Literature Review

Interventions performed in children with immunocompromised conditions in the pediatric intensive care unit within 48 hours of deathJ Palliat Med, by Anna Kegel, Jason Espinoza, April Rahrig, Tina Schade-Wills, Courtney M Rowan; 1/17/24Conclusions: Children in the PICU with underlying immunocompromised conditions frequently receive interventions within the 48-hour period preceding death. Palliative care involvement was associated with fewer radiographic studies and fewer occurrences of CPR. The impact of interventions on the dying experience warrants further investigation.

Predictive analytics in action: How machine learning is driving successful outcomes for value-based end of life programsSenior Housing News, by Sophie Knoelke; 1/17/24Based on a discussion with Jordan Holland and Mark Bailes of VNS HealthHolland: "We are using predictive analytics to identify patients that are in that end-of-life stage, and then intervening on those patients earlier through a palliative-centric model. We take a full view of an individual’s health across the continuum. Then, we identify what the right clinical model is for their individual situation -the technologies, the analytics to help successfully deploy that model."

KKR-backed BrightSpring targets $3 billion valuation for long-awaited US IPOReuters; 1/17/24KKR-backed BrightSpring Health Services set a target of an around $3.01 billion valuation on Wednesday for its long-awaited initial public offering in the United States. The company, which caters to patients facing complex or chronic medical conditions, is moving towards a listing after previously pursuing it in 2021.

Congressional advisors grapple with Medicare Advantage data that reveals plenty on excess, but not much on accessMcKnight's Long-Term Care News, by Kimberly Marselas; 1/16/24Medicare Advantage risk scores continue to rise, inflating payments to the private plans that far exceed their actual costs, staff for a Congressional advisory commission warned members Friday. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services uses risk scores, based on patient demographics and their needs, to establish payments to plans during each bid season. 

Penn Medicine provides parents tools to grieve and heal after lossPenn Medicine News, by Kim Maialetti; 1/11/24Perinatal loss is not uncommon in the United States. According to the Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance, 30 percent of all pregnancies end in miscarriage and 21,000 babies are stillborn each year. Additionally, more than three of every 1,000 babies born die before 28 days of life and more than five of every 1,000 die before their first birthday.

US Senate launches investigation of assisted living after lay media reports about safety, staffing, pricingMcKnight's Senior Living, by Kimberly Bonvissuto; 1/17/24The US Senate Special Committee on Aging is launching a review of the assisted living industry following recent articles in the Washington Post, which reported on the deaths of residents who wandered from communities, as well as the New York Times and KFF, which scrutinized an industry pricing structure that adds fees on top of basic charges to cover additional services, as well as rate increases and the for-profit status of most providers.

Winter is a season of recovery and preparation. - Paul Theroux

Top ten tips palliative care clinicians should know about providing care for people with disabilitiesJ Palliat Med, by Dorothy W Tolchin, Claire Rushin, Ben Tolchin, Chloe Slocum, Jordana L Meyerson, Susan M Havercamp, Tamra Keeney, Andrea W Schwartz, Kristen Schaefer, Melissa Ross, Michael A Stein, Christopher A Jones, William E Rosa, Forrest A Brooks/ 1/17/24Palliative care (PC) clinicians are well poised to help people with disabilities (PWD) live well in the context of serious illness. PC prioritizes person-centered care with a focus on function, autonomy, and quality of life. This approach aligns with principles of high-quality care for PWD.Requires subscription Editor's Note: See 

What's the diagnosis of the problem for our hospice and palliative care movementTeleios Podcast, by Chris Comeaux and Ira Byock, MD; 1/17/24Dr. Ira Byock discusses the current state of the hospice industry and the need for major reforms. He emphasizes the importance of acknowledging leaders' responsibility for the crisis in hospice care and apologizing for failures.  Then, the conversation moves toward solutions.

Hollywood's portrayal of cancer in movies fuels misconceptions, new study findsPR Newswire; 1/17/24... Researchers reviewed more than 100 films released between 2010-2020 and found several key findings about films' lasting impact on public perception of cancer treatment, prevention and care options. Key findings from the study include:

Scrutinize private equity's involvement in health care: Higher prices, worse outcomes don't serve patients or providersThe Boston Globe, by The Editorial Board; updated 1/17/24... Private equity is not necessarily a bad form of ownership. It is often used to make companies more efficient. But it creates pressure to obtain short-term returns, and the strategies that pull profits from health care companies may not serve patients.

Increasing longevity, decreasing health quality: A close look at American health trendsBNN, by Ayesha Mumtaz; 1/16/24Recent data paints a concerning picture of Americans’ health despite an increase in longevity. While people are living longer, the quality of their health during these extended years is deteriorating.