Literature Review

New UMass Chan patient communication training simulation program receives funding via Catalyst AwardUMass Chan News, by Pat Sargent; 1/29/24The program, “Apology and Disclosure: Developing Competency for Patient Safety and Equity,” is led by Stacy E. Potts, MD, MEd, professor of family medicine & community health and senior associate dean for graduate medical education and clinical affairs; and Sunita Puri, MD, MS, associate professor of medicine and program director of the hospice and palliative medicine fellowship.  ... The Josiah Macy Jr. Foundation Catalyst Award is for $50,000 over one year.

‘Crying wolf’ or dying breed? Incentives often ignore plight of rural skilled nursing operatorsMcKnights Long-Term Care News, by Kimberly Marselas; 1/29/24As hundreds of nursing homes have shuttered in the last few years, the very strategies meant to prop up the sector have often left the most isolated, resource-strapped facilities with nothing gained. Several new federal payment models and insurance programs are designed to allow skilled nursing providers to take on financial risk, tap into new revenue streams or access additional staffing and clinical resources.

Health care workers kept leaving the industry after pandemic: study Axios, by Tina Reed, 1/29/24There's been a "substantial and persistent" increase in health care workers leaving the industry since the pandemic, as staff who stayed on during the worst of COVID-19 leave for new opportunities in a robust jobs market, according to a new study in JAMA Health Forum. ... Details: The Johns Hopkins-led study, based on Census data from the beginning of 2018 through the end of 2021, found a disproportionate number of women and Black workers exiting the health industry.

Smile in the sky drawn for Worcester hospice patientBBC News, by Vanessa Pearce; 1/27/24An aerobatic pilot has put on a special show for a patient with a lifelong passion for aircraft who is being cared for at a hospice. Pilot Rich Goodwin created the sky high smile above the St. Richard's Hospice in Worcester. Former transportation engineer Ray Stanton, 66, enjoyed the show with his wife, Angela, and two children. "To see the smile in the sky and then look at Ray's smile was just fantastic," said Mrs. Stanton.

As Maryland considers medical aid in dying, here’s how it’s playing out in DCCapital News Service, by Sapna Bansil; 1/29/24A 74-year-old man with Lou Gehrig’s disease. An 88-year-old man with congestive heart failure. A 54-year-old woman with cancer. ... In Maryland, aid-in-dying proposals in past years have faced pushback from a number of opponents. ... But advocates say there’s unprecedented momentum this year for an aid-in-dying law in Maryland – in part because arguments for the option have been strengthened by its implementation in D.C. and 10 other states.

How does health spending in the U.S. compare to other countries?Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker, by Emma Wager, Matthew McGough, Shameek Rakshit, Krutika Amin, Cynthia Cox; 1/23/24In this chart collection, we examine how U.S. health spending compares to health spending in other OECD countries that are similarly large and wealthy, based on median GDP and median GDP per capita. Relative to the size of its economy, the U.S. spends a greater amount on health care than other high-income nations

It's not the days in your life, but the life in your days that counts. – Brian White

OIG to audit CMS oversight of state-contracted nursing home surveyorsMcKnights Long-Term Care, by Josh Henreckson; 1/23/24A top federal watchdog will audit the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ nursing home survey practices in 2024, according to a new report. Though sparse on details, the Jan. 16 announcement highlights concerns that third-party contractors may not have sufficient oversight to ensure proper performance of nursing home surveys.

How AccentCare is using communication, career development to address caregiver burnoutHome Health Care News, by Patrick Filbin; 1/28/24As the home-based care industry continues to evolve, enhancing the well-being of employees and addressing caregiver burnout remains a top priority for providers. It’s not uncommon for caregivers to experience moments of feeling unsupported or undervalued. That can often lead to a sense of disconnection within the company from the bottom to the top. To help that disconnect, providers like AccentCare have focused on retention initiatives that are based around communication within the organization.

Avow Kids awarded grant for children experiencing lossFlorida Weekly - Naples Ediition; 1/25/24Avow has been awarded a $55,300 grant from Champions for Learning as part of a multi-agency Future Ready Collier collaboration project to fund resiliency programming. Funds are designated to Avow Kids, which provides support to children ages 5-17 who are experiencing grief or loss in any capacity. The grant will ensure the continued availability of the program and its resources, which are offered at no cost to participants

Criteria for enrollment of patients with COPD in palliative care trials: A systematic reviewJ Pain Symptom Manage, by Natalia Smirnova, Allison V Lange, Amanda Glickman, Kristen Desanto, Cara L McDermott , Donald R Sullivan, David B Bekelman, Dio Kavalieratos; 1/25/24Context: Use of palliative care interventions in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has increased in recent years and inclusion criteria used to identify patients with COPD appropriate for palliative care vary widely. We evaluated the inclusion criteria to identify ways to improve enrollment opportunities for patients with COPD.

Alzheimer’s Association calls for federal involvement to increase dementia care workforce, training in assisted livingMcKnights Senior Living, by Lois A. Bowers; 1/29/24“Congress should consider the steps it can take at the federal level, including expanding the necessary workforce and improving dementia training standards and access,” as part of efforts to “help ensure a quality direct care workforce that can meet the unique needs of our nation’s growing number of Americans living with Alzheimer’s and other dementia” in assisted living communities and elsewhere, the Alzheimer’s Association and its advocacy affiliate, the Alzheimer’s Impact Movement, said in comments submitted to the US Senate Special Committee on Aging for the record of the hearing it held Thursday, titled “Assisted Living Facilities: Understanding Long-Term Care Options for Older Adults.”