Literature Review

Hospices build community partnerships to better serve patients, employees Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 7/29/24 Hospice care does not occur in a vacuum, and many operators find themselves building partnerships with other community organizations to better serve patients and support their staff. Providers work with other institutions to provide general inpatient and respite care, address social determinants of health and improve health equity, among other initiatives. Some also partner with medical and nursing schools to ensure students in health care fields gain exposure to hospice and palliative care principles. Notable Mentions: Skelly Wingard, CEO of By the Bay Health; Mary Shankster, Chief Development Officer at Stillwater Hospice; Altonia Garrett, COO of Blue Ridge Hospice

Death can be a gentler exit for those enrolled in hospice care The Blade; by Kimberly Wynn; 7/28/24 A baby coming into the world needs a lot of care, and families prepare for that wailing, cooing bundle of life with cribs, and changing tables and advice from mothers-in-law. When baby formula was in short supply, family members branched out to scour retail shelves for the necessities. For those leaving this world, care is also needed, according to Victoria Palenske, branch director for Elara Caring, which offers home health and hospice services in the Toledo area. Such souls may need oxygen, pain medications, and spiritual counseling, as well as a hand to hold. “People deserve a lot of care at the beginning of life, but they also deserve care at the end of their life,” said Ms. Palenske, who began her career as a registered nurse whose focus turned to hospice services. “It is a calling.”Editor's Note: Thank you Elara Caring for this mission-oriented description of hospice care that gently addresses "dying," in contrast to some hospice materials that deny or completely divert purposes related to terminal illness, dying, death, or bereavement.  

Hospices strategize sustainable growth for Veteran Programs Hospice News; by Holly Vossel; 7/26/24 Hospices combat both operational and financial challenges as they seek to grow and evolve their veteran programs around the diverse and complex needs of patients and their families. Some of the largest expenses associated with offering veteran services include staffing and training costs ... In addition to staff training, this includes having ways to honor veterans for their service, assess the social determinant of health resources they may need and identify gaps of caregiver support. ...Editor's Note: Notable mentions include Carlos Graveran, executive director at Maryland-based Frederick Health Hospice; Sherri Bickley, vice president of patient support services at Oklahoma-based Crossroads Hospice & Palliative Care; and Carla Creegan, PACE director of clinical services and director of adult day swervices at Empath Health.

5 evolving trends on end-of-life matters The Leavenworth Echo, Wenatchee, WA; 7/21/24 One of the most difficult conversations many people have in their lives involves the end of life. While often uncomfortable to think about or discuss with others, talking about and sharing end-of-life wishes should be a common occurrence. In fact, 91% of Americans believe talking about death and dying is healthy and normal, but 1 in 4 (27%) are uncomfortable actually doing it, according to a first-of-its-kind survey commissioned by the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA), the world’s leading and largest funeral service association. With nearly one-third (31%) of survey respondents admitting they’re uncomfortable thinking about their own mortality, Remembering A Life, the organization’s online resource for accessing grief resources and funeral planning information, is offering a free downloadable guide, Start the Conversation, to help family and friends have meaningful conversations about loved ones and how they’d like to be remembered.

Making DEI matter in post-acute care HomeCare; by Jerry Farmer; 7/18/24 In today’s dynamic health care landscape, the importance of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) cannot be overstated. DEI represents policies and procedures that promote the representation and participation of diverse groups of individuals who encompass all ages, races, ethnicities, abilities, disabilities, genders, religions, cultures and sexual orientations. ... Here are some of the key factors our company focused to reach diversity, equity and inclusion milestones: 

Tips to secure hospice volunteers through engagement, education Home Health Line; by Mary Kent Wolff; 7/18/24 Many hospice providers are struggling to find volunteers and maintain Medicare compliance after the pandemic. Providers that strengthen training programs and consider participant and patient needs and interests could see an increase in long-term volunteers. [Additional subscription may be required.]

End-of-life care is a profound and essential aspect of medical practice Market.US Media, New York; by Samruddhi Yardi; 7/19/24 According to End-of-Life Care Statistics, End-of-life care, also known as palliative care, refers to the comprehensive medical, emotional, and psychological support provided to individuals who are nearing the end of their lives, often due to terminal illnesses or conditions. [This article includes data on the following:]

It starts with a story: A four-step narrative-based framework for serious illness conversations Journal of Palliative Medicine; by Natalie Lanocha, Sara Taub, Jason N Webb, Mary Wood, Tyler Tate; 7/5/24 online ahead of print An original and innovative identity-centered conceptual framework for serious illness conversations was developed. The framework consists of a four-step, reproducible approach: (1) attend to patient narrative identity, (2) identify values, (3) cocreate goals, and (4) actively promote choices. In short: attend, identify, create, and promote (AICP). ... By using this conceptual framework and four-step approach, clinicians can accomplish goal-concordant serious illness care and build rich clinical relationships that foster trust and goodwill. 

A personal approach: Patient Care Coordination Inc. celebrates a decade of inclusive healthcare Classic 96.7 FM BWZ, Philadelphia, PA; 7/17/24Philadelphia-based Patient Care Coordination Inc. (PCC), led by Founder and Executive Director Paul S. Rimar, proudly commemorates its 10th anniversary. With a steadfast commitment to inclusivity, particularly within the LGBTQ community, PCC has grown to serve over 6,500 participants across 21 counties in Pennsylvania, delivering high-quality, value-based healthcare services. ... A cornerstone of PCC’s mission is its dedication to the LGBTQ community. Rimar’s personal experiences with LGBTQ-specific challenges have profoundly influenced PCC’s inclusive policies and practices. ... [Rimar's] comprehensive background, including roles in long-term care, hospice, managed care, and transplantation, has been instrumental in PCC’s evolution and success.

AccentCare unveils new hospice care center in Miami-Dade County accentCare, Miami, FL; 7/10/24 AccentCare, a nationwide leader in home health, hospice and personal care services, ... announced the opening of a new inpatient hospice center in Miami. Expanding its footprint in South Florida, AccentCare’s new facility aims to address the region’s diverse population and growing need for greater access to personal and high-quality hospice care. “We are thrilled to expand our presence in the Miami area, offering compassionate and personalized hospice care for more patients and their families in Florida’s diverse communities,” said Andy Johnston, President of Hospice & Personal Care Services, AccentCare. ... AccentCare’s new 30,000-square-foot hospice center offers a range of services, including nursing care, pastoral care, medical social work, respite services, 24-hour critical home care and bereavement support for families. 

Married 'soulmates' spent final days side by side BBC News, United Kingdom; by Isaac Ashe; 7/13/24 Two married "soulmates" who died from terminal cancer within days of each other were able to spend their last moments together side by side. Chris and Lynne Johnson, from Bolsover in Derbyshire, had been married for 52 years before both were diagnosed with cancer and eventually moved to Ashgate Hospice in February. The hospice arranged for the pair's beds to be placed in the same room, allowing them to hold hands in Mrs Johnson's final moments. Eight days later, Mr Johnson then died with his brother Alwyn and the couple's pet dog Tess by his side. ... Their daughter, Julie Whittaker, has decided to now share the story and is now calling on the government to review funding so more people can access end-of-life services. "Not only do all people deserve the end-of-life care that my parents received, but when patients are in a hospice instead of a hospital, it takes the strain off the NHS [National Health Services, UK]."

Report shows substantial financial opportunity in prioritizing research, education on women’s heart health Pharmacy Times; by Alexandra Gerlach; 7/13/24 A report published by authors from the American Heart Association (AHA) and the McKinsey Health Institute showed that addressing the gender gaps prevalent in the treatment of cardiovascular disease (CVD) could boost the US economy by $28 billion annually by 2040 and potentially address the 1.6 million years of life lost due to barriers to care experienced by women. The paper identifies multiple pathways to addressing the lack of representation and access to care for women with CVD... CVD is the leading cause of death in women in the United States, affecting nearly 60 million individuals, and it makes up over a third of the health gap between men and women. 

Cherokee nation: Closing gap in health care disparities Native News Online; by Churck Hoskin, Jr.; 7/14/24 ... American Indians in Oklahoma die on average 17 years earlier than their non-Indigenous neighbors. While this finding is alarming, it comes as no surprise to the Cherokee Nation or to the nearly 40 other tribal nations in Oklahoma. ... Even as we continue our advocacy efforts, we cannot afford to wait for the federal government to fulfill its responsibilities. That's why the Cherokee Nation, which operates the largest Native American health care system in the country, is taking unprecedented steps to address this crisis head-on. ... [We] are confident our historic investments in health care and wellness are improving health outcomes for our Cherokee citizens. Construction continues on the Cherokee Nation’s new $400 million, 400,000-square-foot state-of-the-art hospital being built in the capital city of Tahlequah. The new hospital will include an ER, surgery, ICU, imaging, pharmacy and lab, neo-natal ICU, hospice, dietary and acute care, and many other services.