Literature Review
Sunday newsletters
04/27/25 at 03:00 AMSunday newsletters focus on headlines and top read stories of the last week (in order) - enjoy!
If you can dream it, you can do it. ~Walt Disney
04/26/25 at 03:55 AMIf you can dream it, you can do it. ~Walt Disney
Calibrating AI reliance—A physician’s superhuman dilemma
04/26/25 at 03:45 AMCalibrating AI reliance—A physician’s superhuman dilemmaJAMA Health Forum; Shefali V. Patil, PhD; Christopher G. Myers, PhD; Yemeng Lu-Myers, MD, MPH; 3/25Assistive artificial intelligence (AI) technologies hold significant promise for transforming health care by aiding physicians in diagnosing, managing, and treating patients. Leveraging AI’s superior diagnostic accuracy in certain specialties, these assistive AI systems aim to reduce medical errors, while also promising to address physician fatigue by alleviating cognitive load and time pressures. Because human operators are perceived as having control over the technology’s use, responsibility unduly shifts to the human operator, even when clear evidence shows that the AI system produces erroneous outputs. Consequently, although scholars have proposed recommendations for shaping AI regulations, the reality is that in the absence of clear policies or established legal standards, future liability will largely hinge on societal perceptions of blameworthiness. This regulatory gap imposes an immense, almost superhuman, burden on physicians: they are expected to rely on AI to minimize medical errors, yet bear responsibility for determining when to override or defer to these systems.
Kidney transplant fast track and likelihood of waitlisting and transplant-A nonrandomized clinical trial
04/26/25 at 03:40 AMKidney transplant fast track and likelihood of waitlisting and transplant-A nonrandomized clinical trialJAMA Internal Medicine; Larissa Myaskovsky, PhD; Yuridia Leyva, MS; Chethan Puttarajappa, MD; Arjun Kalaria, MD; Yue-Harn Ng, MD; Miriam Vélez-Bermúdez, PhD; Yiliang Zhu, PhD; Cindy Bryce, PhD; Emilee Croswell, BA; Hannah Wesselman, PhD; Kellee Kendall, MPH; Chung-Chou Chang, PhD; L. Ebony Boulware, MD; Amit Tevar, MD; Mary Amanda Dew, PhD; 3/25Although it is a seemingly intuitive solution to enabling more patients to complete the evaluation process and be added to the waitlist, to our knowledge, few transplant centers use a health care system–facilitated approach like KTFT [Kidney Transplant Fast Track]. In this nonrandomized clinical trial of 1,118 patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) who underwent KTFT and a historical control group of 1,152 patients with ESKD undergoing evaluation for kidney transplant, the KTFT group had a higher likelihood of waitlisting and transplant than the historical control group. Unlike the historical control group, the KTFT group had no significant differences in kidney transplant by race or ethnicity.
Opening the door to wholistic patient care: Results from a nationally representative database on the use of spiritual and religious counseling
04/26/25 at 03:35 AMOpening the door to wholistic patient care: Results from a nationally representative database on the use of spiritual and religious counselingHealth Services Insights; Peter J. Mallow, Pierson Savarino; 4/25The introduction of the International Classification of Diseases 10th Revision (ICD-10) code Z71.81 in 2015 enabled the systematic documentation of spiritual and religious counseling (SRC) in hospital settings, opening avenues for research into its effect on patient outcomes and healthcare resource utilization. Religion and spirituality are integral to many patients’ lives, influencing their well-being, recovery and health outcomes. SRC is primarily utilized in complex, high-mortality cases, underscoring its role in holistic care for severely ill patients. The disparities observed highlight the need for standardized SRC documentation and equitable access to SRC. Future research should investigate the clinical and economic impacts of SRC to enhance patient-centered care in alignment with value-based care practices.
Circadian rhythm in end-of-life delirium: a secondary analysis of two randomized controlled trials
04/26/25 at 03:15 AMCircadian rhythm in end-of-life delirium: a secondary analysis of two randomized controlled trials Journal of Pain and Symptom Management; Sonal Admane MD, MPH; Sarah Pasyar MS; Roland Bassett Jr. MS; Eduardo Bruera MD; David Hui MD, MSc; 4/25Over 90% of patients with advanced cancer in the last weeks and days of life experience delirium, a neurocognitive syndrome associated with increased restlessness, agitation, hallucinations, and even violent behaviors. Long term psychological morbidity is also seen in caregivers, who may develop prolonged grief, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Healthcare professionals caring for patients with delirium also report delirium-related distress, particularly in relation to patients with persistent restlessness and agitation. Delirious patients were more restless between 3 pm and 11 pm. This observation of “sundowning” may help clinicians to better anticipate this symptom, schedule monitoring and treatments, and educate patients and caregivers.
Assuring the provision of palliative care as an ethical duty for all physicians
04/26/25 at 03:10 AMAssuring the provision of palliative care as an ethical duty for all physiciansJournal of Pain and Symptom Management; Amber R Comer,Daniel Sulmasy; 4/25Although palliative care is an evidence-based, essential component of care for patients with serious or critical illness and at the end-of-life, access to palliative care continues to be limited by inaccurate definitions, misrepresentation, stigma, and neglect. To help physicians and patients to overcome barriers limiting the provision of palliative care, the American Medical Association (AMA) has recently adopted policy and a new opinion in the Code of Medical Ethics which establishes an ethical duty for all physicians, in all specialties, to assure the provision of palliative care to patients who stand to benefit. Additionally, the new policy and Code opinion expand the depth and breadth of what palliative care access and delivery entail and address misconceptions that have resulted in barriers to the delivery of palliative care.
Medical aid in dying in the state of Colorado: Perspectives, data, and lessons learned in the first years of a uniquely centralized program
04/26/25 at 03:05 AMMedical aid in dying in the state of Colorado: Perspectives, data, and lessons learned in the first years of a uniquely centralized programJournal of Palliative Medicine; Melanie Mandell, Katie Sue Van Valkenburg, Skye O’Neil, Genie E. Roosevelt, Kerri Mason; 4/25 In 2016, Colorado voters approved Proposition 106, “Access to Medical Aid in Dying,” which amended Colorado statutes to include the Colorado End-of-life Options Act. In 2018, Denver Health and Hospital Authority, an urban, county safety-net hospital established a program to provide comprehensive medical aid in dying care via a centralized clinic with a dedicated team including a medical director, social worker, and a network of volunteer consultants. As the program has developed and matured, it has grown exponentially. This is due to its ease of accessibility, statewide educational efforts, and the relatively low cost and need-based, free services it provides. In six and a half years, our centralized program assisted over 650 Colorado patients in their quest for accessing medical aid in dying care, providing a wide continuum of services from initial intake and counseling, visits, and financial aid to specific grief counseling for loved ones. We believe our centralized system may function as a model for other hospitals considering the need to improve aid in dying access and care.
[Switzerland] Comforting styles of serious illness conversations: a Swiss wide factorial survey study
04/26/25 at 03:05 AM[Switzerland] Comforting styles of serious illness conversations: a Swiss wide factorial survey studyBMC Medicine; by Robert Staeck, Carsten Sauer, Steven M. Asch & Sofia C. Zambrano; 4/14/25 Background: Serious illness conversations can cause discomfort in patients, potentially impeding their understanding and decision-making. Identifying ways in which physicians can reduce this discomfort may improve care. This study investigates which physician communication styles and characteristics individuals perceive as comforting in physician–patient serious illness conversations. ... Methods: We conducted a nationwide online factorial survey in German, French, and Italian with 1572 Swiss participants from the public (51.4% women) aged 16 to 94. ...Conclusions: Taking time, providing clear information, and ensuring continuity of care are pivotal in enhancing comfort. Also relevant are the expression of sadness, physician self-disclosure, and a prior relationship with the patient.
Disparities in end-of-life care: A retrospective study on intensive care utilization and advance care planning in the Colorado all-payer claims database
04/26/25 at 03:00 AMDisparities in end-of-life care: A retrospective study on intensive care utilization and advance care planning in the Colorado all-payer claims databaseAmerican Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine; Darcy Holladay Ford, PsyD, MA, LPC, RDN; Kimberly Landry, MPH; Megha Jha, MPH; Martha Meyer, PhD; 3/25Intensive end-of-life (EOL) care is emotionally and financially burdensome, disproportionally negatively impacting racial and ethnic minorities, rural residents, and lower socioeconomic seniors. ICU Stays: Hispanic/Latino, Asian, and Black members had increased ICU stays compared to Whites ... However, members without ACP [advance care planning] and rural residents had lower ICU stays ... ED Visits: Hispanic/Latino, Asian, Black members, non-dually eligible members (Medicare Fee for Service (MFFS) + Medicaid), and rural residents had increased ED visits ... Meanwhile, members without ACP or hospice care had lower ED visits ... 30-day Readmissions: Asian members and rural residents had increased 30-day readmissions ... In contrast, those on MFFS and not on Medicaid, members without ACP, and those not in hospice care had decreased 30-day readmissions ...
[Brazil] Music therapy in modulating pain in palliative care patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis
04/26/25 at 03:00 AM[Brazil] Music therapy in modulating pain in palliative care patients: A systematic review and meta-analysisBritish Journal of Music Therapy; Suellen Fernanda Pinheiro Hammuod, Fernada Gonzalez Santos, Lidiane da Costa Fonseca, Elaine Kakuta, Renata Verão Brito, Karolayne Silva Souza, Eduardo Henrique Loreti; 3/25 Music therapy is an intervention that uses music for therapeutic purposes, helping to preserve mental, physical, and emotional health. Its use in the care of terminally ill patients can assist in managing pain, fatigue, quality of life (QoL), anxiety, and depression. This study aimed to analyze the effects of music therapy on pain in individuals receiving palliative care. Music therapy showed effectiveness in improving pain in patients receiving palliative care ... The effectiveness of music therapy on QoL remains debatable.
Potentially unsafe low-evidence treatments
04/26/25 at 03:00 AMPotentially unsafe low-evidence treatmentsGeriPal podcast; by Eric Widera, Alex Smith, Adam Marks, Laura Taylor, Jill Schneiderhan; 4/25/25More and more people are, “doing their own research.” Self-identified experts and influencers on podcasts (podcasts!) and social media endorse treatments that are potentially harmful and have little to no evidence of benefit, or have only been studied in animals... We and our guests have noticed that in our clinical practices, patients and caregivers seem to be asking for such treatments more frequently.
Saturday newsletters
04/26/25 at 03:00 AMSaturday newsletters focus on headlines and research - enjoy!
Research study participation: Practice Analysis Study
04/26/25 at 02:05 AMResearch study participation: Practice Analysis StudyHMDCB email; 4/24/25The Hospice Medical Director Certification Board (HMDCB) is conducting a Practice Analysis Survey and we are seeking your help to gather physician feedback. If you haven't already, we encourage you to share this email with your hospice physicians/medical director and encourage them to participate.
Research study participation: Have you been an unpaid caregiver to a hospice patient?
04/26/25 at 02:00 AMResearch study participation: Have you been an unpaid caregiver to a hospice patient?Press release, Northern Illinois University and Seattle University; M. Courtney Hughes, Erin Vernon; 4/23/25You may be eligible to participate in a new survey. Help us understand which services (e.g., meals, transportation) most positively impact hospice patients and their families.
Cybersecurity executive arrested after hospital data breach
04/25/25 at 03:15 AMCybersecurity executive arrested after hospital data breach Becker's Health IT; by Giles Bruce; 4/17/25 A cybersecurity executive has been arrested in connection with a data breach at an Oklahoma City hospital, KOCO reported. Authorities charged Oklahoma cybersecurity company CEO Jeffrey Bowie with installing malware at SSM Health St. Anthony Hospital, according to the April 16 story. Court documents allege security cameras caught him roaming inside the hospital and stopping at a computer, where he installed “malware designed to take a screenshot every 20 minutes and forward the image out to an external IP address.”
Research study participation: Have you been an unpaid caregiver to a hospice patient?
04/25/25 at 03:00 AMResearch study participation: Have you been an unpaid caregiver to a hospice patient?
Meet Herbie: Your organization's million-dollar constraint with Dr. Lisa Lang
04/25/25 at 03:00 AMMeet Herbie: Your organization's million-dollar constraint with Dr. Lisa Lang Teleios Collaborative Network (TCN); podcast by Chris Comeaux with Dr. Lisa Lang; 4/23/25 Ever wonder why your organization keeps hitting the same wall despite constant improvement efforts? Dr. Lisa Lang, a world-renowned expert in the Theory of Constraints, reveals why most leaders waste resources by focusing on the wrong problems. Dr. Lisa Lang and Chris Comeaux examine the application of the Theory of Constraints (TOC) in various industries, with a particular focus on healthcare and manufacturing. They discuss the unique challenges faced by healthcare leaders, including regulatory pressures and staffing shortages, and how TOC can provide a structured approach to problem-solving and how to create breakthrough solutions for your organization.
Today's Encouragement: I don't know what your destiny will be, but one thing I know: ...
04/25/25 at 03:00 AMI don't know what your destiny will be, but one thing I know: the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who will have sought and found how to serve. ~ Albert Schweitzer
HHS cuts funding for NIH-based Women's Health Initiative threatening decades-long study
04/25/25 at 03:00 AMHHS cuts funding for NIH-based Women's Health Initiative threatening decades-long study The American Journal of Managed Care (AJMC); by Giuliana Grossi; 4/23/25 HHS is defunding the regional research centers that have been conducting a long-term national health study focusing on preventive strategies for women's health since 1991, the largest study investigating women’s health in US history. The Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) regional centers will close by September 2025, at the end of the fiscal year, according to an announcement from the NIH-based initiative. Investigators at the WHI were informed by HHS earlier this week, although formal written notice from HHS is still pending.
CMS releases HOPE Guidance Manual (V. 1.01) and Tables
04/25/25 at 03:00 AMCMS releases HOPE Guidance Manual (V. 1.01) and TablesCenters for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); by CMS; 4/22/25On April 22, 2025, CMS released the HOPE Guidance Manual (V. 1.01) and connected tables. Providers can use v1.01 for HOPE planning, as this is considered final before HOPE implementation. Also note that earlier this month, the final HOPE data specs have also been released, helping software developers to finalize their HOPE software for testing in the coming months.
26 rural hospitals band together as national trend emerges
04/25/25 at 03:00 AM26 rural hospitals band together as national trend emerges Becker's Hospital Review; by Alan Condon; 4/18/25 Twenty-six rural hospitals across Ohio and West Virginia have partnered to form the Ohio High Value Network — a clinically integrated network aimed at strengthening care delivery, improving outcomes and reducing costs for patients. The collaborative includes 25 Ohio hospitals and care sites in more than 115 cities and towns across 37 counties, along with one hospital in West Virginia. Together, they serve a population of more than 2.5 million patients. The network is structured as a CIN and is designed to support both clinical and operational collaboration across its members. Its formation reflects a growing national trend of rural hospitals banding together to preserve independence, drive value-based care and weather increasing financial and regulatory pressures. “We believe that strong collaboration is the best way to sustain high-quality care in our communities,” Myron Lewis, OHVN board chair and CEO of Blanchard Valley Health System in Findlay, Ohio ...
By the Bay forges educational partnerships to grow hospice, home-based care workforce
04/25/25 at 03:00 AMBy the Bay forges educational partnerships to grow hospice, home-based care workforce Hospice News; by Holly Vossel; 4/23/25 By the Bay Health has launched a new career program that aims to build up the next generation of home-based health care professionals amid widespread workforce shortages. The California-based health system unveiled its educational initiative, Pathways to Care Careers, in December 2024 as part of its 50th anniversary commemoration. The program is a collaboration with local schools and community organizations. By the Bay Health recently began a $1 million fundraising campaign to support the expansion of the career initiative. A main goal is to reach an increasingly diverse range of health care workers further upstream in their educational journeys, said Robertina Szolarova, chief administrative officer at By the Bay Health and program lead for its Pathways to Care Careers initiative.
Ardent Health's first CDIO, a nurse, on the value of 'human-centric' technology
04/25/25 at 03:00 AMArdent Health's first CDIO, a nurse, on the value of 'human-centric' technology Healthcare IT News; by Bill Siwicki; 4/23/25 Anika Gardenhire, RN, chief digital and information officer at the 30-hospital health system, is working to improve the provider and patient experience with ambient listening, augmented intelligence and more. Nashville-based Ardent Health includes 30 hospitals and more than 280 sites of care in six states, including Idaho, Kansas, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. ...