Literature Review

Jefferson-Lehigh Valley Health merger process moves forward Modern Healthcare; by Caroline Hudson; 5/15/24 Jefferson Health and Lehigh Valley Health Network have taken a major step toward completing their proposed merger. The two health systems have signed a definitive agreement to merge, according to a Wednesday news release. The organizations said they plan to create a $15 billion regional nonprofit system with more than 65,000 employees, which will operate 30 hospitals and more than 700 care sites in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The health systems expect the deal to close this summer, pending regulatory approval, according to the news release.

Aveanna is looking to grow in its ‘rightsized’ home health segment again Home Health Care News; by Andrew Donlan; 5/14/24 Aveanna Healthcare Holdings leaders believe the company is back at a place where it can bank on near-term growth in its Medicare-certified home health business. It first entered into a business “transformation” in January 2023, and that transformation is already paying dividends, according to CEO Jeff Shaner. But much of the turnaround has been led by the private-duty services segment. Now, Shaner sees a path for the company to begin accelerating its home health and hospice lines. 

Executive Personnel Changes - 5/17/24

A Review of "Heartwood: The Art of Living with the End in Mind" by Barbara Becker CU Anschutz; by Darcy Campbell, AGNP-D, ACHPN; 5/14/24 This year, one of our [small group] readings was the book, Heartwood; The Art of Living with the End in Mind, by interfaith pastor Barbara Becker. The book is composed of small vignettes from her life that explore death and dying. Many of her experiences as a hospice volunteer are captured as well. Her book was to be about death, but she learned that in writing about death she really explored what it means to live. Heartwood is the inner core of a tree. While dead it does not decay as it is supported by the outer living rings of the tree. Becker, describes Heartwood as the ideal metaphor for our life, “where life and death cannot exist separately from each other.” ... Working in palliative care, we too are forced to look at our own mortality.

Emerging leaders in hospice and palliative care AAHPM - American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine; webpage source for various press releeases of individuals; 5/24AAHPM developed the Emerging Leaders in Hospice and Palliative Care program to recognize the exceptional work accomplished by the next generation of leaders and bring increased exposure to the specialty of hospice and palliative medicine. In 2014, the first class of Emerging Leaders was named. AAHPM seeks to recognize accomplished early career professionals and the next generation of hospice and palliative care leaders. This award recognizes new Emerging Leaders in recognition of their career accomplishments, involvement in the Academy, mentoring of residents and students, and participation in charitable work. [Click on the title's link for the list of 36 honorees.]Editor's Note: Do you work with or know any of these honorees? If so, please share this with them and your colleagues, along with congratulations from Hospice & Palliative Care Today! (Invite them to register for free--no strings attached--to our daily newsletter.)

VA Committee leaders unveil bipartisan veterans packageHouse Committee on Veterans' Affairs; by Kathleen McCarthy; 5/14/24 House and Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs leaders Chairman Mike Bost (R-Ill.), Chairman Jon Tester (D-Mont.), and Ranking Member Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), introduced H.R. 8371, the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act. This legislation includes a number of bipartisan and bicameral proposals to reform and improve the delivery of healthcare, benefits, and services at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for veterans, their families, and their survivors. ... The Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act is supported by a growing list of the following organizations: The American Legion [TAL] ... Wounded Warrior Project (WWP), ... Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), ... National PACE Association, National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO), Hospice Action Network (HAN), and [many more].

Industry professionals reflect on five years of medical marijuana in Arkansas Arkansas Advocate; by Mary Hennigan; 5/13/24Since the launch of medical marijuana in Arkansas in 2019, more than three dozen storefronts have opened, at least 102,000 residents have registered for patient cards and revenue has topped $1.1 billion. The latest card count exceeds 102,000, and there’s no indication of a letup in new applications,  ... As of June 2023, one in three Arkansans with a patient card listed post-traumatic stress disorder as their qualifying condition, ... The next highest qualifying condition was intractable pain, or pain that has not responded to ordinary medications for more than six months, at nearly 30%. 

Manatee County hospice volunteer celebrates patients' birthdays dressed in costumes Specturm News 9, Manatee County, FL; by Rick Elmhorst; 5/13/24 A Manatee County woman is bringing joy to people in hospice care by celebrating their birthdays. Pam Freas volunteers with Chapters Health Lifepath Hospice by dressing in costumes and visiting patients for their birthdays. She also helps manage the supplies for milestone birthday celebrations, including packing birthday bags full of blankets and pillows. Freas recently visited a young boy named Jackson who was in home hospice care. She dressed as a dinosaur since Jackson loves dinosaurs. Although Jackson has a difficult time communicating, Freas spent time talking with him to brighten his day.

Nurses’ Union reaches labor agreement with PeaceHealth for hospice, home health workers Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 5/14/24 After more than a year of negotiations, the Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) labor union has reached an agreement with PeaceHealth. Priorities among the hospice and home nurses include wage increases, raising safety standards, ensuring affordable and accessible home health care delivery, equitable pay protection and addressing clinical staffing crises by increasing recruitment and retention of skilled caregivers. 

Amazon seeks nonprofit healthcare, EHR expertise Becker's Helath IT; by Laura Dyrda; 5/13/24 Amazon is looking to hire leaders with experience in nonprofit healthcare and EHRs, according to recent job postings on the tech giant's website. Amazon Web Services has a listing for "Senior Solutions Architect, Healthcare, Nonprofit Health, Nonprofit Healthcare" seeking an individual with a passion for helping nonprofit healthcare providers implement cloud computing solutions. ... [Amazon] is also hiring for an account executive focused on nonprofit healthcare and global nonprofit healthcare. The company is searching for a "proven business executive in the NP healthcare sector to lead and continue to expand the business with some of our most important healthcare customers and develop new customers across a targeted greenfield market."

Early palliative care perceptions by patients with cancer and primary caregivers: metaphorical languageBMJ Supportive & Palliative Care; by Elena Bandieri, Sarah Bigi, Melissa Nava, Eleonora Borelli, Carlo Adolfo Porro, Erio Castellucci, Fabio Efficace, Eduardo Bruera, Oreofe Odejide, Camilla Zimmermann, Leonardo Potenza, Mario Luppi; 5/13/24Methods: Data were collected through a pen-and-paper questionnaire on respondents’ perceptions of the disease, its treatment and their idea of death, before and after receiving EPC [early palliative care]. The data were analysed by identifying all metaphorical uses of language, following the ‘metaphor identification procedure’ proposed by the Praggjelaz Group.Results: Metaphors were used from a variety of semantic fields. EPC was described using spiritual terms, to indicate that this approach was instrumental in ‘restoring life’, ‘producing hope’ and making patients feel ‘accompanied’. The most recurrent metaphors were those referring to light and salvation; spatial metaphors were used to describe the treatment and the hospital as a ‘safe haven’ and ‘an oasis of peace’. 

5 tips to support employees with unexpected illness or disability Forbes; by Diane Winiarski; 5/14/24 When employees experience an unexpected illness or a disabling condition, it can be traumatic for them and unsettling for their managers. It is important for employers to demonstrate support and an understanding of each situation. Another way to show support is by pointing them to the federal disability program created to help in this specific instance. ... These five suggestions can help managers be better equipped to support their team members who are dealing with illnesses, accidents or disabilities.

Medicare Advantage will 'sink' rural hospitals, experts warn Modern Healthcare; by Michael Mcauliff; 5/14/24Studies by Chartis [Center for Rural Heaalth] and others paint the bleak picture for rural hospitals. According to a recent estimate by the nonprofit Center for Healthcare Quality and Payment Reform, about 700 rural hospitals are at risk of closing. A recent Chartis report estimated 167 rural hospitals have closed since 2010, with another 418 vulnerable to closure now. [Click on the title's link for patient care examples and more stats.]