Literature Review

Large language models and generative AI in telehealth: A responsible use lensJournal of the American Medical Informatics Association, by Javad Pool, PhD, Marta Indulska, PhD, Shazia Sadiq, PhD; 4/24The findings emphasized the potential of LLMs, especially ChatGPT, in telehealth. They provide insights into understanding the use of LLMs, enhancing telehealth services, and taking ethical considerations into account. By proposing three future research directions with a focus on responsible use, this review further contributes to the advancement of this emerging phenomenon of healthcare AI.

The realities of work/life balance in palliative careBritish Journal of Community Nursing, by Brian Nyatanga; 3/24The philosophy of palliative care makes the idea of work/life balance a crucial component to providing that care. However, the difficulty of achieving this idealistic work/life split demands another way of looking at the concept.

Healthcare access dimensions and racial disparities in end-of-life care quality among ovarian cancer patientsCancer Research Communications; by Shama Karanth; Oyomoare L Osazuwa-Peters; Lauren E Wilson; Rebecca A. Previs; Fariha Rahman; Bin Huang; Maria Pisu; Margaret Liang; Kevin C Ward; Maria J Schymura; Andrew Berchuck; Tomi F. Akinyemiju; 3/24This study investigated the association between healthcare access (HCA) dimensions and racial disparities in end-of-life care quality among Non-Hispanic Black (NHB), Non-Hispanic White (NHW), and Hispanic patients with ovarian cancer (OC). The final sample included 4,646 women. After adjustment for HCA dimensions, NHB patients had lower quality EOL care compared to NHW patients, defined as increased risk of hospitalization in the last 30 days of life (RR 1.16, 95% CI:1.03-1.30), no hospice care (RR 1.23, 95% CI:1.04-1.44), in-hospital death (RR 1.27, 95% CI:1.03-1.57), and higher counts of poor-quality EOL care outcomes (Count Ratio:1.19, 95% CI:1.04-1.36).

Illness trajectories of incurable solid cancersBMJ, by Eric C T Geijteman, Evelien J M Kuip, Jannie Oskam, Diana Lees, Eduardo Bruera; 3/24[See article for] updated treatment illness trajectories for patients with incurable solid cancer include major temporary improvement, long term ongoing response, and rapid decline. Supportive and palliative care should be provided in conjunction with newer anticancer therapies to address patients’ physical, psychological, social, and spiritual challenges.

Aging is not an illness: Exploring geriatricians' resistance to serious illness conversationsJournal of Pain and Symptom Management, by Alexis Drutchas MD; Deborah S. Lee MD; Sharon Levine MD; Jeffrey L. Greenwald MD; Juliet Jacobsen MD, MPH; 9/23Three key themes emerged that help explain the reluctance of clinicians caring for older patients to have or document serious illness conversations: 1) aging in itself is not a serious illness; 2) geriatricians often focus on positive adaptation and social determinants of health and in this context, the label of “serious illness conversations” is perceived as limiting; and 3) because aging is not synonymous with illness, important goals-of-care conversations are not necessarily documented as serious illness conversations until an acute illness presents itself.

Saturday Newsletters: Research literature is the focus of Saturday newsletters - enjoy!

Tour a room at Quiet Oaks Hospice House video WJON News, St. Cloud, MN; 3/6/24 Even though Quiet Oaks Hospice House has been in our community for over 15 years now, many of us have never actually visited the home. They have eight rooms with all suites similar in size and layout. Executive Director Linda Allen says they have a large-sized hospital bed so loved ones can sleep together. Other room amenities include a TV, radio, and wifi. ... The rooms are equipped with a call button for help and have a camera monitoring system.Editor's Note: This simple, warm, practical video can help allay fears of hospice patients, caregivers, and family members. This type of visual information can be especially supportive to long distance family members who might be grappling with the news of moving their loved one to a hospice facility.

Lubbock salon owners deliver hope with hospice manicure for cancer fighter Norma Hernandez BNN, by Shivani Chauhan; 3/4/24In an inspiring act of kindness, John Dawkins and his wife, owners of Absolute Nails in Lubbock, Texas, visited Norma Hernandez in the hospital to offer her a manicure and pedicure. Battling cancer and facing uncertain days ahead, Norma's simple wish was to have her nails done, a request that was turned down by other salons until Debbie, a close friend of Norma's, reached out to the Dawkins. Moved by the story, they decided to fulfill Norma's wish, bringing not just nail polish but also much-needed joy and comfort to her hospital room.

Transforming tragedy into triumph: Lynne Hughes creates grief camp, helping 24,000 children BNN, by Emmanuel Abara Benson; 3/6/24Lynne Hughes' journey from personal tragedy to establishing Comfort Zone Camp (CZC) spotlights the transformative power of empathy and support. Losing both parents by age 12, Hughes navigated her grief with little support, a struggle that later fueled her mission to ensure no child felt as isolated in their sorrow as she did. Today, CZC stands as a beacon of hope, having supported over 24,000 grieving children across the United States. 

Here comes the sun. And I say, it's all right. - The Beatles 

Lamont negotiates big pay hike for CT home health aides: Wages would rise nearly 26% by 2025-25 to $23 per hour CT Mirror, by Keith M. Phaneuf; 3/5/24 Gov. Ned Lamont and Connecticut’s largest health care workers union announced a tentative three-year contract Tuesday that would boost minimum wages for home health aides by 26% to $23 per hour by the 2025-26 fiscal year. But the package, which also would provide longevity bonuses, expand paid time off and reduce health insurance costs for an industry long seeking a major compensation adjustment, puts the General Assembly in a quandary. 

UNE medical school students donate $2,000 to local hospice center Portland Press Herald; 3/4/24Students at the University of New England’s College of Osteopathic Medicine (COM) have donated $2,000 to the Gosnell Memorial Hospice House in Scarborough, building upon a successful partnership between the two organizations that has lasted nearly 10 years. The money was raised during a fundraising dinner held by the UNE COM American Geriatrics Society/Gerontological Society of America Student Chapter for Geriatrics and Palliative Care last November. The event, a “murder-mystery” dinner, featured several students and faculty performing a script written by chapter members. Over 160 people attended the dinner.