Literature Review
Why I chose palliative care: A nurse's personal journey to providing comfort care
03/07/24 at 03:00 AMWhy I chose palliative care: A nurse's personal journey to providing comfort careAnschutz, by Lauren Carter; 3/5/24My interest in palliative care started with my grandma’s use of hospice services seventeen years ago. She suffered with multiple sclerosis for over forty years. ... What may have been a terrible experience for most people was actually made very positive for me. ... Unfortunately, I had another opportunity fifteen years later, to once again be there for my family in this way. ... It takes empathy and specialized training to assist in end-of-life care. It may be something that we are called to. I care deeply about these patients and their families. I am able to have difficult conversations when necessary. I try to create space for family members to talk about who the person in the hospital bed is, when that person can no longer talk for themselves. ...
Healthcare access dimensions and racial disparities in end-of-life care quality among ovarian cancer patients
03/07/24 at 03:00 AMHealthcare access dimensions and racial disparities in end-of-life care quality among ovarian cancer patients Cancer 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, and Tomi F. Akinyemiju; 3/5/24 This study investigated the association between healthcare access (HCA) dimensions and racial disparities in end-of-life (EOL) care quality among Non-Hispanic Black (NHB), Non-Hispanic White (NHW), and Hispanic patients with ovarian cancer (OC).
WellSky ® and Millennium Physician Group set new standard for healthcare delivery with innovative new partnership
03/07/24 at 03:00 AMWellSky ® and Millennium Physician Group set new standard for healthcare delivery with innovative new partnership Benzinga, by Business Wire; 3/5/24 WellSky, a leading health and community care technology company, and Millennium Physician Group, a value-based physician group with more than 800 healthcare providers across the Southeast, today announced a new multi-year partnership to drive improved outcomes for Millennium patients. ... WellSky serves more than 20,000 client sites — including the largest hospital systems, blood banks, cell therapy labs, home health and hospice franchises, post-acute providers, government agencies, and human services organizations.
Hospice golf tourney raises more than $130,000
03/07/24 at 02:45 AMHospice golf tourney raises more than $130,000 Ocala Gazetter, by Bruce Ackerman; originally posted 1/30/24, redistributed 3/5/24The event raised $131,365 through the 184 participating golfers and a silent auction. At the culmination of the event, a giant check for that amount was presented to Hospice of Marion County CEO Rick Bourne by Gary and Dawn Crawford, co-owners of Pinnacle Retirement Advisors. ... The event was sponsored by Pinnacle Retirement Advisors to benefit the Nancy Renyhart Dementia Education Program.
Why home care leaders are now banking on ‘Caregiver-First’ cultures
03/07/24 at 02:15 AMWhy home care leaders are now banking on ‘Caregiver-First’ cultures Home Health Care News, by Patrick Filbin; 3/4/24 Over the last several years, a notable trend is emerging in home care: Top-tier companies are shifting their focus from prioritizing customers to prioritizing caregivers. This strategic move reflects a growing recognition of the critical role caregivers play, and aims to address persistent caregiver shortages.
Hospices welcome VBID’s demise, but questions remain
03/07/24 at 02:00 AMHospices welcome VBID’s demise, but questions remainHospice News, by Jim Parker; 3/5/24Citing “operational challenges,” the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced [Monday] that it would bring to a close the hospice component of the value-based insurance design (VBID) demonstration, effective Dec. 31. ... Hospice News spoke with leaders of hospice organizations, industry groups and other stakeholders to gauge providers’ perceptions of the CMS decision.
Apparently healthy, but diagnosed with Alzheimer’s?
03/07/24 at 02:00 AMApparently healthy, but diagnosed with Alzheimer’s?The New York Times, by Paula Span; 3/4/24 New criteria could lead to a dementia diagnosis on the basis of a simple blood test, even in the absence of obvious symptoms.
Rising suicide risk among seniors due to loneliness, mobility, financial insecurity, study finds
03/07/24 at 02:00 AMRising suicide risk among seniors due to loneliness, mobility, financial insecurity, study finds McKnights Home Care, by Adam Healy; 3/5/24As the number of adults over 65 continues to grow, suicide rates among older adults have also been rising, according to data from the National Center for Health Statistics. Between 2008 and 2017, the share of suicide-related emergency department visits among adults 65 years and older more than doubled. These older adults face age-related stressors that can negatively affect mental health, such as declining physical health, reduced mental sharpness, or the loss of friends or loved ones, which can heighten the risk of suicide.
Johns Hopkins study reveals medical marijuana lowers pain, hospital visits
03/07/24 at 02:00 AMJohns Hopkins study reveals medical marijuana lowers pain, hospital visits BNN, by Wojciech Zylm; 3/5/24Recent research highlights significant improvements in well-being for cannabis users, offering hope for those with chronic illnesses. The study showcases a potential shift in the perception and utilization of medical cannabis in healthcare.
Understanding the role algorithms play in our lives and navigating palliative care
03/07/24 at 02:00 AMUnderstanding the role algorithms play in our lives and navigating palliative careListen - Life Matters, by Hilary Harper, presenter podcast; 3/4/24Every day, we interact with dozens of algorithms as we go about our lives, but many of us don't understand how they work. How do we get the the best out of these tools while keeping the potential dangers in check?Editor's Note: From palliative care experts Australia; information about algorithms and Artificial Intelligence (AI) transfers to our USA palliative care (of course, without applications to CMS systems).
Cornhole tournament raises $33K for Chatham-Kent Hospice
03/06/24 at 03:30 AMCornhole tournament raises $33K for Chatham-Kent HospiceCK News Today, by Millar Hill; 3/4/24The Chatham-Kent Hospice Foundation's inaugural cornhole tournament was a success, raising over $33,000 for end-of-life care in Chatham-Kent. The event, which took place Saturday at the Everest Convention Centre in Chatham, saw 28 teams take part who wanted to help raise some funds.Editor's Note: Who would have thought that cornhole could raise so much money? With its growing popularity in the US, consider incorporating a revenue-generating cornhole area into your standard (appropriate) fundraisers. Are you hosting a golf tournment? Consider including an intergenerational, family/team oriented cornhole contest for family, friends, and community groups.
Editorial: Illness trajectories in the age of big data
03/06/24 at 03:15 AMEditorial: Illness trajectories in the age of big data The BMJ; by Peter Tanuseputro, Colleen Webber, and James Downar; 3/1/24For decades, healthcare providers have understood that patients follow typical trajectories of health decline as they approach the end of life, and they have used this understanding to help patients and families anticipate the dying process. Traditional trajectories focus on function or overall health status and include sudden death, terminal illness ..., organ failure ..., and frailty ... Two Education articles in the BMJ add novel dimensions to our understanding of health decline. Murray et al explain how declines in function do not always mirror declines in social, psychological, and spiritual dimensions. They also add a new trajectory, multimorbidity, to describe a person with conditions from multiple trajectories (such as heart disease from organ failure and cognitive impairment from frailty).
InnovAge launches first PACE Center in Florida providing comprehensive healthcare program for seniors to promote independence
03/06/24 at 03:00 AMInnovAge launches first PACE Center in Florida providing comprehensive healthcare program for seniors to promote independence MarketScreener, Globe Newswire; 3/4/24InnovAge Holding Corp. (“InnovAge”) (Nasdaq: INNV), the industry leader in providing comprehensive healthcare programs to dual-eligible seniors through the Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) launched a new center in Tampa, its first in the state of Florida. This PACE center has the capacity to serve approximately 1,300 participants.
The top strategies healthcare organizations can use to reduce denials
03/06/24 at 03:00 AMThe top strategies healthcare organizations can use to reduce denials MedCityNews, by Laxmi Patel; 3/5/24Here are six actionable steps healthcare organizations can take to reduce their likelihood of denials and write-offs.
15 C-level job openings with HCA
03/06/24 at 03:00 AM15 C-level job openings with HCA Becker's Hospital Review, by Molly Gamble; 3/5/24The largest health system in the country is seeking leaders for numerous roles at the top of its hospitals. With more than 182 hospitals and 2,300 sites of care, Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA Healthcare is seeking to fill thousands of positions across its 20-state enterprise. [Included] are job listings active on the HCA job boards as of March 4 for C-level executive positions with its hospitals or subsidiaries, organized by role and presented alphabetically.
Veterans’ care new battleground in nursing home staffing mandate
03/06/24 at 03:00 AMVeterans’ care new battleground in nursing home staffing mandate McKnights Long-Term Care News, by Kimberly Marselas; 3/5/24Two senators have introduced a bill to determine exactly what “unintended circumstances” could result for elderly veterans if a federal rule mandating staffing levels at all US nursing homes is allowed to proceed. ... The bill would require the VA to study potential risks associated with the proposed Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services rule — especially as they pertain to rural providers. The senators said the proposal would “unsustainably change staffing ratios at nursing homes.”
The framework on palliative care in Canada - five years later: a report on the state of palliative care in Canada.
03/06/24 at 03:00 AMThe framework on palliative care in Canada - five years later: a report on the state of palliative care in Canada.Government of Canada; 3/5/24[From the "Minister's Message," The Honorable Mark Holland, PC, MP] As Minister of Health, I am pleased to present Health Canada’s 2023 Report on the State of Palliative Care in Canada. Since the release of the Framework on Palliative Care in Canada in 2018, there have been collective efforts to advance palliative care awareness, access to training, supports for caregivers and providers, and to stimulate research and improve data collection on palliative care. And I am especially encouraged to report that, since 2018, we have moved closer to our collective vision for palliative care in Canada. This progress is the result of collective and collaborative efforts by governments, organizations and individuals over the last five years.Editor's Note: What can we learn from our Canadian neighbors from their new five-year report "On the state of palliative care in Canada"? In our daily gleaning of articles for this newsletter, numerous articles with similar topics, ethical challenges, and core purposes appear from Canada.
Home care nurse strike ends without deal
03/06/24 at 03:00 AMHome care nurse strike ends without deal Northwest Labor Press, by Mallory Gruben; 3/1/24Usually, PeaceHealth jointly bargains with the home health unit and a unit of about 1,500 hospital nurses, and all nurses are paid the same. But for this round of negotiations, PeaceHealth demanded that bargaining happen separately. Hospital nurses reached an agreement in August that raises wages 20.5% over four years. PeaceHealth’s latest offer to the home health nurses is a 14.75% raise over four years. [Erin] Grace [a nurse,] says without an equal contract for equal work, PeaceHealth will have difficulty attracting and retaining home care nurses. According to ONA, the unit has already lost a quarter of its members, and more say they plan to leave if a contract isn’t reached soon.
Hittin' the Road for Hospice: Annua motorcycle ride raises $22,000 for Gulfside Hospice patients and their families
03/06/24 at 03:00 AMHittin' the Road for Hospice: Annual motorcycle ride raises $22,000 for Gulfside Hospice patients and their families The Laker / Lutz News; by Mary Rathman; 3/5/24[Scroll down on the page for the article] For more than a decade, motorcycle riders have been coming together to raise funds for Gulfside Hospice and support patients in need and their families. During the 12th annual Hittin’ the Road for Hospice, the crowd raised just over $22,000 for the nonprofit, according to a news release.
Providers meet with OMB to prevent ‘devastating’ effect of 80/20 provision
03/06/24 at 03:00 AMProviders meet with OMB to prevent ‘devastating’ effect of 80/20 provision McKnights Home Care, by Adam Healy; 3/4/24Home care stakeholders have been busy on Capitol Hill voicing concerns about a controversial provision of the proposed Medicaid Access Rule. The National Association for Home Care & Hospice and Home Care Association of America met with the Office of Management and Budget last week to discuss the Access Rule’s so-called 80/20 provision. The provision, if finalized, would require that 80% of Medicaid payments for personal care, home health and homemaker services be spent on workers’ compensation. “If that one provision is finalized as proposed, it would be so detrimental that we’d likely lose a significant portion of our service delivery base and people would go without care,” Damon Terzaghi, NAHC’s director of Medicaid HCBS (home- and community-based services) said in an interview with McKnight’s Home Care Daily Pulse. “It would truly be devastating.”
Primary care physician's next frontier: Palliative care
03/06/24 at 03:00 AMPrimary care physician's next frontier: Palliative careMedscape, by Larry Beresford; 3/5/24Palliative care, a medical specialty that focuses on clarifying the treatment goals of seriously ill patients, helping with end-of-life planning, and emphasizing pain and symptom management, has been growing in recent years. Already well-established in most US hospitals, it is also expanding in community settings, often as an extension of hospice programs. Now, by adding primary care physicians and practices to their service mix, palliative care groups are better meeting the needs of a neglected — and costly — population of frail elders.
Hospice launches Mothers Day tribute page
03/06/24 at 03:00 AMHospice launches Mothers Day tribute page Newrie.ie; 3/3/24Southern Area Hospice has launched an online tribute page ahead of Mother’s Day, providing a platform for individuals to remember their mothers, grandmothers, and mother figures who have passed away. Visitors to the Mother’s Day online tribute page can leave messages, share stories, and upload photographs of their loved ones. The page also allows individuals to read other dedications, fostering a sense of community and remembrance.
The current state of community-based palliative care
03/06/24 at 03:00 AMThe current state of community-based palliative careHospice News, by Jim Parker; 3/4/24“Palliative care” is becoming a buzz word in health care, even if many people don’t understand the loosely defined term. However, wide variation exists in how different providers deliver these services in the absence of a standardized, national definition or a more concrete regulatory structure that includes quality measures, Logan Hoover, vice president of policy and public relations for the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO), said at the Hospice News Palliative Care Conference in Tampa, Florida.
Physicians grow louder on noncompetes
03/06/24 at 03:00 AMPhysicians grow louder on noncompetes Becker's Hospital Review, by Ashleigh Hollowell; 3/4/24 Amid a nationwide shortage of physicians, contractual noncompete clauses are making it more challenging for patients to receive the care they need, particularly in more rural regions, and physicians are pushing back, NBC News reported March 3. The American Medical Association estimates that between 35% and 45% of physicians in the U.S. are bound by noncompete clauses of some kind.
Federal Trade Commission, the Department of Justice Department and the Department of Health and Human Services launch cross-government inquiry on impact of corporate greed in health care
03/06/24 at 03:00 AMFederal Trade Commission, the Department of Justice Department and the Department of Health and Human Services launch cross-government inquiry on impact of corporate greed in health careFederal Trade Commission; 3/5/24The Federal Trade Commission, the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Antitrust Division, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) jointly launched a cross-government public inquiry into private-equity and other corporations’ increasing control over health care. ... The agencies seek comments on a variety of transactions, including those involving dialysis clinics, nursing homes, hospice providers, primary care providers, hospitals, home health agencies, home- and community-based services providers, behavioral health providers, as well as billing and collections services.