Literature Review

From sleeping in cars to having an apartment: Season for Caring helps once-homeless families Austin American-Statesman; Austin, TX; by Nicole Villalpando; 12/8/24 When Thamairis Canales Yanez learned this year that she had been selected for the Austin-American Statesman's Season for Caring program, "what I did was thank God," she said. ... The 45-year-old and her 14-year-old daughter, Ivanna, came to the U.S. from Venezuela after Yanez's dental business was taken away by the government, and she feared for her daughter's life. She is trying to rebuild her life in America, but it has been difficult. At one point, she and Ivanna were living in her car. She has breast cancer that has spread to her brain. She is unable to work. Often when Season for Caring comes into the lives of the featured families, it is during one of their darkest times.  ...  "I have seen the impact on families," said Robin Clemons, chief development officer at Hospice Austin. "Imagine facing the end of life, and they can't pay their rent. (With Season for Caring funds) they don't have to worry about those types of needs. The stress for the caregiver, it relieves that burden."

A call to action for business leaders in health care: Prioritizing employees’ mental health is a necessity Las Vegas Sun - Veagas Inc; Guest column by Karen Rubel; 12/9/24 As mental health continues to be recognized as a vital component of overall well-being, businesses—especially those in health care—must stay vigilant and proactive in addressing mental health challenges within the workplace. The importance of this issue has never been greater,  ... In a hospice setting, the emotional toll on caregivers is significant. Health care workers often form close bonds with their patients and their families, and the loss of a patient can be deeply affecting. At Nathan Adelson Hospice, our teams regularly come together to review patient care plans, but they also take time to discuss their personal experiences and challenges. These discussions provide an opportunity for our staff to offer mutual support and care. This peer-to-peer connection fosters a sense of community and helps staff process their emotions in a healthy way. ...

Stillwater Hospice hosts month LGBTQ+ grief group Northeast Indiana Public Radio, 89.1 WBOI, Fort Wayne, IN; by Ella Abbott; 12/5/24 Stillwater Hospice has a grief support group for those in the LGBTQ+ community, offering a safe, affirming space to open up about the challenges of loss. ... The group was started in 2022, following the opening of the Fort Wayne Pride Center downtown. Stillwater director of communications Bonnie Blackburn-Penhollow said people in the LGBTQ+ community can have additional stressors added onto their grieving. “They may not feel like they can have grief, or express their grief, if their family is not approving," she said. "They need to be able to talk to people who understand what those kind of constrictions on life are like.” The goals of the group are to create coping strategies for navigating grief, build resilience while honoring loved ones and address the unique experiences and challenges faced by LGBTQ+ individuals while grieving.

The most significant palliative care research trends in 2024 Hospice News; by Holly Vossel; 12/6/24 Palliative care has been at the forefront of several research efforts in 2024, with findings increasingly pointing to the value proposition of these services when it comes to cost savings and quality. Data has become a crucial component of understanding both unmet patient needs and where to fuel resources that address them, Empath Health President and CEO Jonathan Fleece said during the Hospice News Palliative Care Executive webinar. ... Several studies have examined the impacts of palliative care delivery across various health care settings, including hospitals, oncology clinics and in the home. When provided with these services, research has found links to improved mental health support, particularly among patients with serious illnesses. ... Data on improved patient outcomes and cost savings associated with palliative care treatments can be helpful for providers when it comes to navigating reimbursement pathways in the value-based arena, according to Susan Ponder-Stansel, president and CEO of Florida-based Alivia Care.

Life is a balance of holding on and letting go. ~ Rumi

How to support loved ones experiencing cognitive decline while securing their financial well-being Nasdaq, Peronsal Finance; by Deanna Ritchie; 12/6/24 Supporting a loved one with cognitive decline can be one of life’s most challenging challenges. Those with cognitive impairments, such as dementia or Alzheimer’s, often need to be emotionally resilient and make practical adjustments. However, proactive financial planning to secure their well-being is frequently overlooked. The reason? The Wall Street Journal reported that those with undiagnosed memory loss are prone to significant financial declines. Researchers at the University of Michigan found that people without knowledge of their memory problems lost an average of $31,000 in net worth, while people with knowledge lost $5,400. Keeping this in mind, here’s a guide for providing compassionate care while protecting their savings and financial stability. [Click on the title's link for more.]

Living and growing: Spiritual care at end of life Juenaeu Empire; by Claire Richardson; 12/7/24My favorite Gold Creek trail was damaged in one of the 2024 storms that swept through Juneau and altered the creek with a deluge of boulders, rocks and uprooted trees. You could only walk about 100 yards before the alders blocked the route. I didn’t venture there again until recently. Imagine my surprise when the dogs disappeared down the trail and this time, with wind blowing leaves to the ground, I could see clearly that the trail had been restored. Someone had cut off branches that impeded travel and without leaves to blur the way, I could easily find the new route. I felt a delightful sense of discovery, for here was an old, familiar trail now accessible on a frosty fall morning. Even though I knew where I was going, the newness of the path energized me. I moved forward with a smile. Spiritual care offered through hospice can be a lot like finding an old soul trail, but with new twists and turns. ...  Think of your hospice chaplain as a fellow hiker. While we can’t make the journey for you, we can listen carefully to your story of traveling through life. We can walk with you at your pace, perhaps pointing out a few game trails you could explore, but always following your lead.

Embracing well-being at the end of life Phaneuf Funeral Homes & Crematorium; by Phaneuf; 12/5/24At the 29th Annual Fall Hospice & Palliative Care Conference, Dr. Ira Byock delivered a thought-provoking keynote challenging the misconceptions surrounding hospice and palliative care and illuminating a brighter path forward for individuals, families, and caregivers. ... Far too often, hospice and palliative care services are seen as a last resort or equated with “giving up.” Dr. Byock pushed back against this notion, emphasizing that hospice and palliative care are not about death but about life. “Hospice and palliative care are about living as fully and as well as possible through the end of human life,” Dr. Byock said. Rather than signifying the end of healthcare options, palliative care provides comfort, dignity, and even joy for individuals facing life-limiting conditions. Dr. Byock shared that families often express relief and gratitude after beginning hospice care, lamenting that they hadn’t learned about it sooner. These experiences highlight a common issue: Hospice care is often introduced too late, preventing families and patients from reaping its full benefits. 

[OIG] Health Care Fraud and Abuse Control Program Fiscal Year 2023 ReportOIG press release; 12/6/24Today, OIG, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Department of Justice released the Health Care Fraud and Abuse Control Program Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2023, which details the latest interagency efforts to decrease health care fraud and recover over $1.8 billion. [Click link above to read the Fiscal Year 2023 Report.]

Holiday joy for children in hospice: Inside the North Pole ‘Fantasy Flight' at Dulles NBC Washington News4; by Joseph Olmo; 12/7/24 Early on Saturday morning, the crowd of almost 100 kids was buzzing with excitement as they waited to board their "North Pole"-bound flight out of Dulles International Airport. Some of the kids wore masks. Others were in wheelchairs, walked with crutches, or had lost their hair. Many are patients with Alexandria nonprofit Children's Hospice International (CHI) -- and all, though they may not know it, were celebrating what could be their last holiday with their families. It's a sobering fact that seems at odds with the joy and enthusiasm aboard the Boeing 777 airplane. But as United Airlines said in the press release, that's exactly the point of the flight. "Come join us as we fly some magic into the lives of children who need it most this holiday season," United said. And magic was provided. Flight attendants and pilots took their job very seriously as they guided passengers to their seats for the flight to NTP: North Pole International, of course. "Did we already write our letters to Santa?" asked one flight attendant, as she walked a family through the tinsel-decorated tunnel to the plane. "Yes," a tiny voice replied. The flight, begun at Dulles 34 years ago in 1990, is an annual event for children battling life-threatening illnesses, and their families. [Click on the title's link to continue reading this story.]

CGS Administrators, LLC, did not reopen and recalculate most selected hospices’ caps for years prior to 2020 USA HHS Ofice of Inspector General (OIG), Washington, DC; issued 11/27/24, posted 12/4/24Why OIG Did This Audit: ... Our audit determined whether CGS accurately calculated cap amounts and collected cap overpayments in accordance with CMS requirements. This audit is part of a series that reviewed MAC calculations and collections of hospice aggregate and inpatient cap overpayments.What OID Recommends: [... that CGS] 

Addus closes $350M Gentiva Personal Care deal Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 12/2/24 Addus HomeCare Corporation (Nasdaq: ADUS) has closed its $350 million acquisition of Gentiva’s personal care business. Gentiva’s personal care segment brings in annual revenues of close to $280.0 million. Post-transaction, Addus will continue with a leverage ratio of less than 3x, with the ability to further that amount with the influx of revenue resulting from this deal, Addus Chairman and CEO Dirk Allision said in a statement. ... Addus provides personal care, home health and hospice to more than 48,500 patients across 22 states. Its total revenue reached $289.8 million in the Q3 of 2024, a 7% year-over-year increase. Its personal care revenues reached $215.4 million that period.

Guidelines for the prevention, diagnosis, and management of urinary tract infections in pediatrics and adults-A WikiGuidelines group consensus statementJAMA Network Open; Zachary Nelson, PharmD, MPH; Abdullah Tarık Aslan, MD; Nathan P. Beahm, PharmD; Michelle Blyth, MD, MSPH; Matthew Cappiello, MD; Danielle Casaus, PharmD; Fernando Dominguez, MD; Susan Egbert, PharmD; Alexandra Hanretty, PharmD; Tina Khadem, PharmD; Katie Olney, PharmD; Ahmed Abdul-Azim, MD; Gloria Aggrey, MD; Daniel T. Anderson, PharmD; Mariana Barosa, MD, MSc; Michael Bosco, PharmD; Elias B. Chahine, PharmD; Souradeep Chowdhury, MBBS; Alyssa Christensen, PharmD; Daniela de Lima Corvino, MD; Margaret Fitzpatrick, MD, MS; Molly Fleece, MD; Brent Footer, PharmD; Emily Fox, PharmD; Bassam Ghanem, PharmD, MS; Fergus Hamilton, MRCP, PhD; Justin Hayes, MD, MPH; Boris Jegorovic, MD, PhD; Philipp Jent, MD; Rodolfo Norberto Jimenez-Juarez, MD; Annie Joseph, MBBS; Minji Kang, MD; Geena Kludjian, PharmD; Sarah Kurz, MD; Rachael A. Lee, MD, MSPH; Todd C. Lee, MD, MPH; Timothy Li, MBChB; Alberto Enrico Maraolo, MD, MSc; Mira Maximos, PharmD, MSc, ACPR; Emily G. McDonald, MD, MSc; Dhara Mehta, PharmD; Justin William Moore, PharmD, MS; Cynthia T. Nguyen, PharmD; Cihan Papan, MD; Akshatha Ravindra, MD; Brad Spellberg, MD; Robert Taylor, PhD; Alexis Thumann, PharmD; Steven Y. C. Tong, MBBS (Hons), PhD; Michael Veve, PharmD, MPH; James Wilson, DO; Arsheena Yassin, PharmD; Veronica Zafonte, PharmD; Alfredo J. Mena Lora, MD; 11/24Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are among the most common infections globally, notably impacting patient quality of life and posing substantial clinical and economic challenges. In this third WikiGuidelines consensus statement, we provide an evidence-based approach to UTI management developed by a global network of experts for practical use across diverse clinical settings. This guideline fills a critical gap by providing pragmatic, broadly applicable recommendations tailored for generalist care and systems-based practice. Our guidance is rooted in the best available evidence and is designed for clinicians from various backgrounds and health care environments. It emphasizes a patient-centered approach to the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of UTIs and related genitourinary infections.