Literature Review

13 steps to achieve AI implementation in your business Tech Trends Post; 9/11/24 AI technologies are quickly maturing as a viable means of enabling and supporting essential business functions. However, creating business value from artificial intelligence requires a thoughtful approach that balances people, processes and technology. AI comes in many forms: machine learning, deep learning, predictive analytics, natural language processing, computer vision and automation. Companies must start with a solid foundation and realistic view to determine the competitive advantages an AI implementation can bring to their business strategy and planning. ... Some of the many benefits that businesses can gain by adopting AI include the following:

Innovative program reduces nurse turnover and fosters development Oncology Nursing News; by Heather Wood, RN, OCN and Marie Garcia, RN, OCN; 9/12/24 Cancer incidence is on the rise in the US, especially among the growing older population. ... Unfortunately, the current shortage of oncology nurses is expected to worsen, as fewer people enter the profession while aging nurses retire. By 2025, a shortage of 200,000 to 450,000 oncology nurses is predicted in the US. ... In response, The US Oncology Network (The Network) has developed one of the most comprehensive programs in the nation to support the professional development and retention of new oncology nurses. ... Designed to enhance their knowledge of fundamental oncology, OCEAN is a collaborative effort bringing together a multidisciplinary team of experts and speakers from across The Network. The program provides fundamental oncology knowledge around 12 core areas delivered over 22.5 hours of live virtual learning. Content ranges from ... various treatment modalities ... to palliative care and advanced care planning. OCEAN’s impact extends beyond skill development, fostering a sense of belonging and purpose among participating nurses. ... Early results from the program are promising, such as increased retention rates [12% better than the national average] and cost savings. 

Telehealth groups urge feds to extend virtual prescribing flexibilities  Healthcare IT News; by Mike Miliard; 9/11/24 With just four months to go until the scheduled expiration of Drug Enforcement Administration flexibilities on virtual prescribing of controlled substances, a long list of hundreds of healthcare stakeholders is calling on Congress and the White House to extend them before "countless patients [are] abandoned, left without lifesaving clinically appropriate care." Led by the American Telemedicine Association and its ATA Action arm, more than 330 disparate organizations have signed on to an effort urging federal officials to extend pandemic-era allowances for virtual prescribing that "have been a lifeline for countless individuals across the country, ensuring uninterrupted access to essential mental health care, substance use treatment, end-of-life care, and many other crucial treatments during a time when in-person visits were impossible or unsafe."

Helping patients keep their dignity in their final moments Physician's Weekly; by Linda Girgis, MD, FAAFP; 9/11/24 In the US, approximately $365 billion is spent annually on end-of-life care, or ten percent of total healthcare expenditures. While some of this is essential, such as hospice care, much is spent on futile care. The Merriam Webster Dictionary defines futile as “serving no useful purpose, completely ineffective.” While we may be able to keep patients alive longer, such as using ventilators, it should be evaluated as to the endpoint. It is futile if the patient has no hope of recovery. ... How can we help our patients die with dignity?

AI scribes show promising results in helping family doctors and nurse practitioners spend more time with patients and less time on paperwork LaGrange Daily News, Toronto, Canada; by PR Newswire / Canada Newswire; 9/11/24 Family doctors report spending 70% to 90% less time on paperwork in a study evaluating the use of artificial intelligence (AI) scribe technology. OntarioMD (OMD), a subsidiary of the Ontario Medical Association (OMA), announced this week the findings of the study that examined the use of AI scribes by more than 150 family doctors and nurse practitioners (NPs) over a three-month period. AI scribes capture conversations between family doctors or nurse practitioners (NPs) and their patients and summarizes them into detailed electronic medical notes. The family doctors and NPs assessed AI scribes' effectiveness in reducing their time spent on administrative tasks and the results are very promising. ... The results also support the Ministry of Health and Ontario Health's Patients Before Paperwork (Pb4P) initiative aimed at helping doctors spend more time caring for patients instead of doing unnecessary paperwork.

Marshall medical students volunteer for Day of Service CBS WOWK-13 News, Huntington, WV; by Jessica Patterson; 9/11/24 On a day of reflecting and honoring lives lost to a horrific tragedy, people across the country are commemorating the services and sacrifices people made on Sept. 11, 2001, by volunteering in their communities. According to AmeriCorps, America’s National Day of Service and Remembrance is designed to honor and commemorate the heroes of 9/11 including armed forces, first responders, volunteers and countless others, for their acts of service during the terror attacks and in the aftermath. In Huntington, some college students are stepping up to do their part in the local community. Residents from the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine General Surgery Program spent the day volunteering at a local hospice house. The Emogene Dolin Jones Hospice Facility welcomed all the students’ hard work helping to prepare the grounds and gardens for the end of summer. “They are here today to help beautify and plant flowers here at our inpatient unit, the Emogene Dolin Jones Hospice House, which is part of Hospice of Huntington,” said Melanie Hall, Hospice of Huntington president and CEO.

Improving access to palliative care for patients with cancer JAMA - JN Learning; podcast by Eduardo Bruera, MD; 9/11/24 Palliative care is an essential component to high-quality care for patients with cancer. How can access to palliative care be expanded? Eduardo Bruera, MD, from MD Anderson Cancer Center speaks with JAMA Editor in Chief Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo about 2 new trials in JAMA that address access to care and what more it will take for executives, insurers, and regulators to support palliative care programs. [Podcast: 11 minutes 53 seconds] 

Agrace grants local 1990 Brewers bat boy a final baseball wish Agrace; 9/12/24 In 1990, Will Natz was 10 years old and about to have his dream come true—he was going to be a Milwaukee Brewers bat boy. As he waited in the County Stadium dugout, he heard Bob Uecker announce his name. ... Natz treasured the cassette tape that held a recording of that moment. ... [Due] to his progressing illness and the need for supplemental oxygen, Natz—a lifelong baseball fan—doubted he would get to another Brewers game in person. That was until his Agrace Hospice Care social worker, Kristin Kalpinski and nurse Jill Cooley saw a chance to make his wish come true with assistance from Agrace’s Wish program. Through the Wish program, Kalpinski, Cooley and staff from the Agrace Foundation contacted the Brewers Community Foundation, American Family Field and other community partners. A donor gave Natz and his family four wheelchair-accessible seats for a Brewers game, plus tickets for Kalpinski and Cooley to go along to support Will’s care needs. Just a few days later, Natz was on his way to a game.

Competency standards for quality are needed now more than everModern Healthcare; by Stephanie Mercado; 9/11/24Stephanie Mercado is CEO of the National Association for Healthcare Quality. Healthcare quality is foundational to achieving the overarching goals of every care provider: improving population health, enhancing patient experiences, controlling costs, and more. Yet we are not where we need to be – and sustainably achieving quality and safety goals continues to be just outside of our reach. Why? New research from the National Association for Healthcare Quality reveals that people working in healthcare define quality very differently from one another. They use a range of terms like compliance, utilization management, safety, equity, population health, value. When stakeholders see quality differently and see each effort to advance quality as separate and distinct, it’s no wonder we are not further along in this quest for quality.Publisher's note: This article discusses concerns including care, cost, the workforce cliff, and how quality is achieved.

Agnesian HealthCare Foundation 2024 Charity Open has successful year envision - Greater Fond du Lac, WI; by Agnesian HealthCare Foundation; 9/11/24 The Agnesian HealthCare Foundation recently hosted its 36th annual Charity Open, presented by the Michels Corporation, celebrating another successful year supporting local hospice and cancer patient care. Since 1989, the Charity Open has raised more than $7.6 million. Thanks to the generosity of those attending and sponsoring the event, the Agnesian HealthCare Foundation raised approximately $455,000. Proceeds from this year’s event are supporting SSM Health at Home Hospice and SSM Health Cancer Care services within the greater Fond du Lac area – helping ensure that all patients have access to these vital services regardless of their ability to pay. “Our hospice team supports our patient’s last days by offering comfort and dignity,” according to Kim Laws, Agnesian HealthCare Foundation director of development and interim leader. “Our goal is to provide this service regardless of the family’s ability to pay." 

The psychological impact of inclusive leadership Psychology Today; by Priya Nalkur Ed.D; 9/9/24 Here's how empathy can drive organizational success. Key Points:

Telehealth palliative care helps people living with advanced cancer Cancer Health; by Liz Highleyman; 9/9/24 Virtual palliative care can be as effective as in-person care, according to a recent study. Oncology palliative care is intended to relieve symptoms and improve quality of life. It is not the same as hospice care, and it can help people at any stage of cancer. National guidelines recommend integrating palliative care from the time of diagnosis for people with advanced cancer, but it is underutilized in part due to a shortage of trained providers. This study included 1,250 adults at 22 U.S. cancer centers who were diagnosed with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer. They had palliative care sessions every four weeks conducted either via video or in person. After six months, quality-of-life scores were equivalent in the two groups. They also did not differ significantly in terms of depression or anxiety, coping skills, understanding treatment goals or perception of their prognosis.

House call: Hospital care at home is about to explode in New Jersey mycentraljersey; by Scott Fallon; 9/11/24 Delia Halpin was being treated for a lung infection at Hackensack University Medical Center over three days in July when doctors came to her room with a suggestion: You can go home if you’d like. Halpin, 80, wasn’t being discharged. She was returning to her Maywood house with a load of medical equipment, a tablet to let her keep in touch with doctors, and a team of nurses who would visit every day until she recovered. “No one wants to be in the hospital,” she said. “It was great to be home, be around family, be around the things you’re comfortable with.” Halpin is among the first wave of patients who received care under Hackensack’s new “Hospital from Home” program — but she is far from the last. ...