Literature Review
Cost report prompts tweaks to ACO REACH model
08/15/24 at 03:00 AMCost report prompts tweaks to ACO REACH model Modern Healthcare; by Bridget Early; 8/12/24 The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is making changes to its largest accountable care organization experiment to ensure it’s actually saving money. In a notice published on its website Aug. 1, CMS outlines a slew of planned updates to the ACO Realizing Equity, Access and Community Health, or ACO REACH, model in 2025. Notably, the agency is changing how it establishes benchmarks for "high-needs population" ACOs to guard against overspending while addressing the so-called "ratcheting effect," under which ACOs that contain spending face higher hurdles to earning shared savings in future years because of their past successes. [Limited access due to paywall.]
Examining the relationship between rural and urban clinicians’ familiarity with patients and families and their comfort with palliative and end-of-life care communication
08/15/24 at 03:00 AMExamining the relationship between rural and urban clinicians’ familiarity with patients and families and their comfort with palliative and end-of-life care communication
Hospices leverage community resources to serve vulnerable homeless populations
08/15/24 at 02:15 AMHospices leverage community resources to serve vulnerable homeless populations Hospice News; by Holly Vossel; 8/13/24 Hospices are increasingly collaborating with community organizations to better address the end-of-life needs of the homeless population. Isolated homeless senior populations are reaching concerning levels nationwide. Many medical and nonmedical issues can be exacerbated at the end of life among unhoused and homeless seniors compared to others, according to James Patrick Hall, executive director of Rocky Mountain Refuge. The Denver-based nonprofit organization offers shelter for people with end-of-life care needs. ... Homeless populations have increased across the country in recent years, with seniors among those reaching “record-high” volumes and outpacing other demographic groups, Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies research recently reported. Editor's Note: For data specific to your state, click here for The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's "The 2023 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report (AHAR) to Congress."
NAHC President Dombi: There’s ‘good and bad’ to payers entering home health care
08/15/24 at 02:00 AMNAHC President Dombi: There’s ‘good and bad’ to payers entering home health care Home Health Care News; by Joyce Famakinwa; 8/13/24 Before retiring at the end of year, National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC) President William A. Dombi still has items to check off his to-do list. On the top of this list is the previously announced NAHC and National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) merger. ... Ultimately, Dombi has seen home-based care evolve when he reflects back on his tenure at NAHC. ... [Dombi] sees the evolution of home-based care through large payers, such as Humana Inc. and UnitedHealth Group, investing in the space. “I think you can certainly look at it from a positive perspective, saying, these plans had options to invest in X, Y and Z in health care, and they chose home care and physicians,” he said. “Their forecast says it’s about community-based health care services.” However, he noted the downsides of payers investing heavily in the space, too. ...
Letter: Closing Cottage of the Meadow [Hospice House] is a loss for all
08/14/24 at 03:30 AMLetter: Closing Cottage of the Meadow [Hospice House] is a loss for allYakima Herald-Republic, Yakima, WA; by Lee Murdock; 8/13/24, with news post from 8/5/24 [Letter] To the editor — I was devastated to learn that Cottage in the Meadow, our local hospice facility, is ending hospice care. Both of my parents were fortunate enough to spend their final days in this serene and caring environment. The difference between the overrun hospital setting with its short staffing and the compassionate, individualized care at Cottage in the Meadow was stark. This facility provided invaluable support not only to those at the end of life but also to their families. As our population ages, the need for such services will only increase. Studies have shown that hospice care can reduce healthcare costs by up to 30% compared to traditional hospital care (Journal of Palliative Medicine). Additionally, hospice care significantly reduces hospital readmissions and emergency room visits, further reducing healthcare costs (JAMA). In a healthcare system with ample profit margins, ensuring access to hospice care is the least we can do. ...Editor's Note: This letter to the editor was in response to Yakima Herald-Republic's 8/5/24 article, "Yakima's Cottage in the Meadow will close its hospice house. It will reopen as a skilled nursing facility."
First Swiss hospice for terminally and critically ill children closes a gap in care
08/14/24 at 03:00 AMFirst Swiss hospice for terminally and critically ill children closes a gap in care NZZ; by Erich Aschwanden, Reidbach near Bern, Switzerland; 8/12/24 As many as 10,000 children and young people in Switzerland live with life-shortening illnesses. Because the state does not help support efforts to care for them in special facilities, private organizations are stepping in. ... Switzerland's first children's hospice is located in a converted farmhouse in Riedbach, a small hamlet on the outskirts of Bern. As idyllic as these surroundings may be, the fate of the children and their families who are taken in by the Allani Foundation is bitter. These are children and young people with life-shortening illnesses such as cancer, genetic defects or neurological diagnoses.
Heart disease, cancer remain leading causes of death in US
08/14/24 at 03:00 AMHeart disease, cancer remain leading causes of death in US Becker's Hospital Review; by Elizabeth Gregerson; 8/9/24 Heart disease and cancer remained the leading causes of death in 2023, according to provisional data released Aug. 8 by the CDC. Mortality data is collected by the National Center for Health Statistics National Vital Statistics System from U.S. death certificates, according to an analysis published Aug. 8 in JAMA. After a sharp increase in the rate of deaths from heart disease during the pandemic, the 2023 rate (162.1) reportedly was closer to pre-pandemic levels (161.5). The rate of deaths from cancer decreased from 146.2 in 2019 to 141.8 in 2023. Cause of death data is based on the underlying cause of events leading to death. Death rate is recorded as the age adjusted death rate per 100,000 deaths, authors of the JAMA analysis said.
Center for Hospice Care Heartwize Program brings an individualized approach to cardiac care
08/14/24 at 03:00 AMCenter for Hospice Care Heartwize Program brings an individualized approach to cardiac care Great News Life; by Lauren Grasham; 8/12/24 To help patients live peacefully and at ease during one of life’s most vulnerable moments, Center for Hospice Care (CHC) welcomes all with open arms to its HeartWize program. Through the program, the CHC staff develops individualized plans with each patient and their loved ones to help them manage heart failure and other heart diseases, allowing patients to receive quality care in the comfort of their own homes without the worry of a hospital visit. “When their symptoms are not managed promptly, it gets to the point that patients can't breathe. When a patient can't breathe, the very first thing they're going to want to do is go to the hospital,” said Director of Nursing Chrissy Madlem. “It's important that we teach them the techniques to manage these end-of-life care symptoms that they're dealing with so they can stay home and be comfortable with their families.”Editor's Note: The Center for Hospice Care is in Mishawaka, IN.
Optimi Health and Psyence Biomedical sign non-binding letter of intent to advance global psilocybin drug development
08/14/24 at 03:00 AMOptimi Health and Psyence Biomedical sign non-binding letter of intent to advance global psilocybin drug development Psyence Biomedical Ltd; by Andrea Mestrovic; 8/13/24 Optimi Health Corp. ..., a GMP-approved, Health Canada licensed psychedelics pharmaceutical manufacturer specializing in botanical psilocybin and MDMA, and Psyence Biomedical Ltd., ... a developer of nature-derived psilocybin-based therapeutics, are pleased to announce that the companies have entered into a non-binding Letter of Intent (“LOI”). This arrangement would position Optimi as the exclusive supplier of GMP nature-derived (non-synthetic) psilocybin extract for Psyence’s global drug development and commercialization initiatives for FDA-approved use in the Palliative Care context.
Which parts of healthcare are off limits to AI?
08/14/24 at 03:00 AMWhich parts of healthcare are off limits to AI? Becker's Health IT; by Giles Bruce; 8/9/24 The AI physician will not see you now — or ever, for that matter. As artificial intelligence proliferates in healthcare, health system leaders told Becker's that human providers will always be part of the medical field, with their — AI-aided — treatment recommendations being discussed with patients and family members. "Any patient care decisions ... should be made by patients and their caregivers or family members, obviously in consultation with their physician or provider," said Joe Depa, chief data and AI officer of Atlanta-based Emory Healthcare. ... Robots — or AI — will simply never take the place of that human touch, health system leaders say.
CDC releases new profile of assisted living residents
08/14/24 at 03:00 AMCDC releases new profile of assisted living residents McKnights Long-Term Care News; by Kimberly Bonvissuto; 8/10/24 Residents living in assisted living and other residential care communities in 2022 mostly were female (67%), white (92%) and 85 or older (53%), according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics. The CDC said that data from the National Post-acute and Long-term Care Study outlined in the profile of residential care community residents in 2022 would help inform policymakers, providers, researchers and consumer advocates planning to help meet the needs of a rapidly growing older adult population.
Giving feedback can be daunting for new leaders — here’s how to provide it thoughtfully
08/14/24 at 03:00 AMGiving feedback can be daunting for new leaders — here’s how to provide it thoughtfully The Conversation; by Tracy Walsh; 8/11/24 Giving performance feedback at work can be a stressful experience, especially for new leaders and their employees. It often evokes feelings of anxiety, uncertainty and defensiveness. ... Yet, feedback has never been more important. ... When feedback is delivered thoughtfully and perceived as constructive by employees, it can bridge the gap between potential and performance and provide clarity in times of uncertainty. ... [It] includes recognizing achievements, fostering professional development and building trust with employees. ... It’s equally important for leaders to seek and receive feedback from their employees. Embracing feedback enhances adaptability by providing leaders with real-time insights into what’s working and what’s not, allowing them to make necessary adjustments. [Click on the title's link for descriptions and guides.]
Free CHAP Webinar: CMS Posts Final Hospice Rule - Quality changes and regulatory requirement
08/14/24 at 03:00 AMFree CHAP Webinar: CMS Posts Final Hospice Rule - Quality changes and regulatory requirement Community Health Accreditation Partner (CHAP); taught by Dr. Jennifer Kennedy; posted 8/13/24, webinar will be 8/21/24, 1:00-2:00 pm EDTCMS posted the final rule for hospice providers which drives big changes into motion for 2025. [Click here for the] Final FY 2025 Hospice Wage Index and Payment Rate Update/Quality Reporting Rule (CMS-1810-F), posted on the Federal Register on August 7, 2024. This free webinar will be taught by Jennifer Kennedy, Vice President, Quality, Compliance and Standards, CHAP. She spent many years as a leader and nurse in diverse healthcare settings with the past 25 years in hospice and palliative care. Dr. Kennedy came to CHAP in 2021 with a vision of moving the organization’s quality forward as “the” accreditation partner of choice for the majority of community-based providers. She believes no matter what type of care a patient receives or how many times they receive care, every experience should be of the highest quality. Webinar Objectives:
Age bias declines in the workplace, but work remains
08/14/24 at 03:00 AMAge bias declines in the workplace, but work remains McKnights Senior Living; by Lois A. Bowers; 8/12/24 Some good news, according to the results of a recent survey by the Age-Friendly Institute, is that it appears that fewer Americans aged 50 or more years believe that “age bias is a fact of life in the workplace” compared with 15 years ago, according to the institute. The organization has been conducting research involving a nationally representative sample of this age group for more than a decade, and the percentage of people answering yes about the existence of age bias at work has decreased over time, going from 96% in 2009 to 83% in 2019 to 65% in 2024. ... But the decrease doesn’t mean there isn’t work to do. “In a society that is increasingly focused on equality and inclusivity, ageism lurks in the shadows,” the institute notes.
Covid is now categorized as endemic disease, US health officials say
08/14/24 at 03:00 AMCovid is now categorized as endemic disease, US health officials say KFF Health News; 8/12/24 The revised classification means covid is here to stay, but we can manage it better because it is now predictable. The change in stance does not affect any guidance on how to deal with the disease and comes as reports show most areas of the U.S. are seeing consistent rises in covid infections. ...
ETC model is failing to boost home dialysis utilization, nephrologists say
08/14/24 at 03:00 AMETC model is failing to boost home dialysis utilization, nephrologists say McKnights Home Care; by Adam Healy; 8/9/24 Nephrologists are worried that the End-Stage Renal Disease Treatment Choices (ETC) model has not made good on its promise to promote home-based kidney care and advance health equity. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services launched the ETC model in 2021, randomly selecting about 30% of providers treating end-stage renal disease for participation. The model uses financial incentives to encourage greater use of home dialysis treatment and increase kidney transplant access. However, these incentives have not been effective in producing their intended results, according to Amit Kapoor, MD, the chief nephrologist at Strive Health. ... A March study published in JAMA found that the ETC model may unintentionally punish providers who serve high-needs, low-income or minority patients.
Today's Encouragement: Endings matter ...
08/14/24 at 03:00 AMEndings matter, not just for the person but, perhaps even more, for the ones left behind. ~ Atul Gawande, in Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End
Healthcare added 1 million workers since 2020: 5 things to know
08/14/24 at 03:00 AMHealthcare added 1 million workers since 2020: 5 things to know Becker's Hospital Review; by Molly Gamble; 8/12/24 Healthcare faces numerous workforce challenges, but the industry has steadily added jobs after the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted staffing. An Altarum analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data finds a dual reality for healthcare: The industry has added more than 1 million workers since March 2020 and, at the same time, thousands more healthcare jobs remain unfilled as demand for workers continues to far exceed the supply. Here are five takeaways from Altarum's jobs analysis, which includes breakdowns of the sectors that led employment recovery:
LTM Group expands into Texas with latest home health acquisition
08/14/24 at 03:00 AMLTM Group expands into Texas with latest home health acquisition Home Health Care News; by Audrie Martin; 8/12/24 The LTM Group announced the acquisition of Wichita Home Health Services Monday. The deal will add over 500 team members and more than 1,000 patients to the company’s network. The company provides – through multiple locations – home health, personal care, hospice and rehabilitation services. The organization collaborates with health care systems and payers to deliver care to patients in Indiana, Ohio, Michigan and Texas. ... [The] company will continue operating under the Wichita Home Health Services brand, and all local leadership will remain the same. The acquisition agreement was finalized last week, and the transaction is set to be completed in the next quarter.Notable Mentions:
Helpful, harmful, or illegal: Can your patients really record you? — The pros and cons of recording doctors
08/13/24 at 03:00 AMHelpful, harmful, or illegal: Can your patients really record you? — The pros and cons of recording doctorsMedPage Today; by Max Feinstein; 8/9/24My name is Max Feinstein and I'm an anesthesiologist in New York City. I'm not a lawyer, but as a physician and a content creator, I think it's really important for both patients and healthcare providers to have a good understanding of when it's okay to record audio or video in the hospital. The term "wiretap laws" refers to statutes that govern audio and video recordings made of face-to-face conversations, telephone calls, or video calls. These laws vary from state to state. Where states that have one-party consent laws means that only one person who is in the area that's being recorded has to provide consent... Thirty-seven states in the United States have one-party consent laws. This contrasts with all-party consent, meaning, as the name implies, that everyone who is involved with the recording has to provide their consent. Violation of these laws may result in fines up to $100,000 and possibly jail time as well. Wiretap laws are not the same thing as HIPAA, which you might have heard about before... In addition to wiretap laws, many hospitals also have policies in place specifically describing what is and is not allowed as far as recording is concerned...Publisher's note: Nearly everyone has a recording device (i.e., a smartphone). Does your organization have recording policies?
Dr. El-Jawahri on the impact of palliative care on end-of-life care for AML and MDS
08/13/24 at 03:00 AMDr. El-Jawahri on the impact of palliative care on end-of-life care for AML and MDS OncLive; by Areej R. El-Jawahri, MD; 8/12/24 Areej El-Jawahri, MD, associate director, Cancer Outcomes Research and Education Program, director, Bone Marrow Transplant Survivorship Program, associate professor, medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, discusses findings from a multi-site, randomized trial (NCT03310918) investigating a collaborative palliative oncology care model for patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) receiving nonintensive therapy at 2 tertiary care academic hospitals. Patients in the study who received the palliative care interventions had a median of 41 days from end-of-life care discussions to death, compared with 1.5 days in the standard care group (P < .001). Additionally, patients who received the palliative care interventions were more likely to articulate their end-of-life care preferences and have these preferences documented in electronic health records, El-Jawahri begins. This documentation correlated with fewer hospitalizations in the final 30 days of life, she notes. Furthermore, palliative care recipients experienced QOL improvements and a trend toward reduced anxiety symptoms vs the patients who received usual care, El-Jawahri says. These findings underscore the necessity of integrating palliative care as a standard of care for patients with AML and high-risk MDS, El-Jawahri emphasizes.
9 powerful lessons on life you can learn from experts on death
08/13/24 at 03:00 AM9 powerful lessons on life you can learn from experts on death Forbes; by Robert Pearl, MD; 8/12/24 As a physician, I have been present at the end of many lives, witnessing the profound agony families face during a loved one’s final moments. While most family members express deep gratitude for the care provided by doctors and nurses, some recount harrowing stories of unnecessary pain their loved ones endured in the final days. These distressing accounts highlight a troubling ambiguity in the care we provide, blurring the line between compassionate treatment and what can feel like unbearable torture. Motivated by my encounters with grieving families, I dedicated the ninth season of the Fixing Healthcare podcast to exploring life’s final chapter and addressing the shortcomings in end-of-life care. ...
Are there bedbugs and busted equipment at your Florida hospital? What inspectors found
08/13/24 at 03:00 AMAre there bedbugs and busted equipment at your Florida hospital? What inspectors found Miami Herald; by Michelle Marchante; updated 8/12/24 Bed bugs. Broken equipment. Staffing challenges. Fewer patients. And a pile of hazardous waste. These are just some of the problems spotted by patient care ombudsmen during visits to Florida hospitals owned by Steward Health Care System and now up for sale. ... Key takeaways:
CMS unveils services available to patients in the GUIDE Model, integrates palliative care principles
08/13/24 at 03:00 AMCMS unveils services available to patients in the GUIDE Model, integrates palliative care principles Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 8/12/24 The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has outlined the range of services that will be available to patients aligned with the agency’s Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience (GUIDE) payment model. The payment model is designed to improve quality of life for dementia patients and their caregivers by addressing care coordination, behavioral health and functional needs. While the model does not use the term “palliative care,” it does incorporate principles and practices traditionally associated with those services, such as interdisciplinary care and caregiver support, among others. ... Nearly 400 health care organizations are developing Dementia Care Programs (DCPs) to potentially serve hundreds of thousands of Medicare beneficiaries nationwide, the CMS stated in a fact sheet.
New hospital beds and over-bed tables enhance comfort at Wayne T. Patrick Hospice House thanks to Lutz & Chester Healthcare Foundations
08/13/24 at 03:00 AMNew hospital beds and over-bed tables enhance comfort at Wayne T. Patrick Hospice House thanks to Lutz & Chester Healthcare Foundations The News & Reporter, Lancaster, SC; News Release; 8/12/24 Hospice & Community Care is delighted to announce the successful installation of eight state-of-the-art hospital beds and eight over-bed tables at the Wayne T. Patrick Hospice House. This significant upgrade was made possible by a generous $25,000 grant from The Herbert and Anna Lutz Foundation and a $15,000 grant from the Chester Healthcare Foundation, marking the latest contributions in our long-standing partnerships with both organizations. The new beds, which replace the original equipment from 2008, offer enhanced comfort and versatility for patients.