Literature Review

Other Business Headlines of Interest, updated 5/16/24 per nasdaq.com

PACE program officially launches in Greater Peoria area OSF HelathCare, Peoria, IL; by Nathan Pritzker; 5/14/24 It’s a new and exciting day for older adults receiving health care services in the Greater Peoria area. After months of preparation, the state of Illinois and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) have awarded OSF HealthCare a contract to be one of the first in the state to offer Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE). Enrollment for the program, known as OSF PACE, is currently underway with services officially beginning June 1.“OSF PACE will really help the people in the Tri-County area stay in their home and community,” says Nathan Pritzker, executive director of OSF PACE.

Industry professionals reflect on five years of medical marijuana in Arkansas Arkansas Advocate; by Mary Hennigan; 5/13/24Since the launch of medical marijuana in Arkansas in 2019, more than three dozen storefronts have opened, at least 102,000 residents have registered for patient cards and revenue has topped $1.1 billion. The latest card count exceeds 102,000, and there’s no indication of a letup in new applications,  ... As of June 2023, one in three Arkansans with a patient card listed post-traumatic stress disorder as their qualifying condition, ... The next highest qualifying condition was intractable pain, or pain that has not responded to ordinary medications for more than six months, at nearly 30%. 

Manatee County hospice volunteer celebrates patients' birthdays dressed in costumes Specturm News 9, Manatee County, FL; by Rick Elmhorst; 5/13/24 A Manatee County woman is bringing joy to people in hospice care by celebrating their birthdays. Pam Freas volunteers with Chapters Health Lifepath Hospice by dressing in costumes and visiting patients for their birthdays. She also helps manage the supplies for milestone birthday celebrations, including packing birthday bags full of blankets and pillows. Freas recently visited a young boy named Jackson who was in home hospice care. She dressed as a dinosaur since Jackson loves dinosaurs. Although Jackson has a difficult time communicating, Freas spent time talking with him to brighten his day.

Care Synergy appoints Dr. Pradeep Rai as Chief Medical Officer Care Synergy Network; 5/13/24  Care Synergy announced the selection of Dr. Pradeep Rai, MD, as the company’s chief medical officer. Additionally, Dr. Rai will serve as The Denver Hospice’s (TDH) medical director as well. As Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Rai will lead clinical operations across all of Care Synergy’s hospice, palliative care, and home health affiliates. These affiliates include The Denver Hospice, Pikes Peak Hospice & Palliative Care in Colorado Springs, Pathways Hospice in Fort Collins, and the Colorado Visting Nurses Association (CVNA) which serves patients across the Front Range. He will also spearhead medical operations for Colorado PACE upon its anticipated Q4 2024 launch.

Amazon seeks nonprofit healthcare, EHR expertise Becker's Helath IT; by Laura Dyrda; 5/13/24 Amazon is looking to hire leaders with experience in nonprofit healthcare and EHRs, according to recent job postings on the tech giant's website. Amazon Web Services has a listing for "Senior Solutions Architect, Healthcare, Nonprofit Health, Nonprofit Healthcare" seeking an individual with a passion for helping nonprofit healthcare providers implement cloud computing solutions. ... [Amazon] is also hiring for an account executive focused on nonprofit healthcare and global nonprofit healthcare. The company is searching for a "proven business executive in the NP healthcare sector to lead and continue to expand the business with some of our most important healthcare customers and develop new customers across a targeted greenfield market."

Humana, Aetna likely to lose Medicare Advantage members Modern Healthcare; by Nona Tepper and Lauren Berryman; 5/14/24 Industry heavyweights CVS Health Aetna and Humana foresee Medicare Advantage membership losses next year. Anticipated changes to health plan offerings and benefit design to achieve long-term business profitability could mean losing a significant portion of their Medicare Advantage membership, executives told investors at the Bank of America Securities Healthcare Conference on Tuesday. ... Headed into next year, Aetna may adjust benefits, tighten its prior authorization policies, reassess its provider networks and exit markets, CVS Health Chief Financial Officer Tom Cowhey told investors.  ... [Humana Chief Financial Officer Susan Diamond] anticipates losing about 5% of its 6.1 million Medicare Advantage members, ... Conversely, UnitedHealth Group’s UnitedHealthcare insurance business appears to be better positioned for growth heading into 2025 ... , executives said. UnitedHealth Group CEO Andrew Witty said, ... “The thing we don't want is unsustainable ups and downs in our performance in any particular regard. ... You should just expect more of the same from us in terms of what we’re doing.” 

Early palliative care perceptions by patients with cancer and primary caregivers: metaphorical languageBMJ Supportive & Palliative Care; by Elena Bandieri, Sarah Bigi, Melissa Nava, Eleonora Borelli, Carlo Adolfo Porro, Erio Castellucci, Fabio Efficace, Eduardo Bruera, Oreofe Odejide, Camilla Zimmermann, Leonardo Potenza, Mario Luppi; 5/13/24Methods: Data were collected through a pen-and-paper questionnaire on respondents’ perceptions of the disease, its treatment and their idea of death, before and after receiving EPC [early palliative care]. The data were analysed by identifying all metaphorical uses of language, following the ‘metaphor identification procedure’ proposed by the Praggjelaz Group.Results: Metaphors were used from a variety of semantic fields. EPC was described using spiritual terms, to indicate that this approach was instrumental in ‘restoring life’, ‘producing hope’ and making patients feel ‘accompanied’. The most recurrent metaphors were those referring to light and salvation; spatial metaphors were used to describe the treatment and the hospital as a ‘safe haven’ and ‘an oasis of peace’. 

5 tips to support employees with unexpected illness or disability Forbes; by Diane Winiarski; 5/14/24 When employees experience an unexpected illness or a disabling condition, it can be traumatic for them and unsettling for their managers. It is important for employers to demonstrate support and an understanding of each situation. Another way to show support is by pointing them to the federal disability program created to help in this specific instance. ... These five suggestions can help managers be better equipped to support their team members who are dealing with illnesses, accidents or disabilities.

When families fight over a relative with dementia, it’s time to call in the mediator The New York Times; by Paula Span; 5/13/24 Trained negotiators can help families struggling with vexing elder-care issues.  The four adult children were in agreement. Their father, William Curry, a retired electrical engineer and business executive, was sinking deeper into dementia. ... [But their mother] remained determined to continue caring for her 81-year-old husband at home, despite the increasing toll on her own health. ... As the weeks passed, “we were really at an impasse,” [a daughter] said. “Do you override your mother?” ...  [Increasingly,] families seek elder mediation privately, before disputes land in court and imperil or destroy family relationships. [Continue reading for descriptions of how mediation differs from arbitration, from family therapy, and for cautions about this being "a fairly new field with no nationwide certification or licensing requirements."]Editor's Notes: Executive leaders, what community education and resources are you providing for Advance Directives? What family systems education and and problem-solving are you providing for your interdisciplinary team members and grief counselors? Family conflicts are inherent--in some form or fashion--with almost anyone needing dementia care, especially when paired with palliative or hospice care. (If in doubt, ask your seasoned, front-line professionals.)

Medicare Advantage will 'sink' rural hospitals, experts warn Modern Healthcare; by Michael Mcauliff; 5/14/24Studies by Chartis [Center for Rural Heaalth] and others paint the bleak picture for rural hospitals. According to a recent estimate by the nonprofit Center for Healthcare Quality and Payment Reform, about 700 rural hospitals are at risk of closing. A recent Chartis report estimated 167 rural hospitals have closed since 2010, with another 418 vulnerable to closure now. [Click on the title's link for patient care examples and more stats.]

Have EHRs been good for healthcare? Becker's Health IT; by Giles Bruce; 5/3/24 Fifteen years after meaningful use incentives propelled the shift to EHRs, health system leaders told Becker's that digitizing medical records has been a net positive for the industry — with some caveats. "Regardless of your position, there is no doubt that EHRs have changed the face of healthcare," said Sandra Hales, associate vice president for IT clinical applications at Phoenix-based Banner Health. "Patients now have timely access to records and data that is simplified for understanding, and there's a level of inclusivity and responsibility for patients to engage in their own care."