Literature Review

Frontline burnout in healthcare: A growing crisis demands action MedCity News, by Russ Richmond; 4/4/24Implementing diverse and sustained strategies to empower frontline workers should be the cornerstone of any modern healthcare workforce management program. The healthcare industry faces a critical challenge: rampant burnout among its workforce. Recent data paints a concerning picture: 46% of healthcare workers report feeling burned out (CDC), and 41% of nurses in direct patient care roles are considering leaving their roles (McKinsey). These numbers – significantly higher than pre-pandemic levels – point towards systemic issues demanding immediate attention.

How to talk about death Maine Public Radio, by Jennifer Rooks and Cindy Han; 4/5/24 Talking about death is not easy. We'll discuss why stigma and discomfort can impede end-of-life conversations, for the person who may be nearing death as well as for friends and family members. We'll find out how to address the emotional and spiritual aspects of dying. And we'll discuss the more practical legal, financial and medical matters to handle before and after someone has died.Panelists: Julie Weiss, social worker, Hospice of Southern Maine; Dr. Paul Segal, nephrologist, assistant professor of medicine; helped create curriculum for end-of-life doula students, University of New England; Dr. Fernando Moreno, palliative care specialist; medical director, Hospice of Southern Maine

A day in the life: Hospice nurseDaily Nurse - The Pulse of Nursing; blog by Renee Hewitt; 4/8/24 Supporting someone with a life-limiting diagnosis or talking about death can be difficult for many people, but not for a hospice nurse. What’s it like to care for patients and their families in the end-of-life process? Maryette Williamson, RN, BSN, knows firsthand from working as a BAYADA Hospice Nurse in Fayetteville, North Carolina. We asked her about her work. What follows is our interview ... [From Maryette] ... "There was a learning curve from long-term care to hospice. The most significant difference in hospice is our focus on quality of life rather than a cure. That was the most important change for me."Editor's Note: Consider linking to this resource with your nurse recruitment tools. Hospice executives, this nurse's common transition when moving from long-term care to hospice. Ensure solid orientation/onboarding/precepting training, time, resources, support, and accountability for new hospice employees. Do not assume that they will automatically translate their years of practice into hospice principles and best practices. 

Hospitals cash in on a private equity-backed trend: Concierge physician care KFF Health News, by Phil Galewitz; 4/1/24 Nonprofit hospitals created largely to serve the poor are adding concierge physician practices, charging patients annual membership fees of $2,000 or more for easier access to their doctors. It’s a trend that began decades ago with physician practices. Thousands of doctors have shifted to the concierge model, in which they can increase their income while decreasing their patient load. ...

I work with dying Trump supporters. It's...confusingDaily Kos, by Scott Janssen; 4/6/24Publisher's note: There weren't a couple sentences to summarize this opinion piece. In our advocacy, we often say "death and hospice are bipartisan". This article challenges us to ethically wrestle with our biases (political or otherwise) to professionally provide excellent end-of-life care.

Improved onboarding process could boost worker retentionMcKnights Senior Living, by Kathleen Steel Gaivin; 4/8/24As long-term care providers navigate post-pandemic workforce challenges, they also need to improve the onboarding process, according to the results of a new survey by Viventium. ... The study detailed in the company’s 2024 Caregiver Onboarding Experience Report solicited responses from 175 administrators and caregivers in skilled nursing, assisted living, independent living, home health, home care and hospice care in November and December. The survey, Viventium said, found a “shockingly low bar for what passes as a ‘good’ onboarding experience, with strong indications that raising that bar could correlate to higher retention rates.”Editor's Note: See the article in today's newsletter, "A day in the life: Hospice nurse" for the importance of onboarding hospice nurses to to differences between long-term care and hospice care.

USDA Rural Development accepting applications for grants to fund high-speed Internet and digital equipment for rural and tribal communitiesU.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development, by Leigh Hallet; 4/4/24The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development invites grant applications for two programs that fund broadband access. The Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) Grant Program helps organizations provide online training, education, and health services. It funds services, training, and equipment to digitally connect people to education, training, and health care resources.

Chicago area nurse gets 2 years in prison for stealing morphine from sick patientsCBS News TV 2, Chicago; by Acacia Hernandez; 4/4/24A northwest suburban nurse was sentenced in court on Thursday to two years in federal prison for stealing morphine from her patients, some of whom were terminally ill. Sarah Diamond, 31, of Woodstock, was accused of targeting the most vulnerable, including hospice patients living out their final days. In 2021, she removed liquid morphine from bottles that had been prescribed to at least five hospice patients and replaced it with saline. Prosecutors said she took the medication for her own personal use.

Medicare Program; FY 2025 Hospice Wage Index and Payment Rate Update, Hospice Conditions of Participation Updates, and Hospice Quality Reporting Program Requirements Federal Register; A Proposed Rule by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on 4/4/24This document has a comment period that ends in 53 days, 5/28/24.This proposed rule would update the hospice wage index, payment rates, and aggregate cap amount for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025. This rule proposes changes to the Hospice Quality Reporting Program. This rule also proposes to adopt the most recent Office of Management and Budget statistical area delineations, which would change the hospice wage index. This rule proposes to clarify current policy related to the “election statement” and the “notice of election”, as well as to add clarifying language regarding hospice certification. Finally, this rulemaking solicits comments regarding potential implementation of a separate payment mechanism to account for high intensity palliative care services.

The iconic stethoscope is getting a 21st century makeoverManaged Healthcare Executive, by Peter Wehrwein; 4/4/24 Two years ago, a pair of New Zealand physicians wrote an opinion piece in a peer-reviewed journal of the Royal Australasian of Physicians about point-of-care ultrasound. The gist of their argument was that ultrasound ought to be used more routinely to detect various heart and lung conditions. The somewhat cheeky title of that article is “Update on Echocardiography: Do We Still Need a Stethoscope?” Jason Bellet has spent more than a decade making pretty much the opposite case: Not only do healthcare professionals still need a stethoscope, they need a vastly improved, 21st century version that harnesses digital technology and artificial intelligence (AI).

Jamestown Regional Medical Center employees give over $36K to medical center’s mission The Jamestown Sun; 4/4/24 Jamestown Regional Medical Center employees came together this year to raise over $36,000 through the annual Employee Giving Campaign. The funds raised go directly to the JRMC Foundation, which benefits the community through new equipment, staff training and patient comfort items. onations support cancer care, hospice, equipment and technology, infant loss and bereavement, Family BirthPlace, the Employee Support Fund, Kala's Korner and the Greater JRMC Fund ...

CMS: Contract Year 2025 Medicare Advantage and Part D Final Rule (CMS-4205-F)CMS, Medicare Part D, Policy; 4/4/24On April 4, 2024, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a final rule that revises the Medicare Advantage Program, Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Program (Medicare Part D), Medicare Cost Plan Program, Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), and Health Information Technology Standards and Implementation Specifications. Additionally, this final rule addresses several key provisions that remain from the CY 2024 Medicare Advantage and Part D proposed rule, CMS-4201-P, published on December 14, 2022. ... This fact sheet discusses the major provisions of the 2025 final rule which can be downloaded here: https://www.federalregister.gov/public-inspection/2024-07105/medicare-program-medicare-advantage-and-the-medicare-prescription-drug-benefit-program-for-contract

Living to 100: Making Maryland a ‘Blue Zone’ The Baltimore Sun, commentary by Raya Elfadel Kheirbek; 4/5/24 In a bold stride toward redefining the approach to aging, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore signed an executive order in January aimed at expanding access to critical care and services for older Marylanders. ... At the heart of this initiative, dubbed Longevity Ready Maryland, is a comprehensive plan that transcends traditional state efforts focused solely on eldercare. Instead, it adopts a holistic, multisector approach that promises a transformative impact and enrichment in every dimension — health, financial security, social connectivity and purposeful living, irrespective of a Marylander’s socioeconomic status.