Literature Review
Generative AI: A roadmap for healthcare leaders
05/02/24 at 03:00 AMGenerative AI: A roadmap for healthcare leaders Curate; 4/30/24 ... As the capabilities of generative AI continue to expand, healthcare leaders are tasked with harnessing its potential while navigating the ethical, regulatory, and operational challenges it brings. This article offers a comprehensive roadmap for healthcare C-suite and senior leaders to incrementally adopt generative AI, emphasizing the strategic approach and expertise provided by Curate in healthcare consulting and technology modernization.
Deciphera Pharmaceuticals to be acquired by Ono Pharmaceutical for $2.4 billion
05/02/24 at 03:00 AMDeciphera Pharmaceuticals to be acquired by Ono Pharmaceutical for $2.4 billion LevinPro HC; 4/30/24Deciphera Pharmaceuticals announced on April 29 that it has entered into a definitive merger agreement with Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. to be acquired for a total equity value of $2.4 billion. Upon completion, Deciphera will operate as a standalone business of Ono, from its headquarters in Waltham, Massachusetts.
Hospice of the Chesapeake selects Netsmart myUnity® to propel organizational growth and advance value-based care initiatives
05/02/24 at 03:00 AMHospice of the Chesapeake selects Netsmart myUnity® to propel organizational growth and advance value-based care initiatives StreetInsider.com; Business Wire; 4/30/24 Netsmart and Hospice of the Chesapeake, a premier provider of hospice and palliative care services in Maryland, announce an advanced collaboration through the successful implementation of the myUnity® electronic health record (EHR) system. This move underscores Hospice of the Chesapeake's commitment to enhancing patient care, supporting organizational growth and embracing value-based care models. "Selecting myUnity fulfilled a strategic necessity for us," said Hospice of the Chesapeake CEO Rebecca Miller. "We needed a platform that could not only support our current infrastructure but also grow with us as we expand our services. ..."
DEA tells court that Right to Try law doesn’t supersede CSA in psilocybin case
05/02/24 at 03:00 AMDEA tells court that Right to Try law doesn’t supersede CSA in psilocybin case PsychedelicNewsWire; 4/30/24The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is claiming that a federal law that affords severely ill individuals the right to try investigational medications doesn’t apply to drugs classified under the Controlled Substances Act. This is in response to a lawsuit filed by a doctor in Washington state who sought permission to legally administer psilocybin as treatment for patients in end-of-life care with cancer. The agency argues that because drugs classified under Schedule I are said to have no accepted medical use, the law prevents them from being dispensed, even by professionals.
Southern states fare worst in USA Today’s searchable staffing level database
05/02/24 at 03:00 AMSouthern states fare worst in USA Today’s searchable staffing level database McKnights Long-Term Care News; by Josh Henreckson; 4/26/24 Many US skilled nursing facilities currently meet some provisions of the new federal staffing rule at least some of the time, but only 160 — slightly more than 1% — consistently meet all requirements, according to a new analysis. Facilities located in southern states had the most ground to make up on staffing, based on a review of summer 2023 Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services data by USA Today. The analysis, published Wednesday, includes a searchable database with information on individual facilities — including the facility’s name, address and the average hours of care per resident per day compared to the new national standard of 3.48.
To stay open, rural nursing homes in the Midwest prioritize nurses
05/02/24 at 03:00 AMTo stay open, rural nursing homes in the Midwest prioritize nurses NPR KCUR 89.3; by Aaron Bonderson; 5/1/24... Not enough nurses. Nursing home closures are creeping across Nebraska and other parts of the Midwest. Since 2020, 13 Nebraska nursing homes have shuttered, according to the American Health Care Association (AHCA). During that time, 25 Kansas nursing homes, 27 in Missouri, and 36 in Iowa closed their doors. According to the Center for Medicare Advocacy (CMA), 22 nursing homes in Iowa closed in 2022 alone because of poor quality of care and low occupancy. ... Staffing shortages and quality of care concerns are the leading reasons long-term care facilities shut down, according to the AHCA and the CMA. The pandemic didn’t help matters, stretching employees and resources to their limits.Editor's Note: Click on the title's link and scroll down for a US map of states with data for rank, nurse staff hours per resident per day (HRPD), total nurses, and total providers.
Premier Physician Network partners with Empatia on palliative care
05/02/24 at 03:00 AMPremier Physician Network partners with Empatia on palliative care Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 4/30/24 Premier Physician Network (PPN) has launched an integrated palliative program among its medical group operations, in partnership with agilon health (NYSE: AGL) and its palliative arm Empatia. The program, branded as Senior Health Connect, will provide a palliative care program for Medicare Advantage patients who suffer from serious illnesses. Senior Health Connect is based on agilon’s palliative care model. “Our role there is as a partner. We bring technology. We bring insights. We can bring powerful data and care pathways,” Dr. Benjamin Kornitzer, agilon’s chief medical officer, previously told Hospice News.
[FL] Attorney General Moody announces arrest of two Seminole County residents for Medicaid fraud
05/02/24 at 03:00 AM[FL] Attorney General Moody announces arrest of two Seminole County residents for Medicaid fraud Office of Attorney General Ashley Moody [Florida]; by Kylie Mason; 4/23/24 Attorney General Ashley Moody’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, ... announced the arrest of Debora Behnke and Suman Bhattacharjee ... [They] ran Pioneer Medical Transportation LLC and submitted fraudulent claims for nonemergency medical transportation for Medicaid recipients, stealing more than $250,000 from the Medicaid program. "Instead of transporting vulnerable Medicaid recipients, these individuals falsely billed the taxpayer-funded program for services never completed. In some instances, they even convinced patients to move across the state—with no regard for the best interest of the patients—and still charged Medicaid for transporting them from the original, longer distance. ..."
TRU Community Care and St. Paul’s Senior Services explore strategic partnership to transform senior care landscape
05/02/24 at 03:00 AMTRU Community Care and St. Paul’s Senior Services explore strategic partnership to transform senior care landscape My Prime Time News, Lafayette, CO; 4/29/24TRU Community Care and St. Paul’s Senior Services are exploring affiliation as two well-established nonprofit healthcare providers in Colorado and California, respectively. Under the leadership of Scott Gresser, President and CEO of TRU Community Care and Michael McHale, President and CEO of St. Paul’s Senior Services, organizational integration would allow TRU and St. Paul’s to expand the serious illness continuum of care that each currently provides, including senior services from independent living to memory care, PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly), palliative and hospice care, and community support programs such as bereavement services.
34 recent hospital, health system executive moves
05/02/24 at 03:00 AM34 recent hospital, health system executive moves Becker's Hospital Review; by Kelly Gooch and Alexis Kayser; updated 4/26/24 The following hospital and health system executive moves have been shared with or reported by Becker's this year: [Click on the title's link; 34 executive moves are listed for the week of April 20-26.]
Why health systems should embrace advanced in-home care models
05/02/24 at 03:00 AMWhy health systems should embrace advanced in-home care models McKnights Home Care; by Marcy Carty, MD, MPH; 4/25/24Over the next two decades, the adult demographic over 50 years of age will increase by 25 million, and with over 75% expressing a strong desire to age in place, it’s imperative to champion care models that support safe, high-quality care within the home. Despite proactive care models to support aging in the home, acute needs still arise. Health systems stand to gain manifold by embracing the paradigm shift to care in the home. By moving more advanced care delivery into peoples’ homes, systems can effectively curb acute healthcare utilization, decreasing hospital-acquired conditions and drastically improving patient and family experience.
The cost of dying is going up, leaving some Florida families scrambling
05/02/24 at 03:00 AMThe cost of dying is going up, leaving some Florida families scrambling Tampa Bay Times; by Lauren Peace; 5/1/24 Christina Nall sat in the hospital parking lot gasping for air. Four hours earlier, her father, Bill Burke, had been alive. He’d eaten Golden Grahams for breakfast and wrapped his grandkids in tight hugs before school. He was putting on his shoes to leave the house when Nall, 33, found him slouched over on the couch. Doctors said it was a blood clot. He was 56 years old. Now, outside the Zephyrhills hospital, a fog of grief hung over Nall as the funeral director’s words cut into her. To get her dad back to his home in Missouri would cost upward of $2,000. The service and burial he wanted would cost another $6,000.
Today's Encouragement: You never know ...
05/02/24 at 03:00 AMYou never know when something you do or somebody you talk to changes the course of your life. - Judi Lund PersonEditor's Note: This quote is from today's post, "Judi Lund Person: Unleashed," from a pivotal, spontaneous life moment that called her to a brand new movement called "hospice."
Medical marijuana may be sold in pharmacies, but it is not a medicine
05/02/24 at 03:00 AMMedical marijuana may be sold in pharmacies, but it is not a medicine Psychiatric Times; by Yi-Lang Tang, MD, PhD and Elizabeth McCord, MD; 4/29/24Commentary: Georgia will soon be the first state in the nation to allow independent pharmacies to sell medical marijuana products, with more than 100 pharmacies already applying to participate. This raises serious health concerns. The public should be aware that medical marijuana is not a medicine and that it differs from US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved medications in several key ways. ... Editor's Note: This article contains a list of what is approved (or not) in each state (with Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico); a brief history of medical marijuana; and differences between medical marijuana and FDA-approved medications.
Postpandemic, telehealth preferred in outpatient palliative care setting
05/02/24 at 02:00 AMPostpandemic, telehealth preferred in outpatient palliative care setting Rheumatology Advisor; by Lisa Kuhns, PhD; 5/1/24 Even after the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine against COVID-19 became available, patients preferred outpatient palliative care visits via video rather than in person, according to study results published in the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management. ... The researchers ... added, “Although telehealth may be preferable for reasons beyond social distancing, this survey found that COVID-19 transmission was still a [postpandemic] concern for some patients, where telehealth can be advantageous. These concerns reflect [an] ongoing sentiment [that] patients with advanced cancer, who are often immune-compromised, have with regards to the pandemic even after widespread vaccine availability and end of COVID-19 restrictions.
Elara Caring agrees to pay $4.2 million to settle False Claims Act allegations that it billed Medicare for ineligible hospice patients
05/02/24 at 02:00 AMElara Caring agrees to pay $4.2 million to settle False Claims Act allegations that it billed Medicare for ineligible hospice patients Office of Public Affairs, U.S. Department of Justice; Press Release; 5/1/24Elara Caring, and its wholly owned subsidiaries JHH/CIMA Holdings Inc., CIMA Healthcare Management Inc., CIMA Hospice of Texarkana L.L.C., CIMA Hospice of East Texas L.L.C. and CIMA Hospice of El Paso L.P., have agreed to pay $4.2 million to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by knowingly submitting false claims and knowingly retaining overpayments for the care of hospice patients in Texas who were ineligible for the Medicare hospice benefit because they were not terminally ill.
Judi Lund Person: Unleashed
05/02/24 at 02:00 AMJudi Lund Person: UnleashedTCN Talks; by Chris Comeaux; 4/18/24Judi Lund Person, former vice president of regulatory and compliance at NHPCO, shares her journey into the hospice industry and her passion for ensuring patients and families receive the care they need and want. Judi emphasizes the importance of addressing bad hospice care and uncovering fraud and abuse in the industry. She discusses the proposed changes in the 2025 Hospice Wage Index and Payment Conditions; ... the HOPE tool and the revised hospice survey; ... the sunset of the VBID demonstration; and the need to focus on accountable care organizations and quality reporting. This is a great listen for staff, leaders, and boards of hospice and palliative care organizations. Here’s a great quote from the discussion: “You never know when something you do or somebody you talk to changes the course of your life."
Walmart Health is closing
05/02/24 at 02:00 AMWalmart Health is closingWalmart; 4/30/24Back in 2019, we launched Walmart Health centers. During our five-year journey, we made meaningful impacts with patients while continuing to learn, pivot and evolve. While our mission to help people save money and live better remains, today we are sharing the difficult decision to close Walmart Health and Walmart Health Virtual Care. Through our experience managing Walmart Health centers and Walmart Health Virtual Care, we determined there is not a sustainable business model for us to continue.
WHIAANHPI and SmithsonianAPA unveil joint theme for 2024 Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month: ‘Bridging Histories, Shaping Our Future’
05/01/24 at 03:00 AMWHIAANHPI and SmithsonianAPA unveil joint theme for 2024 Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month: ‘Bridging Histories, Shaping Our Future’ U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; by HHS Press Office; 4/24/24Today, the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (WHIAANHPI) and the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center are proud to present our joint 2024 theme for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AA and NHPI) Heritage Month: “Bridging Histories, Shaping Our Future.” The 2024 theme is an homage to our ancestors and invites all Americans to delve into the legacies, triumphs, and challenges that have shaped AA and NHPI communities. It embodies the spirit of our collective journey – one rooted in resilience and hope – and encourages us to forge intergenerational connections to honor our past and pave a durable path forward.
Vitas bullish on hospice, palliative care acquisitions following Covenant deal
05/01/24 at 03:00 AMVitas bullish on hospice, palliative care acquisitions following Covenant deal Hospice News; by Holly Vossel; 4/25/24 Chemed Corp. ... subsidiary Vitas Healthcare is ramping up its strategic growth plans in both hospice and palliative care amid rising demand for these services. Vitas earlier this month completed its $85 million acquisition of Covenant Health and Community Services’ hospice operations and one assisted living facility location. Announced in March, the deal marked the company’s first purchase in several years. More transactions are on the horizon amid changes in the marketplace and increased clinical capacity, according to Vitas Chairman and CEO Nick Westfall.
OSF launches new tools to help make end-of-life planning easier
05/01/24 at 03:00 AMOSF launches new tools to help make end-of-life planning easier News25, Peoria, IL; by Liz Lape; 4/26/24 OSF Healthcare reports that thousands of patients are dying in medical facilities without end-of-life care plans. ... Sarah Overton, Chief Officer of Nursing, describes that studies show that over 70% of patients would prefer a setting other than a hospital to spend their last moments, like at home hospice or palliative care. OSF has launched self-service resources such as an Advanced Careplanning page and Patient Questionnaire on their app MyChart. Overton says the goal is to make end-of-life care planning more available to the public.
A hospice doctor on deathbed visions #shorts #tedx
05/01/24 at 03:00 AMA hospice doctor on deathbed visions #shorts #tedx Tedx Talks; by Dr. Christopher Kerr; 4/29/24"When it comes to end-of-life experiences, most of the reports were based on anecdotal reporting. In other words, nobody had asked patients directly or attempted to quantify or measure. So that's what we've done. What we found is that the vast majority, over 80%, reported at least one pre-death dream and vision, described as more real than real and distinct from normal dreaming.
Penn State Hershey Medical Center nurses ratify new contract
05/01/24 at 03:00 AMPenn State Hershey Medical Center nurses ratify new contractNBC WGAL TV 8; by Lori Has More; 4/27/24 More than 2,000 registered nurses working at Penn State Hershey Medical Center have ratified a new three-year contract. The union says their new deal will increase pay rates by an average of 22.5%, include more time off and new initiatives to address staffing needs. Editor's Note: These changes reflect national trends for recent healthcare strikes and high turnover rates: pay rates, work-life balance, and staffing. Additionally, we're seeing demands for improved workplace safety as a common theme for healthcare professionals.
Minnesota’s new labor board votes for nearly $23.50 an hour minimum wage for nursing home workers
05/01/24 at 03:00 AMMinnesota’s new labor board votes for nearly $23.50 an hour minimum wage for nursing home workers Minnesota Reformer; by Max Nesterak; 4/29/24 'Today has been a long time coming,’ said nursing home worker Nessa Higgins at a news conference after Minnesota’s first labor standards board voted on April 29, 2024, to raise the minimum wage for nursing home workers to $20.50 per hour by 2027. Minnesota’s new workforce standards board took its first significant vote on Monday, agreeing to raise the pay floor to $23.49 per hour on average in 2027 for nursing home workers, while guaranteeing 11 paid holidays. The worker and government representatives on the board approved the minimum wages without the support of the board’s nursing home industry representatives, who abstained.
Living our lives – and planning for the inevitable
05/01/24 at 03:00 AMLiving our lives – and planning for the inevitableForbes; by Naomi Cahn; 4/28/24 More than half of those with at least $100,000 in investable assets and who have retired – or are planning to do so – do not yet have an estate plan, according to an April 2024 Ameriprise report. ... Recent news about advance medical planning, retirement stability and estate planning show that few are prepared. Approximately two of every three adults do not have an advance directive, a plan in place for when they are incapacitated or need end-of-life decisionmaking.Editor's Note: Executive leaders, are your advance directives in place? If not, what conversations and decisions are you avoiding? Ask some seasoned clinicians what kinds of patient/family situations they have experienced when advance directives were not ready; and potential conflicts that were diverted because of previous decisions and documents.