Literature Review
Principles Underlying Optum’s Home-Based Care Deals
12/03/23 at 04:00 AMPrinciples Underlying Optum’s Home-Based Care DealsHospice NewsNovember 29, 2023Optum Health’s home-based care acquisitions are designed to support an overarching goal of expanding value-based care and diversifying clinical capabilities. The UnitedHealth Group subsidiary in June penned an agreement to acquire Amedisys in an all-cash transaction of $101 per share, or about $3.3 billion. This followed its $5.4 billion acquisition of LHC Group, which closed in February. Company-wide, value-based care is a driving force behind UnitedHealth Group’s growth strategy, according to the company’s CEO, Andrew Witty. To further expand this model, the company will need to leverage scale and an expanded suite of services within its health care and insurance businesses. ... UnitedHealth Group is positioning Optum as a cornerstone of its growing home-based care infrastructure and expansion of value-based service delivery.
UT Medical Center expanding palliative and hospice care in rural communities
12/03/23 at 04:00 AMUT Medical Center expanding palliative and hospice care in rural communitiesWVLT-TV (Knoxville, TN)November 30, 2023Knoxville, TN—November marks National Palliative and Hospice Care Month, two types of treatment that the University of Tennessee Medical Center’s Dr. Adam Tyson is passionate about. Now, the hospital is working to expand that care into other communities.
Northwell’s operating income drops $104M in Q3
12/03/23 at 04:00 AMNorthwell’s operating income drops $104M in Q3Becker’s Hospital CFO ReportNovember 30, 2023New Hyde Park, N.Y.-based Northwell Health reported a $103.9 million drop in operating income in the third quarter, from a $92.4 million gain in the third quarter of 2022 to an $11.6 million loss in the third quarter of this year, according to financial documents published Nov. 29. Revenue increased 5.8% year over year to $4.1 billion while expenses increased 8.6% to $4.2 billion.
Hospice Clinician Wages Rising at Slower Rate; Turnover Falling
12/03/23 at 04:00 AMHospice Clinician Wages Rising at Slower Rate; Turnover FallingHospice NewsDecember 1, 2023Wages for hospice clinicians continue to go up amid widespread staff shortages, but they grew at a slower rate in 2023 compared to the prior year. The national average hourly rate for Hospice registered nurses rose 4.58% in 2023, down from a 5.95% increase in 2022, according to a new report by the Hospital & Healthcare Compensation Service in cooperation with the National Association for Home Care & Hospice. Meanwhile, turnover rates declined in 2023, representing the first drop in several years, the report indicated.
‘Plain old greed’—HCA nurses rally to denounce understaffing, unsafe conditions at hospitals
12/03/23 at 04:00 AM‘Plain old greed’—HCA nurses rally to denounce understaffing, unsafe conditions at hospitalsFlorida PhoenixNovember 30, 2023Judy Preuss, an ICU nurse at HCA Florida Oak Hill Hospital, joined the National Nurses Organizing Committee 13 years ago for the same reason she rallied Thursday afternoon in Tampa with colleagues from other parts of the country: Bargaining to fix understaffing. Oak Hill Hospital, where Preuss has worked for 18 years, is one of HCA Healthcare’s 46 hospitals in Florida. The nurses from the union representing 10,000 registered nurses across the U.S. held a rally at the HCA West Florida Division Office in Tampa.
Friendtique Reaches $1.3 million in lifetime donations to Ohio’s Hospice LifeCare
12/03/23 at 04:00 AMFriendtique Reaches $1.3 million in lifetime donations to Ohio’s Hospice LifeCareDaily Record (Wooster, OH)November 30, 2023Wooster, OH—Ohio’s Hospice LifeCare recently received a donation of $25,000 from Friendtique, a local boutique resale shop. Friendtique’s gift marks a milestone of $1.3 million in lifetime donations to the Ohio’s Hospice LifeCare Community Care Fund.
Hospices Seek Special Focus CONs to Reach Underserved Populations
12/03/23 at 04:00 AMHospices Seek Special Focus CONs to Reach Underserved PopulationsHospice NewsDecember 1, 2023Some states with certificate of need regulations have special focus policies that allow hospice providers to expand services among underserved communities. But navigating these CON processes can be a challenge. ... A difficulty in seeking these types of special focus CONs is proving an unmet need among specific populations, according to André Lee, co-founder and administrator of Nashville-based Heart’n Soul Hospice.
New doctors just aren’t that interested in geriatrics
12/03/23 at 04:00 AMNew doctors just aren’t that interested in geriatricsAxiosDecember 1, 2023Doctors specializing in care for older adults are increasingly in demand as the country ages—but America’s newer physicians aren’t that interested in geriatric medicine. ... Less than half of 348 post-residency fellowships for geriatric internal medicine filled up in the initial matching process this year, according to new data from the National Resident Matching Program, the nonprofit that oversees placement of physicians in training. The fill rate was even lower for geriatric family medicine fellowships.
Report indicates fewer Vermonters opting for hospice care
12/03/23 at 04:00 AMReport indicates fewer Vermonters opting for hospice care.WCAX-TV (Burlington, VT)November 29, 2023Burlington, VT—Many Vermonters with terminal illnesses aren’t taking advantage of a benefit that some medical professionals say could improve their end-of-life care. A new report this month from the Vermont Department of Health found the percentage of people using hospice has actually gone down after it had risen steadily for many years.
Lack of Awareness Challenging Palliative Care’s Plight in the Hospice VBID Landscape
12/03/23 at 04:00 AMLack of Awareness Challenging Palliative Care’s Plight in the Hospice VBID LandscapePalliative Care NewsDecember 1, 2023A main barrier to palliative care growth in the Medicare Advantage hospice carve-in is a lack of understanding of these services among beneficiaries, as well as inconsistent service delivery.
Medical City Healthcare buys Wise Health System, increasing D-FW footprint
12/03/23 at 04:00 AMMedical City Healthcare buys Wise Health System, increasing D-FW footprintDallas Morning NewsDecember 1, 2023Dallas-based Medical City Healthcare has again expanded in North Texas with the purchase of Wise Health System, bringing the health system giant to 19 in-patient hospitals. Medical City, a division of HCA Healthcare in Nashville, announced the acquisition Friday, nearly a year after word surfaced of discussions with the Decatur, Texas-based hospital system.
Connecticut’s nursing shortage is all about pay rates
12/03/23 at 04:00 AMConnecticut’s nursing shortage is all about pay ratesBy Latoya Hall, RN, and Heather Massicotte, RNCT MirrorDecember 1, 2023Like many other states across the United States, Connecticut is grappling with a severe shortage of nurses. Personally, we have both seen nurses leaving the bedside at alarming rates to find jobs in other states and even outside of healthcare. We are not alone in this observation. As dedicated healthcare professionals, we are proud to provide essential care to patients, but the financial strain is undeniable.[Editor’s Note: Both authors are candidates in the Doctor of Nursing Practice-Family Nurse Practitioner program at Sacred Heart University’s College of Nursing, Fairfield, CT.]
Today's Encouragement 12/3/23
12/03/23 at 04:00 AMWithout music, life would be a mistake. ~Friedrich NietzscheSign up for our free daily newsletters here!UNSUBSCRIBE NOTICE: Hospice & Palliative Care Today is a free subscription email. If you believe you have received this email in error, or if you no longer wish to receive Hospice & Palliative Care Today, please unsubscribe here or reply to this email with the message “Unsubscribe”. Thank you.
Together, New England College and hospitals aim to tackle nursing vacancies
12/03/23 at 04:00 AMTogether, New England College and hospitals aim to tackle nursing vacanciesNew Hampshire BulletinDecember 1, 2023The state’s health care industry had to get creative after the pandemic exacerbated pre-existing workforce shortages, doubling the vacancy rate for nurses and LNAs between 2019 and 2022, according to the New Hampshire Hospital Association. Employers offered generous signing bonuses and paid training. The state made it easier for out-of-state practitioners to get a New Hampshire license. A team of health care leaders developed 107 strategies to recruit and retain workers.
Walmart Reportedly Interested In Reviving Humana Deal Talks
12/03/23 at 04:00 AMWalmart Reportedly Interested In Reviving Humana Deal TalksHome Health Care NewsDecember 1, 2023Humana Inc. remained in the headlines Friday, this time after being linked to Walmart in potential deal talks.
Tomah Organizations Share $4+ Million Bequest
12/03/23 at 04:00 AMTomah Organizations Share $4+ Million Bequest.News ReleaseNovember 28, 2023Tomah, WI—Tomah Health, the Tomah Health Hospice Touch & Palliative Care program, the Tomah Public Library and Chasing Daylight Animal Shelter will share just over a $4 million gift commitment from a trust created by John and Velda Felton of Tomah and formerly of Warrens.
Nursing Home Occupancy ‘Disappointingly Flat’ in November but States’ Medicaid Rebasing Encouraging
12/03/23 at 04:00 AMNursing Home Occupancy ‘Disappointingly Flat’ in November but States’ Medicaid Rebasing EncouragingSkilled Nursing NewsDecember 1, 2023Healthcare Real Estate Investment Trusts specializing in post-acute care facilities experienced “disappointingly flat” occupancy rates in November, according to investment analysts. BMO Capital Market’s Juan Sanabria highlighted the challenges faced by skilled nursing facilities in maintaining growth, with market share loss to home health. ... In terms of REIT exposure and risks, the note pointed out that SNF coverage appeared to have bottomed out as occupancy and labor availability had improved. This trend is evident from recent quarterly earnings from several large publicly-traded REITs.
Today's Encouragement 12/2/23
12/02/23 at 04:00 AMBe kind. Everyone you meet is carrying a heavy burden. ~Ian MacLaren
Hospice patients, pets focus of Pet Peace of Mind, which has Vancouver branch
12/02/23 at 04:00 AMHospice patients, pets focus of Pet Peace of Mind, which has Vancouver branch
Salary increases, bonuses help to address nurse staffing challenges, hospice survey finds
12/02/23 at 04:00 AMSalary increases, bonuses help to address nurse staffing challenges, hospice survey finds
Providence posts $310M operating loss in Q3
12/02/23 at 04:00 AMProvidence posts $310M operating loss in Q3
Rosen, Barrasso, Baldwin, Fischer Pass Bipartisan Resolution Designating November 2023 as ‘‘National Hospice And Palliative Care Month”
12/02/23 at 04:00 AMRosen, Barrasso, Baldwin, Fischer Pass Bipartisan Resolution Designating November 2023 as ‘‘National Hospice And Palliative Care Month”
HCA to buy bankrupt Texas hospital
12/02/23 at 04:00 AMHCA to buy bankrupt Texas hospital
Hospice Providers Developing New Strategies for Recruitment, Retention
12/02/23 at 04:00 AMHospice Providers Developing New Strategies for Recruitment, Retention
Cleveland Clinic cuts operating loss to $14.9M in Q3
12/02/23 at 04:00 AMCleveland Clinic cuts operating loss to $14.9M in Q3