Literature Review

MIDEO Systems Inc. secures contract with city of Austin for innovative end-of-life care solution BBN, by Waqas Arain; 2/13/24MIDEO Systems Inc., a groundbreaking platform offering video-based advance care planning services, has secured a contract with the City of Austin. The partnership aims to streamline and digitize the process of documenting patients' medical preferences, making it more accessible and understandable for medical professionals.

Legislative proposal on end-of-life options: The MMA’s take (February 2024) Minnesota Medical Association; 2/12/24Among the many important issuesthat the Minnesota Legislature will consider this year,at least one is expected to generate significant passions both in support and in opposition. That proposal, known as the End-of-Life Option Act, addressesa practice referred to as medical aid-in-dying or, for some, assisted suicide. It is a proposal that merits scrutiny and robust deliberation.

Chief exec leaves PeaceHealth medical groupBecker's Hospital Review, by Molly Gamble; 2/12/24PeaceHealth Medical Group Chief Executive Scott Foster, MD, is resigning from the post. Dr. Foster's last day with the Vancouver, Wash.-based medical group will be March 8, according to an announcement shared by PeaceHealth Executive Vice President and Chief Financial and Growth Officer Darrin Montalvo.

Patients with cancer underuse hospice care, often because of disparitiesOncology Nursing Society Voice, by Elisa Becze BA, ELS, Editor; 2/13/24Most patients who die from cancer do not use hospice at the time of their death, ONS member and oncology nurse researcher Dena D. Shore, PhD, RN, OCN®, CNE, reported in an article published in ... the Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing (CJON). ... Shore conducted an extensive literature search for studies of hospice use in U.S. patients with cancer published from 2017–2023. ... According to her literature review, cancer-related, ethnic and racial, and geographic disparities are frequently involved in delayed or nonuse of hospice care.

Hospice of Wichita Falls gets multi-million dollar gift, renames Inpatient Care Center honoring Prothro familyKFDX 3 News, by Natalie McCain; 2/12/24, updated 2/13/24The Hospice of Wichita Falls’ Inpatient Care Center has been renamed to reflect a generous multi-million dollar gift from the Perkins-Prothro Foundation, Dianne and Mark Prothro and Dale Prothro. The largest gift in HOWF history will honor the memory of Charles “Charlie” Philbin, grandson of Dianne and Mark, and Joe Prothro, Dale’s husband, HOWF officials announced on February 12.

NHPCO celebrates achievements of hospice and palliative care providers in nationwide Quality Connections Program NHPCO press release; 2/13/24The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) recognizes the achievements of participating member organizations who have earned rings in the third program year of NHPCO’s Quality Connections program. First launched in January 2021, Quality Connections (QC) is the only national program designed to support hospice and palliative care provider delivery of high-quality, person-centered care. The program is structured around four fundamental pillars which are represented by four rings: Education, Application, Measurement, and Innovation.

The Last Portrait: Local photo exhibition captures different takes on dyingUtica Observer Dispatch, by Amy Neff Roth; 2/9/24... The 26 black-and-white photos, taken by local photographer Mark DiOrio, all capture moments in the life of someone who has been diagnosed with a terminal illness.  “I wanted to photograph them because they’ve been given news that nobody wants to hear,” DiOrio explained. “They’ve been given the news that it’s going to be their time soon. And when you’re given that kind of news, you have choices to make on how you handle it. I felt that these people, what they had to say and the emotions that they communicated in that moment were invaluable.”

Hospice nursing a ‘privilege and honour’, says chief nurseNursing Times, by Edd Church; 2/13/24The chief nurse of a children's hospice is seeking to challenge perceptions of the specialty and encourage more nurses into it.

These 8 traits make great doctors, and residents can develop themAMA, by Brendan Murphy; 2/5/24

Hospice support, staff appreciation: [Singing Telegram]Daily News, Wahpeton, ND, by Frank Stanko; 2/9/24You just never know who is going to drop by Daily News’ office in Wahpeton. [On] Giving Hearts Day, celebrated Thursday, Feb. 8, ... a singing telegram [was delivered]. The unique gift was shared by Daily News Publisher Tara Klostreich to appreciate the staff and also as a way to support CHI Health at Home Hospice. [They] sang three favorites, ‘Can’t Help Falling Falling in Love’ and ‘Love Me Tender’ by Elvis, plus ‘Daisy Bell.’ 

From what we get, we can make a living; what we give, however, makes a life. – Arthur Ashe

There’s no place like home — when you die McKnights Home Care, by Liza Berger, McKnights Editor; 2/9/24My dad died last week. I am still processing the event, which now ranks among the hardest, most surreal experiences of my life. As difficult as it is, I, my three siblings and mom take comfort in two things (that may hardly surprise McKnight’s Home Care readers): He died fast and he died at home.

The importance of art in a “good death”Hyperallergic, by Brianna L. Hernandez; 2/11/24... Resham Mantri and Eliana Yoneda are two artists and death doulas who are collaborators and founders of Community Deathcare Digest, an evolving collection of art projects and death cafes, as well as a bi-weekly newsletter about death and care. The newsletter gathers resources and educational content, and coordinates mutual aid for death rituals and funeral needs.