Literature Review

‘Are nursing homes our only option?’ These centers offer older adults an alternative. Rhode Island Current, by Anna Claire Vollers; 4/12/24PACE centers attract bipartisan interest and, in some states, scrutiny. ... PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly) centers provide government-funded medical care and social services to people older than 55 whose complex medical needs qualify them for nursing home care, but who can live at home with the right sort of help. ... Nationally, PACE centers are owned by a variety of health care organizations, including nonprofits, for-profit companies, large health care systems and religious organizations. ... [The] explosive growth has come with challenges ...

Birth and death are the most singular events we experience – and the contemplation of death, as of birth, should be a thing of beauty, not ignobility. – Jacob K. Javits 

Comment: Rule must change to allow dialysis as end-of-life care HeraldNet, by Matthew Rivara and Mackenzie Daniek; 4/13/24More than 1 in 7 American adults live with chronic kidney disease, making it one of the most common chronic disease conditions in the United States. ... Medicare will generally not reimburse health care providers for dialysis treatments if a patient has elected to enter hospice care, as dialysis treatments are considered by Medicare to be “curative” rather than “palliative” care. Because of this, most patients getting dialysis for ESRD must forego all dialysis treatment after entering a hospice program.

Physician coaching by professionally trained peers for burnout and well-being: A randomized clinical trial JAMA Network; by Stephanie B. Kiser, MD, MPH; J. David Sterns, MD, MPH; Po Ying Lai, MS; et al; 4/12/24Findings: In this randomized clinical trial of 138 physicians, participants who received 3 months of coaching by professionally trained physician peers had a statistically significant reduction in interpersonal disengagement and burnout, with improvement in professional fulfillment and work engagement.

Iowa River Hospice arranges unique celebration of life for Marshalltown woman with cancer Times Republican, by Robert Maharry; 4/13/24 Sandy Messer ... has been battling cancer for the last two years and is currently receiving in-home hospice care. On March 23, a Celebration of Life was arranged by Iowa River Hospice at Mama DiGrado’s so that her family members could share their love with Messer while she is still alive.

Home Healthcare Market worth $383.0 billion by 2028 Iowanews Headlines; 4/11/24 [The] Home Healthcare Market in terms of revenue was estimated to be worth $250.0 billion in 2023 and is poised to reach $383.0 billion by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 8.9% from 2023 to 2028 according to a new report by MarketsandMarkets™. The primary drivers propelling the growth of this market are the aging population, rising healthcare expenditures, and the increased need for home care due to technological advancements in home healthcare.

Savie Health increasing services Noozhawk, by Ern Shugart; 4/12/24 Savie Health, a free medical clinic in Lompoc providing health, behavioral health, and vision care, is expanding its services to add a Spanish speaking women’s health group and bereavement therapy (in partnership with Hospice of Santa Barbara). Savie’s patient data attests to the need for the clinic’s services: nearly 40% are at least mildly depressed, 20% are severely depressed, and the average income/family size is $22,000 for a family of four.

Lankford advocates for Physician-Owned Hospitals to expand healthcare access for Oklahomans James Lankford; 4/11/24 Senator James Lankford (R-OK) participated in a Senate Finance Committee hearing entitled, “Bolstering Chronic Care through Medicare Physician Payment,” where he talked about the importance of encouraging more physician-owned hospitals (POHs) to allow for greater access to healthcare across Oklahoma. ... POHs represent less than five percent of the 5,700 hospitals nationwide. However, POHs have a successful track record of providing individualized and innovative quality care, and they meet a growing demand for health care services, especially in rural areas. 

How to become a nurse later in life Board Vitals; 4/11/24 Embarking on a career in the nursing field later in life is an inspiring journey that many individuals choose to undertake. Whether it’s a personal passion or a long-held dream, it’s never too late to pursue a fulfilling career in healthcare. In this guide, we will answer the most common questions asked by those starting a nursing career later in life. Editor's Note: Does your hospice or palliative care organization partner with a nursing school? Or with any other type of university, community college, etc. that educates professionals for roles used in your organization? Explore opportunities to instill information and interest in end-of-life care.

McLeod Health will build $45 million hospital in Cheraw The Post and Courier Pee Dee, Florence, SC; by Chris Day; 4/10/24 McLeod Health will build a $45 million hospital in Cheraw, replacing the current building that was constructed in 1980. ... McLeod Health operates seven hospitals to serve residents in northeastern South Carolina and southeastern North Carolina. The not-for-profit organization has 988 licensed beds, including hospice and behavorial health care. 

Half a century and 4 million meals haven’t slowed down this long-term care culinary king McKnights Long-Term Care News, by Josh Henreckson; 4/10/24For almost as long as there has been a Buena Vista Care Center in Santa Barbara, CA, Miguel Pulido has been there — making sure the residents of the nursing home are fed and happy. Pulido is fast approaching his 50th anniversary on the job, and the residents and staff at Buena Vista couldn’t help but celebrate. ... Buena Vista is a 150-bed facility with twice-daily mealtimes for residents. Its leaders estimate that Pulido has served around 4 million meals during his career.

Expanding perinatal palliative care, hospice Hospice News, by Holly Vossel, 4/10/24A lack of trained staff and evolving health laws are among the leading barriers to expanding perinatal palliative and hospice care among underserved populations. ... Mistrust and fear of discrimination are among the common barriers, along with social determinants of health such as insurance coverage, socioeconomic status and transportation, according to recent analysis from researchers at the Morehouse School of Medicine’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

New DOJ rules for online healthcare content make sure seniors aren’t taken offline McKnights Senior Living, by Aaron Dorman; 4/11/24The Department of Justice took steps earlier this week to help make sure old adults have appropriate access to valuable web content they need for understanding important healthcare and coverage decisions. State and government agencies, such as the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, must abide by new technical standards, according to a new DOJ rule signed Monday [4/1/24]. “Just as stairs can exclude people who use wheelchairs from accessing government buildings,” the official rule states, “inaccessible web content and mobile apps can exclude people with a range of disabilities from accessing government services.” The technical requirements of the rule are extensive — the updated document is almost 300 pages long — but the overall purpose is to instruct agencies on their obligations to account for possible disabilities.