Literature Review
Minnesota nurses union proposes cap on hospital CEO pay
02/13/24 at 03:00 AMMinnesota nurses union proposes cap on hospital CEO payBecker's Hospital Review, by Kelly Gooch; 2/7/24The Minnesota Nurses Association has introduced a "Healing Greed Agenda" outlining its priorities for the 2024 Minnesota legislative session, including a limit on CEO pay at nonprofit hospitals. The union, which represents 22,000 registered nurses and other healthcare professionals in Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota and Iowa, did not indicate a specific amount in its agenda.
Patient navigator intervention to improve palliative care outcomes for Hispanic patients with serious non-cancer illness a randomized clinical trial
02/13/24 at 03:00 AMPatient navigator intervention to improve palliative care outcomes for Hispanic patients with serious non-cancer illness a randomized clinical trial JAMA Intern. Med, by Stacy M. Fischer, MD; Sung-Joon Min, PhD; Danielle M. Kline, MS; et al; 2/212/24Importance: Disparities persist across the trajectory of serious illness, including at the end of life. Patient navigation has been shown to reduce disparities and improve outcomes for underserved populations.Objective: To determine the effectiveness of a lay patient navigator intervention, Apoyo con Cariño, in improving palliative care outcomes among Hispanic patients.
ChatGPT analyzes speech patterns to identify Alzheimer’s 87 percent of the time, researchers show
02/13/24 at 03:00 AMChatGPT analyzes speech patterns to identify Alzheimer’s 87 percent of the time, researchers showMcKnight's Senior Living, by Aaron Dorman; 2/9/24Since ChatGPT went live roughly 15 months ago, researchers have been studying whether artificial intelligence tools can be used to treat or predict Alzheimer’s... One of the main symptoms of dementia, even at earlier stages, is confusion or speech difficulties... ChatGPT was able to correctly identify Alzheimer’s 87% of the time, a new study shows.
8 C-suite roles to watch
02/13/24 at 03:00 AM8 C-suite roles to watchBecker's Hospital Review, by Alexis Kayser, 2/8/24In the past year, more than 40 health systems have taken a closer look at their leadership teams — adding, subtracting, redesigning and combining roles to position their C-suites for the future. [Click on the title's link for] eight evolving executive positions Becker's is tracking.
Medicare is booming, and providers are bracing themselves
02/13/24 at 03:00 AMMedicare is booming, and providers are bracing themselvesModern Healthcare, by Alex Kacik; 2/12/24The aging of the baby boomers means Medicare enrollment growth is expected to exceed that of other major payers.
Bill to legalize medical aid in dying for eligible, terminally ill Virginians passes state Senate
02/13/24 at 03:00 AMBill to legalize medical aid in dying for eligible, terminally ill Virginians passes state SenateABC 8 News WRIC - Capital Connection, by Ryan Nadeau; updated 2/11/24A bill that would allow eligible terminally ill patients in Virginia the option of medically-assisted death, or “medical aid in dying,” has passed the state Senate along a narrow margin. ... SB 280 would “[allow] an adult diagnosed with a terminal condition to request and an attending health care provider to prescribe a self-administered controlled substance for the purpose of ending the patient’s life,” according to its text.
CMS publishes Hospice Item Set Manual changes
02/13/24 at 03:00 AMCMS publishes Hospice Item Set Manual changesMcKnights Home Care, by Adam Healy; 2/12/24Changes went into effect 1/31/24. Table includes Chapter and/or Section in V3.01 of HIS Manual; Page # in V3.01 of HIS Manual; Revision; Explanation
How AI-enabled speech analysis could diagnose, treat diseases
02/13/24 at 03:00 AMHow AI-enabled speech analysis could diagnose, treat diseasesModern Healthcare, by Gabriel Perna; 2/2/24Healthcare providers and digital health companies are using speech analysis AI to anticipate heart attack and better understand a patient's social needs.
Cigna doubles down on growing Evernorth Health Services
02/13/24 at 03:00 AMCigna doubles down on growing Evernorth Health ServicesModern Healthcare, by Lauren Berryman; 2/2/24Two days after announcing it would sell its Medicare business, Cigna Group outlined plans to double down on growth opportunities for its Evernorth Health Services unit... It also expects to benefit from the continued growth of Medicare Advantage, despite its pending exit, by offering pharmacy benefits to these plans... Evernorth provides pharmacy, care delivery and benefits solutions to health plans, employers, government entities and providers. It also houses its Express Scripts pharmacy benefit manager, which is one of the top three largest pharmacy benefit managers by market share.
Google Health seeks clinical health equity expert
02/13/24 at 03:00 AMGoogle Health seeks clinical health equity expertBecker's Health IT, by Laura Dyrda; 2/8/24Google Health has a job opening for a health equity clinical specialist to serve as the company's expert in health equity and social determinants of health. The tech giant wants to bring on a physician with experience in public health and health equity to advise on research and product teams, integrate health equity into products and mitigate risks for increasing the gap in disparities and health outcome metrics.
Will home care’s wage violations spark closures—or more workers?
02/13/24 at 03:00 AMWill home care’s wage violations spark closures—or more workers?Modern Healthcare, by Diane Eastabrook; 2/5/24Home care providers are split on whether the Labor Department’s fines against the industry for wage violations could force more business closures or attract more workers to the high-demand sector. As more care moved into the home during the COVID-19 pandemic, the department’s Wage and Hour Division targeted home care and home health providers in 2021 for overtime infractions, worker misclassification and other violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act.
Medicare Advantage provider, benefit cuts may follow rate reduction
02/13/24 at 03:00 AMMedicare Advantage provider, benefit cuts may follow rate reductionModern Healthcare, by Nona Tepper; 2/6/24Medicare Advantage insurers are likely to respond to a modest rate cut next year by adjusting premiums, benefits, provider reimbursements and other factors to emphasize profitability, financial analysts said. Although the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has downplayed the effects of its proposed 0.16% reduction in the Medicare Advantage benchmark rate for 2025, the rule issued last Wednesday is the latest in a string of policies that has Medicare insurers and their investors wary about the program.
How the funeral industry got the FTC to hide bad actors
02/13/24 at 03:00 AMHow the funeral industry got the FTC to hide bad actorsWall Street Journal, by Dominique Mosbergen; 2/5/24Mortuaries that violate fair-practices rules are allowed to take a remedial training program that shields their names from public scrutiny; WSJ investigation reveals more than 500 homes. Unethical funeral homes have exploited grieving customers for decades. What consumers don’t know is that many of the industry’s bad actors have been hidden from the public thanks to a sweetheart deal struck between the Federal Trade Commission and the funeral industry more than 25 years ago.
End-of-life: The one decision AI cannot predict
02/13/24 at 03:00 AMEnd-of-life: The one decision AI cannot predictForbes, by Dr. Tal Patalon, MD, LLB, MBA; 2/10/24We often talk about personalized medicine; we hardly ever talk about personalized death. ... When training an algorithm, data scientists usually need a “ground truth” to base their algorithm on, often an objective unequivocal metric. ... However, with end-of-life decisions, such as do-not-attempt-resuscitation (as pointedly exemplified in the New England Journal of Medicine), what is the objective truth against which we train or measure the performance of the algorithm?
The most common cancers for men and women in 2024
02/13/24 at 02:00 AMThe most common cancers for men and women in 2024Becker's Hospital Review, by Mariah Taylor; 2/5/24Of all cancer cases in men in 2024, 48% are predicted to be prostate, lung and colon and rectum and 51% of all new cases in women are expected to be from breast, lung and colon and rectum cancers, researchers from the American Cancer Society found.
Atlanta’s health care system is strained by major hospital’s closing, doctors and patients say
02/12/24 at 03:35 AMAtlanta’s health care system is strained by major hospital’s closing, doctors and patients sayNBC News, by Bracey Harris and J.J. McCorvey; 2/7/24At Emory University Hospital Midtown in downtown Atlanta, two mobile pods have been stationed outside the emergency room. Doctors have been called in during extra busy “surge” times, and an administrator described patients on stretchers lining the halls. ... Nearby, Grady Memorial Hospital is so packed that ambulance traffic is sometimes routed to facilities miles away. ... These are the aftershocks from the closing in 2022 of Atlanta Medical Center in a city that already struggled to meet demand for services and provide accessible care.
'Be a game-changer': Insights on leadership for Black History Month
02/12/24 at 03:30 AM'Be a game-changer': Insights on leadership for Black History MonthBecker's Hospital Review, by Kelly Gooch; 2/8/24In honor of Black History Month in February, Becker's Hospital Review asked what it means to be a Black leader in healthcare. Here, Black healthcare leaders share how their heritage and culture infuses their leadership philosophies and adds purpose to their roles.
PeaceHealth hospice and home care nurses near Eugene set to begin strike over the weekend
02/12/24 at 03:20 AMPeaceHealth hospice and home care nurses near Eugene set to begin strike over the weekendKLCC Oregon Public Broadcasting, by Rolando Hernandez; 2/8/24After almost a year of negotiations, nurses with PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Home Care Services are going on strike. More than 90 nurses with the Oregon Nurses Association will be striking for two weeks starting Feb. 10. These nurses provide hospice care and other services to patients in the Eugene area.
Nursing home system faces foreclosure amid $51M in unpaid debt
02/12/24 at 03:15 AMNursing home system faces foreclosure amid $51M in unpaid debtBecker's Hospital Review, by Mariah Taylor; 2/6/24A Peoria, IL based nursing home and assisted living company has entered foreclosure proceedings after lenders alleged it owes $51 million in unpaid debts, the Peoria Journal Star reported Feb. 5. Petersen Health Care, which owns 17 facilities, entered the foreclosure agreement with X-Caliber Funding and Capital Funding in two separate federal cases in January. Petersen alleges it was the victim of a ransomware attack in fall 2023 that took down its billing system at several facilities and "crippled" its finances.
Exploring the relationship between hospice care and end-of-life doulas
02/12/24 at 03:15 AMExploring the relationship between hospice care and end-of-life doulasPhaneuf Funeral Homes & Crematorium; 2/7/24Highlighting the collaborative nature of this relationship, [Lee] Webster pointed out, “Doulas are not out to steal [healthcare professionals’] jobs, but are another set of tools in the tool chest.” The supportive role of doulas can enhance the comprehensive care provided by hospice teams. “People everywhere involved with the doula movement are struggling with this [integration],” Webster added.
Petersen Health Care in battle for $50 million share of massive nursing home portfolio
02/12/24 at 03:15 AMPetersen Health Care in battle for $50 million share of massive nursing home portfolioMcKnight's Long-Term Care News, by Josh Henreckson; 2/6/24An operator of nearly 100 Midwest care facilities is now embroiled in a two-front legal battle over more than $50 million in loans. Two lenders say that Petersen Health Care has failed to make payments due at 17 nursing homes across Illinois, Iowa and Missouri and are seeking foreclosure. The Peoria, IL, company is among the largest care providers in the region, employing several thousand care workers at its facilities in suburban and rural Illinois.
Healthcare data breaches set record in 2023
02/12/24 at 03:15 AMHealthcare data breaches set record in 2023Becker's Health IT, by Giles Bruce; 2/7/24Healthcare data breaches hit an all-time high in 2023 as cybersecurity concerns continue to plague the industry, HIPAA Journal reported. More than 133 million patient records were breached last year, more than double the number in 2022 (51.9 million), according to the publication's analysis of HHS data.
Big Bend Hospice Inpatient Unit opens at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital, increases access to quality end-of-life care
02/12/24 at 03:10 AMBig Bend Hospice Inpatient Unit opens at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital, increases access to quality end-of-life careBusiness Wire; 2/8/24Big Bend Hospice, in partnership with Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare (TMH), proudly announces the opening of the First Commerce Center for Compassionate Care (FCCCC), a new inpatient hospice unit on the third floor of Tallahassee Memorial Hospital.
Molina joins chorus reporting Medicare Advantage challenges
02/12/24 at 03:10 AMMolina joins chorus reporting Medicare Advantage challengesModern Healthcare, by Nona Tepper; 2/8/24
4 recent advancements in Alzheimer's disease care
02/12/24 at 03:10 AM4 recent advancements in Alzheimer's disease careBecker's Hospital Review, by Ashleigh Hollowell; 2/6/24Alzheimer's disease research in the last year has expanded, promising clinicians in the field and patients experiencing the condition more accurate detection tests, new treatment possibilities and research to fuel further advancements in care. ... For four of the most recent updates in care and detention, [click on the title's link, above].