Literature Review
Instead of an elegy for my dying brother
04/03/24 at 03:00 AMInstead of an elegy for my dying brother Santa Cruz Sentinel, by Stephen Kessler; 3/31/24Week before last I wrote about my elder brother Bruce, the racing driver, film director, deep-sea fisher, boat designer and global circumnavigator, who was on the last laps of his extraordinary life. ... I found him at home in hospice care, in a hospital bed by the big slider off the balcony in his seventh-floor apartment in Marina Del Rey with a lovely view of the marina and all its pretty white boats with their slender masts afloat on the dark-blue water. ...
CMS finalizes 2025 Medicare Advantage rates
04/03/24 at 03:00 AMCMS finalizes 2025 Medicare Advantage rates Becker's Payer Issues, by Rylee Wilson; 4/1/24 CMS finalized a slight decrease in Medicare Advantage benchmark payments for 2025. The agency published its final rate notice for 2025 April 1. The final rule was largely similar to CMS' proposed payment rates issued in January. The agency will cut benchmark payments by 0.16% from 2024 to 2025. CMS estimated plans will see 3.7% higher revenue overall in 2025. MA risk score trend of 3.86% — the average increase in risk adjustment payments year over year — will offset risk model revisions that will lead to a 2.45% decline in revenue and a projected decline in star rating bonuses, according to the agency.
[Maine] Senate backs safe staffing bill with aim to increase patient safety, decrease nurse burnout
04/03/24 at 03:00 AM[Maine] Senate backs safe staffing bill with aim to increase patient safety, decrease nurse burnout Main Morning Star, by Lauren McCauley; 3/27/24 If passed, Maine would be the second state in the country to institute nurse-to-patient ratios. ... Sen. Stacy Brenner (D-Cumberland), who sponsored the bill, shared with the chamber her experience as a nurse and how the stress of being understaffed can contribute to burnout and what she described as “moral distress.” ... Brenner said the bill accomplishes two goals: increasing patient safety and increasing nurse retention.
After Empath Health, Trustbridge complete affiliation, ‘Home Health is high on priority list’
04/03/24 at 03:00 AMAfter Empath Health, Trustbridge complete affiliation, ‘Home Health is high on priority list’ Home Health Care News, by Andrew Donlan; 4/1/24 Last September, the post-acute providers Empath Health and Trustbridge signed a memorandum of understanding to begin an affiliation process. On Monday, that affiliation process was completed, forming the largest nonprofit post-acute provider organization in the state of Florida. Together, the organization will care for 5,000 patients daily and employ more than 5,000 staff members and 3,000 volunteers.
Today Encouragement: ... the people no one can imagine anything of ...
04/03/24 at 03:00 AMSometimes it is the people no one can imagine anything of who do the things no one can imagine. - Alan Turing
How to look after your mental health while packing up Mum or Dad’s home
04/03/24 at 03:00 AMHow to look after your mental health while packing up Mum or Dad’s home The Conversation, 3/31/24 So Mum or Dad has died, or moved to aged care, and now you’ve got to pack up their house. It’s a huge job and you’re dreading it. It’s normal to feel grief, loss, guilt, exhaustion or even resentment at being left with this job. So how can you look after your mental health while tackling the task?
Should we be using palliative care for scleroderma?
04/03/24 at 03:00 AMShould we be using palliative care for scleroderma? The Medical Republic, by Karina Bray; 4/2/24Almost three-quarters of systemic sclerosis patients could benefit from specialist palliative care, according to Australian research. The first-of-a-kind study, published in Arthritis Care & Research, set out to examine and quantify the need for palliative care to address high symptom burden as an integrated part of systemic sclerosis management. ... “Almost 75% of SSc patients may benefit from specialist palliative care input to manage specific severe symptoms, and the overlapping nature of such symptoms highlights the complex symptom management needs of SSc patients,” the authors wrote.
Hospice facility “House of Goshen” opening in Flossmoor in April
04/03/24 at 03:00 AMHospice facility “House of Goshen” opening in Flossmoor in April Crusader Staff; 3/29/24 House of Goshen has announced a dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony for its new 14-bed, 14,000-square-foot inpatient Hospice House, scheduled for Thursday, April 11, at 4 p.m. The facility broke ground at 19810 Governors Highway in March 2023. The upcoming April ceremony marks a milestone in the organization’s commitment to enhancing end-of-life care in the Village of Flossmoor, Illinois. ... The new facility will operate under the umbrella of Oasis Hospice.
Global Medical Tourism Report 2024: Numbers, prospects and problems
04/03/24 at 03:00 AMGlobal Medical Tourism Report 2024: Numbers, prospects and problems Business Wire; 4/1/24 Medical tourism has been touted as the next big thing for many years. ... Medical tourism refers to the practice of individuals traveling across borders to receive medical treatment or healthcare services. ... This global phenomenon has gained significant traction in recent years due to various factors such as cost savings, high-quality healthcare facilities, and accessibility to advanced medical treatments. Editor's Note: The term "medical tourism" appears increasingly in our searches for newsletter articles. Become familiar with this practice as it applies to the patients your organization serves.
Couple marries at Iowa River Hospice to share day with dying grandfather
04/03/24 at 03:00 AMCouple marries at Iowa River Hospice to share day with dying grandfather Times-Republican, by Sara Jordan-Heintz; 3/20/24 It takes a village to coordinate a last-minute wedding, and in the case of Madeline and Quinton Ward, it also took a hospice house. The couple wed at Iowa River Hospice on Monday, February 26 so her grandfather Roger Bauder could officiate. “I wanted our favorite person — my grandfather — to marry us,” Maddie said. “We were blessed to have lots of family and close friends at his side.”
Hospital struggles to restore MyChart months after cyberattack
04/03/24 at 03:00 AMHospital struggles to restore MyChart months after cyberattack Becker's Health IT, by Giles Bruce; 4/1/24 Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago is still trying to restore its MyChart patient portal two months after a cyberattack took its systems offline. ... The organization was struck by a "known criminal threat actor" and disconnected its IT and phone systems Jan. 31. A hacking group later claimed it sold the hospital's data for $3.4 million. Lurie Children's has since restored its phones, email and EHR, but has been working to reinstate MyChart for weeks.
People in this state Googled ‘medical marijuana’ the most, study shows
04/03/24 at 03:00 AMPeople in this state Googled ‘medical marijuana’ the most, study shows Forbes, by Benjamin Adams; 3/29/24 How inquisitive are people in your state about medical cannabis? A recent analysis aims to find out—ranking states according to the number of Google searches for “medical marijuana” and other related keywords. ... The original study, “Which States Are The Most Obsessed With Medical Marijuana In 2024?” illustrates the levels of curiosity in each state, and some of the findings are unexpected.
Some prepaid funeral expenses to southern Colorado funeral home being investigated
04/03/24 at 03:00 AMSome prepaid funeral expenses to southern Colorado funeral home being investigated CBS TV 11 News, by Melissa Henry; 3/29/24A man and his wife wonder whether or not they will ever get more than $7,000 dollars back for prepaid funeral expenses after paying Return to Nature Funeral Home. Jon and Carie Hallford are at the center of an investigation in which they are accused of abuse of a corpse, money laundering, theft, and forgery after officials say 189 bodies were found improperly stored at a building tied to the couple’s business in Penrose.
Ethical conflicts: Making care decisions when the right choice isn't clear
04/03/24 at 03:00 AMEthical conflicts: Making care decisions when the right choice isn't clear Medical Economics, by Jeff Bendix; 3/29/24 What should a physician do when their ethical training conflicts with the circumstances or needs of a particular situation or patient? ... Ethical battlegrounds are growing. [Dr. Melissa] Lucarelli’s experience epitomizes, in a small way, a problem with which doctors have grappled for as long as medicine has existed as a profession: what to do when their ethical training conflicts with the circumstances or needs of a particular situation or patient. That question has taken on new urgency in recent years due to several converging trends.
FTC continues to challenge $320M Novant, CHS deal
04/03/24 at 03:00 AMFTC continues to challenge $320M Novant, CHS deal Becker's Hospital Review; by Naomi Diaz; 3/29/24The Federal Trade Commission filed court documents on March 25 seeking a preliminary injunction to bar Winston-Salem, NC-based Novant Health from its $320 million acquisition of two North Carolina hospitals from Franklin, TN-based Community Health Systems. According to court documents filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina, the FTC alleged that Novant Health's proposed acquisition ... would "irreversibly consolidate the market for hospital services in the Eastern Lake Norman Area in the northern suburbs of Charlotte."
The Workforce Management Playbook: How Mercy is empowering nurses, saving premium labor costs + improving care
04/03/24 at 03:00 AMThe Workforce Management Playbook: How Mercy is empowering nurses, saving premium labor costs + improving care Becker's Hospital Review in collaboration with Trusted Health; 3/29/24 At Becker’s 11th Annual CEO + CFO Roundtable, in a session sponsored by Trusted Health, two leaders from Mercy (St. Louis) — Cheryl Matejka, CFO, and Betty Jo Rocchio, DNP, senior vice president and system chief nursing officer — discussed how the right workforce management platform can help organizations redesign their staffing models in tune with nurses’ evolving needs, while saving costs and improving operational efficiency. In Mercy’s presentation to over roughly 100 hospital executives there were three major themes.
Palliative and hospice care in hospitals and clinics: the good, the bad, and the ugly
04/03/24 at 02:15 AMPalliative and hospice care in hospitals and clinics: the good, the bad, and the ugly MedPageToday's KevinMD.com; by Earl Stewart, Jr., MD and Miguel Villagra, MD; 4/1/24 I walk into the patient’s hospital room during evening rounds. He looks pale and tired, having recently completed a round of chemotherapy for his stage IV pancreatic cancer. His wife is at the bedside, scared and concerned about her husband’s rapid decline. I sit down to discuss goals of care when the patient immediately says, “I can’t do this anymore.” His wife responds immediately to the patient: “Of course you can.” ...
A pilot of a Telehealth-Hospice transition intervention for children and young adults with cancer
04/03/24 at 02:00 AMA pilot of a Telehealth-Hospice transition intervention for children and young adults with cancer Journal of Pain and Symptom Management; by Nicholas P DeGroote, Ebonee Harris, Anna Lange, Karen Wasilewski-Masker, James L Klosky, Joanne Wolfe, Dio Kavalieratos, Katharine E Brock; 3/31/24, online ahead of printConclusions: Participants found coordinated telehealth visits to be feasible, acceptable, and satisfactory. Telehealth may be utilized as an acceptable alternative to clinic visits and fosters hospital-hospice collaboration.
“Personhood,” not “Patienthood”: Tips on dignity-conserving practice in palliative care
04/03/24 at 02:00 AM“Personhood,” not “Patienthood”: Tips on dignity-conserving practice in palliative careIAHPC, by Kim Adzich, MD; 4/1/24 One of Dame Cicely Saunders’ foundational tenets of palliative care is embodied in her words, “You matter because you are you, and you matter until the last moment of your life.” Dignity is the inherent worthiness of being human, of mattering until that last breath. But how do we ensure that we reflect that inherent dignity back to those in our care? Dr. Harvey Max Chochinov, having dedicated decades to researching and teaching dignity-conserving care, ... [offers] a few thoughts on how we can foster that sense of dignity and uniqueness in those we care for as they near the end of life.
Good Sam Center of Caring opens half of new home this week
04/02/24 at 03:30 AMGood Sam Center of Caring opens half of new home this week WFIR News Talk Radio and WDBJ 7 TV, Roanoke, VA; by Gene Marrano (text) and Aaron Housch (tv); 4/1/24Perhaps today or sometime in the next few days half of the new Good Sam Hospice Center for Caring on Cove Road northwest will be open for business; a wing dedicated to office staff and volunteers. An update from WFIR’s Gene Marrano: [audio]. See video tour of Center for caring here.
Autism & Grief Project helps autistic adults navigate death and loss
04/02/24 at 03:30 AMAutism & Grief Project helps autistic adults navigate death and lossCision PRWeb, by Autism & Grief Project; 4/1/24 Launched by the Hospice Foundation of America and supported by the NLM Family Foundation, the project bridges resource gaps for adults on the autism spectrum. The Autism & Grief Project is an online platform supporting autistic adults as they navigate the complexities of grief arising from death and loss. Visitors can access free resources for adults, their families, professional support providers, and clergy members: austismandgrief.org.
What is an end-of-life doula?
04/02/24 at 03:25 AMWhat is an end-of-life doula? Psychology Today, by Cheralyn Leeby, PhD, LMFT; 3/31/24"The appellation ‘end-of-life doula’ (EOLD) is increasingly used as an umbrella term to identify lay people, primarily women, who provide a diversity of non-medical supports—social, emotional, practical, and spiritual—for people nearing the end of life, including those close to them" (Krawzik and Rush, 2020). The term doula is derived from the Greek word "doule," which means helper or maidservant. Families hire death coaches to facilitate, guide, and emotionally support the dying process.
Cancer patients often want ‘one more round.’ Should doctors say no?
04/02/24 at 03:00 AMCancer patients often want ‘one more round.’ Should doctors say no? The Washington Post, by Mikkael A. Sekeres, MD; 3/31/24 My patient was in his early 30s and his leukemia had returned again following yet another round of treatment. He was a poster child for the recently reported rise in cancer rates in the young, and had just asked me what chemotherapy cocktail I could devise for him next, to try to rid him of his cancer. I hesitated before answering. Oncologists are notorious for always being willing to recommend to our patients one more course of treatment, even when the chances of success are negligible.
Michael Dowling: 9 healthcare nuances that defy simple criticisms
04/02/24 at 03:00 AMMichael Dowling: 9 healthcare nuances that defy simple criticismsBecker's Hospital Review; by Michael J. Dowling; 3/28/24Those who work in healthcare should be proud of the distinct role we play in our communities and society. ... Beyond all the numbers and details, it is important to understand that healthcare is deeply human and personal. We are all potential patients — many of us have already been. ... [Click on the article's title for Dowling's 9 differences and distinctions for nonprofit healthcare.]
Interruptions: Bad for hospitalists and their patients
04/02/24 at 03:00 AMInterruptions: Bad for hospitalists and their patientsThe Hospitalist, by Larry Beresford; 4/1/24More than 10 years ago this magazine published an article by Winthrop Whitcomb, MD, MHM, a pioneer of hospital medicine and co-founder of the Society of Hospital Medicine, warning of the hazards of workflow interruptions for hospitalists, which he labeled a career satisfaction issue for clinicians but a safety and quality risk for their patients. A decade later, the problem has surely gotten worse as hospital financial pressures and staff shortfalls push caseloads higher and job stresses drive burnout and premature retirement for doctors who have been pulled in too many directions in their work.