Literature Review

Terminally ill ask more states for physician-assisted death Napa Valley Reigster, Asociated Press; 4/16/24 ... At least 12 states currently have bills that would legalize physician-assisted death. Eight states and Washington, D.C., already allow it, but only for their own residents. Vermont and Oregon permit any qualifying American to travel to their state for the practice. ... Two states have gone in the opposite direction. Kansas has a bill to further criminalize those who help someone with their physician-assisted death. West Virginia is asking voters to enshrine its current ban into the state constitution. ... The issue is contentious. Opponents have moral objections with the very concept of someone ending their life. Even with safeguards in place, they argue, the decision could be made for the wrong reasons, including depression or pressure from family burdened by their caretaking. ... 

Fairhope Hospice & Palliative Care, Inc. buys building to expand services Perry County Tribune; 4/17/24 FairhopeHospice & Palliative Care, Inc. [Lancaster, OH] announced Monday that it has purchased a building at 1319 E. Main St., Lancaster. The building will allow Fairhope to expand its palliative care services by opening a clinic specifically designed for palliative patients. ... Currently, Fairhope serves 300 palliative care patients.

5 steps to cutting the red tape that adds to doctor burnout American Medical Association (AMA), by Sara Berge, MS; 4/16/24 ... Reducing burnout is essential to high-quality patient care and a sustainable health system. The AMA measures and responds to physician burnout, helping drive solutions and interventions. ... Dr. [Kevin] Hopkins identified the five steps below to get rid of regulatory make-work that interferes with patient care and contributes to physician burnout.

New phase of Change Healthcare attack begins as hackers leak data KFF Health News; 4/15/24RansomHub, a hacking group, is sharing pieces of data stolen in the Change Healthcare cyberattack as it seeks ransom payments. The data include hospital bills and company contracts, Axios says. Meanwhile, UnitedHealth took an $872 million profit hit from the February attack. Editor's Note: This post provides links to related articles in Axios, Reuters, The Hill, and Modern Healthcare.

Emory University receives $3.1 million NIH grant to improve quality of life for people with cystic fibrosis Emory University, by Brian Katzowitz; 4/16/24... A new five-year, $3.1 million grant from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) will help Emory researchers undertake a novel study combining biological, social, and clinical research methods to better understand the underlying processes of these symptoms – and identify opportunities to improve quality of life. ... Dio Kavalieratos, PhD, [is the] director of research for the Emory Palliative Care Center and the study’s principal investigator ... 

Over 1,200 medical marijuana cards issued ahead of Qualla Boundary dispensary opening Blue Ridge Public Radio News, by Lilly Knoepp; 4/16/24 This Saturday, North Carolina will become the 39th state with access to medical marijuana as the Eastern Band of Cherokee opens the first marijuana dispensary in the state. The Great Smoky Cannabis Company will host a ribbon cutting ceremony followed by a grand opening at 10 a.m. A spokesperson for ECBI said preparations for the opening have involved a variety of stakeholders. ... In March, ... a total of 1,200 cards had been issued. Now, he says, there have been 3,000 applications submitted to the board.

Thursday mornings are like a Rubik’s Cube. You’re not sure how it got this complicated, but you’re determined to solve it. - Anonymous

Longevity: Why are we all so focused on living longer instead of living better? The Montecito Journal, by Deann Zampelli; 4/16/24 I admit it. I am an obit reader. I look at the photo first to see if I know them and then almost reflexively at their age. 89? Not bad. 76? Too early. 56. ... Recently I had a client who came to see me because she wanted to live the next chapter of her life on her own terms, not as her mother did in the last decade of life before dying at the age of 93; bed pans, caregivers, wheelchairs, numerous medications, memory loss and the utter decimation of her life savings. ... In many cultures the elders are revered and live with their families until they die. They aren’t just included, they are needed, consulted, and cherished. Not surprisingly, these are often the same cultures that enjoy the healthiest and longest lives. Sadly, Americans are not among them. ...

CT Hospice says it can’t provide home care under bill to protect healthcare workersCT News Junkie, by John Ferraro; 4/16/24Connecticut Hospice has warned lawmakers it will be unable to care for gravely ill patients in their homes under a proposed law aimed at protecting home healthcare workers. At issue is Senate Bill 1, which would require organizations that care for people in their homes to conduct background checks on the clients and anyone in the location where care is being given. ... Barbara Pearce, the chief executive officer of Connecticut Hospice, urged lawmakers to remove Connecticut Hospice from entities that would be required to conduct those background checks, noting that the organization which provides end-of-life care is typically called into homes when a patient has days left to live. “Our national hospice organization could find no similar bill in any other state,” Pearce wrote in testimony to the Public Health Committee. “This bill is too broad, too unclear as to requirements, not guaranteed to achieve its aims, duplicative of other procedures required in hospice care, and contradictory to certain regulations of Medicare.” ...Editor's Note: See the previous article in our newsletter today, After death of nurses, CT lawmakers look for solutions: 'We just cannot ignore that risk'.

Health care system eats away at the doctor-patient relationship The Boston Globe; updated 4/17/24... The system economically rewards throughput (the number of patients seen per unit time) and procedures rather than the time needed to develop an open and communicative doctor-patient relationship. While a good physician might understand the tests and evaluations that are indicated by a presenting medical problem, the excellent clinician knows which tests and evaluations should not be done. This is primarily ascertained by delving into details of the patient’s physical, psychological, social, family, and economic history. This process, as James highlights, can lead to collaborative and more effective care. ...Editor's Note: This article highlights "Dr. Thea James’s remarkable work at Boston Medical Center in addressing structural inequity in medical care as a means of enhancing outcomes brings up an underlying structural problem across the entire medical care system (“Her health equity message being heard,” April 13, 2024.)

Medi Home Health and Hospice comes to CulpeperCulpeper Star-Exponent, by Richard Horner; 4/13/24Medi Home Health and Hospice held a grand opening celebration for its new Culpeper (VA) location on Tuesday. Sponsored by the Culpeper County Chamber of Commerce, Medi is an arm of Medical Services of America, which offers home health and hospice care. It had several locations throughout the mid-Atlantic region of the United States, including Virginia. According to Ashley McDonald, director of marketing for Medi, the business offers in-home care, including various forms of therapy and nursing care. Medi also offers hospice and palliative care.

Experts say Shannen Doherty’s approach to cancer ciagnosis can be helpfulToday Headline; 4/16/24Shannen Doherty, the actor best known for her role in “Beverly Hills, 90210,” has stage 4 cancer. She’s getting rid of her material possessions so she can focus on spending time with her mother. On an episode of her podcast, “Let’s Be Clear With Shannen Doherty,” released on April 1, the actor said she wants to sell off some of her stuff so her mother doesn’t have to worry about dealing with it if she dies. ... She also said she hopes to use that money to travel with her mom without dipping into her savings.

Health Talk: Getting into a health care career The Barre Montpelier Times Argus Online, by Peg Bolgioni; 4/13/24According to the American Hospital Association, there will be a shortage of up to 3.2 million health care workers by 2026. America will face a shortage of up to 124,000 physicians by 2033 and will need to hire at least 200,000 nurses per year to meet increased demand, and to replace retiring nurses. ... The mission of Southern Vermont Area Health Education Center is to enhance community efforts to grow and sustain the health workforce in southern Vermont. One of the ways we do this is by delivering pathway programs that connect students to health careers. [Click the title's link to read about this event.]Editor's Note: How might your organization create similar career engagement and education in your community?