Literature Review
Today's Encouragement: Honoring 911 - If we learn nothing else from this tragedy, ...
09/11/24 at 03:00 AMIf we learn nothing else from this tragedy, we learn that life is short and there is no time for hate. ~ Sandy Dahl, wife of Flight 93 pilot Jason DahlEditor's note: Read this again, especially in today's context. And, I thank our 2001 hospice organizations for the immeasurable ways they supported communities through this uncharted public tragedy, grief, and fear that affected us all. Of note, Hospice of Lancaster County (now Hospice & Community Care, Lancaster, PA) supported the families and community of the Shanksville Flight 93 crash through their bereavement leader Patti Holman- Anewalt, PhD. She served as the founder and former director of their Pathways Center for Grief and Loss, and Bereavment section leader for NHPCO's Bereavement Professionals. From her trauma/grief expertise, Dr. Holman-Anewalt was also a disaster mental health specialist with the American Red Cross. Patti spent 2 weeks as an expert first responder in Shanksville supporting families at the crash site, with them at the morgue for body identification, and much more through that first year and those early annual remembrances. To my hospice colleague Patti, and to countless others, "Thank you!" To the heroes of Flight 93 and other 911 site, we offer a deeply reflective, profound "Thank you."
Hospice of the Foothills announces umbrella name, Foothills Compassionate Care
09/11/24 at 03:00 AMHospice of the Foothills announces umbrella name, Foothills Compassionate Care YubaNet.com; by Hospice of the Foothills; 9/10/24 As we celebrate 45 years as this community’s only nonprofit hospice, Hospice of the Foothills is excited to announce that we are formalizing our structure a bit to fit all of our programs under one all-encompassing organizational name. Going forward, Hospice of the Foothills, Sierra Community Palliative Care, Foothills Gift & Thrift Stores, and our Bereavement Programs will operate under the unified umbrella of Foothills Compassionate Care. Each program/service will maintain its name and identity but will be united under one umbrella. We feel his strategic alignment will highlight all that we do more clearly and reinforce our commitment to providing compassionate, community-centered care without changing the ownership, staff, or core mission that our community has trusted for years. ... This is not about changing what works; it’s about creating a formal structure that reflects the comprehensive care we’ve always provided.
2024 NHPCO Facts and Figures Report now available
09/11/24 at 03:00 AM2024 NHPCO Facts and Figures Report now available National Alliance for Care at Home, Alexandria, VA and Washington, DC; Press Release; 9/10/242022 Data Show First Increase in Hospice Utilization Rates Since COVID The National Alliance for Care at Home (the Alliance) published the 2024 edition of National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) Facts and Figures, an annual report on key data points related to the delivery of hospice care, including information on patient characteristics, location and level of care, Medicare hospice spending, and hospice providers. Facts and Figures – the leading resource for hospice providers and others interested in understanding the work of the community – has been published annually for over two decades by NHPCO. ... The findings in this report reflect patients who received care in Calendar Year (CY) 2022, or Fiscal Year (FY) 2022, provided by hospices certified by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and reimbursed under the Medicare Hospice Benefit. This year COVID-19 continued to impact patient care as COVID-19 waivers were still in place through May 2023. These waivers included increased telehealth services. With 49.1% of all Medicare decedents in 2022 choosing hospice care, utilization of hospice increased in 2022 for the first time since 2019. The increase hints at a normalization of the utilization rates back to pre-COVID data. Hospice utilization rates increased across all race and ethnicity groups, with the largest increase among Hispanic Medicare beneficiaries seeing. The total number of beneficiaries enrolled in hospice care in 2022 was 1.72 million. Due to the unique impact of COVID-19 on 2020 data, those data are not included in many of the charts this year.
On a culture of physician leadership development
09/11/24 at 03:00 AMOn a culture of physician leadership development Forbes; by Leon E. Moores, MD, DSc, FACS; 9/9/24 ... How do we create a culture of continuing physician leadership development? Over a decade ago, I was tasked with answering this very question. As a senior army surgeon, I approached the two-star general in the Army Medical Corps. I asked if I could put together a comprehensive program for physician leadership development for the 4200+ doctors in the US Army. ... We concluded that four distinct LOEs (lines of effort) needed development and implementation to create a culture of physician leadership. These LOEs, it turns out, are just as applicable in civilian healthcare as they were in the armed forces.
One healthcare job poised for the greatest shortage
09/11/24 at 02:00 AMOne healthcare job poised for the greatest shortage Becker's Hospital Review; by Molly Gamble; 9/6/24 Nursing assistants face the greatest projected deficit over any other analyzed healthcare occupation, with a projected shortage of more than 73,000 assistants nationwide by 2028. The forecast comes from Mercer, which projects a nationwide shortage of more than 100,000 healthcare workers by 2028. The need for nursing assistants is expected to be greatest, with only 13 states expected to meet or exceed future demand. "The projected supply of nursing assistants — an occupation that constitutes 8% of the total US healthcare workforce and 40% of healthcare support occupations in 2023 — is discouraging," Mercer consultants wrote in their Aug. 29 report, "Future of the U.S. Healthcare Industry: Labor Market Projections by 2028."
Fundraiser raises $30k for hospice services
09/10/24 at 03:00 AMFundraiser raise $30k for hospice services The Meadville Tribune, Meadville, PA; by Chloe Forbes; 9/7/24 There’s no place like home, and at the end of life, familiarity can make all the difference. Not everyone can just click their heels, but a donation to Hospice of Crawford County might help get them close. Following the kayaking fundraiser “Tammy’s Yellow Brick Row,” over $30,000 is going toward the hospice organization to create an endowment fund for individuals who need support the most — those at the end of life and who cannot afford it. The fundraiser and endowment fund are in the name of the late Tammy Young-Eckenrode, who was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2014 and survived just short of two years.
Photos: Grief and fond memories shared at Reflections on the River
09/10/24 at 03:00 AMPhotos: Grief and fond memories shared at Reflections on the River Salem Reporter, Salem, OR; by Laura Tesler; 9/6/24 As the sun fell Thursday evening, hundreds of Salemites gathered at Riverfront Park to reflect, grieve and share stories. The annual Reflections on the River event, organized by hospice provider Willamette Vital Health, included 4,600 luminarias to memorialize family and friends who have died.
The changing role of chief privacy officers
09/10/24 at 03:00 AMThe changing role of chief privacy officers Becker's Health IT; by Giles Bruce; 9/6/24 Chief privacy officers are expanding their roles to take on artificial intelligence and cybersecurity, according to the International Association of Privacy Professionals. Whereas chief privacy officers traditionally focused on being compliant with privacy laws, 69% now have responsibility for AI or data governance, 37% cover cybersecurity regulatory compliance, and 20% have platform liability duties, according to the IAPP survey of 671 professionals released Sept. 6. Some health systems have standalone chief privacy officers, but the hospital industry is more likely to have chief information security officers with privacy duties or a combined role.
Dogs helping hospice patients
09/10/24 at 03:00 AMDogs helping hospice patients WFMY News 2 - YouTube; Mountain Valley Hospice, Dobson, NC; 9/3/24 Mountain Valley Hospice in Surrey County has been using therapy dogs and with some really great results, the dogs provided in boost at a time when families and their loved ones are going through extremely tough times patients. If they're having a hard day and all they're seeing is these clinical teams coming in and doing things to them and then they just see a pet and they're missing their pet or they had pets in the past and they can just go to the bedside. If they're big dogs they can pet them, or if they're small dogs they can put a towel over on top of them and then put the little pet on top of the bed and they can pet it and just lay there.
Prepping for the hospice HOPE tool: Starting the journey
09/10/24 at 03:00 AMPrepping for the hospice HOPE tool: Starting the journeyCHAP email; by Jennifer Kennedy; 9/6/24The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently finalized the implementation date of the hospice HOPE assessment tool in the FY 2025 Hospice Payment Update final rule. This quality requirement signals a new beginning for hospice providers related to quality measurement and future payment reform. Implementation is scheduled for October 1, 2025, so the clock is ticking, and the interval is short for provider and software vendor preparation for compliance.Publisher's note: Excellent article with helpful resource links.
Seven pillars to put healthcare consumers at the heart of the digital transformation
09/10/24 at 03:00 AMSeven pillars to put healthcare consumers at the heart of the digital transformation Forbes; by Hélène Musikas, Géraldine Maouchi, Lorenzo Mandelli, Daniel Brown; 9/6/24 The digital age has seen many industries undergo a profound transformation, evolving into agile "Hybrid Organizations" that blend traditional and digital business models. ... The healthcare sector, however, faces a unique set of challenges on its journey toward this transformation. ... One of the most significant shifts in healthcare is the rising concept of "Self-Care". Seven Ways To Harmonize The Digital Landscape In Healthcare ...
Compassion for terminally ill boy blooms into 17th year of Trick or Treat in the Heat
09/10/24 at 03:00 AMCompassion for terminally ill boy blooms into 17th year of Trick or Treat in the Heat Alaska's News Source, Anchorage, AL; by Olivia Nordyke; 9/9/24 Parents of a terminally ill child said they never thought their son’s last Halloween celebration would transform into an annual event that spans multiple cities. In 2005, doctors told Joyce Durcanin-Robbins and Sean Robbins that their son Ian’s leukemia meant he wouldn’t likely live to see Oct. 31. The couple created an earlier Halloween celebration in their neighborhood to give their son one last trick or treating experience. This weekend marked the 17th time Trick or Treat in the Heat brought neighborhood kids from all over Anchorage out to celebrate and get candy in full costume. “We kind of realized after the fact is this is a lot more fun than late October.” said Sean, Joyce adding; “We missed a couple of years because of COVID, and for the first few years, it was just sort of a year-to-year kitchen table operation.” ... Kelsey Torres, an event organizer, said they’ve raised about $700,000 in the lifetime of Trick or Treat in the Heat. ... Torres said 100% of the money raised goes to Make-A-Wish Alaska and Washington, Hospice of Anchorage, and Ronald McDonald House Charities. Editor's note: The location--Anchorage, Alaska--is core to this story. What location-specific or culturally-sensitive events do you already provide? What creative ideas might you implement?
When rounding sparked improvements, per 4 chief nursing officers
09/10/24 at 03:00 AMWhen rounding sparked improvements, per 4 chief nursing officers Becker's Hospital Review; by Erica Carbajal; 9/5/24 Rounding the floor with front-line nurses and staff is more than just a management practice for leaders to show face — it is a vital tool for connecting with employees and driving meaningful change. In conversations with hospital leaders, they often echo the sentiment of how routinely spending time with front-line staff uncovers opportunities to address pain points in their daily workflow. With nurses often pointing to lack of resources and support as drivers of job dissatisfaction and burnout, rounding represents a key strategy to positively affect staff engagement and retention, and thus, patient care. Becker's recently asked four chief nursing officers to share a recent example of a time when rounding sparked a process change or improvement at their hospital. Here are their responses: ... Editor's note: "Rounding" best practices and outcomes apply to hospice and palliative care multidisciplinary teams.
20 leadership skills that are still relevant in the AI age
09/10/24 at 03:00 AM20 leadership skills that are still relevant in the AI age Forbes; by Forbes Expert Panel / Business Development Council; 9/6/24 Artificial intelligence has the power to automate and streamline countless business processes and improve efficiency across just about every sector. However, AI tools (and the humans using them) need guidance and training to perform to their full potential, which makes strong leadership more important than ever. Members of Forbes Business Development Council discuss the leadership skills that are still relevant in the age of AI. From strong critical thinking skills to communication and empathy, these traits are crucial to leading any organization through the transitions that come with new technology. [ These leadership skills include the following:] 1. Emotional Intelligence ... 2. Empathy ... 3. Transparency ... 4. The Ability to Identify Areas for Improvement ... 5. A Commitment to Continuous Learning ... 6. Adaptability ... 7. High-Level Communication Skills ... 8. Humility ... 9. Mental Agility ... 10. Knowledge of When to Apply AI ... 11. Prioritization Skills ... 12. Authenticity ... 13. Compassion and Understanding ... 14. An Understanding of How AI Can Complement Human Skills ... 15. Timely, Action-Oriented Decision-Making ... 16. Relationship Building ... 17. Resiliency ... Editor's note: Especially when recruiting and hiring AI leadership and setting up AI strategies for hospice and palliative care, use these qualities (1) within yourself in how you approach AI and (2) leadership skills you seek out from AI high-tech candidates.
Today's Encouragement: To fly ...
09/10/24 at 03:00 AMTo fly, we have to have resistance. ~ Maya Lin
National Health Statistics Reports: Overview of Post-acute and Long-term Care Providers and Services Users in the United States, 2020
09/10/24 at 03:00 AMNational Health Statistics Reports: Overview of Post-acute and Long-term Care Providers and Services Users in the United States, 2020 CDC U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; by Jessica P. Lendon, Ph.D., Christine Caffrey, Ph.D., Amanuel Melekin, Ph.D., Priyanka Singh, M.P.H., Zhaohui Lu, M.S., and Manisha Sengupta, Ph.D; dated 8/27/24, released 9/7/24 Objective: This report presents national results from the National Post-acute and Long-term Care Study to describe providers and services users in seven major settings of paid, regulated post-acute and long-term care services in the United States. Methods - Data Sources: Data include about 11,400 home health agencies, 5,200 hospices, 1,200 inpatient rehabilitation facilities, 350 long-term care hospitals, and 15,300 nursing homes. Results:
BrightSpring projects ‘robust, accretive’ hospice, home health M&A pipeline
09/10/24 at 03:00 AMBrightSpring projects ‘robust, cccretive’ hospice, home health M&A pipeline Hospice News; by Holly Vossel; 9/6/24 BrightSpring Health Services Inc. is poised for growth in the home health and hospice landscape. The company anticipates ramping up merger and acquisition (M&A) activity in coming years, with an emphasis on long-term return on investment, according to BrightSpring President and CEO Jon Rousseau. The company is focusing on significant expansion in the next two years, he indicated. Tuck-in deals and de novos have been key to BrightSpring’s strategic growth. Acquisitions have increasingly become a larger part of its game plan — though with a cautious and diligent mindset, Rousseau said ...
Alivia Care, Inc. introduces Alivia Care @ Home to northeast Florida
09/10/24 at 03:00 AMAlivia Care, Inc. introduces Alivia Care @ Home to northeast Florida PR.com, Alivia Care, Inc. Press Releases, Jacksonville, FL; 9/8/24 Alivia Care, Inc., the parent organization of Community Hospice & Palliative Care, is proud to announces Alivia Care @ Home in Northeast Florida. This change marks a significant milestone in the company's mission to enhance the quality of life for patients through exceptional home care, home health, and supportive care services. As part of this initiative, Alivia Care, Inc. recently opened Alivia Care @ Home offices in Gainesville and Ocala last month, furthering their commitment to serving the North Florida community. Alivia Care @ Home offers specialized services for patients who prefer to receive treatment at home. ... Alivia Care @ Home offers a full spectrum of specialized services, including nursing, physical, occupational, and speech therapies.
Hospice patient’s final life wish comes true at Colts game
09/10/24 at 03:00 AMHospice patient’s final life wish comes true at Colts game WISHTV.com-8, Indianapolis, IN; by Kyla Russell; 9/8/24 Indianapolis hospice patient Calvin Simmons is terminally ill and had one final life wish: to attend a Colts game. “It was one of those things that you say, ‘I gotta do this, I gotta do this,’” Simmons said Saturday morning. “My dad used to tell a story about me being about three years old, running back and forth in the house wearing a Colts helmet.” The Marine veteran lives at the Abbie Hunt Bryce Home on the northeast side of the city. The home is run by nonprofit Morning Light, Inc. and offers end of life care for free to those in need. The lifelong Colts fan started his day out in his decked out Colts hospice room. Soon enough, his dream came true when he traveled to Lucas Oil Stadium to see the Colts face the Texans for their season opener.
Nursing students learning to respect culture, tradition at the end of life
09/10/24 at 03:00 AMNursing students learning to respect culture, tradition at the end of life St. Cloud Live, St. Joseph, MN; by Stephanie Dickrell; 9/6/24 It is called the golden hour — the hour before someone’s death. It’s a time of grief, but it’s also a sacred space. Two nursing instructors at the College of St. Benedict and St. John’s University are trying to make that time better for patients and their loved ones by better preparing their students who will be with them in their final moments. While the rituals surrounding death may vary by time, geography and culture, the program wants to make sure all cultures are respected. ... Julie Keller Dornbusch and Mary Pesch, both trained as Advanced Practice Registered Nurses ... received a prestigious grant from the Morgan Family Foundation of nearly $100,000 to create and test nursing simulations using culturally specific care for the Catholic community, Somali Muslims and Ojibwe people.Editor's note: This article indicates that "training material on culturally specific end-of-life care" is non-existent. This statement is misleading. Examine:
Anthony House advocates for comfort care homes and hospice care in the community
09/10/24 at 03:00 AMAnthony House advocates for comfort care homes and hospice care in the community Oswego County Today, Oswego, NY; by Step One Creative; 9/6/24 Anthony House of Wellhouse Ministries ... is advocating for the importance of comfort care and homes allowing for the care to hospice patients. Anthony House, an Oswego-based non-profit, who is finalizing construction plans for their new hospice care facility in Hannibal, New York, aims to raise awareness about the critical need for these specialized care settings... Kateri Spinella, Executive Director of Anthony House of Wellhouse Ministries, emphasized the significance of comfort care homes in the community, stating, “At Anthony House, we believe that every individual deserves to experience end-of-life care with dignity, respect, and compassion. Our new facility will provide a nurturing environment where patients and families can find solace, support, and comfort during their journey.”
Norfolk woman celebrates 106th birthday after hospice discharge for being too healthy
09/10/24 at 02:10 AMNorfolk woman celebrates 106th birthday after hospice discharge for being too healthy CBS WTKR 3, Norfolk, VA; by Vashti Moore; 9/6/24 A local woman not only celebrated good health on Thursday, but she also celebrated 106 years of life. Dorothy Southall was born in Whaleyville — a small neighborhood in Suffolk on Sept. 5, 1918. That’s two years before women received the right to vote and two months before the end of World War I. ... During the Civil Rights Movement, Dorothy worked as a licensed practical nurse at Bellevue Hospital Center in New York. She served her community as a healthcare worker for 20 years before moving back to Virginia in the late 1980s where she would live on her own and manage her own finances until she was 103. ... In August 2023, while living with her family, Dorothy was discharged from hospice because she deemed too healthy and no longer met the requirements. When admitted into residential care this summer in Norfolk, Dorothy said she “felt like she was home” when she arrived.
Time to say a final goodbye, and thanks [from a journalist entering hospice care]
09/10/24 at 02:00 AMTime to say a final goodbye, and thanks [from a journalist entering hospice care] Originally posted in the San Francisco Chronicle; by Kevin Fisher-Paulson ("He wrote this column shortly before he died" on September 5, 2024); 9/7/24 ... you readers came to embrace us. Moms wrote to tell us that their daughters had found new lives across the desert, grandsons had become granddaughters, sons had chosen recovery over the mountains and siblings had chosen forgiveness. If each of us has the courage to change, we all have the courage to hope. Back in May of 2023, I told you that I had been diagnosed with Stage 4 kidney cancer. ... In July, it all caught up. ... At last, on a recent Tuesday, my oncologist called with the results of my spinal tap and bone marrow analysis. The cancer had won the race, suffused throughout my body. It was, he concluded, time for home hospice. A few weeks to go. This, therefore, is my final column. Having said that, I would like to thank the family and friends who have made me the person I am, ... But it is my husband of 40 years and my sons who have made this life so worth living. ... And also you, the readers. We have become friends over the years, sharing a cup of coffee every Wednesday morning. ... I hope I have brought you wonder, and I hope you now bring wonder to others. Teach your grandson to bake chocolate chip cookies. Take your niece to high tea at the Sheraton. I stand on that baseball diamond, and I salute life. My journey is now over, and yours must continue. Years ago, I asked you to believe in my family. And you did. You lit candles. ... I am humbled. I am grateful. And now I tell you that I believe in you. So go out there. And be kind.Editor's note: This must-read article and please-share article will inspire you, with insights into the depth and breadth of dying well.
Gilchrist and Hospice of Washington County join forces in landmark affiliation agreement
09/10/24 at 01:00 AMGilchrist and Hospice of Washington County join forces in landmark affiliation agreementGilchrist [MD] press release; 9/9/24Hospice of Washington County and Gilchrist, Maryland’s leading provider of geriatric, palliative, and hospice care, have announced an affiliation agreement. This partnership will unite two of Maryland’s oldest and most experienced nonprofit organizations, together with nearly 70 years of service to their communities.
Enhabit foresees smooth sailing on near-term hospice growth
09/09/24 at 03:10 AMEnhabit foresees smooth sailing on near-term hospice growth Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 9/5/24 Enhabit Inc. expects consistent hospice growth even as it contends with payer and reimbursement headwinds for its home health business. The home health and hospice provider recently terminated its home health contract with the Medicare Advantage payer UnitedHealthcare, a subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group, citing nine months of unsuccessful negotiations. In addition, Enhabit and the rest of the home health industry are facing a potential 1.7% rate cut from the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation’s proposed 2025 payment rule. Meanwhile, Enhabit’s hospice segment continues to grow sequentially.