Literature Review

ACC updates HFrEF Decision Pathway, reinforcing the Four Pillars of Therapy

Navigating Aging: Does our society simply not care about our vulnerable older population? KFF Health News, by Judith Graham; 3/10/24 ... The pandemic made things worse. Prejudice against older adults is nothing new, but “it feels more intense, more hostile” now than previously, said Karl Pillemer, 69, a professor of psychology and gerontology at Cornell University. “I think the pandemic helped reinforce images of older people as sick, frail, and isolated — as people who aren’t like the rest of us,” he said. “And human nature being what it is, we tend to like people who are similar to us and be less well disposed to ‘the others.'" 

Opportunity uncovered: How COVID-19 accelerated healthcare transformation Managed Healthcare Executive; by Patrick Horine, MHA; 3/6/24The COVID-19 pandemic left an indelible mark on the healthcare landscape, spotlighting critical areas for improvement while accelerating transformations that were already underway. From addressing disparities in equity and access to adopting digital health strategies, the pandemic has forced healthcare to move swiftly to meet urgent needs. First, let us look at some of the issues we had been facing and how these were changed by the unprecedented challenges of the pandemic. ...

Palliative care: A compassionate approach for mesothelioma patientsSurviving Mesothelioma, by Holly Zink; 3/10/24Mesothelioma is a rare and aggressive cancer linked to asbestos exposure. It poses significant challenges to those diagnosed and their loved ones. The disease affects the lining of the lungs (pleura). But it can also occur in the lining of the abdomen (peritoneum) and other organs. Mesothelioma has an average survival rate ranging from 8 to 14 months post-diagnosis. Managing the physical, emotional, and practical aspects of this condition is important.

The Joint Commission, Kaiser Permanente announce application period for 2024 Bernard J. Tyson National Award for Excellence in Pursuit of Healthcare Equity GlobeNewswire, by The Joint Commission; 3/5/24 The Joint Commission and Kaiser Permanente are now accepting applications for the 2024 Bernard J. Tyson National Award for Excellence in Pursuit of Healthcare Equity. The award program will recognize a healthcare organization that led an initiative that achieved a measurable, sustained reduction in one or more disparities. Bernard J. Tyson, the late CEO and chairman of Kaiser Permanente, worked tirelessly to address the disparities that plague the U.S. healthcare system. Now in its fourth year, the award honors Tyson’s legacy by presenting organizations the opportunity to earn national recognition for their efforts to improve healthcare equity, as well as share best practices and lessons learned with thousands of organizations across the country.

Healthcare access dimensions and racial disparities in end-of-life care quality among ovarian cancer patients Cancer Research Communications; by Shama Karanth, Oyomoare L. Osazuwa-Peters; Lauren E. Wilson, Rebecca A. Previs, Fariha Rahman, Bin Huang, Maria Pisu, Margaret Liang, Kevin C. Ward, Maria J. Schymura, Andrew Berchuck, and Tomi F. Akinyemiju; 3/5/24 This study investigated the association between healthcare access (HCA) dimensions and racial disparities in end-of-life (EOL) care quality among Non-Hispanic Black (NHB), Non-Hispanic White (NHW), and Hispanic patients with ovarian cancer (OC).

Bilingual patient navigation can improve palliative care outcomes for Hispanic patients Hospice News, by Holly Vossel; 2/28/24Bicultural and bilingual palliative patient navigator interventions may be a key to improving access to goal concordant care among Hispanic populations with serious illness, according to recent research. Researchers in a recent clinical trial sought to address whether integration of bilingual patient navigation interventions could improve palliative care outcomes in Hispanic patients with serious, noncancer illnesses.

Many older adults don't receive palliative care before deathMedScape, by Marilynn Larkin; 2/28/24 "One of the challenges and a barrier to accessing palliative home care is the difficulty of predicting survival," Amy Hsu, PhD, an investigator at the Bruyère Research Institute in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, told Medscape Medical News. "Clinicians are good at prognosticating when a patient might be entering their last 3-6 weeks of life, but they have a harder time predicting if someone will survive 6 months or longer."  The team developed the Risk Evaluation for Support: Predictions for Elder-life in their Communities Tool (RESPECT) to see whether access to predicted survival data could inform conversations about a patient's status and palliative care needs. The study was published online on February 26 in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.

Home health users have higher likelihood of hospice utilizationHome Health Care News, by Joyce Famakinwa; 2/26/24People who receive home health care during the last three years of their lives are more likely to utilize hospice care at the end of life. That’s according to a recent Rutgers Health study that was published in the Journal of Palliative Medicine. As part of the study, researchers examined a sample of over 2 million U.S. Medicare fee-for-service and Medicare Advantage beneficiaries who passed away in 2019, and were enrolled for at least three years before their death. What’s more, these older adults were more likely to use hospice compared to individuals who have never used home health care.

The future of end-of-life care: How advanced directives are revolutionizing patient autonomyBNN, by Mazhar Abbas; 2/23/24Discover hos advanced directives leverage AI, telemedicine, and patient-centered care to empower individuals in making informed end-of-life healthcare decisions, overcoming challenges, and shaping the future of healthcare.

Making a case for palliative care: Creating less stressful and timelier transitions to hospiceHealthcare Tech Outlook, by Sarah DiPadova, MSN; 2/21/24When patients and their families hear the word "hospice," they panic. Misconceptions, myths and lack of education about what hospice is have resulted in patients being admitted to hospice later in the dying process than recommended. Because of this delay, quality care and valuable support are also delayed. A referral to palliative care could be the key to ensuring a timelier transition into hospice for patients and their families.Editor's Note: Sarah DiPadova, MSN, is the Director of Clinical Operattions for Hospice and Palliative Care Programs at Redeemer Health

CAPC Strategic Plan: 2023-2025

Exploring whether a diagnosis of severe frailty prompts advance care planning and end of life care conversationsNurs Older People, by Stacey Dodson; 2/21/24Findings: Frailty appeared to be complex, multifaceted and at times difficult to identify. A diagnosis of severe frailty did not necessarily prompt advance care planning and end of life care conversations. Such conversations were more likely to happen if the person had comorbidities, for example cancer. Prognostication appeared to be challenging, partly due to the gradual and uncertain trajectory in frailty and a lack of understanding, on the part of healthcare professionals, of the condition and its effects.