Literature Review

PositivelyJAX Award - The purple bench of compassionate St. AugustineNews4JAX; by Melanie Lawson; 11/1/24 [Posted as a Headline as we move through this important Election Week.] This month’s PositivelyJAX Award goes to something unique: a bench. But it’s no ordinary bench—it’s The Purple Bench, powered by people and conversation. The concept was brought to life by a group called Compassionate St. Augustine, sparking empathy and understanding in anyone willing to sit down and listen. This purple bench, located just outside the gates of the Lincolnville Community Garden in St. Augustine, often sits empty, waiting for someone to take a seat and begin a conversation.  When I approached, Eileen Reid was happy to join me. In just a short 10-minute conversation, I got to know her—a retired hospice nurse ... “I’ve been around a lot of endings, and endings are beginnings, but now, now I’m beginning a whole different phase of my life, and it’s interesting. ...”Editor's note: Click on the title's link for the community news article. Click here for a photo and description of this Purple Bench Initiative: "The Purple Bench initiative was formed to challenge the community to engage in compassionate practices despite different backgrounds, religions, ethnicities, and views. In a world divided by polarizing opinions, it is increasingly important to find common ground to help those in need." May we find creative ways to use these principles in our own settings and relationships.

Hawaii Care Choices kicks off talk show about health care Hawaii Tribune Herald; 11/1/24 Hawaii Care Choices has launched “Let’s Talk Healthcare Hawaii!” — a new TV talk show and podcast dedicated to palliative care education. [Access to the full Hawaii Tribune Herald story requires subscription.]Editor's note:  Click here to access Hawai'i Care Choices' "Let's Talk Healthcare, Hawaii!" talk show.

Anvoi Hospice welcomes Senate proclamation honoring National Hospice Month AN17 Local News, Loranger, LA; Press Release; 11/2/24 On Friday, November 1, Louisiana State Senator Bill Wheat officially recognized November as National Hospice Care Month with a Senate proclamation presented to Anvoi Hospice. 2024 marks the 42nd anniversary of the first Proclamation recognizing November as National Hospice Month. In 1982, President Ronald Reagan signed into law the Medicare Hospice benefit which ensured that millions of seriously ill Americans could die with dignity while receiving care in their own homes. That same year, the president also declared a National Hospice Care Week, which we now celebrate as National Hospice Care Month. “For more than 40 years, hospice has helped provide comfort and dignity to millions of people, ... We were so pleased to collaborate closely with Senator Wheat’s office on this proclamation, and we thank the Louisiana Senate for recognizing the importance of hospice and palliative care,” said Anvoi CEO, Angelique Richardson.Editor's note: Thank you, Anvoi Hospice for your public advocay. Additionally, we recognize the important leadership and state-wide presence of the Louisiana-Mississippi Hospice & Palliative Care Organization (LMHPCO). 

The Alliance Celebrates National Care at Home MonthNational Alliance for Care at Home (formerly NAHC and NHPCO); 10/31/24 November marks the start of National Care at Home Month, a new observance created to honor the valuable contributions of home care providers nationwide and inspire outreach to communities, media, and policymakers. National Care at Home Month is spearheaded by the newly formed National Alliance for Care at Home (the Alliance), bringing together the National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC) and the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO). ... National Care at Home Month, like the new Alliance, honors the full continuum of care-at-home providers and the patients and families they serve. This community of providers is stronger together, and National Care at Home Month brings this message into public awareness. ... “National Care at Home Month is an opportunity for our community to come together, celebrate and honor one another, and highlight the transformative care and support provided to patients and their loved ones across the US each day,” said Dr. Steve Landers, CEO for the Alliance. ... [Click on the title's link to continue reading.]

I cannot do all the good the world needs. But the world needs all the good I can do. ~Jana Stanfield

Social determinants of health and US health care expenditures by insurerJAMA Network Open; Giridhar Mohan, MPH; Darrell J. Gaskin, PhD, MS; 10/24US health expenditures have been growing at an unsustainable rate, while health inequities and poor outcomes persist. In this cross-sectional study of 14,918 insured adults, individual-level SDOH were significantly associated with US health care expenditures by Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurers. These findings may inform health insurers and policymakers to incorporate SDOH in their decision-making practices to identify and control health care expenditures, advancing health equity.

Current burden of and geographic disparities in liver mortality and access to liver transplantJAMA Network Open; Nicolas S. Rinella, MS; William Charlton, BS; Gautham Reddy, MD; Paige McLean Diaz, MD; Michael R. Charlton, MD; 10/24This study suggests that rates of LRM [liver-related mortality] have increased dramatically since the COVID-19 pandemic and vary several-fold between states. Rates of liver transplant are paradoxically lowest among residents living in states with the highest LRM. These findings highlight apparent geographic disparities in access to liver transplant that allocation policy cannot address.

Financial hardship: A qualitative study exploring perspectives of seriously ill patients and their familyJournal of Pain and Symptom Management; by Danae G. Dotolo, Christina Clare Pytel, Elizabeth L. Nielsen, Jennifer Im, Ruth A. Engelberg, Nita Khandelwal; 11/24Our analysis revealed three themes: 1) Prioritizing Survival and Recovery; 2) Living with Uncertainty—including experiences of prolonged uncertainty, navigating bureaucratic barriers, and long-term worries; and 3) Preferences for Financial Guidance. Our results suggest patients and families prioritize survival over financial hardship initially, and feelings of uncertainty about finances persist. However, patients and family caregivers are reluctant to have their physicians address financial hardship.

“Postponing it any later would not be so great”: A cognitive interview study of how physicians decide to initiate goals of care discussions in the hospitalAmerican Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine; by Elizabeth Chuang, Sabrina Gugliuzza, Ammar Ahmad, Michael Aboodi, Michelle Ng Gong, Amber E Barnato; 11/24Participants were hesitant to commit to the present moment as the right time for [goals of care] GOC discussions based on variations in clinical presentation. Clinical decision support systems that include more targeted information about risk of clinical deterioration and likelihood of reversal of the acute condition may prompt physicians to discuss GOC, but more support for managing discomfort with uncertainty is also needed.

Clinician staffing and quality of care in US health centersJAMA Network Open; Q. Wilton Sun, BA; Howard P. Forman, MD, MBA; Logan Stern, DNP, APRN; et alBenjamin J. Oldfield, MD, MHS; 10/24In this cross-sectional study of 791 US health centers, 5 distinct clinician staffing ratio models were identified, and models emphasizing physicians, advanced practice registered nurses, and physician associates were positively associated with distinct sets of individual quality metrics. Clinician staffing may be associated with certain aspects of care quality, underscoring the importance of strategic, tailored staffing to optimize primary care delivery. In this cross-sectional study of health centers, physician FTE [full time equivalent] ratio was associated with higher performance in cancer screening, infant vaccinations, and HIV testing; APRN FTE ratio was associated with higher performance in preventative health assessments; and PA FTE ratio was associated with higher performance in infant vaccination.

To calm and to commend: Veterans’ musical preferences anticipating end of lifeMilitary Medicine; by Beatrice J Krauss; 11/24Listening to music was the most prevalent of the 20 coping mechanisms for stress in this sample of 30 veterans. Musical preferences were stable across age groups. For calming, music at resting heartbeat rhythms was chosen. Music from early adulthood or from the timelessness of the classics was selected most often. Modern music with lyrics has themes of duty, affirmation, gratitude, and relief. The nearly universal soothing effects of lullabies were recognized. For music for honor ceremonies, desires were often independent of the military branch. Patriotic songs, or songs recognizing multiple service branches, or with themes of peace and affirmation were more often chosen than music from a particular service branch.Publisher's note: Anticipating Veteran's Day on Monday.

Concurrent care and use of advanced cardiac therapies for hospitalized Veterans with heart failureJournal of Pain and Symptom Management; by Tander Simberloff, Laura Godinez, Tiffany Chen, Lan Jiang, Wen-Chih Wu, Jensy Stafford, James L Rudolph, Mitchell Wice; 11/24Veterans with HF receiving concurrent care were few and experienced higher mortality. Rate of burdensome transitions was similar between Veterans receiving concurrent care and those not on hospice. Further research may explore why Veterans infrequently utilize concurrent care at the end of life.

Specialized hospice care program honors and supports veterans facing terminal illness NBC 10 News - WSLS, Southwest and Centeral Virginia; by Kelly Marsh; updated 11/7/24 In Southwest Virginia, a quarter of people with a terminal illness is a veteran, a statistic that highlights the unique challenges many former service members face in their final days. In response to this, several specialized hospice programs in the region have been developed to offer care that specifically addresses the needs of veterans as they navigate the end-of-life journey. For many veterans, the experience of facing terminal illness is compounded by the physical and emotional toll of their military service, particularly conditions like Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety. ... The We Honor Veterans program, created through a partnership between the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, encourages hospice centers to offer a heightened level of care for veterans. Across Southwest Virginia, multiple hospice programs have achieved the highest level of recognition—Level 5—demonstrating their commitment to providing veterans with the best possible care. One such program is based in Franklin County. Despite its size, Carilion Hospice in Franklin County has earned a five-star status for its exceptional veteran services ...Editor's note: We thank and recognize all hospice organizations that find meaningful ways to support and honor your veterans. Click here for more information about NHPCO/The Alliance for Care at Home's We Honor Veterans program.