Literature Review

Comfort home in Scottsville reopens after four-year hiatus NBC News 10, Rochester, NY; by Eriketa Cost; 9/27/24 A local hospice home in Scottsville re-opened, after four years of rebuilding from the inside out. You may recall how much of an effect COVID-19 had on these services. The home, Patrick Place, was unable to hold fundraisers. Dozens of volunteers stepped down out of fear for the virus, and it took time to bring them back. The emails and phone calls didn’t stop during the downtime, though, said Cissy Leblanc, secretary on the board for Patrick Place. Organizers were eager to open again, but it took hard work. Along the way, the team built a new deck and furnished the basement, adding a conference room and special area for training volunteers. These, are all projects that couldn’t have happened with someone living there, said chairman Patrick Hanley. The home opened in early September with 55 volunteers. The goal is to reach 75. ...

How 300 terminally ill couples had their ‘perfect’ weddings thanks to this nonprofit (Exclusive) People Magazine; by Johnny Dodd; 9/28/24 "We're in the business of hope," says Wish Upon a Wedding's executive director, Lacey Wicksall. On any given day, Lacey Wicksall can be found fielding phone calls from couples across the nation who are deeply in love but are running out of time. And that’s exactly why Wicksall is talking to them. As the executive director with the Chicago-based nonprofit Wish Upon a Wedding, the 43-year-old mother of two helps provide free weddings and vow renewals to couples who are facing a terminal illness or a life-altering health circumstance. “I just got off the phone with a couple a few hours ago and I still have tears in my eyes,” says Wicksall of a recent phone call, vetting a couple who were in the process of applying for one of the nonprofit’s weddings. “We were all in tears. It’s hard.” ... Since 2009, the organization has provided nearly 300 ceremonies by working with wedding industry professionals who donate everything from catered food and wedding attire to a venue, videographers and DJs. ... Before being selected for an interview by Wicksall and “wish coordinator” Megan Biehl, they verify the applicant’s health status through their physician or hospice worker, then go to work learning more about the couple and what they envision for their special day. ...

10 vital skills to future-proof healthcare leaders Becker's Hospital Review; by Laura Dyrda; 9/30/24 The most successful healthcare leaders in the next two years will leave the traditional organizational structures and models in the past in favor of extreme nimbleness, stronger soft skills and optimization of digital technology. Becker's Healthcare connected with 77 leaders from hospitals and health systems across the U.S. who shared the qualities and skill sets that will become more important in the next few years. Here are 10 areas of focus:

City of Hope’s horizon: City of Hope gets $20M for pancreatic disease breakthroughs The Clinical Trial Vanguard; by Ferry Darma; 9/26/24 City of Hope, a leading cancer research and treatment institution, has received a $20 million donation from philanthropists Norman and Melinda Payson. This significant gift will establish a dedicated pancreas center to accelerate groundbreaking research and treatments for pancreatic cancer and diabetes. Inspired by the personal impact of pancreatic cancer on his mother, Norman Payson, a noted healthcare executive and City of Hope board director, expressed confidence in the organization’s capabilities. “City of Hope possesses the unique expertise to drive innovative cures for pancreatic cancer and diabetes,” he stated. “We are committed to advancing this research and bringing hope to countless individuals.”  ... The Paysons’ gift follows a historic $150 million donation from A. Emmet Stephenson Jr. and Tessa Stephenson Brand to fund pancreatic cancer research.

New coalition launches to advance palliative cancer care Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 9/30/24 A new organization, Together for Supportive Cancer Care, launched Monday with a mission to expand access to palliative care among cancer patients. A charitable group, The Sheri and Les Biller Family Foundation, convened more than 40 member organizations, including health care providers, pharmaceutical companies, patient advocacy groups, public policy experts, employers and insurers, among others. “For decades, leaders around our country have worked to show the promise and impact of supportive care programs for people living with cancer, their caregivers and their loved ones,” said Audrey Haberman, the foundation’s CEO, in a statement. “The launch of Together for Supportive Cancer Care builds on this work and is an important step toward creating a health care system where early and ongoing access to supportive care is not a privilege, but a fundamental part of the cancer journey for everyone.” 

How to help those impacted by Hurricane Helene: Charities, organizations to support relief efforts ABC News, Good Morning America; by Kelly McCarthy; 9/30/24 Hurricane Helene hit Florida's Big Bend region as a Category 4 storm with catastrophic sustained winds up to 140 mph on Thursday and traveled north, leaving widespread destruction across the Southeast. As Americans in storm-battered states of Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia begin to climb out of the damage from last week's storm that killed at least 120 people with hundreds more unaccounted for, charity organizations have started to rally support efforts. See below for a full list of ways to donate. After more than 4 million customers lost power across the South on Friday, more than 2 million were still without power as of Monday's publication. [Click on the title's link for the list and links.]

CIOs must understand change management theories, frameworks and practices Health IT News; by Bill Siwicki; 9/27/24 [Part 2 of 2] Change management is a very important subject today in health IT as more and more new and amazing technologies make their way into the delivery of healthcare. (Hello, artificial intelligence.) Robert Slepin knows quite a bit about change management. He is an emeritus CIO advisor at EHR kingpin Epic. There, he constantly is helping CIOs across the country change their health IT setups. ... Question: What would you say are the important components of a change management initiative? What must CIOs be doing? Answer: There are several key areas to consider, starting with:

Visible, active leadership is vital to change management, says Epic emeritus CIO advisor Healthcare IT News; by Bill Siwicki; 9/26/24 [Part 1 of 2] Lost amidst talk of all the amazing technologies used in healthcare today is a subject very important to Robert Slepin: change management. ... Clinical workforce shortages and burnout, increasing costs and decreasing reimbursement, and capacity to care for patients with behavioral health/addiction issues – these are among the top issues confronting U.S. hospitals, according to the American College of Healthcare Executives. ... While there is no magic wand to accelerate progress, in my experience you can significantly improve the outcomes in a healthcare transformation initiative with an intentional focus and disciplined approach to change management. Conversely, not being thoughtful and effective in leading change could hinder your efforts or adversely impact the outcomes, and even possibly spell disaster. ... Visible, active leadership is vital. ... A hands-off approach of issuing orders from the corner office and asking others to "let me know when it's done" won't cut it. ... Besides being visible and hands-on, the best leaders I have worked with demonstrate a positive style; for example, they are authentic, coaching, transformational, engaging and compassionate. They remove fear and build trust, and inspire, educate, coach and support people in moving together toward a common, stretch goal. ...

Thirty days hath September,April June and November;All the rest have thirty-one,Excepting February alone.Which only has but twenty-eight days clearAnd twenty-nine in each leap year."     ~ 1577, William Harrison

Health systems abandon rigid hierarchies Becker's Hospital Review; by Laura Dyrda; 9/27/24 Health systems are relinquishing traditional leadership structures to reimagine a more effective healthcare delivery organization. The rigid hierarchies instilled within many hospitals and health systems years ago ensured a tight grip on quality and management. But times have changed; the rapid evolution of digital technology and need for nimbleness are forcing hospitals to change. "As an industry, healthcare must transition from hierarchical, top-down leadership to more agile, decentralized models that empower teams and promote innovation at all levels," said Wendy Horton, PharmD, CEO of UVA Health University Medical Center in Charlottesville, Va. "Excellent communication skills will be vital for navigating these changes, along with a strong emphasis on workforce well-being including strategies to address mental health, retention and burnout." ... Dr. Horton also elevates empathy and effective communication for healthcare leaders. ... The proliferation of artificial intelligence and other technologies in healthcare is streamlining the purely administrative tasks, further emphasizing the human connection between leaders and their teams.

Longview hospice adds handmade quilt donations under new management The Daily News; by Minka Atkinson; 9/27/24 At PeaceHealth Ray Hickey Hospice House in Vancouver, patients receive handmade quilts to drape their beds that are then donated to their family as a memento after their passing. PeaceHealth is now looking to bring this tradition to Richard Nau Hospice House, which it took over in November. “It gives the home, cozy feeling to those patients,” Hospice Volunteer Program supervisor Jennifer Linde said. The quilts are sourced through donations from local community groups, like the Kalama Quilters and Calvary Community Church, Linde said. Individual quilters are also welcome to contribute. ...

Community partnership helps Veterans navigate their health care U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, DC; by Dr. Chien Chen; 9/27/24 VA’s National Center for Healthcare Advancement and Partnerships (HAP) helps create and manage partnerships between VA and community organizations. The goal is simple: bring together VA and those in the community who share the same goals and mission when it comes to providing Veterans with outstanding health care and support. They are called Veteran Community Partnerships, or VCPs. “Developing and nurturing strong partnerships with VA and community providers is crucial to supporting Veteran health care,” said Dr. Jamie Davis, HAP health system specialist. “VCPs are instrumental in ensuring these partnerships enhance the health and well-being of Veterans across the country.” The East Bay VCP at Martinez VA is part of Northern California VA. Martinez VAMC and Veteran Community Partnerships focus on getting Veterans access to all available health care services. 

Alliance sees Hospice CARE Act as opportunity to advance hospice benefit discussionNHCPO / National Alliance for Care at Home; Press Release; 9/26/24 The National Alliance for Care at Home (the Alliance), a new national organization formed by the integration of the National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC) and the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) recognizes the introduction of the Hospice Care Accountability, Reform, and Enforcement (CARE) Act, by Congressman Earl Blumenauer (OR-3).  The Alliance shares Rep. Blumenauer’s desire to update the Medicare hospice benefit to address the evolving needs of our country’s aging population while ensuring the sustainability and integrity of the hospice program. As a long-standing champion of hospice care, Rep. Blumenauer has consistently demonstrated a commitment to ensuring that hospice services remain accessible, compassionate, and of the highest quality for patients and their families. The Alliance appreciates Rep. Blumenauer’s commitment to involving a diverse group of stakeholders in developing this legislation and will continue to work closely with congressional leaders on the finer points of the proposed bill to ensure that the final legislation supports the needs of patients, families, and providers alike.