Literature Review

'Living well, leaving well': Yishun end-of-life art exhibition allows seniors to demystify death, document life Today, by Nikki Yeo; 3/18/24, updated 3/19/24 A senior-led exhibition [in Singapore], Tides, features a group of eight women and their reflections on end-of-life matters. ... The project engaged seniors in the Yishun community over nine months to form art works based on "living well" and "leaving well." ... The pictures [of family foods] are overlaid with handwritten messages exchanged between Madam Devi and her grandchildren. ... Her grandchildren calls her "atha", or grandmother, and have written, "I love you so much", "from young I’m eating your food", "I’m so grateful to you".

Signs of end-stage Parkinson's disease Medical News Today; Medically reviewed by Heidi Moawad, MD, by Meara Withe; 3/18/24... Understanding the signs of end-stage Parkinson’s disease is crucial for patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals alike. This article explores the physical health, mental health, and emotional dimensions of end-stage Parkinson’s, shedding light on what to expect and how to provide compassionate care during this demanding phase. Editor's Note: Hospice and palliative non-medical interdisciplinary team members need to understand disease-specific factors related to the patient's experience and the family caregiver's challenges. These include social workers, chaplains, counselors, and caregiver-oriented volunteers.  

Personal care workers received most Medicaid fraud convictions in 2023: OIG McKnights Home Care, by Adam Healy; 3/15/24 More personal care workers were convicted for Medicaid fraud than any other provider type last year, according to a new report released Thursday by the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General. OIG found that 279 personal care services (PCS) attendants were convicted of Medicaid fraud in 2023 — far more than the next four highest provider types combined. These convictions amounted to more than $10.5 million in criminal charges. 

Improvements in Interdisciplinary Communication Following the implementation of a standardized Handoff Curriculum: SAFETIPS (Statistics, Assessment, Focused Plan, Pertinent Exam findings, to Dos, If/Thens, Pointers/Pitfalls, and Severity of Illness) Cureus, by Shaefali Shandilya and Justen M. Aprile; 3/18/24 Handoffs between medical providers serve a crucial patient safety function. While most published literature on the topic studies the handover process among physicians, robust literature is available on interdisciplinary medical communication. Little is known about the downstream effects of effective physician handover on subsequent physician and nursing interactions. ...Results: Statistical analysis revealed significant post-intervention mean score increases of one full point in four categories, namely organization and efficiency, communication, content, and clinical judgment.

For-profit nursing homes are cutting corners on safety and draining resources with financial shenanigans − especially at midsize chains that dodge public scrutinyThe Conversation, by Sean Campbell and Charlene Harrington; 3/14/24 ... Overall, private-equity investors wreak havoc on nursing homes, slashing registered nurse hours per resident day by 12%, outpacing other for-profit facilities. The aftermath is grim, with a daunting 14% surge in the deficiency score index, a standardized metric for determining issues with facilities, according to a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services report.The human toll comes in death and suffering. A study updated in 2023 by the National Bureau of Economic Research calculated that 22,500 additional deaths over a 12-year span were attributable to private-equity ownership, equating to about 172,400 lost life years. The calculations also showed that private-equity ownership was responsible for a 6.2% reduction in mobility, an 8.5% increase in ulcer development and a 10.5% uptick in pain intensity.

For-profit nursing home owners rebut report that left few untarnished McKnights Long-Term Care, by Kimberly Marselas; 3/18/24 A brutal takedown of private nursing home ownership published last week included both pointed and widespread attacks on the role of for-profit companies in the sector, adding to stakeholders’ fears that negative characterizations will stymie much-needed future investment. ... However, what the article failed to highlight, providers and their representatives pointed out to McKnight’s Long-Term Care News Friday, are the investments many for-profits providers are pouring into quality and innovation efforts in a field with historically low margins — margins that they said dried up during the pandemic’s crisis days.Editor's Note: See the original article (posted above this summary) this article rebuts, "For-profit nursing homes are cutting corners on safety and draining resources with financial shenanigans - especially at midsize chains that dodge public scrutiny."

COLUMN: March is National Social Workers Month The Andalusia Star News; by Vicki C. Wacaster; 3/16/24 In recognition of National Social Workers Month in March 2024, we wish to honor and recognize the vital gifts of dedication, love, professionalism, time, talent, and care Hospice Social Workers provide. ... Hospice social workers often perform the following tasks:

Healthcare hit hardest by ransomware last year, FBI IC3 report shows HealthITSecurity, by Jill McKeon; 3/12/24 The healthcare sector suffered more ransomware attacks than any other critical infrastructure sector last year, according to complaint data examined in the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s 2023 Internet Crime Report. ... In 2023, IC3 received a record 880,418 complaints, with losses exceeding $12.5 billion. These figures signify a 10 percent increase in complaints received and a 22 percent increase in losses suffered compared to last year’s report.

How a Florida woman’s NYC selfie led to her brain tumor diagnosis New York Post, by Chris Harris; 3/16/24 It was a life-changing selfie. ... “I looked at the picture, and my eyelid was drooping,” Troutwine recalled. “I thought it was odd, so when I returned home, I mentioned it to my neurologist.” The doctor ordered an MRI, and on her way home from the scan, she got a call: They had found a benign mass inside her brain that was growing at an aggressive rate. 

UnitedHealth Group cyberattack status update UnitedHealth Group Press Release; 3/18/24 Today [Monday 3/18/24], Change Healthcare will begin releasing medical claims preparation software, an important step in the resumption of services. This will be made available to thousands of customers over the next several days. The company expects to have third-party attestations available prior to services becoming operational. Following this initial phase, remaining services restoration will continue through ongoing phases of activation until all customers have been connected.

Hospice prepares to thank Vietnam era vetsMid Hudson News; 3/17/24In early 2017, Congress passed the Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Act, establishing March 29 as National Vietnam War Veterans Day.  The holiday is also known as “Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day” and in honor of those who served during the Vietnam era, the Hospice of Orange & Sullivan Counties will host its fourth annual “Thank You” and Memorial Ceremony on March 29 at 10 a.m. at the Cornwall Yacht Club. Hospice of Orange & Sullivan Counties is a community partner of “We Honor Veterans,” a campaign developed by the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization in collaboration with the Department of Veterans Affairs.Editor's Note: Click here for information about March 29th, National Vietnam War Veterans Day.   

Long-term care costs can cripple families with aging loved ones. Turlock has a solution - Opinion The Modesto Bee, by Jeffrey Lews and Francesa Rinaldo; 3/17/24The sudden closures of the Brandel Manor nursing home and Cypress Place Assisted Living have left many in Turlock and the surrounding communities wondering where they will find quality care for their loved [ones]. ... The Turlock City Council approved a $400,000 grant to support the Legacy Health Endowment Person-Centered Care (PCC) program, an innovative initiative offering comprehensive in-home support services for families looking after aging loved ones. The program aims to assist families by providing care while safeguarding against premature placement into a nursing home or the fear of re-hospitalization. 

[UPDATED] Skilled Nursing giant PACS Group files for IPO as it looks to expand footprint Skilled Nursing News, by Zahida Siddiqi; 3/14/24 PACS Group filed for an initial public offering with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Wednesday, citing focus on growth plans in its filing. ... The Farmington, Utah-based PACS Group is one of the largest skilled nursing providers with more than 200 nursing facilities across nine states and serves over 20,000 patients daily. It plans to list on the NYSE under the symbol PACS.