unique impact of COVID-19 on 2020 data, those data are not included in many of the charts this year.

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CMS to expand ‘enhanced oversight’ to combat hospice fraud in 4 states

09/11/24 at 03:00 AM

CMS to expand ‘enhanced oversight’ to combat hospice fraud in 4 states Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 9/10/24 The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is expanding its enhanced oversight for new hospices in fraud-ridden states, including California, Nevada, Arizona and Texas. The agency in July 2023 first announced a “provisional period of enhanced oversight” for new hospices in those states. A key component of the enhanced oversight includes a medical review of claims before a Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) will pay them. “To combat fraud, waste, and abuse under the hospice benefit, CMS will expand prepayment medical review this September in Arizona, California, Nevada and Texas,” the agency indicated in a statement. “To help reduce burden on compliant providers, initial review volumes will be low and adjusted based on results. If you’re noncompliant, we may implement extended review or take additional administrative actions.” 

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Heart to Heart Hospice expanding services into Oklahoma

09/11/24 at 03:00 AM

Heart to Heart Hospice expanding services into Oklahoma PR Newswire; by Kim Dellinger; 9/10/24 Heart to Heart Hospice, one of the country's largest private providers of hospice care, is adding a new location in Durant, Okla., expanding its service offerings into the state for the first time. The new Durant site will serve Southeast Oklahoma, which includes the counties of Atoka, Bryan, Choctaw, Coal, Hughes, Johnston, Marshall, McCurtain, Pittsburg, Pontotoc, and Pushmataha. "It's exciting to be able to offer our care services in Oklahoma, which happens to be my home state," said Kelly Mitchell, Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Heart to Heart Hospice, who is from Sallisaw. Heart to Heart Hospice, based in Plano, Texas, has been serving patients with life-limiting illnesses, as well as their loved ones, since 2003. The company currently provides a broad range of hospice services across 63 locations in Indiana, Michigan, Oklahoma, and Texas.

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CHCF unveils palliative care mural

09/11/24 at 03:00 AM

CHCF unveils palliative care mural California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CHCF); by Lt. M. Orozco; 9/9/24 California Health Care Facility (CHCF) staff joined the incarcerated population and outside stakeholders to unveil the palliative care mural Aug. 23. Warden Gena Jones had a vision to normalize CHCF’s environment, making it more appealing for the incarcerated population and staff to enjoy while working. The vision consists of murals being painted throughout the institution with this mural setting the path for many more to come. In April 2024, incarcerated artists Issac Sinsun, Antiono Garcia, Loreto Arizpe, and Francsico Olivares started the palliative care mural. Little did they know it was the start to a new beginning. With the combined efforts of the four artists, the mural took 81 days and about 2,268 hours to complete. The ideas for the artwork were a combined effort from custody and medical staff as well incarcerated population within the housing unit. [Click on the title's link to see photos.]

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Leadership in the age of AI: At the crossroads of humanity and technology

09/11/24 at 03:00 AM

Leadership in the age of AI: At the crossroads of humanity and technology Forbes; by Dr. Adil Dalal, DBA; 9/9/24 It has only been 200 years since the First Industrial Revolution and the mass adoption of what we now call technology... The Second Industrial Revolution in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, marked by great progress in mass production, ... emphasizing the importance of machines over humans and managers over employees. ... Today, the world stands on the precipice of the Fourth Industrial Revolution with artificial intelligence, which is not just reshaping industries but also redefining the very essence of leadership and decision-making. ...  A technology-driven leader [TDL] who prioritizes novelty over humanity can pose significant risks, potentially leading to societal downfall. ... A human-centric leader [HCL] prioritizes the well-being, growth and empowerment of people, steering humanity toward greatness. ... So is there an ideal Technology Age leader who can lead humanity through this historical moment? Yes! ... They must embody and demonstrate the following three qualities:

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Blue Ridge Hospice expanding mission to serve people better, sooner

09/11/24 at 03:00 AM

Blue Ridge Hospice expanding mission to serve people better, sooner The Winchester Star, Winchester, VA; by Brian Brehm; 9/9/24 “We’re calling this a year of transformation,” said Jason Parsons, who was named CEO of the Winchester-based nonprofit in December. “Blue Ridge has been around for 43 years and this year, 2024, we’re transforming ourselves into Blue Ridge Care, which includes Blue Ridge Hospice, Blue Ridge Independence at Home — which is our PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly) program — Blue Ridge Palliative Care Services and our eight thrift shops.” It’s a sweeping change for an organization that most people only associate with end-of-life care. Parsons ... said Blue Ridge Care will continue to provide graceful exits for patients in the final chapter of their lives, but it will also expand its focus to improve the quality of life for seniors who still have a lot of stories to tell.

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The 'great disruption' coming for Medicare Advantage

09/11/24 at 03:00 AM

The 'great disruption' coming for Medicare Advantage Becker's Payer Issues; by Jakob Emerson; 9/9/24 Come mid-October, the Medicare Advantage program will enter its annual enrollment period, marked by significant changes for older adults. Among these changes are increased government scrutiny, tighter CMS regulations, reduced base payments, and rising healthcare costs. ... "Taken together, some are calling these cuts 'the great disruption,'" wrote Sachin Jain, MD, CEO of SCAN Group, a nonprofit MA carrier with more than 285,000 members, in a LinkedIn post on Sept. 4. Dr. Jain outlined five key observations about the evolving landscape:

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On a culture of physician leadership development

09/11/24 at 03:00 AM

On a culture of physician leadership development Forbes; by Leon E. Moores, MD, DSc, FACS; 9/9/24 ... How do we create a culture of continuing physician leadership development? Over a decade ago, I was tasked with answering this very question. As a senior army surgeon, I approached the two-star general in the Army Medical Corps. I asked if I could put together a comprehensive program for physician leadership development for the 4200+ doctors in the US Army. ... We concluded that four distinct LOEs (lines of effort) needed development and implementation to create a culture of physician leadership. These LOEs, it turns out, are just as applicable in civilian healthcare as they were in the armed forces.

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Mercy acquires Ascension hospital

09/11/24 at 03:00 AM

Mercy acquires Ascension hospital Becker's Hospital Review; by Alan Condon; 9/10/24 St. Louis-based Mercy has acquired Ascension's Via Christi Hospital in Pittsburg, Kan. The acquisition includes the hospital, its locations and related physician practices, but excludes Ascension Living Via Christi Village facilities and operations. The deal officially closed Sept. 1. Mercy, a 45-hospital system, now has three hospitals in Kansas: Mercy Hospital Pittsburg, Mercy Hospital Columbus and Mercy Specialty Hospital-Southeast Kansas in Galena. It also operates two primary care clinics in Pittsburg. "Whenever Mercy joins a new community, we want to hear from that community about what we can do to improve care and access for patients," Jeremy Drinkwitz, president of Mercy Joplin communities, said in a news release. "We want to ensure we are providing the right care where it's needed so patients can stay close to home. We'll be looking for the best ways to grow the already great services in place." 

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Mental health jobs to grow 3X more than the rate of all US jobs

09/11/24 at 03:00 AM

Mental health jobs to grow 3X more than the rate of all US jobs Becker's Hospital Review; by Erica Carbajal; 9/9/24 By 2033, employment growth in mental health professions is expected to triple that of average job growth in the U.S., according to a CNN analysis of data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. While the median projected employment growth for all occupations across the next decade is 4%, the rate for mental health-related jobs is 12%. This includes psychiatrists, psychologists, therapists, counselors, psychiatric aids and social workers, according to CNN's report published Sept. 7. Editor's note: Too often, mental health health jobs in hospice and palliative care are relegated to low status on priorities for staffing, instead of the regulatory high priority for "whole-person" care defined throughout the CMS Hospice Conditions of Participation. As significant changes continue to unfold for hospice and palliative services, we will continue to report trends and shifts that emerge in the healthcare landscape for mental health jobs.  

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One healthcare job poised for the greatest shortage

09/11/24 at 02:00 AM

One healthcare job poised for the greatest shortage Becker's Hospital Review; by Molly Gamble; 9/6/24 Nursing assistants face the greatest projected deficit over any other analyzed healthcare occupation, with a projected shortage of more than 73,000 assistants nationwide by 2028. The forecast comes from Mercer, which projects a nationwide shortage of more than 100,000 healthcare workers by 2028. The need for nursing assistants is expected to be greatest, with only 13 states expected to meet or exceed future demand. "The projected supply of nursing assistants — an occupation that constitutes 8% of the total US healthcare workforce and 40% of healthcare support occupations in 2023 — is discouraging," Mercer consultants wrote in their Aug. 29 report, "Future of the U.S. Healthcare Industry: Labor Market Projections by 2028."

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Alivia Care, Inc. introduces Alivia Care @ Home to northeast Florida

09/10/24 at 03:00 AM

Alivia Care, Inc. introduces Alivia Care @ Home to northeast Florida PR.com, Alivia Care, Inc. Press Releases, Jacksonville, FL; 9/8/24 Alivia Care, Inc., the parent organization of Community Hospice & Palliative Care, is proud to announces Alivia Care @ Home in Northeast Florida. This change marks a significant milestone in the company's mission to enhance the quality of life for patients through exceptional home care, home health, and supportive care services. As part of this initiative, Alivia Care, Inc. recently opened Alivia Care @ Home offices in Gainesville and Ocala last month, furthering their commitment to serving the North Florida community. Alivia Care @ Home offers specialized services for patients who prefer to receive treatment at home. ... Alivia Care @ Home offers a full spectrum of specialized services, including nursing, physical, occupational, and speech therapies. 

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The changing role of chief privacy officers

09/10/24 at 03:00 AM

The changing role of chief privacy officers Becker's Health IT; by Giles Bruce; 9/6/24 Chief privacy officers are expanding their roles to take on artificial intelligence and cybersecurity, according to the International Association of Privacy Professionals. Whereas chief privacy officers traditionally focused on being compliant with privacy laws, 69% now have responsibility for AI or data governance, 37% cover cybersecurity regulatory compliance, and 20% have platform liability duties, according to the IAPP survey of 671 professionals released Sept. 6. Some health systems have standalone chief privacy officers, but the hospital industry is more likely to have chief information security officers with privacy duties or a combined role. 

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Today's Encouragement: To fly ...

09/10/24 at 03:00 AM

To fly, we have to have resistance. ~ Maya Lin

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Seven pillars to put healthcare consumers at the heart of the digital transformation

09/10/24 at 03:00 AM

Seven pillars to put healthcare consumers at the heart of the digital transformation Forbes; by Hélène Musikas, Géraldine Maouchi, Lorenzo Mandelli, Daniel Brown; 9/6/24 The digital age has seen many industries undergo a profound transformation, evolving into agile "Hybrid Organizations" that blend traditional and digital business models. ... The healthcare sector, however, faces a unique set of challenges on its journey toward this transformation. ... One of the most significant shifts in healthcare is the rising concept of "Self-Care". Seven Ways To Harmonize The Digital Landscape In Healthcare ...

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When rounding sparked improvements, per 4 chief nursing officers

09/10/24 at 03:00 AM

When rounding sparked improvements, per 4 chief nursing officers Becker's Hospital Review; by Erica Carbajal; 9/5/24 Rounding the floor with front-line nurses and staff is more than just a management practice for leaders to show face — it is a vital tool for connecting with employees and driving meaningful change. In conversations with hospital leaders, they often echo the sentiment of how routinely spending time with front-line staff uncovers opportunities to address pain points in their daily workflow. With nurses often pointing to lack of resources and support as drivers of job dissatisfaction and burnout, rounding represents a key strategy to positively affect staff engagement and retention, and thus, patient care. Becker's recently asked four chief nursing officers to share a recent example of a time when rounding sparked a process change or improvement at their hospital. Here are their responses: ... Editor's note: "Rounding" best practices and outcomes apply to hospice and palliative care multidisciplinary teams. 

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Fundraiser raises $30k for hospice services

09/10/24 at 03:00 AM

Fundraiser raise $30k for hospice services The Meadville Tribune, Meadville, PA; by Chloe Forbes; 9/7/24 There’s no place like home, and at the end of life, familiarity can make all the difference. Not everyone can just click their heels, but a donation to Hospice of Crawford County might help get them close. Following the kayaking fundraiser “Tammy’s Yellow Brick Row,” over $30,000 is going toward the hospice organization to create an endowment fund for individuals who need support the most — those at the end of life and who cannot afford it. The fundraiser and endowment fund are in the name of the late Tammy Young-Eckenrode, who was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2014 and survived just short of two years.

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Nursing students learning to respect culture, tradition at the end of life

09/10/24 at 03:00 AM

Nursing students learning to respect culture, tradition at the end of life St. Cloud Live, St. Joseph, MN; by Stephanie Dickrell; 9/6/24  It is called the golden hour — the hour before someone’s death. It’s a time of grief, but it’s also a sacred space. Two nursing instructors at the College of St. Benedict and St. John’s University are trying to make that time better for patients and their loved ones by better preparing their students who will be with them in their final moments. While the rituals surrounding death may vary by time, geography and culture, the program wants to make sure all cultures are respected. ... Julie Keller Dornbusch and Mary Pesch, both trained as Advanced Practice Registered Nurses ... received a prestigious grant from the Morgan Family Foundation of nearly $100,000 to create and test nursing simulations using culturally specific care for the Catholic community, Somali Muslims and Ojibwe people.Editor's note: This article indicates that "training material on culturally specific end-of-life care" is non-existent. This statement is misleading. Examine:

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Compassion for terminally ill boy blooms into 17th year of Trick or Treat in the Heat

09/10/24 at 03:00 AM

Compassion for terminally ill boy blooms into 17th year of Trick or Treat in the Heat Alaska's News Source, Anchorage, AL; by Olivia Nordyke; 9/9/24 Parents of a terminally ill child said they never thought their son’s last Halloween celebration would transform into an annual event that spans multiple cities. In 2005, doctors told Joyce Durcanin-Robbins and Sean Robbins that their son Ian’s leukemia meant he wouldn’t likely live to see Oct. 31. The couple created an earlier Halloween celebration in their neighborhood to give their son one last trick or treating experience. This weekend marked the 17th time Trick or Treat in the Heat brought neighborhood kids from all over Anchorage out to celebrate and get candy in full costume. “We kind of realized after the fact is this is a lot more fun than late October.” said Sean, Joyce adding; “We missed a couple of years because of COVID, and for the first few years, it was just sort of a year-to-year kitchen table operation.” ... Kelsey Torres, an event organizer, said they’ve raised about $700,000 in the lifetime of Trick or Treat in the Heat. ... Torres said 100% of the money raised goes to Make-A-Wish Alaska and Washington, Hospice of Anchorage, and Ronald McDonald House Charities. Editor's note: The location--Anchorage, Alaska--is core to this story. What location-specific or culturally-sensitive events do you already provide? What creative ideas might you implement? 

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Hospice patient’s final life wish comes true at Colts game

09/10/24 at 03:00 AM

Hospice patient’s final life wish comes true at Colts game WISHTV.com-8, Indianapolis, IN; by Kyla Russell; 9/8/24 Indianapolis hospice patient Calvin Simmons is terminally ill and had one final life wish: to attend a Colts game. “It was one of those things that you say, ‘I gotta do this, I gotta do this,’” Simmons said Saturday morning. “My dad used to tell a story about me being about three years old, running back and forth in the house wearing a Colts helmet.” The Marine veteran lives at the Abbie Hunt Bryce Home on the northeast side of the city. The home is run by nonprofit Morning Light, Inc. and offers end of life care for free to those in need. The lifelong Colts fan started his day out in his decked out Colts hospice room. Soon enough, his dream came true when he traveled to Lucas Oil Stadium to see the Colts face the Texans for their season opener. 

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20 leadership skills that are still relevant in the AI age

09/10/24 at 03:00 AM

20 leadership skills that are still relevant in the AI age Forbes; by Forbes Expert Panel / Business Development Council; 9/6/24 Artificial intelligence has the power to automate and streamline countless business processes and improve efficiency across just about every sector. However, AI tools (and the humans using them) need guidance and training to perform to their full potential, which makes strong leadership more important than ever. Members of Forbes Business Development Council discuss the leadership skills that are still relevant in the age of AI. From strong critical thinking skills to communication and empathy, these traits are crucial to leading any organization through the transitions that come with new technology. [ These leadership skills include the following:] 1. Emotional Intelligence ... 2. Empathy ... 3. Transparency ... 4. The Ability to Identify Areas for Improvement ... 5. A Commitment to Continuous Learning ... 6. Adaptability ... 7. High-Level Communication Skills ... 8. Humility ... 9. Mental Agility ... 10. Knowledge of When to Apply AI ... 11. Prioritization Skills ... 12. Authenticity ... 13. Compassion and Understanding ... 14. An Understanding of How AI Can Complement Human Skills ... 15. Timely, Action-Oriented Decision-Making ... 16. Relationship Building ... 17. Resiliency ... Editor's note: Especially when recruiting and hiring AI leadership and setting up AI strategies for hospice and palliative care, use these qualities (1) within yourself in how you approach AI and (2) leadership skills you seek out from AI high-tech candidates. 

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BrightSpring projects ‘robust, accretive’ hospice, home health M&A pipeline

09/10/24 at 03:00 AM

BrightSpring projects ‘robust, cccretive’ hospice, home health M&A pipeline Hospice News; by Holly Vossel; 9/6/24 BrightSpring Health Services Inc. is poised for growth in the home health and hospice landscape. The company anticipates ramping up merger and acquisition (M&A) activity in coming years, with an emphasis on long-term return on investment, according to BrightSpring President and CEO Jon Rousseau. The company is focusing on significant expansion in the next two years, he indicated. Tuck-in deals and de novos have been key to BrightSpring’s strategic growth. Acquisitions have increasingly become a larger part of its game plan — though with a cautious and diligent mindset, Rousseau said ...

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Photos: Grief and fond memories shared at Reflections on the River

09/10/24 at 03:00 AM

Photos: Grief and fond memories shared at Reflections on the River Salem Reporter, Salem, OR; by Laura Tesler; 9/6/24 As the sun fell Thursday evening, hundreds of Salemites gathered at Riverfront Park to reflect, grieve and share stories. The annual Reflections on the River event, organized by hospice provider Willamette Vital Health, included 4,600 luminarias to memorialize family and friends who have died. 

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National Health Statistics Reports: Overview of Post-acute and Long-term Care Providers and Services Users in the United States, 2020

09/10/24 at 03:00 AM

National Health Statistics Reports: Overview of Post-acute and Long-term Care Providers  and Services Users in the United States, 2020 CDC U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; by Jessica P. Lendon, Ph.D., Christine Caffrey, Ph.D., Amanuel Melekin, Ph.D., Priyanka Singh, M.P.H., Zhaohui Lu, M.S., and Manisha Sengupta, Ph.D; dated 8/27/24, released 9/7/24 Objective: This report presents national results from the National Post-acute and Long-term Care Study to describe providers and services users in seven major settings of paid, regulated post-acute and long-term care services in the United States. Methods - Data Sources: Data include about 11,400 home health agencies, 5,200 hospices, 1,200 inpatient rehabilitation facilities, 350 long-term care hospitals, and 15,300 nursing homes. Results:

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