Literature Review



Heart-warming story: Half a century and 4 million meals haven’t slowed down this long-term care culinary king

04/15/24 at 03:00 AM

Half a century and 4 million meals haven’t slowed down this long-term care culinary king McKnights Long-Term Care News, by Josh Henreckson; 4/10/24For almost as long as there has been a Buena Vista Care Center in Santa Barbara, CA, Miguel Pulido has been there — making sure the residents of the nursing home are fed and happy. Pulido is fast approaching his 50th anniversary on the job, and the residents and staff at Buena Vista couldn’t help but celebrate. ... Buena Vista is a 150-bed facility with twice-daily mealtimes for residents. Its leaders estimate that Pulido has served around 4 million meals during his career.

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Savie Health increasing services

04/15/24 at 03:00 AM

Savie Health increasing services Noozhawk, by Ern Shugart; 4/12/24 Savie Health, a free medical clinic in Lompoc providing health, behavioral health, and vision care, is expanding its services to add a Spanish speaking women’s health group and bereavement therapy (in partnership with Hospice of Santa Barbara). Savie’s patient data attests to the need for the clinic’s services: nearly 40% are at least mildly depressed, 20% are severely depressed, and the average income/family size is $22,000 for a family of four.

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Village Hospice hosts Vietnam Veteran’s Breakfast

04/15/24 at 03:00 AM

Village Hospice hosts Vietnam Veteran’s Breakfast CBS KCTV 5, Kansas City, MO; 4/10/24 Village Hospice provides many services to support their residents, including ways to honor their residents that are veterans. Jillian hears about a recent Vietnam Veterans’ Breakfast and how it celebrated Veterans living at John Knox Village. 

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Lankford advocates for Physician-Owned Hospitals to expand healthcare access for Oklahomans

04/15/24 at 03:00 AM

Lankford advocates for Physician-Owned Hospitals to expand healthcare access for Oklahomans James Lankford; 4/11/24 Senator James Lankford (R-OK) participated in a Senate Finance Committee hearing entitled, “Bolstering Chronic Care through Medicare Physician Payment,” where he talked about the importance of encouraging more physician-owned hospitals (POHs) to allow for greater access to healthcare across Oklahoma. ... POHs represent less than five percent of the 5,700 hospitals nationwide. However, POHs have a successful track record of providing individualized and innovative quality care, and they meet a growing demand for health care services, especially in rural areas. 

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Draft Code of Conduct to ensure the use of AI in health and health care meets its potential reliably and safely - Survey/feedback requested

04/15/24 at 03:00 AM

New paper outlines Draft Code of Conduct to ensure that the use of AI in health and health care meets its full potential reliably and safelyNational Academy of Medicine; 4/8/24 While AI holds immense promise for revolutionizing health care and improving health outcomes, it is not without significant risk. ... A new NAM Perspectives Commentary outlines a draft framework for achieving accurate, safe, reliable, and ethical AI advancements that can transform health, health care, and biomedical science. ... The NAM Leadership Consortium is seeking input from stakeholders on the Code Principles and Commitments to ensure responsible and equitable use of AI in health, health care, and biomedical science. Share your experiences and feedback ... Participate in the survey.

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How to become a nurse later in life

04/15/24 at 03:00 AM

How to become a nurse later in life Board Vitals; 4/11/24 Embarking on a career in the nursing field later in life is an inspiring journey that many individuals choose to undertake. Whether it’s a personal passion or a long-held dream, it’s never too late to pursue a fulfilling career in healthcare. In this guide, we will answer the most common questions asked by those starting a nursing career later in life. Editor's Note: Does your hospice or palliative care organization partner with a nursing school? Or with any other type of university, community college, etc. that educates professionals for roles used in your organization? Explore opportunities to instill information and interest in end-of-life care.

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Central Oregon hospice sues feds over challenged Medicare claims

04/15/24 at 03:00 AM

Central Oregon hospice sues feds over challenged Medicare claims The Lund Report, by Nick Budnick; 4/11/24 One of a declining number of nonprofit hospice providers, Partners In Care leaders have successfully defended the vast majority of disputed claims, but have sued to erase the rest while challenging government methods. The case could have 'huge ramifications' and will be closely watched.

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McLeod Health will build $45 million hospital in Cheraw

04/15/24 at 03:00 AM

McLeod Health will build $45 million hospital in Cheraw The Post and Courier Pee Dee, Florence, SC; by Chris Day; 4/10/24 McLeod Health will build a $45 million hospital in Cheraw, replacing the current building that was constructed in 1980. ... McLeod Health operates seven hospitals to serve residents in northeastern South Carolina and southeastern North Carolina. The not-for-profit organization has 988 licensed beds, including hospice and behavorial health care. 

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AI in palliative and end-of-life care: "How new technology makes us feel is important"

04/15/24 at 03:00 AM

AI in palliative and end-of-life care: "How new technology makes us feel is important" Marie Curie, by Dr. Ami Nwosu, Research Lead at the Marie Curie Hospice, Liverpool, UK; 4/11/24... People who require palliative and end of life care require specific physical, emotional, psychological and social needs, which requires holistic assessment and support. Although there are more opportunities to use AI technologies in palliative care, there may be concern from family caregivers that technology may be unable to provide the person-centered, human connection which may be desired when people are at their most vulnerable.

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Today's Encouragement: Who said ... ?

04/15/24 at 03:00 AM

Who said, "In this world, nothing is certain except death and taxes"?Answer: Benjamin FranklinHappy April 15th!

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AHA seeks federal probe of MultiPlan, insurers

04/15/24 at 03:00 AM

AHA seeks federal probe of MultiPlan, insurers Modern Healthcare, by Michael McAuliff; 4/9/24 The American Hospital Association wants the Labor Department to investigate the analytics company MultiPlan and its large insurer clients to determine whether they engage in business practices that disadvantage patients and providers. According to a New York Times investigation published Sunday, MultiPlan and customers such as UnitedHealth Group subsidiary UnitedHealthcare, CVS Health subsidiary Aetna and Cigna boost their finances by dispensing low payments to out-of-network providers and burdening patients with large bills.

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Private Equity: Proposed Health Over Wealth Act - What this means for you

04/15/24 at 03:00 AM

Private Equity: Proposed Health Over Wealth Act - What this means for you JD Supra, by Roger Strode; 4/11/24 On April 3, 2024, Senators Edward Markey ... and Elizabeth Warren ... chaired a Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Subcommittee ... titled, When Health Care Becomes Wealth Care: How Corporate Greed Puts Patient Care and Health Workers at Risk. As part of the hearing process, Senator Markey released his new legislative agenda that calls for transparency and accountability for private equity (PE) in health care. ... The bill would require PE-backed or other for-profit owned providers (those providing services covered by Medicare under 42 U.S.C. Section 1395d) such as hospitals, hospice, nursing homes, and certain other facilities[1], to annually report to HHS on all manner of things including, but not limited to ... [click on the title to link to the list].

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Barriers to expanding perinatal palliative care, hospice

04/15/24 at 03:00 AM

Expanding perinatal palliative care, hospice Hospice News, by Holly Vossel, 4/10/24A lack of trained staff and evolving health laws are among the leading barriers to expanding perinatal palliative and hospice care among underserved populations. ... Mistrust and fear of discrimination are among the common barriers, along with social determinants of health such as insurance coverage, socioeconomic status and transportation, according to recent analysis from researchers at the Morehouse School of Medicine’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

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Former nursing home CEO gets 2.5 years, must pay $11 million restitution for neglecting payroll taxes

04/15/24 at 03:00 AM

Former nursing home CEO gets 2.5 years, must pay $11 million restitution for neglecting payroll taxes McKnights Long-Term Care News, by Josh Henreckson; 4/9/24The former CEO of a healthcare administrative services company was sentenced Friday to 30 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release for failing to pay more than $10 million in payroll taxes at companies he owned. Josef Neuman had been CEO of a Lakewood, NJ, company that provided services to nursing homes and other healthcare providers, including around 20 that Neuman also co-owned. 

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New DOJ rules for online healthcare content make sure seniors aren’t taken offline

04/15/24 at 03:00 AM

New DOJ rules for online healthcare content make sure seniors aren’t taken offline McKnights Senior Living, by Aaron Dorman; 4/11/24The Department of Justice took steps earlier this week to help make sure old adults have appropriate access to valuable web content they need for understanding important healthcare and coverage decisions. State and government agencies, such as the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, must abide by new technical standards, according to a new DOJ rule signed Monday [4/1/24]. “Just as stairs can exclude people who use wheelchairs from accessing government buildings,” the official rule states, “inaccessible web content and mobile apps can exclude people with a range of disabilities from accessing government services.” The technical requirements of the rule are extensive — the updated document is almost 300 pages long — but the overall purpose is to instruct agencies on their obligations to account for possible disabilities.

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$1 billion Medicaid shortfall leads to waiting list for HCBS

04/15/24 at 03:00 AM

$1 billion Medicaid shortfall leads to waiting list for HCBS McKnights Senior Living, by Kimberly Bonivssuto; 4/12/24An almost $1 billion shortfall in Indiana’s Medicaid program is fueling the implementation of a waitlist for the state’s home- and community-based services waiver program.  ... Last week, the [Family and Social Services Administration] FSSA announced that it was implementing a waiting list after the A&D waiver program reached maximum capacity. Overall, strategies the agency outlined to reign in spending are expected to have a $300 million impact over the biennium.

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3 ways advance care planning empowers people

04/15/24 at 02:15 AM

3 ways advance care planning empowers people TCPalm, Visiting Nurse Association, by Lauren Gruber; 4/10/24 ... National Healthcare Decisions Day on April 16th, which seeks to inspire, educate and empower the public and providers on the importance of health planning, is a prime opportunity to consider enrolling in an advance care plan. Identifying the right caregiving plans may seem daunting at first, but it’s important that patients solidify an advance care plan for the security and peace of mind of themselves and their loved ones. ... Here are three ways why choosing an advance care plan through the VNA can empower patients to ensure the best care possible during their health care journey:

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No nightmares and no light at the end of the tunnel. This dream most often repeats itself before death

04/15/24 at 02:00 AM

No nightmares and no light at the end of the tunnel. This dream most often repeats itself before death 247 News Agency; 4/12/24 Does our subconscious know that death is inevitably approaching? Taking into account the latest research, this is quite possible. It turns out that at the end of life many people have the same dream. It’s not a nightmare at all. The topic fascinates many people. For scientists, it is still a mystery that they try to solve by talking to people who survived clinical death or were on the verge of life and death. The best example is Dr. Christopher Kerr, a cardiologist and director of Hospice and Palliative Care Center in Buffalo, ... [who researched] the dreams of patients at the end of life.

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AMA, AHIP, NAACOS outline value-based care best practices

04/15/24 at 02:00 AM

AMA, AHIP, NAACOS outline value-based care best practices Modern Healthcare, by Nona Tepper; 4/10/24 Health insurers, physicians and accountable care organizations issued recommendations Wednesday outlining what they see as the best ways to boost value-based care initiatives. The report from the health insurance trade group AHIP, the American Medical Association and the National Association of ACOs focuses on total-cost-of-care contracts, ACOs that typically span three to five years and have demonstrated success improving quality and reducing costs, according to the organizations.

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Association of frailty and cardiopulmonary resuscitation outcomes in older U.S. Veterans

04/14/24 at 04:00 AM

Association of frailty and cardiopulmonary resuscitation outcomes in older U.S. VeteransAmerican Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, by Dominique M Tosi, MD; Marlena C Fernandez, MD; Shivaan Oomrigar, MD; Lorena P Burton, MD; Iriana S Hammel, MD; Andrew Quartin, MD; Jorge G Ruiz, MD; 4/24CPR outcomes were not different depending on frailty status in our Veteran population. With these results, we cannot use frailty - as measured by the VA-FI - as a prognosticator of CPR outcomes in Veterans.

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‘We’re the telescope looking forward’: Medical ethicists ask tough questions as part of $66 million research project

04/14/24 at 03:55 AM

‘We’re the telescope looking forward’: Medical ethicists ask tough questions as part of $66 million research project CU Department of Medicine, by Mark Harden; 4/5/24 In the original “Jurassic Park” movie, after the process of bringing dinosaurs back to life is explained to a team of consultants, one of them voices a warning: “Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn’t stop to think if they should.” University of Colorado Department of Medicine faculty members will be asking the “should” question years before there’s an answer to “could.” They’ve joined in a nationwide study of whether tiny, battery-powered electric devices and genetic material, swallowed in capsule form, could one day replace surgery or injections as treatments for metabolic diseases such as diabetes and obesity.

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Where you begin is not necessarily where you end: the mental and physical health trajectories of cancer caregivers over time

04/14/24 at 03:50 AM

Where you begin is not necessarily where you end: the mental and physical health trajectories of cancer caregivers over timeSupportive Care in Cancer, by Maureen Wilson Genderson, Maria D. Thomson, Laura A. Siminoff; 10/23Cancer caregiving, a critical component in the cancer-care model, has deleterious effects on the caregiver’s physical and mental health. The degree to which these negative effects are uniformly experienced by caregivers is unclear; effects may be exacerbated at the end of life when caregiving is intensified. Not all caregivers have the support of an additional involved support person (secondary caregiver). The impact of the secondary caregiver’s absence on the primary caregiver’s well-being is understudied.

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Do end-of-life outcomes differ by assisted living memory-care designation?

04/14/24 at 03:45 AM

Do end-of-life outcomes differ by assisted living memory-care designation?Journal of the American Geriatric Society, by Xiao Joyce Wang, Portia Y Cornell, Emmanuelle Belanger, Kali S Thomas; 4/24Residential care/assisted living (RC/AL) is an increasingly common place of end-of-life care for persons with Alzheimer's disease and related dementia (ADRD), who have unique care needs as their health declines. Approximately 22% of RC/ALs provide specialized memory care (memory-care RC/AL). Understanding how end-of-life outcomes differ by memory care among residents with ADRD could facilitate aging/dying in place for this population. The objective of this paper is to examine if end-of-life outcomes (i.e., mortality, hospice use, and number of days receiving hospice in the last month of life) differ between residents with ADRD who moved to memory-care RC/AL, compared with residents with ADRD who moved to RC/AL without memory care (general RC/AL).

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[Psychology Today] Facing Mortality Honestly

04/14/24 at 03:40 AM

[Psychology Today] Facing Mortality Honestly Psychology today, by Patricia Prijatel; 4/6/24 Personal Perspective: Being Mortal, by Atul Gawander, explores end-of-life-care. I read Being Mortal by Atul Gawande when it was first published in 2014 and haven’t stopped talking about it. It shot to the top of my list as one of the most important books I’ve ever read. After 10 years, I read it again to see if it held up. It did. I was as entranced the second time as the first—even more so because, as it happens, I am also now 10 years older.

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Neuropsychiatric effects associated with opioid-based management for palliative care patients

04/14/24 at 03:35 AM

Neuropsychiatric effects associated with opioid-based management for palliative care patientsCurrent Pain and Headache Reports, by Alan D Kaye, Kylie Dufrene, Jada Cooley, Madeline Walker, Shivam Shah, Alex Hollander, Sahar Shekoohi, Christopher L Robinson; 4/24The abundance of opioids administered in the palliative care setting that was once considered a standard of care is at present necessitating that providers evaluate patients for unintentional and deleterious symptomology related to aberrant opioid use and addiction. ... By having an increased understanding and awareness of potential opioid neuropsychiatric effects, patient quality of life can be improved, healthcare system costs can be decreased, and patient outcomes can be met and exceeded.

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