Literature Review

East Lansing caregiver sentenced for role in freezing death of elderly womanOIG press release; 9/17/24Colleen Kelly O’Connor, 58, of East Lansing, was sentenced to two years of probation with the first 6-months in jail by Judge Cori E. Barkman of the 29th Circuit Court in Clinton County for her role in the death of an 82-year-old woman in December 2022, announced Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel. O’Conner was convicted in June by a Clinton County jury of one count of Vulnerable Adult Abuse — Second Degree. The victim, who was under O’Connor’s care at Vista Springs Imperial Park at Timber Ridge, an assisted living facility in Clinton County, died of exposure after being left unsupervised. O’Connor was also ordered to pay $1,115.00 in restitution to the daughter of the victim... During the very early morning hours of December 23, 2022, O’Connor twice observed the victim attempt to go outside without appropriate attire into a blizzard with single-digit temperatures, subzero windchill, and blowing and drifting snow. As a caregiver, O’Connor recklessly failed to act to prevent the victim from going outdoors into the storm, resulting in her death. A snowplow driver found the victim in the parking lot around 7 a.m., partially buried in snow.

Nurse workplace violence reporting increased 1,080% with new tool Becker's Clinical Leadership; by Mariah Taylor; 9/19/24 Making it easier to report workplace violence with quick-scan codes on walls and badges increased reporting by 1,080% in two months, according to a new study. ... When surveyed, nurses said they did not report workplace violence incidents for the following reasons: "nothing will change" (24%), "event was not severe enough" (21%), "part of the job" (15%), "electronic reporting system is time-consuming/complicated" (9%), "lack of time" (6%), "don’t know how" (3%) and "lack of leadership support" (3%). In addition, more than half of respondents said they disclosed the event to the charge nurse when they did not formally report it.  To overcome these barriers, researchers created a tool that allows nurses to scan a quick-response code with their phones. Codes were located on wall flyers and name badge stickers. Two months after implementation, the tool recorded 94 quick response code scans and 59 workplace violence reports, a 1,080% increase in violence reports compared to the two previous months.

Hospice fraud prevention toolkitCMS press release; 9/24People with Medicare should beware of scammers offering older Americans in-home perks, like free cooking, cleaning and home health services, while they are unknowingly being signed up for hospice services. The scammers then unlawfully bill Medicare for these services in your name. Criminals are using every avenue they can to sign people up including door-to-door visits, false advertising, phone, text and email. Hospice care is for people who are terminally ill and only the patient and doctor can make this serious decision about end-of-life care. This toolkit includes social media posts and a drop-in article to help educate beneficiaries and their loved ones on how to protect themselves against Medicare Hospice fraud.Publisher's note: Also see resources posted on the CMS Senior Medicare Patrol Hospice Fraud website.

Report: US has worse healthcare of 10 developed countriesMcKnight's Long-Term Care News; by Kristen Fischer; 9/19/24Americans die earlier and are the sickest — and have the worst healthcare on the whole — compared with nine other developed countries, a new report shows. “The United States is failing one of its principal obligations as a nation: to protect the health and welfare of its people,” Joseph Betancourt, MD, president of the Commonwealth Fund, said in a HealthDay article... Despite its deficiencies, the US spends the most on healthcare, the report noted. Australia, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom had the highest rankings, data showed. The other countries included in the report were Germany, New Zealand, Sweden, Canada, France, and Switzerland.

Hospice provider relocates to Bethlehem [PA] Lehigh Valley Business; by Stacy Wescoe; 9/23/24 Advantage, a provider of contract therapy, home health, and hospice services in Pennsylvania has opened a new office in Bethlehem on the Holy Family Manor campus. The existing Advantage campuses of Emmaus and Old Forge will be relocated to the Advantage Home Health and Hospice Bethlehem office.  Clinical, social, and bereavement services will remain uninterrupted, the company said in a press release, and it will continue to serve all the same areas. 

Gentiva leaning into staff development, advanced illness management business Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 9/23/24 Gentiva in 2024 and 2025 is laser-focused on staff retention and building out its palliative care platform Empatia. ... Gentiva, among other initiatives, is investing in staff education to help develop clearer career paths, stave off burnout and boost retention, according to Chief Clinical Officer Jacqueline Lopez-Devine. “Education is very, very important to the concept of staff retention — taking newer staff that walk into the industry. We have thoughtful training programs that teach them even the concept of work-life balance, professional balance,” Lopez-Devine told Hospice News. “It’s really important that, as organizations, we teach our team members those concepts of joy in work, taking care of self and professional boundaries. That’s what’s going to make us different in some of these other health care industries that maybe don’t take the time.” ... Gentiva is a portfolio company of the private equity firm Clayton, Dubilier & Rice (CDR). The Atlanta-based provider emerged from the former hospice and personal care segments of Kindred at Home. CDR in 2022 purchased a 60% stake from the insurance mammoth Humana, Inc., for $2.8 billion. The firm later rebranded the hospice provider as Gentiva.

Company resolves AI ad dispute with Texas AG Becker's Health IT; by Naomi Diaz; 9/19/24 An AI company that works with health systems has reached an agreement with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton to resolve allegations that it issued inaccurate and deceptive claims regarding the reliability and safety of its products. AI health tech company Pieces Technologies' generative AI tool is capable of providing summaries of patients' conditions and treatments for hospital staff. The company works with four hospitals in Texas, according to a Sept. 18 news release. ...  Mr. Paxton's investigation concluded that these metrics were likely inaccurate and may have misled hospitals regarding the true accuracy and safety of the company's products. As part of the agreement, Pieces has committed to providing transparent and accurate information about the accuracy of its products. The company has also agreed to ensure that hospital staff using its generative AI tools for patient care are fully informed about the appropriate level of reliance on these products.

Maryland to drop Kaiser as Medicaid administrator Becker's Hospital CFO Report; by Jakob Emerson; 9/23/24 Maryland will drop Kaiser Permanente as a Medicaid managed care organization in 2025. "After some lengthy contract negotiations, the [Maryland] Department of Health has elected not to enter into a contract with Kaiser and we are working to ensure a seamless transition of those enrollees to other health plans," MDH's deputy secretary of healthcare finance, told local radio station WYPR on Sept. 20. ... "If we are not able to participate in Medicaid, it would interrupt the highest-rated care and coverage of our more than 113,000 Medicaid members in Maryland in 2025," a spokesperson for Kaiser told Becker's. "We will continue to work with the Maryland Department of Health so we can continue serving this community for decades to come." According to WYPR, the state will renew its existing managed care contracts, which includes Aetna, CareFirst BCBS, UnitedHealthcare, Elevance Health's Wellpoint, Jai Medical Systems, Maryland Physicians Care, MedStar Family Choice and Priority Partners.

Delaware Governor John Carney vetoed HB #140 AAB HA #1 (9/20/24) – An act to amend Title 16 of the Delaware Code related to end of life optionsPress release; 9/20/24

From pigs to payouts, weighing solutions for the US kidney shortageHealthcare Brew; by Caroline Catherman; 9/18/24About one out of every 20 people waiting for a kidney transplant die each year, according to the United Network for Organ Sharing. Scientists, policymakers, and other experts are scrambling to find a solution. Kidneys are currently the most needed organ in the country, and an ongoing crisis has left tens of thousands in limbo. As of September, nearly 90,000 people in the US are waiting for kidneys, but only around 27,000 transplants were performed in 2024, according to data from the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN).Publisher's note: Hospice Analytics, a Hospice & Palliative Care Today sponsor, posted this blog and has given presentations on opportunities and challenges for hospices to honor patient wishes regarding organ and tissue donation.

Chris Comeaux, A name to watch in the hospice spaceCEOWorld Magazine; by Despina Wilson; 9/21/24Few names resonate as strongly as Chris Comeaux. As the founder and CEO of Teleios Collaborative Network (TCN), Comeaux has become a transformative figure in an industry grappling with constant change. His leadership style, marked by innovation and compassion, has not only shaped TCN but is redefining how nonprofit hospices approach their mission. This article delves into Comeaux’s journey, his leadership philosophy, and the indelible mark he’s leaving on end-of-life care.Publisher's note: Teleios Collaborative Network is a Hospice & Palliative Care Today sponsor. Notable mentions include Janet Bull.

You cannot come to New Jersey to die, judge says New Jersey 101.5; by Eric Scott; 9/20/24 Terminally ill individuals may not travel to New Jersey to end their lives. When New Jersey's Aid in Dying law took effect in 2019, it included a provision that doctors verify a patient's residency before prescribing them medications that will end their lives. A federal judge has ruled the residency requirement does not violate the U.S. Constitution. The ruling came after terminally ill cancer patients from Delaware and Pennsylvania sued. They wanted to travel to New Jersey to end their lives. ...

In the same way that trees shed their leaves to make room for new growth, autumn at work is a time to reassess our strategies, let go of what no longer serves our objectives, and prepare the ground for innovative ideas to take root. - Unknown  Editor's note: Welcome Autumn 2024!