Literature Review

Lubbock salon owners deliver hope with hospice manicure for cancer fighter Norma Hernandez BNN, by Shivani Chauhan; 3/4/24In an inspiring act of kindness, John Dawkins and his wife, owners of Absolute Nails in Lubbock, Texas, visited Norma Hernandez in the hospital to offer her a manicure and pedicure. Battling cancer and facing uncertain days ahead, Norma's simple wish was to have her nails done, a request that was turned down by other salons until Debbie, a close friend of Norma's, reached out to the Dawkins. Moved by the story, they decided to fulfill Norma's wish, bringing not just nail polish but also much-needed joy and comfort to her hospital room.

Transforming tragedy into triumph: Lynne Hughes creates grief camp, helping 24,000 children BNN, by Emmanuel Abara Benson; 3/6/24Lynne Hughes' journey from personal tragedy to establishing Comfort Zone Camp (CZC) spotlights the transformative power of empathy and support. Losing both parents by age 12, Hughes navigated her grief with little support, a struggle that later fueled her mission to ensure no child felt as isolated in their sorrow as she did. Today, CZC stands as a beacon of hope, having supported over 24,000 grieving children across the United States. 

UNE medical school students donate $2,000 to local hospice center Portland Press Herald; 3/4/24Students at the University of New England’s College of Osteopathic Medicine (COM) have donated $2,000 to the Gosnell Memorial Hospice House in Scarborough, building upon a successful partnership between the two organizations that has lasted nearly 10 years. The money was raised during a fundraising dinner held by the UNE COM American Geriatrics Society/Gerontological Society of America Student Chapter for Geriatrics and Palliative Care last November. The event, a “murder-mystery” dinner, featured several students and faculty performing a script written by chapter members. Over 160 people attended the dinner. 

Here comes the sun. And I say, it's all right. - The Beatles 

Health systems invest in productivity Becker's Hospital Review, by Laura Dyrda; 3/6/24 Productivity is a buzzword for most workplaces today, and healthcare is no different. U.S. productivity measures showed big increases for the first time in years, according to a report in The New York Times, as organizations leverage artificial intelligence and aim to do more with less. For [health systems], many experiencing staffing shortages and tight margins, developing a culture of increased productivity is imperative. 

Why healthcare cyberattacks last so long Becker's Health IT, by Giles Bruce; 3/7/24 The cyberattack on Change Healthcare that has caused disruptions across a wide swath of the industry has entered its third week. But why do these IT outages last so long? 

Bringing the hospital homePenn Medicine News, by Mary Beth Budnyk; 3/5/24Since his 2020 diagnosis with multiple sclerosis, Steve Lengle has had good and bad days. The bad days are becoming more frequent as his condition continues to decline, causing debilitating pain, weakness, and fatigue, and affecting everything from his memory to his ability to walk. The Lengles found the help they needed through Penn Medicine Advanced Home Health (PMAHH), a new program that aims to prevent hospitalizations by providing a higher level of in-home care to patients who are experiencing an acute medical concern. Editor's Note: This article describes an example of the fairly new Acute Hospital Care At Home program, launched by CMS in November 2020. 

Lower reimbursement a leading cause for poor margins, CFOs say Becker's Hospital CFO Report, by Madeline Ashley; 3/6/24 A recent report from the Healthcare Financial Management Association and Eliciting Insights, a healthcare strategy and marketing research company, found that 84% of health systems have cited lower payer reimbursements as a leading cause for low operating margins. [Click on the title's link for six more findings from the report.]

End-of-life care stakeholders celebrate end of hospice VBID carve-in McKnights Home Care, by Adam Healy; 3/6/24 Various hospice associations on Tuesday cheered the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ recent decision to abandon the Hospice Benefit Component of the Value-Based Insurance Design (VBID) model. ... Providers have long held that the uniqueness of hospice care, a multidisciplinary, person-centered care model, would make it a poor fit for MA. 

50 most influential clinical executives: Nominate a clinical leader!Modern Healthcare; email 3/6/24Eligibility: Nominees must carry an executive title of senior vice president or higher. Nominees must be or have previously been a licensed clinician working within the healthcare industry.Judging Criteria: Nominations will be reviewed and judged based on the following criteria:

4 hospital closures in 2024 Becker's Hospital CFO Report, by Madeline Ashley; 3/5/24Many hospitals and emergency departments have been forced to close in 2024 due to circumstances like high costs and shifts in care needs. Becker's has reported on four hospital and emergency department closures in 2024.Editor's Note: Locations include Michigan, Wisconsin, Tesac, and Ohio. Click on this article's link for details.

CMS offers relief to providers affected by Change Healthcare outageModern Healthcare, by Lauren Berryman; 3/5/24The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has rolled out efforts to help providers navigate the Change Healthcare outage disrupting healthcare operations nationwide, the Health and Human Services Department announced Tuesday.Editor's Note: Access to the full article requires a subscription

TCN Talks (podcast): Top new stories for February