Literature Review
Vitas CEO Westfall: Market conditions more favorable for hospice acquisitions
03/18/24 at 03:00 AMVITAS CEO Westfall: Market conditions more favorable for hospice acquisitions Hospice News, by Jim Parker; 3/15/24 Changes in the marketplace have made further acquisitions by VITAS Healthcare more likely. VITAS, a subsidiary of Chemed Corp. ..., recently announced its first deal in several years, the $85 million purchase of hospice assets from Covenant Health. While the company does not comment on its specific acquisition plans or its pipeline, VITAS may be more active in the M&A space in the coming year, CEO Nick Westfall indicated ...
The 19 rural emergency hospitals, by state
03/18/24 at 03:00 AMThe 19 rural emergency hospitals, by state Becker's Hospital CFO Report, by Andrew Cass, 3/15/24Nineteen hospitals have converted to the rural emergency designation since the law that created the designation took effect in January 2023, according to data from University of North Carolina's Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research in Chapel Hill. Here are the hospitals that have converted to rural emergency status, by state: ... [Click on the title's link to view]
Clinician perspectives on integrating neuro-oncology and palliative care for patients with high-grade glioma
03/18/24 at 03:00 AMClinician perspectives on integrating neuro-oncology and palliative care for patients with high-grade glioma Oxford Academic Neuro-Oncology Practice; by Rita C Crooms, MD MPH; Jeannys F Nnemnbeng, MD MS RRT; Jennie W Taylor, MD MPH; Nathan E Goldstein, MD; Ksenia Gorbenko, PhD; Barbara G Vickrey, MD MPH; 3/14/24 Background/objectives: Patients with high-grade glioma have high palliative care needs, yet few receive palliative care consultation. This study aims to explore themes on 1) benefits of primary (delivered by neuro-oncologists) and specialty (SPC) palliative care and 2) barriers to SPC referral, according to a diverse sample of clinicians.
MedPAC releases March 2024 report on Medicare payment policy
03/18/24 at 03:00 AMMedPAC releases March 2024 report on Medicare payment policy CMS MedPAC; 3/15/24 Washington, DC, March 15, 2024—Today, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) releases its March 2024 Report to the Congress: Medicare Payment Policy. The report presents MedPAC’s recommendations for updating provider payment rates in traditional fee-for-service (FFS) Medicare for 2025 and for providing additional resources to acute care hospitals and clinicians who furnish care to Medicare beneficiaries with low incomes. ... MedPAC recommends ... eliminating the payment update for hospice providers; and payment reductions for three post-acute care sectors (skilled nursing facilities, home health agencies, and inpatient rehabilitation facilities).Click here for this report's "Chapter 9: Hospice Services"
Music Therapy to facilitate Relationship Completion at the end of life: A mixed-methods study
03/18/24 at 03:00 AMMusic Therapy to facilitate Relationship Completion at the end of life: A mixed-methods studyJournal of Music Therapy; by Fu-Nien Hsie, Helen Shoemark, Wendy L Magee; 3/14/24 The concept of relationship completion is embodied as the core belief for end-of-life care in Taiwan, known as the Four Expressions in Life. ... Four themes around opportunities emerged from the interviews: the opportunity for exploration, for connection, for expression, and for healing. The integrated findings suggest that music therapy facilitated relationship completion and improved quality of life for both patients and their families. Furthermore, this study supports that the transformative level of music therapy practice within a single session for end-of-life care is attainable.
Most Americans would rather feel 25% healthier than live 25% longer. Here’s how to lengthen your health span
03/18/24 at 03:00 AMMost Americans would rather feel 25% healthier than live 25% longer. Here’s how to lengthen your health span Fortune Well, by Alexa Mikhail; 3/15/24 Across all generations, more Americans would choose to feel 25% healthier than live 25% longer. Broken down, 60% of Gen Z and millennials say they would choose to feel healthier rather than live longer as compared to 67% of Gen X and 70% of Boomers, according to a consumer trends report from The New Consumer in partnership with Coefficient Capital. Only 15% of Boomers, 22% of Gen X, and about a third of Gen Z and millennials say they would rather live 25% longer.
What's not talked about in healthcare enough?
03/18/24 at 02:00 AMWhat's not talked about in healthcare enough? Becker's Health IT, by Naomi Diaz; 3/14/24 In the rapidly evolving landscape of healthcare technology, industry leaders express a common concern: the overshadowing of fundamental practices by the allure of cutting-edge innovations. Becker's asked seven hospital and health system leaders at the HIMSS 2024 annual meeting: What's something in healthcare or the health tech space that is not talked about enough?
Colorado Senate passes bill to shorten ‘Medical-Aid-in-Dying’ waiting period
03/17/24 at 03:45 AMColorado Senate passes bill to shorten ‘Medical-Aid-in-Dying’ waiting period Colorado Newsline, by Sara Wilson; 3/8/24 The Colorado Senate approved a bill Friday that would alter the state’s medical aid-in-dying law by shortening the required waiting period and allowing more medical professionals to prescribe the medication. ... Senate Bill 24-68 would tweak the law by shortening the waiting period between a patient’s first and second request for the medication from 15 to seven days. ... Statistics from Denver Health’s medical aid-in-dying program show that about 1 in 4 patients died from their illness during the current 15-day waiting period... The bill would also allow advanced practice registered nurses to prescribe the medication... The bill was amended in committee to reinstate a Colorado residency requirement.
Home Care costs continue to increase, outpacing other long-term care settings
03/17/24 at 03:40 AMHome Care costs continue to increase, outpacing other long-term care settings Home Health Care News, by Andrew Donlan; 3/12/24 The pricing increases in home care have again outpaced other long-term care sectors, according to Genworth’s annual cost of care report.
'It's been really inspiring': Grace House continues end-of-life care despite challenges
03/17/24 at 03:35 AM'It's been really inspiring': Grace House continues end-of-life care despite challenges Akron Beacon Journal, by Kelsie Horner; 3/13/24Through a flood and financial challenges, an Akron nonprofit has continued to provide end-of-life care and companionship for people who might otherwise die alone. Since opening its doors 1½ years ago, Grace House has cared for 66 residents during their final days. ... Grace House is one of only three organizations in the nation to provide free, “non-barrier” end-of-life care for people who are unhoused or alone.
Why I chose palliative care: A nurse's personal journey to providing comfort care
03/17/24 at 03:30 AMWhy I chose palliative care: A nurse's personal journey to providing comfort careAnschutz, by Lauren Carter; 3/5/24My interest in palliative care started with my grandma’s use of hospice services seventeen years ago. She suffered with multiple sclerosis for over forty years. ... What may have been a terrible experience for most people was actually made very positive for me. ... Unfortunately, I had another opportunity fifteen years later, to once again be there for my family in this way. ... It takes empathy and specialized training to assist in end-of-life care. It may be something that we are called to. I care deeply about these patients and their families. I am able to have difficult conversations when necessary. I try to create space for family members to talk about who the person in the hospital bed is, when that person can no longer talk for themselves. ...
Johns Hopkins study reveals medical marijuana lowers pain, hospital visits
03/17/24 at 03:25 AMJohns Hopkins study reveals medical marijuana lowers pain, hospital visits BNN, by Wojciech Zylm; 3/5/24Recent research highlights significant improvements in well-being for cannabis users, offering hope for those with chronic illnesses. The study showcases a potential shift in the perception and utilization of medical cannabis in healthcare.
Jimmy Carter has spent over a year in hospice care. How has he defied the odds?
03/17/24 at 03:20 AMJimmy Carter has spent over a year in hospice care. How has he defied the odds? Northeastern Global News, by Tanner Stening; 3/12/24 End-of-life advocates and experts cite Carter’s stay in hospice as having a positive impact on the discourse of end-of-life care, which Northeastern University experts say many people put off until it’s too late. ... According to the National Institutes of Health, more than 90% of patients who enter hospice care die within the first six months. Roughly 36% of patients die within a week of entering hospice.Editor's Note: This article includes an important, transparent piece of information that many articles about President Carter's 1-year hospice anniversary have not mentioned: "If the patient lives past six months, the medical professionals would need to recertify the patient for continued care." Click here for the CMS "Face-to-Face Requirement Affecting Hospice Recertification."
Why home care leaders are now banking on ‘Caregiver-First’ cultures
03/17/24 at 03:15 AMWhy home care leaders are now banking on ‘Caregiver-First’ culturesHome Health Care News, by Patrick Filbin; 3/4/24 Over the last several years, a notable trend is emerging in home care: Top-tier companies are shifting their focus from prioritizing customers to prioritizing caregivers. This strategic move reflects a growing recognition of the critical role caregivers play, and aims to address persistent caregiver shortages.
10 urgent patient safety challenges in 2024
03/17/24 at 03:10 AM10 urgent patient safety challenges in 2024 Becker's Clinical Leadership, by Ashleigh Hollowell; 3/11/24While employment for new clinicians was positive in the last year with 96% of new nurses finding work, the issue is transitioning those clinicians from education into bedside and hospital practice, which is the most pressing safety challenge of 2024, according to the ECRI's annual report on patient safety. ... Here are the 10 most urgent patient safety challenges facing providers in 2024 ...
CMS hears you, hospice providers
03/17/24 at 03:05 AMCMS hears you, hospice providersMcKnights Home Care, by Liza Berger; 3/8/24 Rarely does the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services succeed in shocking us. The large bureaucracy, which is not exactly known for its nimbleness, managed to do so this week when it abruptly cancelled the hospice component of the Value-Based Insurance Design Model. ... For those who wonder whether advocacy works, I’d chalk this up to a win for providers — and a clear example of advocacy in action.
Sunday newsletters
03/17/24 at 03:00 AMSunday newsletters focus on top read stories of the last week (in order) - enjoy!
Today's Encouragement
03/17/24 at 03:00 AMHappy St. Patrick's Day! May the road rise to meet you. May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face. And rains fall soft upon your fields. And until we meet again, May God hold you in the hollow of His hand. ~Traditional Irish Blessing
Rising suicide risk among seniors due to loneliness, mobility, financial insecurity, study finds
03/17/24 at 03:00 AMRising suicide risk among seniors due to loneliness, mobility, financial insecurity, study finds McKnights Home Care, by Adam Healy; 3/5/24As the number of adults over 65 continues to grow, suicide rates among older adults have also been rising, according to data from the National Center for Health Statistics. Between 2008 and 2017, the share of suicide-related emergency department visits among adults 65 years and older more than doubled. These older adults face age-related stressors that can negatively affect mental health, such as declining physical health, reduced mental sharpness, or the loss of friends or loved ones, which can heighten the risk of suicide.
Courage
03/16/24 at 03:00 AMCourageJournal of Hospice & Palliative Nursing, by Ferrell, Betty PhD, MA, RN, CHPN; 4/24This issue is a quilt I would call “Courage,” with bold colors, vibrant images and creative designs providing warmth and comfort to those whose stories are told in these pages.
Saturday newsletters
03/16/24 at 03:00 AMSaturday Newsletters: Research literature is the focus of Saturday newsletters - enjoy!
Ethics Consult: Using hospice as "treatment" for behavioral problems of dementia
03/16/24 at 03:00 AMEthics Consult: Using hospice as "treatment" for behavioral problems of dementiaAmerican Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, by Luisa Skoble MD, Jonathan Crane MPhil, PhD; 4/24This session will present 2 cases of individuals with advanced dementia who did not meet the traditional Medicare criteria for hospice, as both were ambulatory and did not have significant co-morbid medical issues. Both had significant aggressive behaviors that responded poorly to extensive trials of various medications during extended stays on a geriatric psychiatry inpatient unit. Both were referred to a local inpatient hospice where the staff use “suffering" as a hospice criteria and were “treated” with the usual hospice medications and expired in less than 3 weeks.
Evaluation of a novel hospice-specific patient decision aid
03/16/24 at 03:00 AMEvaluation of a novel hospice-specific patient decision aidAmerican Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, by Channing E. Tate, PHD, MPH; Gwendolyn Mami, JD; Monica McNulty, MS; Deborah J. Rinehart, PhD; Robin Yasui, MD; Nicole Rondinelli, FNP; Jonathan Treem, MD; Diane Fairclough, PhD; Daniel D. Matlock, MD, MPH; 4/24[Randomized Controlled Trial] We tested a novel hospice-specific patient decision aid to determine whether the decision aid could improve hospice knowledge, opinions of hospice, and decision self-efficacy in making decisions about hospice... The intervention demonstrated significant improvements in decision self-efficacy but not in hospice knowledge or hospice beliefs and attitudes.
The PACT Project: Feasibility of a multidisciplinary, multi-faceted intervention to promote goals of care conversations
03/16/24 at 03:00 AMThe PACT Project: Feasibility of a multidisciplinary, multi-faceted intervention to promote goals of care conversationsAmerican Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, by Eytan Szmuilowicz, MD; Rebecca K. Clepp, MA, MEd, MHA; Jayson Neagle, MD; Adeboye Ogunseitan, MD; Martha Twaddle, MD; Gordon J. Wood, MD, MSCI; 4/24Patients living with serious illness generally want their physicians to facilitate Goals of Care conversations (GoCc), yet physicians may lack time and skills to engage in these conversations in the outpatient setting... A multifaceted quality improvement intervention focused on serious illness communication skills can support a diverse clinical workforce to facilitate inpatient GoCc over time.
Perceptions of palliative care: Demographics and health status among the general population in Florida and the United States
03/16/24 at 03:00 AMPerceptions of palliative care: Demographics and health status among the general population in Florida and the United StatesAmerican Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, by Brenda W. Dyal, PhD, DNP; Saunjoo L. Yoon, PhD; Keesha L. Powell-Roach, PhD, RN; Derek M. Li, MSc; Sheri Kittelson, MD; Michael Weaver, PhD, RN, FAAN; Janice L. Krieger, PhD; Diana J. Wilkie, PhD, RN, FAAN; 4/24Palliative care (PC) helps maintain quality of life for seriously ill patients, yet, many Americans lack knowledge of PC. Young adults compared with adults, middle-adults, and older-adults were less likely to agree that the goal of PC is to help friends and family cope with a patient’s illness, and that the goal of PC is to manage pain and other physical symptoms compared with adults, middle-adults, and older-adults. Participants with greater rural identity were more likely to agree that accepting PC means giving up. Increased knowledge of PC might be influenced through targeting educational interventions and educating the general population through social media use.