Literature Review
Professor teaches student physicians how to use art to connect with end-of-life patients
04/28/25 at 03:00 AMProfessor teaches student physicians how to use art to connect with end-of-life patients Thomasville Times-Enterprise, Moultrie, GA; by Staff Reports; 4/23/25Richard Curtis of Thomasville teaches art classes at Thomas University, but he’s also an end-of-life doula who volunteers with patients through Archbold Hospice, integrating his artistic skills into his volunteer work. Earlier this month, Curtis showcased his blend of art, medical care, and human interaction during a session of the Medical Humanities course at PCOM South Georgia. Led by faculty member Thomas Last, PhD, the course aims to help student physicians transcend the science of medicine. “The Medical Humanities course supports students’ growth into humanistic, socially conscious physicians by providing reflective opportunities and meaningful experiences that deepen their understanding of diverse patient perspectives,” Dr. Last said.Editor's note: Do you dismiss this? Does it seem too "out there"? For stronger context, Sandra Bertman, PhD, FT pioneered Arts Medicine with medical students and other healthcare clinicians. For most of her career, Bertman was Professor of Humanities in Medicine at the University of Massachusetts Medical School and Graduate School of Nursing, where she founded and directed the Program of Medical Humanities and Arts in Healthcare. (More personally, I've been blessed to know Sandra as my colleague and friend.) Dr. Bertman was awarded the Robert F. Kennedy Award for Social Justice (2018). Her primary publications include ...
Iowa nurse sentenced to prison after patient death
04/28/25 at 03:00 AMIowa nurse sentenced to prison after patient deathBecker's Hospital Review; by Mariah Taylor; 4/25/25A former Iowa licensed nurse practitioner has been sentenced to prison after failing to help a nursing home patient who died of asphyxiation, the Des Moines Register reported April 24. Becky Manning, 70, was in charge of the overnight shift at Care Initiatives, a nursing facility in West Des Moines, during one night in February 2023. That night, an 87-year-old patient indicated that his tracheostomy tube in his neck needed to have fluids suctioned out. Ms. Manning, who was the sole nurse on duty, refused to do so after repeated requests. Earlier that night, she reportedly told the director of nursing that she was unwilling or unable to suction the tracheostomy tube and the nursing director told her to “watch a video and figure it out,” according to a lawsuit filed by the man’s family. The man died of asphyxiation.
Special Report: Examining group health coverage alternatives for small employers - update
04/28/25 at 03:00 AMSpecial Report: Examining group health coverage alternatives for small employers - update JDSupra; by Alden Bianchi, Sarah Raaii, Teal Trujillo, Erin Turley, Allison Wilkerson; 4/23/25 ... Small employers’ efforts to provide robust major medical coverage to workers and their families have long proven futile, primarily due to underwriting challenges. Groups of under 50 employees are often relegated to state small group market coverage, which tends to be expensive. ... This Special Report examines the options available to small employers – and the obstacles they routinely encounter – as they seek to make affordable health insurance coverage available to their employees and their families.
20 tech experts on how to boost operational resilience
04/28/25 at 03:00 AM20 tech experts on how to boost operational resilience Forbes; by Forbes Expert Panel; 3/23/25 Managing risk and boosting resilience is an important initiative for organizations—particularly so for the finance, healthcare and logistics sectors. ... Members of Forbes Technology Council share their top tips for building operational resilience.
40% of nurses eye exit by 2029: 5 findings from NCSBN’s new workforce report
04/28/25 at 03:00 AM40% of nurses eye exit by 2029: 5 findings from NCSBN’s new workforce report Becker's Hospital Review; by Erica Carbajal; 4/27/25While the post-pandemic nursing workforce is showing signs of stabilizing, high levels of burnout, stress and dissatisfaction continue to threaten long-term workforce stability, according to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing’s biennial 2024 National Workforce Study. The report surveyed more than 800,000 nurses in the U.S. and is considered the largest, most comprehensive report on the state of the nursing workforce. ...
Evaluation of Medicare Advantage Value-Based Insurance Design (VBID) Model test (2020-2023) - Key takeaways: VBID Hospice Component, 2021–2023
04/28/25 at 03:00 AMEvaluation of Medicare Advantage Value-Based Insurance Design (VBID) Model test (2020-2023) - Key takeaways: VBID Hospice Component, 2021–2023CMS press release email; 4/18/25From 2021 through 2024, the voluntary Medicare Advantage (MA) Value-Based Insurance Design (VBID) model allowed MA insurers to offer the Medicare Hospice Benefit within their plans. Outside VBID, hospice care is not included in MA plan benefit packages and is paid through traditional Medicare. The Hospice Benefit component consolidated responsibility and accountability for the cost, quality, and outcomes of MA beneficiaries in hospice with the intent of promoting care coordination and improving quality of care while maintaining budget neutrality or reducing costs.
What doctors wish patients knew about decision fatigue
04/28/25 at 03:00 AMWhat doctors wish patients knew about decision fatigueAMA; by Sara Berg; 3/21/25The daily flood of decisions can be exhausting. Lisa MacLean, MD, a psychiatrist at Henry Ford Health, shares how to overcome decision fatigue. From the moment we wake up, we are seemingly bombarded with choices—what to wear, what to eat, which emails to answer first. By the time we’ve navigated our morning routine, our mental energy has already taken a hit. And as the day wears on, the sheer weight of decision-making can start to take its toll, often without us even realizing it. Making decisions day in and day out can be exhausting and cause people to feel overwhelmed, anxious or stressed. [Key points include:]
An untapped resource: How family caregivers provide value for home care
04/28/25 at 03:00 AMAn untapped resource: How family caregivers provide value for home careMcKnight's Home Care; by Adam Healy; 4/21/25If there is one lesson Andrea Cohen learned after more than two decades of running a home care company, it is that supporting family caregivers is foundational to quality care. “I would say I have three customers,” Andrea told McKnight’s Home Care Daily Pulse. “One is the client themselves, one is the professional caregiver and the other is the family caregiver. About 95% of the time, we were actually dealing with the family caregiver.”Publisher's note: Equally true in hospice.
Two palliative care pioneers share their essential qualities for nurse leadership
04/28/25 at 03:00 AMTwo palliative care pioneers share their essential qualities for nurse leadershipehospice; 4/22/25“Four thousand miles apart, and prior to the establishment of the launch of the Global Palliative Nursing Network (GPNN), living very separate, parallel lives, Yangden Paki and Halima Ibrahim share many of the key qualities required to enable them as nurses to introduce, establish and grow palliative care provision in their respective countries – Bhutan and Sudan.
The state of cancer mortality, incidence: 9 new findings
04/28/25 at 03:00 AMThe state of cancer mortality, incidence: 9 new findingsBecker's Hospital Review; bElizabeth Gregerson;4/21/25Overall cancer mortality rates decreased for men, women and children in the U.S. between 2018 and 2022, according to the National Cancer Institute’s “Annual Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer,” published April 21 in Cancer. The report presents cancer incidence and mortality data collected from NCI and CDC population-based cancer registries, as well as from the National Center for Health Statistics’ National Vital Statistics System, according to an April 21 news release from the NCI. Here are nine notes from the report:
How do we encourage and advance the quality of hospice care in America?
04/28/25 at 02:00 AMHow do we encourage and advance the quality of hospice care in America?AAHPM Quarterly; by Larry Beresford; Spring 2025While the majority of hospice agencies work hard to provide good care, stories about those that fail to live up to their ethical or legal obligations have appeared in prominent journalistic settings in recent years. But if we dig deeper into quality, we see lots of questions about what quality hospice care really means. What kinds of messages should hospices be delivering to their various publics about quality and about choosing the provider that will meet their particular needs?Notable mentions: Judi Lund Person, Holly Yang, Rebecca Yamarik, Alan Kaplan, Martina Meier, Martha Twaddle, Joseph Shega, John Mulder, Edward Martin, Jennifer Kennedy.
Access to hospice and certain services under the hospice benefit for beneficiaries with end-stage renal disease and beneficiaries with cancer
04/27/25 at 03:55 AMAccess to hospice and certain services under the hospice benefit for beneficiaries with end-stage renal disease and beneficiaries with cancer MedPAC; by Kim Nueman, Grace Oh, and Nancy Ray; 4/11/25 [From MedPac Presentation Roadmap, meetings held April 10 & 11, 2025]
HHS proposal slashes Medicare SHIP funds
04/27/25 at 03:50 AMHHS proposal slashes Medicare SHIP funds MSN; by Mary Helen Gillespie; 4/22/25 The Trump administration is proposing federal budget cuts to Medicare State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIP) and seven additional elder health care safety net programs that assist older Americans. ... SHIP programs have been under the umbrella of the Health and Human Services agency Administration for Community Living. The pre-decisional budget lists funds for seven other ACL programs that would be eliminated are:
Hospice Choices: VITAS Healthcare expands in Austin, Texas
04/27/25 at 03:45 AMHospice Choices: VITAS Healthcare expands in Austin, Texas Globe Newswire - Small Business World Journal; Press Release; 4/23/25... VITAS Healthcare has expanded its reach in the Austin area by opening a new administrative office in Pflugerville. With the addition of this North Austin location, VITAS now serves the entire metro area and surrounding counties, bringing greater access to compassionate, expert end-of-life care for patients and their families. ... Grand opening celebrations for the Kyle and Pflugerville offices are scheduled for late June.
National Volunteer Week: April 20-26, 2025
04/27/25 at 03:40 AMNational Volunteer Week: April 20-26, 2025 Hospice & Palliative Care Today; by Joy Berger; 4/18/25 We hope you have been preparing ways to celebrate your volunteers! The root word for volunteer--"vol"--means "will," "wish," as in of one's own volition. One's own free will. Your volunteers can surely choose to give their time to a world of other meaningful missions. And they choose your hospice. Each time they simply show up. This week, intentionally "will" and "wish" something special for your faithful volunteers, and your employees who lead them.
Demystifying the End: Hospice care impact on the Black community
04/27/25 at 03:35 AMDemystifying the End: Hospice care impact on the Black community Defender; by Laura Onyeneho; 4/22/25 Monica James has seen firsthand the confusion and emotional strain families face when end-of-life care isn’t discussed early enough. She works for the non-profit organization Houston Hospice as the Community Engagement Coordinator, serving 13 counties across Southeast Texas. ... According to data collected by the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, Black Americans on Medicare seek hospice and palliative treatment 13% less than their white counterparts. For African American, Afro-Caribbean and African immigrant families, generational trauma and a lack of trust in the healthcare system often lead to delayed decisions about hospice care. “There’s been a historical gap in access and trust,” said James. “Our goal is to show up consistently, to listen and to let these communities know they have options and that they’re not alone.”
“It’s an homage”: Noah Wyle quietly sneaked in a tribute in one of the best episodes of ‘The Pitt’
04/27/25 at 03:30 AM“It’s an homage”: Noah Wyle quietly sneaked in a tribute in one of the best episodes of ‘The Pitt’ FandomWire; by Arian Cruz; 4/18/25 In the fourth episode of The Pitt titled 10:00 A.M., Noah Wyle’s Dr. Michael ‘Robby’ Robinavitch monitored Mr. Spencer during his final hours while dealing with his own thoughts about the death of his beloved mentor, Dr. Adamson. He remembers the advice he received from him and shared it with the children of the dying patient as they waited for their father to pass. The phrases ‘I love you,’ ‘Thank you,’ ‘I forgive you,’ and ‘Please forgive me’ are words that need to be heard when someone is at the end of their life. Wyle revealed that he took these lessons from palliative care physician and author Ira Byock when he was writing the screenplay. Wyle said these short phrases are profound and hold deep meanings beyond their simplicity. He made sure to weave them in on the show while taking inspiration from his own mother for the emotional scenes. He shared via USA Today: "A very similar event had played out with my mother and her brother when saying goodbye to my grandfather. After she shared this with me, I just said ‘Thank you,’ went right back to my typewriter and wrote the scene. It’s an homage to my mother, my uncle and my grandfather.Editor's and Publisher's note: And we thank you, Dr. Ira Byock, for your profound, immeasurable influence for so many of us--professionally with those we serve, and personally with our own families and friends.
Attorneys general challenge Trump’s deportations, citing impact on home health workforce
04/27/25 at 03:25 AMAttorneys general challenge Trump’s deportations, citing impact on home health workforce McKnights Home Care; by Adam Healy; 4/16/25 Nineteen state attorneys general filed an amicus brief Monday challenging President Donald Trump’s deportation policies. Among their arguments, they contended that deportations would have an outsized, negative impact on the home health industry’s ability to deliver care. “From a public health perspective, [states] depend on noncitizen healthcare workers who, like other immigrants, are forced to live in a climate of fear — nationwide over 1 million immigrants work in healt hcare, including 40% of home health aides and 18% of nursing home staff,” the brief said. The brief aims to block the administration’s so-called “ideological deportation policy,” established by executive orders 14161 and 14188. These orders intimidate workers, impair healthcare delivery and harm states’ economies, the attorneys general argued.
PEMF therapy: A non-invasive approach to enhance cancer treatment
04/27/25 at 03:15 AMPEMF therapy: A non-invasive approach to enhance cancer treatmentHope 4 Cancer Treatment Centers; by Antonio Jimenez, Subrata Chakravarty; 2/25The Earth’s magnetic field, a constant presence in our environment, has a subtle yet profound impact on human health. Operating at extremely low frequencies and low intensities, it is generated by electric currents in the Earth’s conductive iron-rich core. This magnetic field serves as a protective shield, deflecting solar wind—charged particles from the sun— that could devastate life on Earth. Beyond its protective role, It also helps regulate circadian rhythms and supports cellular function. Our cells exist within this dynamic electromagnetic environment, and by harnessing its properties, we can actively enhance cellular health, physiological balance, and overall well-being.Publisher's note: Hope 4 Cancer is a naturopathic healing center in Mexico exploring innovative cancer treatments. Additional articles readers might be interested in include Treating cancer with sound waves: An overview of sonodynamic therapy and Modulated TRPC1 expression predicts sensitivity of breast cancer to doxorubicin and magnetic field therapy: Segue towards a precision medicine approach.
Belief in an afterlife is increasing in the United States: Even among the non-religious
04/27/25 at 03:10 AMBelief in an afterlife is increasing in the United States: Even among the non-religious The Association of Religion Data Archives (The ARDA); by Ryan Burge; 4/17/25 This post has been unlocked through a generous grant from the Lilly Endowment for the Association of Religion Data Archives (ARDA). The graphs you see here use data that is publicly available for download and analysis through link(s) provided in the text below. ... I wanted to dig a bit deeper on the variations in those belief metrics today, with a question that I haven’t really probed a whole lot. The General Social Survey, which is available on the Association of Religion Data Archives website, contains a really straightforward question, “Do you believe there is a life after death?” And it has an even simpler set of response options - yes or no. It’s been asked with regularity since 1973, so we have nearly five decades of data on this one specific question. ... Even today, the share of Americans who believe in life after death is 82%. When people ask me, “Is the United States a religious country?” This is the stat that I’m going to trot out.
This weekend: Passover and Easter with hospice patients and families
04/27/25 at 03:05 AMThis weekend: Passover and Easter with hospice patients and familiesHospice & Palliative Care Today; by Joy Berger, DMA, FT, BCC, MT-BC, editor in chief; 4/17/25 This weekend brings a confluence of the Jewish Passover and Christian Easter holy days. Whatever your faith system, understanding at least a bit about the diverse faith systems of those you serve matters. We provide these hospice-specific resources as references:
Top story this week last year - 4/28/24
04/27/25 at 03:00 AMTop story last year - 4/28/24Examining how improper payments cost taxpayers billions and weaken Medicare and Medicaid HHS-OIG; by Christi A. Grimm, Inspector General, Office of Inspector General, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; 4/16/24 HHS Inspector General Christi A. Grimm Testifies Before the U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations on April 16, 2024. IG Grimm briefs members on HHS-OIG's work to address improper payments in Medicare and Medicaid managed care programs. Click here to watch the testimony.
Today's Encouragement
04/27/25 at 03:00 AMYou carry more weight into the woods than you carry out.
Pope Francis has died, Vatican says
04/27/25 at 03:00 AMPope Francis has died, Vatican says Sent as Breaking News to subscribers 4/21/25 @ 11:00 AM ET.Reuters, Vatican City; by Joshua McElwee; 4/21/25, 6:11 am EDT, updated 6:51 am EDT Pope Francis, the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church, has died, the Vatican said on Monday, ending an often turbulent reign marked by division and tension as he sought to overhaul the hidebound institution. He was 88, and had suffered a serious bout of double pneumonia this year, but his death came as a shock after he had been driven around St. Peter's Square in an open-air popemobile to greet cheering crowds on Easter Sunday.Editor's Note: See "Today's Encouragement: From Pope Francis' April 20, 2025 Easter Message at Saint Peter's Square, The Vatican ..."