Literature Review
Impact of transition to home palliative care on patient support and prescriptions
12/20/24 at 03:00 AMImpact of transition to home palliative care on patient support and prescriptions Physician's Weekly; 12/19/24 The following is a summary of “Evaluating the Benefits of Transition to Home Palliative Care: Pharmacological Prescriptions, Social, and Psychological Support Post-Referral,” published in the November 2024 issue of Primary Care by Ribeiro et al. Community palliative care teams provide at-home care based on referral criteria that prioritize functional status and clinical complexity. They focus on patients with limited benefit from continued hospital care. Researchers conducted a retrospective study to assess the quality of referrals and the transition to community palliative care teams. ... They concluded that most complex patients were successfully monitored and died at home, with hospital deaths reserved for exceptional cases. There was no significant difference in the biopsychosocial approach between patients followed by various palliative care teams, indicating varying approaches.
Vancouver non-profit offers hope for the bereaved during holidays [The Wishing Tree]
12/20/24 at 03:00 AMVancouver non-profit offers hope for the bereaved during holidays [The Wishing Tree] KOIN, Portland, OR; by Anthony Kustura; 12/19/24 The holiday season is a wonderful time of year for many — but for those who recently lost a loved one, it can bring lots of heartache. In Portland, The Wishing Tree near Northeast 7th Avenue and Northeast Morris Street is a towering elm that carries hundreds of paper tags with people’s hopes and dreams all year long. ... With the tie of a bow, McCoy’s wish joins a long list of others, including ones that say “I wish to be loved” and “I wish for my kids to be happy and healthy. McCoy and her husband, Jordan Jackson, know what it’s like for the holiday season to be a solemn reminder of what’s missing. “Back home, my grandfather is in hospice care right now,” Jackson said. “You know, we miss family, so it’s always like… it would be nice to be around family, celebrate with family …,” added McCoy. [Click here to view photos of "The Wishing Tree" in Portland, OR.]
Sierra Hills assisted living employees in Cheyenne to strike over staffing issues
12/20/24 at 03:00 AMSierra Hills assisted living employees in Cheyenne to strike over staffing issues' Wyoming Tribune-Eagle, Cheyenne, WY; by Noah Zahn; 12/18/24 In March, a resident at Sierra Hills Assisted Living in Cheyenne fell and hurt their hip and shoulder. A CNA at the facility reported that the resident could not be moved without causing shoulder pain, noting that they had likely broken their shoulder and hip, according to a report from the Wyoming Department of Health. The resident was bed-bound, in “excruciating pain” and screamed for hours, which frightened the other residents. The CNA stated this was “the worst thing she had ever experienced.” At the time, the resident was one of six hospice patients at the assisted-living facility. Sierra Hills made hospice care available at the facility shortly after the COVID-19 pandemic. When hospice nurses were unavailable, the burden of care fell to the CNAs and RNs on staff. The CNA caring for this resident in March stated it was difficult to get hospice to respond on the weekends, saying that there was an 80% chance hospice would answer a phone call and a 50% chance a hospice nurse would come to the facility. Six days later, the resident died. Editor's note: Click on the title's link to continue reading. This strike--reportedly related to staffing--appears to be related extra responsibilities on the staff, because of the hospice's limited responses on weekends. This is 2024; not 1974. How does this scenario relate to your hospice triage, hours, staffing, incident reports, community partnerships?
Palliative care, mental health services underutilized in pancreatic cancer
12/20/24 at 03:00 AMPalliative care, mental health services underutilized in pancreatic cancer Healio; by Jennifer Byrne; 12/19/24 Individuals with pancreatic cancer underutilized palliative care and mental health services, according to a retrospective analysis. ... Researchers from Saint Louis University used electronic health record data from Optum’s Integrated Claims-Clinical Data set to identify 4,029 patients with newly diagnosed pancreatic cancer. The investigators then used ICD-9/10 codes to identify subsequent diagnoses of anxiety and depression, as well as palliative care consultations. ... Results showed higher prevalence of anxiety (33.9% vs. 22.8%) and depression (36.2% vs. 23.2%) among patients who had palliative care consultations than those who did not have documented consultations. ... Healio: Did any of your findings surprise you? Divya S. Subramaniam, PhD, MPH: It was unexpected to see that palliative care consultations, despite identifying higher levels of anxiety and depression, did not increase treatment rates for these mental health conditions. This suggests mental health might not yet be a central focus in palliative consultations, which often concentrate on managing physical symptoms.
HopeWest concludes search for new CEO
12/20/24 at 03:00 AMHopeWest concludes search for new CEO The Daily Sentinel, Grand Junction, CO; by Jace Dicola; 12/19/24 HopeWest, one of western Colorado’s largest hospice and palliative care providers, has selected a new Chief Executive Officer: Deneen Silva. Silva will replace current HopeWest CEO Cassie Mitchell, who announced her “bittersweet” departure for a job closer to family in mid-October. According to a HopeWest press release, Silva will begin the new position in February 2025. Mitchell will continue as CEO until then and remain with the organization through the end of March to ensure a smooth transition. ... HopeWest is not new territory for Silva, who has served as the organization’s Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) Executive Director since September of this year. ... Previously, Silva served as a hospice executive director in Oregon and was a primary player in establishing southern Oregon’s first PACE program.
Providence’s joint venture with Compassus likely delayed amid concerns about patient care and rural access
12/20/24 at 03:00 AMProvidence’s joint venture with Compassus likely delayed amid concerns about patient care and rural access Home Health Care News; by Audri Martin; 12/19/24Oregon’s Health Care Market Oversight (HCMO) program is reviewing a proposal to spin off Providence’s home health and hospice services into a joint venture supported by private equity. ... OHA’s HCMO program evaluates health care business transactions to ensure they do not negatively impact citizens or communities. The program also empowers state regulators to impose conditions on acquisitions and mergers or reject deals they find anti-competitive. Critics of the deal argue that the joint venture will result in cost-cutting measures, increased staff workloads and reduced patient services. Providence is the fifth largest nonprofit health care provider in the United States, while Compassus is a private equity-backed provider of home-based care services operating in more than 30 states.
Joining forces: 2024’s hospice investment, consolidation trends
12/20/24 at 03:00 AMJoining forces: 2024’s hospice investment, consolidation trendsHospice News; by Holly Vossel; 12/18/24 Hospice investment trends took myriad routes this year, seeing a few common threads occurring among nonprofit and for-profit entities that hint at where the market may be heading. The scope of hospice deals in 2024 encompassed joint ventures and collaborative affiliations in addition to acquisitions. Some of these transactions were fueled by value-based reimbursement and unmet needs among underserved patients. Rising demand, workforce growth and organizational culture are three significant pieces driving much of the recent hospice merger and acquisition (M&A) activity, according to Andrew Molosky, president and CEO of Chapters Health System, a large Florida-based nonprofit hospice provider.
Mom, 26, dies days after choosing to enter hospice following 13 years of living with kidney failure (exclusive)
12/20/24 at 02:15 AMMom, 26, dies days after choosing to enter hospice following 13 years of living with kidney failure (exclusive) People; by Zoey Lyttle; 12/18/24 Though she left behind a 4-year-old daughter, Sara Long told PEOPLE her feelings about death were "more certain" than they'd ever been when she started end-of-life care. “I think a lot of people spend a lot of time thinking about what it means to have a good life. And don't get me wrong, I did that too,” Sara Long, 26, told PEOPLE over the phone just shy of a week before she died at the hospice facility into which she had just recently moved. ... Long said she’s spent “the last two or three years” deliberating about her idea of a “good death.” She decided that it wasn’t just about how she would experience these last expected few weeks of her life in hospice. What Long really wanted was to be surrounded by her most precious loved ones — including her husband Justin, 32, and their 4-year-old daughter Riley Jean — but she didn't want them to watch her die while intubated and attached to hospital equipment as she was half of her life. “I just feel like if I pushed it any harder, then I was going to get to a place where it was going to be outside of my control,” said the mom of one. “I was going to wind up dying in a hospital alone, afraid, full of tubes, scared. My daughter wouldn't be able to be part of the process, and it would just be really lonely, and that's really not the goal.” Detached from the familiar yet foreign medical equipment, Long told PEOPLE she was freed from fear knowing she would only survive another couple of weeks in hospice. (She died with a week less than anticipated.) Editor's note: This another follow-up post to this profound young woman's story that we post on
Torrie Fields on palliative care and serious illness innovations
12/20/24 at 02:00 AMTorrie Fields on palliative care and serious illness innovations Teleios Collaborative Network (TCN); podcast hosted by Chris Comeaux; 12/18/24 In this episode of TCNtalks, host Chris Comeaux interviews Torrie Fields, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, TFA Analytics, about her journey in the field of palliative care. Torrie shares her insights on the importance of palliative care, innovations in reimbursement models, and the lessons learned from implementing palliative care programs in California and Hawaii. The conversation highlights the urgency for hospice organizations to adapt to changing healthcare landscapes by innovating in the serious illness and palliative care space and the need for effective partnerships with payers. Torrie emphasizes the importance of articulating the unique value propositions of palliative care services and offers strategies for hospice leaders to thrive in the future.
Why good leaders turn bad and harm their teams
12/20/24 at 02:00 AMWhy good leaders turn bad and harm their teams Forbes; by Benjamin Laker; 12/17/24 Leadership is often idealized as a force for good—driving positive change, inspiring teams and achieving ambitious goals. However, leadership also has a darker side. Power, ambition and the pressures of professional life can push even well-intentioned leaders into behaviors that harm their teams, their companies and, in many cases, themselves. Understanding why and how leaders succumb to the darker aspects of leadership is not just an academic exercise—it’s also a practical challenge for anyone navigating today’s workplaces.
Today's Encouragement: Be yourself ...
12/19/24 at 03:00 AMBe yourself. Who else is better qualified? ~ Frank J. Giblin, Professor of Biomedical Sciences
Convicted trio jailed for elder abuse
12/19/24 at 03:00 AMConvicted trio jailed for elder abuse Inland News Today, Riverside, CA; 12/18/24 A 7-year prison sentence has been meted out for the neglect and abuse of six severely disabled residents at an unlicensed Riverside care facility. Ronnel Tiburcio was convicted of six counts of elder abuse likely to produce great bodily harm. Earlier, co-defendants Joel Ombao and registered nurse Nimfa Molina were handed jail sentences. Ombao owned several hospice companies, including the unlicensed Secure Hands board and care facility where the victims were housed. Ombao, his assistant Tiburcio, and registered nurse Molina, were responsible for operating the facility and caring for the residents. When investigators first checked out the care facility, residents were being housed in squalor. Many of them were emaciated and dehydrated.
Greater education needed to bring palliative care to cancer patients
12/19/24 at 03:00 AMGreater education needed to bring palliative care to cancer patients Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 12/18/24 Cancer patients generally need palliative care, but widespread misperceptions often stand in their way, both among the public and many clinicians themselves. This is according to Nadine Barrett, president of the Association of Cancer Care Centers (ACCC). The organization has been holding a series of webinars designed to better educate the oncology community about palliative care. The association is also in the process of studying racial and ethnic gaps in advance care planning, among other projects funded by its research arm, the ACCC Community Oncology Research Institute. Palliative Care News sat down with Barrett to discuss the barriers that cancer patients often experience when it comes to accessing palliative care. [Click on the title's link to read more.]
[United Kingdom] 'My son died at 24 - now I'm doing his bucket list'
12/19/24 at 03:00 AM[United Kingdom] 'My son died at 24 - now I'm doing his bucket list' BBC News; by Adam Eley and Alison Holt; 12/16/24 Alex Spencer's son Declan - who had Duchenne muscular dystrophy - died last year at the age of 24, and she admits she has still not gone a day without crying. "I think society has a misconception that a carer gets their life back [when a loved one dies]," she said. Declan had drawn up a bucket list but died before he could finish it. Now Alex, who wants to raise awareness of the difficulties disabled people face in getting the right care, is taking up the challenge - including visiting Paris, getting a tattoo Declan designed and taking his adapted van around a famous German race track.
Bill would require prisons to notify families of inmate deaths
12/19/24 at 03:00 AMBill would require prisons to notify families of inmate deaths Henry Herald, Washington, DC; by Staff; 12/18/24 U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Georgia, recently announced the introduction of a bipartisan bill aimed at helping ensure family members are notified in a timely and compassionate manner in the event of the death or serious illness or injury of a loved one in custody. Ossoff and U.S. Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., recently introduced the bipartisan Family Notification of Death, Injury, or Illness in Custody Act. U.S. Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove, D-Calif., is leading the companion bill in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Holly Ball raises over $1,000,000 in its 50th year
12/19/24 at 03:00 AMHolly Ball raises over $1,000,000 in its 50th year WJON News AM-1240 FM-95.3, St. Cloud, MN; by Paul Habstritt; 12/16/24 An annual fundraising event in St. Cloud was a huge success. CentraCare's 50th Annual Holly Ball raised over $1-million dollars to support CentraCare Hospice, Coborn Cancer Center, and Child Advocacy Center. CentraCare Foundation Vice President Holly Gulden says Holly Ball was an incredible success this year and they are so grateful to the guests, sponsors, volunteers, and donors' commitment to helping CentraCare support local health care. The theme for this year's event was "Seasons of Love." Over, 1,200 people attended Holly Ball on December 7th at the River's Edge Convention Center, and planning is already underway for 2025.
Oregon will review Providence's handoff of hospice, home health to private equity-backed firm
12/19/24 at 03:00 AMOregon will review Providence's handoff of hospice, home health to private equity-backed firm The Lund Report; by Nick Budnick; 12/17/24Providence Health’s plan to hand over hospice and home health services affecting thousands of patients to private equity-backed Compassus Health will undergo state review following questions raised by the Oregon Nurses Association, workers and members of the public. ... Now, after the Oregon Nurses Association sent a letter to the health authority’s director, Sejal Hathi, and members of the public weighed in with public comment, the Oregon Health Authority has decided to review the joint venture to see if it will hurt costs of care, access or employment and working conditions. The health authority’s decision to wade in on the latest deal is significant because the merger affects thousands of patients across multiple states, and yet Oregon has stronger legal authority than most states to stop it. The decision by the health authority represents the highest-profile known instance in which the agency has stepped in to require companies to formally apply for approval after they’d previously opted not to.
Congress finalizes sweeping bill to help veteran caregivers
12/19/24 at 03:00 AMCongress finalizes sweeping bill to help veteran caregivers Military Times; by Leo Shane III; 12/16/24 House lawmakers on Monday finalized a sweeping veterans bill to expand caregiver benefits for elderly and infirm veterans and update medical options for veterans outside the department’s health care system, sending the legislative package to the White House to become law. The legislation was originally passed by the chamber last month but had to be reapproved this week after technical changes were added by the Senate last week.
Things CIOs and CTOs need to do differently in 2025
12/19/24 at 03:00 AMThings CIOs and CTOs need to do differently in 2025 Information Week; by Lisa Morgan; 12/18/24 As CIOs and CTOs head into a new year, they always have priorities. Greater agility is a key theme in 2025. ... “Keep ahead or at least on top of the cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and data analytics skills that are needed. Acquire talent and develop that talent so your company remains competitive,” says [Loren Margolis, faculty, Stony Brook University]. “Find ways to use [AI and analytics] to become even more agile so you remain competitive. Also embrace them as opportunities to train and develop your workforce. Make sure your organization is a place where great tech talent can come to develop and use their skills.” The following are some other priorities for 2025:
Cherish Hospice celebrates new location in Springfield
12/19/24 at 03:00 AMCherish Hospice celebrates new location in Springfield Springfield News-Sun; by Brooke Spurlock; 12/17/24 Cherish Hospice celebrated its new headquarters location at 1929 E. High St. in Springfield [OH] on Tuesday. Cherish officials said that since 2021, they have served hundreds of patients in Southwest Ohio, with a staff of more than 25 caregivers and a volunteer program. “This is a great symbol of us, how we’ve grown,” said Jason Casto, administrator for Cherish Hospice. “This is a ribbon cutting event to celebrate our growth and the fact that we plan to remain here in Springfield as a staple.”
What Gen Z wants from employers
12/19/24 at 03:00 AMWhat Gen Z wants from employers Becker's Hospital Review; by Kristin Kuchno; 12/16/24 Each new generation entering the workforce brings unique challenges for management, and Generation Z is no exception. Leaders may find themselves puzzled by what Gen Z workers want from their employers and what drives their retention. This generation includes individuals born between 1997 and 2012, making the oldest members 27 years old. [Here] are 16 common priorities of Gen Z workers, as reported by Becker's in 2024: 1. Company culture ... 2. Team dynamics ... 3. Career paths ... 4. Mental health resources ... 5. Student loan repayment options ... 6. Full-time commitment ... 7. Wise feedback ... 8. Work-life balance ... 9. Purpose-driven roles ... 10. Flexible work ... 11. Growth opportunities ... 12. Feedback and validation ... 13. Retention by role ... 14. AI skepticisim ... 15. Timely pay ... 16. Authenticity ...
Taking over affairs for an aging parent in mental decline
12/19/24 at 03:00 AMTaking over affairs for an aging parent in mental decline U.S. News & World Report; by Lisa Esposito and Elaine K. Howley; 12/17/24 ... Taking over affairs for an aging parent is a vast undertaking that must focus on several areas of the individual’s life and health simultaneously. Here is a step-by-step guide to approaching this process:
Springside Knitting Club helps Friends of Hospice [in Oswego County]
12/19/24 at 03:00 AMSpringside Knitting Club helps Friends of Hospice Oswego County News Now, Oswego, NY; 12/18/24 The Springside at Seneca Hill Knitting Club recently donated a bin of handmade Afghans to Friends of Hospice in Oswego County (FOHOC), said Elena Twiss, FOHOC executive director. “The Afghans they made will give warmth and comfort to individuals at the end of life in Oswego County and we are very grateful for their support.” FOHOC is a volunteer organization that provides financial and non-medical support to individuals, caregivers, friends and families during the end-of-life journey and supports them following their loss.
Lawmakers, health care providers raise alarm about growing antisemitism in medical field
12/19/24 at 03:00 AMLawmakers, health care providers raise alarm about growing antisemitism in medical field Jewish Insider - Health Care Hazard; by Marc Rod; 12/18/24 Speaking on a panel on Capitol Hill on Tuesday, lawmakers, medical professionals and Jewish community advocates sounded the alarm about the spread of antisemitism in the health care field, both within medical schools and in clinical settings. They said that the issue deserves and requires greater attention from Capitol Hill, akin to the attention campus antisemitism has received over the past year. “That’s truly scary, the idea that somehow your religious background or your identity would inform or impact the type of care that you get is not only antisemitic, it’s not only anti-American, it is anti-democratic,” Rep. Dan Goldman (D-NY), the incoming chair of the House antisemitism task force, said at the Jewish Federations of North America-organized briefing.
December challenge: Gift ideas part two
12/19/24 at 03:00 AMDecember challenge: Gift ideas part two ActiveRain; by Kat Palmiotti; 12/17/24 ... My mother dealt with cancer the last four years of her life with an upbeat attitude, ... So what did she do with the time she had left? The same as always. It was late November 2011 at this point. So what she decided to do was to make a point of purchasing us all our last Christmas present. ... So for me, she purchased me a coffee cup with a lid which is pictured in the feature photo. ... But my mom didn't stop there. She also wrote each of her family members a handwritten letter. Her letter to me talked about me being her first born, and about what I was like during my childhood, and how she felt about my life as an adult. It was a beautiful letter that makes me smile and cry every time I read it. I treasure it. ... So why am I sharing this? Because when I think back on all the gifts I've ever received, it's not jewelry or clothing or anything else that pops into my mind first. It's a $5 cup and a piece of paper with writing on it. And both of those were my mom giving me love. So, when giving gifts to those you care about, give them love. Perhaps grab a piece of paper and a pen and let them know how much you care about them. Or buy them a small carefully selected item that they might use on a daily basis, smiling because it's from you. Because really, it truly is the thought that counts. Let that thought be love.