Literature Review

Bilingual patient navigation can improve palliative care outcomes for Hispanic patients Hospice News, by Holly Vossel; 2/28/24Bicultural and bilingual palliative patient navigator interventions may be a key to improving access to goal concordant care among Hispanic populations with serious illness, according to recent research. Researchers in a recent clinical trial sought to address whether integration of bilingual patient navigation interventions could improve palliative care outcomes in Hispanic patients with serious, noncancer illnesses.

"The great escape": How an incident of elopement gave rise to trauma informed palliative care for a patient experiencing multiple disadvantage BMC Palliat Care, by Sam Quinn, Libby Ferguson, Derek Read, and Naomi Richards; 2/28/24Background: This case report ... illustrates how unresolved traumatic experiences across the life course can affect a patient's engagement with palliative care and offers insights into the flexibility and adaptations necessary for taking a trauma informed approach to care for an individual experiencing multiple disadvantage. 

NIA is leading efforts to coordinate NIH palliative care researchNational Institute on Aging, by Chandra Keller and Alexis Bakos; 2/28/24

With Amedisys deal pending, Justice Department opens antitrust investigation into UnitedHealth Group Home Health Care News, by Andrew Donlan; 2/27/24The Department of Justice is targeting UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) in an antitrust investigation, The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday. Specifically, the Justice Department is interviewing subjects around interactions between UnitedHealth Group and its health care provider services arm, Optum.

Palliative care startups require creativity, flexibility Hospice News, by Audrie Marton; 2/27/24 According to the World Health Organization, each year, an estimated 56.8 million people need palliative care. Worldwide, only about 14% of people who need this care currently receive it. ... Tiffany Hughes, chief operating officer of Texas-based PalliCare, found that the secret to a successful palliative care model is creating a continuum of care between home health and hospice for patients within the last 18 to 24 months of life.

Is healthcare paying enough attention to nurse leaders?Becker's Clinical Leadership, by Erica Carbajal; 2/26/24 Early this year, the American Organization for Nursing Leadership Foundation released findings from more than 2,400 nurse leaders who were surveyed in November. Thirty-five percent of respondents indicated they were considering an exit from their roles: 12% said they intend to leave and 23% said they may leave within the next six months. When asked what the top reasons were for thinking about an exit, nurse leaders pointed to work having a negative affect on their health and well-being and not having the resources to do their job — a parallel to what bedside nurses consistently point to as drivers of burnout or reasons they've stepped away from the job. 

How death doulas support entire familiesCure, by Alex Biese; 2/27/24... Death doulas, also known as end-of-life doulas, “provide companionship, comfort, and guidance to those facing a terminal illness or death” via non-medical holistic support encompassing “emotional, spiritual, and practical care,” according to the International End-of-Life Doula Association.

Right-sizing interprofessional team training for serious-illness communication: A strength-based approach PEC Innvov, by Liana Eskola, Ethan Silverman, Sarah Rogers, Amy Zelenski; distributed 2/28/24Objective: Palliative care communication skills help tailor care to patients' goals. With a palliative care physician shortage, non-physicians must gain these serious illness communication skills. Historically, trainings have targeted physician-only groups; our goal was to train interprofessional teams.

BONUS: 2024 Black History Quotes from "Today's Encouragement"

These lawmakers want more pot to be grown for researchCBS News, by Kathryn Watson; 2/27/24Representatives Andy Harris, Republican of Maryland, and Earl Blumenauer, Democrat of Oregon, agree on little related to the legalization of marijuana. Harris opposes it for recreational use and also thinks that as a medicine, it should be scaled back. Blumenauer is pushing for pot to be decriminalized. But the two agree on this — that researchers simply don't have enough access to more potent, high-quality weed, and more producers should be able to grow pot for research.

Surgeon shares biggest lesson: ‘Never underestimate the power of hope Mofitt Cancer Center, by Corrie Pellegrino; 2/27/24An Interview with Dr. Monica Avila. ...[Question] What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned from a patient?[Response] I think the biggest lesson is to never underestimate the power of hope and the power of the patients’ will to live. I’ve had patients literally placed on hospice care who I have taken to the operating room, had successful optimal debulking for ovarian cancer and who are living life right now after chemotherapy. So I never underestimate patients’ ability to keep going and keep living.

Kinship PACE enters greater Chicago marketConnectCRE Chicago & Midwest, by Jasmine Kilman; 2/26/24Cushman & Wakefield has arranged a new long-term 15,310 square-foot lease for Kinship PACE of Illinois at the Bricktown Square shopping mall in Chicago. Kinship PACE of Illinois is a program of all-inclusive care for the elderly (PACE). This latest lease marks Kinship Health’s first location in Illinois.

The best changes 32 healthcare leaders made this year Becker's Payer Issues, by Rylee Wilson; 2/27/24Question: What is one change you made in the last two years that had great results?Leaders in the payer space are making changes to simplify members' experiences, improve equity and level-up the way their teams work together. The 32 leaders featured in this article, part of an ongoing series, [answered this question].