Literature Review

NAVC announces Pet Peace of Mind as the 2024 NAVC gives Marquee Award recipient

Longfield Hospice collects more than 3,000 Christmas treesBBC News, West of England, by Rhiannon Yhnell; 1/15/24For a voluntary donation, people around Gloucestershire have had their trees taken away by volunteers from Longfield Community Hospice in Minchinhampton. Every year trees are taken to recycling sites where they are turned into a multi-purpose mulch. So far more than 3,000 trees have been collected in four days. ... [The amount of money is] a bit of secret at the moment but we've raised more [than last year's] just under £50,000 ... for hospice care. [Approximately $63,000 in US dollars]

Former director of two non-profits sentenced for stealing from organizationsWABI News Desk (tv); 1/12/24The former director of two Skowhegan (ME) non-profits has been sentenced for stealing $200,000 from the organizations, according to the Morning Sentinel. The paper reports 37-year-old Jason Gayne of Athens stole from the Skowhegan Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Hospice Volunteers of Somerset County. Gayne was the ... director of Hospice Volunteers from 2014 to 2022.

Rural nursing homes' livelihood may depend on non-existent staffMcKnights Long-Term Care News, by Kimberly Marselas; 1/15/24... Rural skilled nursing providers have been among the most deeply affected by pandemic-era losses, a fact acknowledged by a provision in the mandate that gives them two extra years to hire needed staff. ... Mark Parkinson, president and CEO of the American Health Care Association, has called staffing “the metric that will matter most” for rural healthcare over the next five to 10 years.

Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce to celebrate regional business excellenceSanta Barbara Independent; 1/11/24Community Business of the Year – VNA Health. As the only certified nonprofit home healthcare and hospice agency in the region, VNA Health has been caring for the Santa Barbara community with a deep sense of dedication and excellence. Their services, ranging from skilled nursing and rehabilitation therapies to hospice and palliative care, have been pivotal in enhancing the quality of life for countless individuals and families.

Mount Carmel Health System and Anthem announce multi-year contract with enhanced value-based health care and improved data connectivityPress release; 1/11/24COLUMBUS, OHIO — January 11, 2024 — Mount Carmel Health System and Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield announced today a new, multi-year provider network agreement. The agreement secures long-term access to affordable health care for Mount Carmel patients covered by Anthem Medicare, Medicaid, and employer-sponsored health plans. As part of the agreement, the two organizations will accelerate their collaboration on several innovative initiatives, including advance data connectivity and value-based care (VBC) models designed to improve health outcomes and better control costs for care for Mount Carmel patients covered by Anthem health plans.Notable mentions: Lorraine Lutton, Mount Carmel President & CEO.

Pediatric oncology hospice: A comprehensive reviewAmerican Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care, by Ali Tafazoli and Katharine Cronin-Wood; 1/15/24.Our systematic approach led to development of a well-organized structure introducing the foundational elements, highlighting complications, and uncovering hidden gaps in this critical area. This structured framework comprises nine major categories including general ideology, population specifications, role of parents and family, psychosocial issues, financial complications, service locations, involved specialties, regulations, and quality improvement. This platform can serve as a valuable resource in establishing a scientifically reliable foundation for future experiments and practices in pediatric oncology hospice.

JPM 2024: 10 takeaways for providers, insurers, digital companiesModern Healthcare, by Alex Kacik; 1/12/24Key takeaways from the 42nd annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference include:

Federal scientists conclude there is credible evidence for certain medical uses of marijuanaPolitico, by Natalie Fertig; 1/12/24The Department of Health and Human Services concluded that marijuana is less harmful than other dangerous drugs and that there is some evidence of its medical benefits in recommending loosening federal restrictions on the drug. For the last 60-plus years, cannabis has been classified as a Schedule I drug — the same as heroin — under the Controlled Substances Act, which means it’s a substance of high abuse potential and no accepted medical use. Bloomberg first reported in August that HHS had recommended marijuana be moved to Schedule III, and the release of these documents on Friday confirms that.Publisher note: The full FDA report can be found here.

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‘Men who are grieving, or facing up to a terminal illness, can come here to share their experience’MSN, by Roland White; 1/14/24When volunteers from the Marie Curie charity were looking for a place where men could support each other through serious illness and bereavement, there was really only one option. They built a large shed. That’s no surprise. Sheds are very handy for storing garden tools and spare cans of oil, but they also serve an even more important function as places of male refuge. We escape to the shed in times of distress, or when we just need a bit of peace.