Literature Review
Health care system adaptation and resilience during the wildfire crisis
03/21/25 at 03:00 AMHealth care system adaptation and resilience during the wildfire crisisJAMA Network; by Attila J. Hertelendy, PhD, Jeremy Maggin, MD, MS, and Gregory Ciottone, MD; 3/19/25 ... Within a span of hours, the Palisades and Eaton fires, propelled by record-breaking Santa Ana winds reaching 150 miles per hour, consumed more than 37,000 acres, destroyed more than 16,000 structures, and claimed 29 lives. All told, greater than 186,000 residents were placed under evacuation orders. ... The experience in Los Angeles County demonstrates the value of maintaining dual-purpose resources: facilities and personnel who can transition between routine operations and emergency response functions. This approach is exemplified by Kaiser Permanente’s successful deployment of mobile health vehicles and the use of clinically trained administrative leaders in direct patient care roles during crisis events. Key elements of successful resource mobilization include:
Hastening death by stopping eating and drinking: Hope Wechkin, Thaddeus Pope, and Josh Briscoe
03/21/25 at 03:00 AMHastening death by stopping eating and drinking: Hope Wechkin, Thaddeus Pope, and Josh Briscoe GeriPal Podcasts; by Hope Wechkin, Thaddeus Pope, and Josh Briscoe Eric and Alex have featured discussions about complex bioethical concepts around caring for people at the end of life, including voluntarily stopping eating and drinking (VSED), and multiple episodes about the ethical issues surrounding medical aid in dying (MAID). Recently, discussion has emerged about how these issues intertwine in caring for patients with advancing dementia who have stated that they would not want to continue living in that condition: for those with an advanced directive to stop eating and drinking, how do we balance caring for their rational past self and their experiential current self? Should these patients qualify for medical aid in dying medications? And is there a middle path to provide some degree of comfort while also hastening the end of life?
Today's Encouragement: I hope your decisions in life turn out better than your ...
03/21/25 at 03:00 AMI hope your decisions in life turn out better than your March Madness bracket! ~ UnknownDownload and print the NCAA Men's Bracket and the NCAAW Women's Bracket.
RFK Jr. continues Opioid Crisis PHE into its eighth year
03/21/25 at 03:00 AMRFK Jr. continues pioid Crisis PHE into its eighth year Inside Health Policy; by Dorothy Mills-Gregg; 3/19/25 HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. recently renewed the department’s longest ongoing public health emergency (PHE) first declared under the first Trump administration: the opioid abuse crisis. While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found a 25.5% decrease in overdose deaths in 2024 compared to the previous year, HHS says the opioid PHE needs to be renewed for another 90 days so federal coordination efforts can continue and key flexibilities for HHS will be preserved.Editor's note: How recently have you reviewed your Policies & Procedures for destroying drugs in the patient's home, upon death--in accordance with state laws? For staff education and accountability? For communicating this with family? For assessing possible drug diversion of opioids, with appropriate follow-up actions? Additionally, numerous hospice bereavement programs have been flooded with grief needs of bereaved family members from opioid deaths. Click here for the U.S. Department of Justice's Drug Enforcement Administration - Diversion Control Divsion; more focused, scroll down to their "Home Disposal Methods."
Delaware House passes end-of-life option bill for terminally ill adults
03/21/25 at 03:00 AMDelaware House passes end-of-life option bill for terminally ill adults ABC Action News 6, Dover, DE; by 6abc Digital Staff; 3/20/25 Currently, medical aid for euthanasia is legal in 10 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. Delaware's House of Representatives has passed a bill giving some terminally ill residents the right to take their life. The bill allows mentally capable adult residents, who have been given a prognosis of six months or less to live, the option to request and obtain life-ending medication. The bill now heads to the Senate. ... Now, for the 10th time, Delaware lawmakers are trying once again to get the bill passed. ... Governor Matt Meyer has signaled his support if the bill passes the Senate, ...
10 things hospice doesn’t tell you, shared by a Cleveland Clinic doctor
03/21/25 at 03:00 AM10 things hospice doesn’t tell you, shared by a Cleveland Clinic doctor The Healthy; by Patricia Varacallo, DO (author) with Laura Hoeksema, MD, MPH, FAAHPM (medical director for Cleveland Clinic Hospice); 3/19/25 ... Dr. Hoeksema shares key insights about hospice care and reminds patients and families that the hospice team is always available to answer questions and provide support when things feel uncertain.What hospice does not tell you, but you should know:
Hospice community responds to proposed DEA telehealth prescribing rule
03/21/25 at 02:00 AMHospice community responds to proposed DEA telehealth prescribing rule Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 3/20/25 A proposed rule by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) could impede timely access to medications for hospice and palliative care patients, according to members of the hospice community. ... If finalized, this proposed rule would require prescribers to register with the DEA before they are allowed to prescribe schedule II-V controlled substances, along with some monitoring and other requirements. ... Implementation of the proposed rule would have adverse consequences for hospice and palliative care patients, according to the National Alliance for Care at Home. ... The Alliance made several recommendations to the DEA regarding the proposal:
Impacting end-of-life care with new healthcare legislation: Patient-Directed Medical Orders (PDMO) in advance care planning
03/20/25 at 03:00 AMImpacting end-of-life care with new healthcare legislation: Patient-Directed Medical Orders (PDMO) in advance care planningAmerican Nurse - State Nurses Associations - Florida News Journal; by Meredith Fischer, BSN, RN, CHPN; 3/19/25 Over the summer, a friend’s elderly father underwent resuscitation and intubation because his nursing facility could not locate his Do Not Resuscitate Order (DNRO) or Advanced Directive (AD). ... New legislation is being filed for a Patient-Directed Medical Order (PDMO) document designed to address the shortcomings of the ADs and DNRO forms—currently the primary tools for addressing end-of-life care preferences in Florida. The PDMO form originates from the POLST paradigm, which has been adopted by most states since its inception in Oregon in the early 1990s (National POLST, 2022). Healthcare professionals recognized that many individuals were not receiving the end-of-life care outlined in their ADs and DNROs due to accessibility, clarity, and practicality (National POLST, 2022).
From heroes to burnout: How we failed our frontline health workers
03/20/25 at 03:00 AMFrom heroes to burnout: How we failed our frontline health workers MedPage Today's KevinMD.com, and excerpt from Health Care Nation; by Tom Lawry; 3/15/25 Of all the lessons learned from fighting a pandemic, none was more frightening or important than discovering how dependent the system is on how we treat our doctors, nurses, and frontline caregivers. They were already in short supply, with burnout on the rise, when the pandemic hit. As multiple waves of COVID-19 variants washed over us, frontline health workers stepped in at great risk and personal sacrifice to care for highly infectious patients. ... Some witnessed more deaths on a double shift than they did in a normal year. They delivered the bad news to families and managed end-of-life care. They were often the last face and warm voice a COVID-19 victim saw and heard. In the end, they not only saved lives but saved the system from total collapse. ... We called them heroes. And we promised to do better in how we treated them once the COVID-19 crisis passed. Promises made should be promises kept. While we continue to talk about workforce burnout using polite terms with concern in our voices, let us be clear: A system with a mission of healing continues to harm in record numbers the very people in short supply who are there to take care of the rest of us. ... [Click on the title's link for more.]
Santa Maria investment advisor pleads guilty to defrauding elderly clients out of more than $2 million
03/20/25 at 03:00 AMSanta Maria investment advisor pleads guilty to defrauding elderly clients out of more than $2 million Office of Inspector General - Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Los Angeles, CA; 3/4/25A Santa Barbara County investment advisor pleaded guilty today to stealing approximately $2.25 million from elderly clients of her investment advisory business – some of whom were receiving end-of-life care. Julie Anne Darrah, 52, of Santa Maria, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud. She remains free on $50,000 bond. ... During the scheme, Darrah stole approximately $2.25 million from her firm’s clients. She did so by obtaining control of her victims’ assets, and then – without the victims’ knowledge or consent – she liquidated their security holdings and transferred the proceeds to accounts she controlled. ...
Certified nurses at Mount Sinai: Representing a commitment to excellence and to their profession
03/20/25 at 03:00 AMCertified nurses at Mount Sinai: Representing a commitment to excellence and to their profession Mount Sinai Today - Featrued, Nursing; 3/18/25 Nursing Certification is an important, independent validation of specialized nursing knowledge and expertise that meet or exceed professional standards. In fact, empirical evidence shows an association between nursing certification and better patient outcomes, ... Across the Mount Sinai Health System, an impressive near 50 percent of nurses have earned board certification in their chosen specialties. Their patients, families, colleagues, and teams are the direct beneficiaries of nursing expertise that is recognized as meeting or exceeding the highest professional standards. ... [From Carla Alves-Miraldo, MS, MSN-Ed, RN, CHPN, KP6,] "Becoming a Certified Hospice and Palliative Care Nurse is a reflection of my commitment to ensuring every patient receives comfort, dignity, and compassionate care during life’s most challenging moments. This certification is more than a title—it represents my dedication to guiding patients and families with expertise, empathy, and unwavering support."
More care doesn't equal happier patients in traditional Medicare
03/20/25 at 03:00 AMMore care doesn't equal happier patients in traditional Medicare American Journal of Managed Care (AJMC); by Maggie L. Shaw; 3/17/25 The extremes of health care contact days—having too few or more than average—among community-dwelling beneficiaries 65 years and older of traditional Medicare have been associated with unnecessary care, misdirected care coordination, and excessive care outside the home, according to new research published online today in JAMA Internal Medicine. Health care contact days are days spent receiving care outside of the home. ... “Clinicians, researchers, and policymakers could use contact days to evaluate interventions and reduce excess contact days for patients,” the authors conclude, “by avoiding unnecessary care, improving care coordination, and shifting care to the home.”
The Stanford Letter Project helps you discuss your end-of-life wishes
03/20/25 at 03:00 AMThe Stanford Letter Project helps you discuss your end-of-life wishesKALW 91.7 FM - Your Call, Bay Area, CA; by Rose Aguilar and Nina Kissinger; 3/18/25 On this edition of Your Call, we discuss the importance of conversations, letters, and advance directives in communicating your end-of-life care wishes to loved ones and doctors. Although 92 percent of US adults say it's important to discuss their end-of-life care wishes, only 32 percent have had this conversation, and less than one-third have advanced-care directives in place. ... The Stanford Letter Project was designed to give you the tools you need to start the process. Dr. VJ Periyakoil, the founder and director of the project, shares her insights into making end-of-life care plans and resources to help guide you through the process. ... Resources [with links to the content]:
Gratitude - Our East End Hospice offices saved from March 8 brush fires
03/20/25 at 03:00 AMGratitude - Our East End Hospice offices saved from March 8 brush fires The Southampton Press; by the East End Hospice Board of Directors; 3/19/25 Our East End Hospice offices were saved from the March 8 brush fires because of the indefatigable efforts of countless people [“Hospice, Businesses Saved by Firefighters Amid Saturday Blaze,” 27east.com, March 12]. The tremendous scope of the emergency response was awe-inspiring. We are grateful to every individual who showed immense bravery and selflessness to contain and extinguish the fires. To the 106th Rescue Wing, our neighbors on Old Riverhead Road, and the New York National Guard, thank you for providing air support. To the New York State Troopers, Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department, Suffolk County Police Department, Westhampton Beach Police Department and other law enforcement partners, thank you for maintaining public safety throughout the response. [Click on the title's link to continue reading.]
Dr. Sean O’Mahony aims to expand UTMB’s Division of Palliative Care
03/20/25 at 03:00 AMDr. Sean O’Mahony aims to expand UTMB’s Division of Palliative Care UTMB Health - The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston; 3/18/25 Palliative care should be more accessible, bridge gaps in health care environment. ... Dr. Sean O’Mahony, director of the Palliative Medicine division, came to UTMB in June, having served as professor and Director of Supportive Oncology and Section Chief at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, and in key roles at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. ... O’Mahony said, “I was attracted to UTMB’s commitment to underserved patients, its prison health population, and its large population of underinsured patients. I’m also interested in the opportunity to develop palliative medicine from the ground up in the mainland hospitals.” ...
Today's Encouragement: In the Spring, I have counted 136 ...
03/20/25 at 03:00 AMIn the Spring, I have counted 136 different kinds of weather inside of 24 hours. ~ Mark Twain Welcome Spring 2025! Just last night (3/19/25), the National Weather Service mapped out diverse warnings across the nation for today's (3/20/25) first day of Spring blizzards, tornados, fires, winds, "red flag warnings," winter weather advisories," floods, and more, positioned alongside large regions of beautiful calm. Here's to the joys of Spring!
AI scribes: Can technology do more than free doctors from data entry?
03/20/25 at 03:00 AMAI scribes: Can technology do more than free doctors from data entry? Penn LDI - Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics; by Hoag Levins; 3/17/25 Since the widespread adoption of electronic health record (EHR) systems in the 1990s, the health care industry has been on a relentless quest to digitally optimize the doctor-patient interaction. Today, many predict this pursuit will be dramatically changed by the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into nearly all aspects of EHR systems, transforming patient care and clinical workflows in ever more revolutionary ways. AI-powered EHRs are now theoretically capable of automating administrative tasks, providing real-time clinical insights, personalizing treatment plans, and allowing health care providers to focus more on patient care and less on data entry.
The biggest lessons of the last 12 months, according to 36 C-suite execs
03/20/25 at 03:00 AMThe biggest lessons of the last 12 months, according to 36 C-suite execs Becker's Hospital Review; by Mariah Muhammad; 3/19/25 Becker’s asked C-suite executives from hospitals and health systems across the U.S. to share their biggest lesson from the past year. Question: What is the biggest lesson you learned in the last year, and why?
Improvement plans for hospital car park
03/20/25 at 03:00 AMImprovement plans for hospital car park BBC News; by Ruth Lucas; 3/18/25 ... NHS Frimley has announced plans to make "positive improvements" to the car park at Frimley Park Hospital in Surrey Heath. ... NHS Frimley says this will increase capacity by 10%, while LED lighting and improved parking bay markings will also be installed. ... Free parking is currently available for disabled people, frequent outpatient attenders, parents of sick children staying overnight and visitors with relatives who are gravely sick, terminally ill or under palliative care.Editor's note: For hospital-based hospice/palliative care, do you provide any type of free parking, vouchers, middle-of-the-night security, or some other type of support for families of persons in your hospice/palliative care units? Consider the common experience of the patient dying in the middle of the night, and family leaving the hospital--especially if your parking conditions are unsafe or expensive.
Weinstein Hospice launches innovative VR initiative: : The program will allow residents to enjoy "bucket list" experiences
03/20/25 at 03:00 AMWeinstein Hospice launches innovative VR initiative: The program will allow residents to enjoy "bucket list" experiences Atlanta Jewish Times; by AJT Staff; 3/12/25 Jewish HomeLife and Weinstein Hospice are pioneering a new way to bring joy, comfort, and meaningful experiences to hospice patients through the groundbreaking Weinstein Hospice VR Initiative. This transformative program harnesses the power of virtual reality (VR) to fulfill unforgettable “bucket list” experiences, offering patients moments of joy and cognitive stimulation that transcend their physical limitations. For Vicki and Ed A., this initiative has been nothing short of miraculous. ... One of the most profound moments for Ed came when he was able to experience Scuba diving again—virtually. ...
Salutes hospice staff, volunteers
03/20/25 at 02:30 AMSalutes hospice staff, volunteers The Messenger, Fort Dodge, IA; Letter to the Editor by Mary E. Larson; 3/19/25 My heart was saddened when I heard that the Paula J. Baber Hospice Home is closing. I was the volunteer coordinator for UnityPoint Hospice volunteers from 2003-2022. A lot of our volunteers spend many hours in our wonderful Hospice Home helping our patients, their families and guests and staff. This home is such a blessing to our community. When our patients would come to the hospice home, our staff would care for them so their loved ones could spend more time being with them in their final days. ... It will be a huge loss for our community when it closes. Mary E. Larson
The challenges ahead with Jeanne Chirico, HPCANYS President/CEO
03/20/25 at 02:00 AMThe challenges ahead with Jeanne Chiricohallenges ahead with Jeanne Chirico, HPCANYS President/CEO
Assisted Living Facility owner indicted, facing numerous felony charges
03/19/25 at 03:00 AMAssisted Living Facility owner indicted, facing numerous felony charges Knoxville Daily Sun; 3/17/25 ... In June 2024, after receiving a referral from Adult Protective Services, [the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Medicaid Fraud Control Division (TBI)] special agents began investigating allegations involving Wendy Henley, the owner of Sunset Gardens Assisted Living Facility in Mountain City. ... [Agents] learned that Henley used a patient’s insurance benefits card to purchase items for the facility. In July, ... they discovered that seventeen residents, including two hospice patients, had been left in the care of two juveniles who were not authorized to provide direct patient care. Agents requested an immediate response from the Tennessee Health Facilities Commission and evacuated the facility, transferring the residents to other local facilities to assure their safety and continued care.
Willow Point Nursing Center raises pay by nearly 20%
03/19/25 at 03:00 AMWillow Point Nursing Center raises pay by nearly 20% WIVT Binghampton, Vestal, NY; by Samantha Rich; 3/17/25 A local nursing home is recognizing the selfless contributions of its employees by significantly increasing its pay scale. The Broome County Legislature recently approved 16-20% pay raises for multiple healthcare roles at Willow Point Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Vestal. The pay scale was raised for Supervising Nurses, Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs), and Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs). Willow Point has also added several new openings in each role.