Literature Review

State says nursing home’s residents in ‘immediate jeopardy’Salem News (Beverly, MA)December 14, 2023Danvers, MA—State health inspectors have determined that conditions in the Hathorne Hill nursing home constitute “immediate jeopardy” to the health and safety of residents. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health said Tuesday it is investigating the facility and has imposed a freeze on new admissions to Hathorne Hill until the investigation is completed.

‘Stop the bleeding’—A year after Safe Staffing law, nurses report high patient loadsTimes Union (Albany, NY)December 15, 2023One year after New York’s minimum staffing law for hospitals went into effect, nurses continue to report exceptionally high patient loads as hospital leaders struggle to keep up with turnover rates. ... Implementation of the new regulations—from the establishment of committees to negotiate those institution-specific staffing standards to the mandate for hospitals to report departments’ actual staffing ratios to the state Department of Health annually—has been rocky across the state’s 222 hospitals.

‘Weighing our options’—Ottawa open to further pause to expand assisted dying rulesMontreal GazetteDecember 15, 2023Ottawa, ON—The federal government is considering whether to pause its original plan to broaden the rules that govern medically assisted dying so they include patients whose only underlying condition is a mental disorder. “We’re weighing our options,” Justice Minister Arif Virani said Wednesday.

My mom’s agonizing death shows need for peaceful dying option in MinnesotaBy Françoise Willems-ShirleyMinn PostDecember 15, 2023The end was near and all that was left was more pain and suffering. Many of us, who have not been through this experience, imagine hospice to be a peaceful time where we say our goodbyes to loved ones, reflect on our life and our memories, until we quietly slip away holding the hands of those we cherish. Sadly, this could not have been further from the truth for my mom. For our family, hospice turned out to be a time of tremendous suffering, pain, trauma and sadness. ... That’s why I am so grateful that a medical aid-in-dying bill will be introduced in the Minnesota Legislature this session.[Editor’s Note: The author resides in Hopkins, MN.]

Sutter Health, senior care firm, team up for elderly care San Jose siteMercury News (San Jose, CA)December 14, 2023San Jose, CA—Sutter Health and a firm that specializes in health care for seniors have teamed up to launch a San Jose site that will offer an array of services to elderly people who have low-income levels. ... Sutter Health, a medical services titan, is joining forces with WelbeHealth, a physician-led public benefit firm that provides care to seniors, intend to launch the new medical site starting on New Year’s Day of 2024. ... The San Jose building will accommodate a Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly center, the healthcare firms stated.

Cigna ends Humana merger talks, plans $10B stock buyback: WSJCigna announced a $10 billion increase in its stock buyback program, including repurchasing at least $5 billion of shares in 2024's first half.

Hospice of the Western Reserve targeting $75,000 grant to address racial disparitiesCleveland.comDecember 15, 2023Lakewood, OH—For the better part of the last decade, Hospice of the Western Reserve has been focused on dispelling misperceptions within minority communities related to hospice care. “If you look at statistics across the board, traditionally African-American and Hispanic communities tend not to utilize hospice services,” Hospice of the Western Reserve Manager of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Heidi L. Barham said. “A lot of that is based on historical mistrust, so doing the outreach work helps us to break the stigma of the H-word—that hospice is not a death sentence.” That’s why Hospice of the Western Reserve applied for and recently received a Three Arches Foundation grant, with the intent to address healthcare inequity.

The $20,000 Christmas Tree—Lake County Hospice’s Annual Festival of TreesThe Bloom (Lake County, CA)December 15, 2023Imagine stepping into a place where Christmas exists in a timeless moment—it starts at the registration tables, where a train circles a beautifully decorated tree. But once you walk down the hallway and into the main tent, you enter another world. This moment, hosted by Lake County Hospice, has become a beacon of hope and compassion, bringing joy to families and touching the hearts of all who attend. ... It’s a visual feast. ... But what sets the Festival of Trees apart is its purpose. Beyond the fascinating and enchanting decorations, the event serves as a vital fundraiser for Lake County Hospice. ... People know that Hospice of Lake County fills a significant need in the community and bid accordingly. Winners of auctions donate the tree back to be auctioned again, and yes, one tree sells for $20,000.

End-of-life doulas are changing conversation around death in Central OregonCentral Oregon Daily (Bend, OR)December 14, 2023Sisters, OR—... Cheryl Adcox has been working as an end-of-life doula in Central Oregon since 2018. That’s when the registered nurse opened Hand-in-Hand End of Life Doula Services. For her, death is “sacred and it’s magical and it’s part of the mystery of life.” It’s a view that few people understand. It’s one these death doulas understand intimately.

State can finally start formal review process for Fatima and Roger Williams hospital acquisitionRhode Island CurrentDecember 15, 2023The two state regulators overseeing hospital conversions in Rhode Island have declared an application to transfer ownership of Roger Williams Medical Center and Our Lady of Fatima Hospital to a Georgia nonprofit is complete.

The Backbone of Better Care: Compliance in Home-Based HealthcareBy Jennifer Kennedy, 12/15/23In the realm of home-based healthcare, the distinction between good and great care is often defined by the role of compliance. This invisible backbone extends beyond immediate healthcare services, forming a critical framework that upholds every action and procedure to the highest standards of legal and ethical conduct.

Kansas Senate president says he’s open to discussing medical marijuana—but not recreationalKCUR-FM (Kansas City, MO)December 14, 2023During the upcoming legislative session in Kansas, medical marijuana is expected to be back for debate. Senate President Ty Masterson, a Republican from Andover, fought the bill last year because he said it was too close to fully legalizing marijuana in the Sunflower State. However, Masterson told KCUR’s Up To Date on Wednesday that he is open to a discussion.