Literature Review
All posts tagged with “Clinical News | Quality.”
What I learned about dying while caring for my husband
09/12/25 at 03:00 AMWhat I learned about dying while caring for my husbandBK Books; by Barbara Karnes; 9/3/25It is hard to comprehend that our special person will die no matter what we do. No matter how many treatments, how much medicine, or how much food we give, death will come. We often don’t see what we don’t want to see. When it comes to acknowledging the end of life’s approach, this sentence is very true. My husband recently died of cancer. I am an end of life educator. I know what dying looks like, how it progresses, and what to do to support the person on their journey. Here are some insights that have been added to my knowledge as the result of walking in caregiver shoes...Publisher's note: Having a family member die earlier this year, and building on Barbara's theme, I ask hospice providers "does the hospice care your loved one received match the quality of hospice care you deliver?"
Hospice Insights Podcast - Where’s the line: When does poor quality create false claims liability
09/05/25 at 03:00 AMHospice Insights Podcast - Where’s the line: When does poor quality create false claims liability JDSupra; by Meg Pekarske and Jonathan Porter; 8/27/25 Substandard quality care is the subject of survey citations and lawsuits, but it has also been used by the Justice Department to support false claim liability. While historically these cases were rare, a recent multi-million dollar settlement puts “worthless services” on the radar. Join Husch Blackwell’s Meg Pekarske and Jonathan Porter as they explore what the “worthless services” theory of liability is, when it has been used, and whether the recent settlement could signal a resurgence of these types of cases.
Palliative care researchers use qualitative data to understand the full picture of patients' lives
09/04/25 at 03:00 AMPalliative care researchers use qualitative data to understand the full picture of patients' lives St. Jude Research; by Heather Johnson; 8/26/25 The central goal of palliative care is to provide comfort, relieve suffering and improve the quality of life for those dealing with serious illnesses. That care is interdisciplinary. It must be. Quality of life relates to physical, social, emotional, spiritual and psychological needs. Addressing those needs requires teamwork from physicians and clinicians in a range of disciplines. ... Palliative care studies often use mixed methods approaches to capture the full picture of what can be subjective outcomes. For example, scales and surveys may provide a foundation for assessing symptom relief, while qualitative research, such as patient interviews and focus groups, helps researchers understand the meaning behind the numbers. Editor's Note: Yes. Measures for hospice and palliative success and growth are more than dollar amounts and the number of locations. Pairing qualitative research with quantitative data, researchers and leaders must seek to "understand the meaning behind the numbers." Ongoing, be sure to explore our newsletter's Saturday issues for relevant, timely evidence-based research articles--quantitive and qualitive data--to improve the care of persons who needing hospice and palliative care.
Standardized assessment of patient experience in pediatric palliative care: A national collaboration
08/16/25 at 03:45 AMStandardized assessment of patient experience in pediatric palliative care: A national collaborationJournal of Pain & Symptom Management; by Ashley K Autrey, Stacey Rifkin-Zenenberg, Tracy Hills, Jennifer Salant, Rachna May, Elliot Rabinowitz, Chelsea Heneghan, Laura Drach, Emma Jones, Rachel Thienprayoon; 7/25Use of patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) are crucial to providing patient-centered care. In 2022, the Pediatric Palliative Improvement Network developed a project to standardize the assessment of patient experiences with PPC [pediatric palliative care] services. Results: Patients/ families felt heard and understood and would recommend PPC. Standardized assessments of patient experience with PPC are feasible and informative. PROMs can ensure that PPC services meet patient needs, identify opportunities for improvement, and demonstrate value.
Social relationships and end-of-life quality among older adults in the United States: The impacts of marital, kinship, and network ties
08/16/25 at 03:20 AMSocial relationships and end-of-life quality among older adults in the United States: The impacts of marital, kinship, and network ties The Journals of Gerontology; by Kafayat Mahmoud, Deborah Carr; 7/25We examine marital status differences in recent decedents’ end-of-life care and gender differences therein, and the role of other social ties (children, siblings, network members) in influencing the quality of end-of-life care. Divorced decedents fared poorly on multiple outcomes, being less likely than married or widowed persons to receive excellent care and to have personal care needs met. Divorced and widowed decedents were less likely to receive respectful treatment relative to married decedents. We found no significant gender differences in these patterns. Persons with more siblings and network members had superior pain management. Hospital patient advocates could also aid those who lack close kin at the end of life.
Implementation of the Pressure Injury Prevention Care Bundle at a home based hospice program: A quality improvement project
08/13/25 at 03:00 AMImplementation of the Pressure Injury Prevention Care Bundle at a home based hospice program: A quality improvement project The Texas Medical Center (TMC) Library Health Sciences Resource Center; by Adaeze U. Amechi-fannin; 8/11/25 Pressure injuries remain a common and serious problem in hospice care, especially among patients who are immobile or confined to bed. Although effective prevention methods are known, inconsistent use of these methods, limited caregiver training, and poor documentation have continued to prevent success in many hospice settings. These wounds cause pain, increase infection risk, and reduce quality of life, making prevention especially important in end-of-life care. ... This project demonstrates that combining structured training, evidence-based care steps, and attention to individual patient needs can successfully reduce pressure injuries in home hospice environments.
Sovereign Hospice highlights nutrition's role in hospice home care services
08/11/25 at 03:00 AMSovereign Hospice highlights nutrition's role in hospice home care services News Channel Nebraska (NCN), reprinted from Aubrey, TX; Press Release; 8/8/25 Eating becomes more than a necessity during serious illness—it becomes a part of daily care that supports comfort, strength, and emotional connection. At Sovereign Hospice in Aubrey, Texas, nutrition is integrated into the services hospice offers, especially for patients receiving hospice at home services. The goal is to use food as a gentle tool to improve quality of life. Serious illnesses can change how patients eat. Appetite loss, difficulty swallowing, and taste changes are common, but they can be managed through small adjustments.
2025 CAHPS Honors Elite and Honors award winners
08/06/25 at 02:00 AMHospice Honors 2025 - 2025 CAHPS Honors and Honors Elite Award winnersMatrixCare by ResMed; retrieved from the internet 7/29/25 214 CAHPS Honors and 53 Elite Award Winners are listed. These national recognitions are presented by HealthCare First, a part of MatrixCare. These awards are based on satisfaction scores from the Hospice Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) survey. "Honors Elite" status is awarded to those hospices that score above the national performance score on 100%, or all twenty four, of the evaluated questions. Editor's Note: We celebrate these significant achievements and thank you for the quality, expert care you provide each day!
The heart of transformation: People, purpose and progress at City of Hope
08/05/25 at 03:00 AMThe heart of transformation: People, purpose and progress at City of Hope Modern Healthcare; by City of Hope; 7/14/25 As chief transformation officer at City of Hope, one of the largest and most advanced cancer research and treatment organizations in the U.S., Debra Fields has spent nearly a decade guiding the organization’s evolution. In this conversation, Fields shares her perspective on what it takes to lead meaningful transformation in healthcare including the power of vision, the importance of culture and the responsibility leaders have to care for both their people and themselves.
Simulating the overall hospital quality Star ratings with random measure weights
07/26/25 at 03:25 AMSimulating the overall hospital quality Star ratings with random measure weightsJAMA Network Open; Benjamin D. Pollock, PhD, MSPH; Daniel S. Ubl, MPH; Subashnie Devkaran, PhD; Sean C. Dowdy, MD; 7/25We found that only 244 US hospitals achieved reliable excellence in hospital quality in 2024 when defined as 90th percentile performance or better in at least 50.0% of 100,000 simulations using random weights for each measure in the CMS Overall Star Ratings. Our analysis highlights that there is meaningful variation in hospital quality performance across the spectrum of quality measures, even among 5-star hospitals. Future efforts to assess this variation may allow for better identification of reliably excellent hospitals, which could in turn lead to solicitation of evidence regarding the processes or cultures that separate reliable excellence from inconsistent greatness in hospital quality.
How Compliance Management Systems help ensure business efficiency
07/24/25 at 03:00 AMHow Compliance Management Systems help ensure business efficiency Enterprise Talk; by Apoorva Kasam; 7/22/25 With changing rules and regulations, businesses can’t afford to leave compliance to chance. A robust compliance management system (CMS) helps meet regulatory, legal, and internal policy requirements.
Quality indicators and patient outcome measures for palliative care in cancer patients: A systematic review
07/19/25 at 03:15 AMQuality indicators and patient outcome measures for palliative care in cancer patients: A systematic reviewEcancermedicalscience; Chase Peng Yun Ng, Moira Hegyi, Grant Lewison, Tania Pastrana, Eve Namisango, James Cleary, Barbara Hasties, Eric Kabisa, Helena Musau, Kathryn Spangenberg, Paola Ruiz, Zipporah Ali, Mertixell Mallafre-Larrosa, Alfredo Polo, Julie Torode, Ajay Aggarwal, Richard Sullivan, Mevhibe Hocaoglu; 6/25With the exponential rise in global cancer incidence, the surge in demand for palliative care has outstripped capacity, limiting patients' access to quality and holistic palliative care, especially in low- and middle-income countries. There is an overall lack of standardisation of QIs [quality indicators] and POMs [patient outcome measure], as well as variability in evidence of palliative care research. We recommend that stakeholders collaborate to develop a standardised repository of metrics for monitoring and evaluating palliative care services at both individual and system levels, with a particular focus on structural and process indicators. Incorporating validated, patient-centred measures and selecting key items as quality indicators will enable meaningful tracking of changes, guiding resource allocation and driving improvements in patient-centred care.
Family first: Embracing milestone achievements in pediatric care
07/17/25 at 03:00 AMFamily first: Embracing milestone achievements in pediatric care Carolina Caring, Newton, NC; Press Release; 7/15/25 ... Cardinal Kids [recently] became the first hospice organization in North Carolina to receive CHAP’s Pediatric Care at Home Certification. This milestone affirms what our patients and families already know: our program delivers care that is not only clinically focused, but also family-oriented, deeply personal, and rooted in hope. For the Cardinal Kids team, seeking the CHAP Pediatric Care at Home Certification wasn’t about achieving something new—it was about sharing the best practices we deliver to every patient, every day. As Cardinal Kids Director Emily Scholler explained, “The benchmarks CHAP presented were already in place at our program. Why not show CHAP how great this pediatric program is?” As part of the CHAP preparation process, our team assessed, developed, and showcased a model of care that’s always been central to who we are. We presented this model to CHAP surveyors as “A Focus on L.I.F.E.”
Grieving the living: How Hospice of St. Lawrence Valley helps caregivers cope
07/14/25 at 02:00 AMGrieving the living: How Hospice of St. Lawrence Valley helps caregivers cope North Country Now, St. Lawrence County, NY; by Kate Favaro, Hospice of St. Lawrence Valley; 7/10/25 With caregiving comes grief, there’s no way around it. You will grieve two important things that you’ve lost: who the person you’re caring for used to be, and the things that will never be. Take the time to explore the grief you’re experiencing so you can provide the best care possible. If you’re not taking care of yourself, you won’t be able to take care of anyone else. Hospice of St. Lawrence Valley offers the following on the grief of caregiving:
HOPE Tool Anxiety, Part II: From planning to practice
07/02/25 at 03:00 AMHOPE Tool Anxiety, Part II: From planning to practice Teleios Collaborative Network (TCN); podcast by Melissa Calkins; 6/30/25The countdown has begun. With October 1 on the horizon, hospice teams across the country are deep into training and testing—but preparation alone won’t guarantee success. The shift to HOPE isn’t just operational; it’s cultural. And real readiness goes far beyond timelines and task completion. It demands that every clinician, across every shift and care setting, understands what’s changing and feels confident in how to respond. This is the critical moment when planning must translate into practice—because once HOPE is live, the margin for error disappears.
How AI tools help home health providers dramatically lessen OASIS time burden
06/20/25 at 03:00 AMHow AI tools help home health providers dramatically lessen OASIS time burdenHome Health Care News; by Joyce Famakinwa; 6/18/25 As home health leaders continue to identify areas where artificial intelligence (AI) can be most beneficial to their businesses, some are beginning to utilize these tools to reduce the time burden of the Outcome and Assessment Information Set (OASIS). Payment and outcomes are directly impacted by OASIS data collection, making accurate OASIS data collection crucial for home health providers. Yet for many clinicians, OASIS data collection can be a major pain point due to its complexity and time demands. Providers who have turned to AI-powered tools report “dramatic” efficiency gains. Still, experts note that some “fine tuning” remains to be done before the technology reaches its full potential.
Recommendations for palliative care program standards
06/19/25 at 03:00 AMRecommendations for palliative care program standards Center to Advance Palliative Care (CAPC); last updated 5/29/25CAPC has synthesized the NCP Guidelines into an operational summary for payers and policymakers to use in credentialing palliative care providers or informing minimum program requirements. These recommendations call for: an interdisciplinary team with 3 or more essential clinical disciplines: physician, advance practice provider, nurse, social worker, spiritual care professional and a child life specialist for programs serving children. One or more prescribers must have specialty certification in palliative care with others documenting some specialty training. PC services must include Comprehensive patient assessments, Pain and symptom management, Documented conversations about condition, treatment options, and goals of care, Psychological, social and spiritual support, Patient and family/caregiver education, and Coordination with behavior health and community health resources, and Development of a crisis intervention plan. The recommendations also specify 24/7 access to a prescribing clinician, clear discharge criteria, and routine evaluations of program quality.Guest Editor's Note, Ira Byock: These new recommendations from CAPC are timely and important. Building from the NCP Guidelines, CAPC is providing a framework for developing formal standards. That task is urgent given the pressures programs are under to reduce staffing, limit hours of service, and scope of services. I appreciate inclusion of crisis intervention planning, which should be a critical part of every palliative plan of care. The recommendations are strong, yet the statement’s wording is hesitant in tone. CAPC has the organizational stature to issue explicit minimum specifications for programs that purport to deliver palliative care. Health plans, payers, referring providers, and patients deserve assurance that such minimums are met or exceeded. CAPC has taken a significant step in the right direction.
[Commentary] It’s time to bring value-based care principles to hospice
05/21/25 at 03:00 AM[Commentary] It’s time to bring value-based care principles to hospice Medical Economics; by Asher Perzigian; 5/20/25 In the health care industry, the conversation around value-based care (VBC) has been abuzz for a while now. The idea is simple: pay for outcomes, not for services, and shift our mindset from volume to value as we reduce unnecessary care, improve outcomes and bend the cost curve. However, when we talk about VBC, we often overlook a critical part of the health care continuum: hospice care. And when it comes to end-of-life care, traditional measures like survival rates and reduced readmissions lose their relevance. Hospice embodies some of the deepest principles of VBC: aligning care with patient goals, avoiding unneeded interventions and supporting the person as a whole. Here’s what primary care physicians need to know about the integration of value-based principles in hospice care.
Hospice visits and perceived hospice quality among Assisted Living residents
05/21/25 at 03:00 AMHospice visits and perceived hospice quality among Assisted Living residents Journal of the American Geriatrics Society; by Wenhan Guo, Shubing Cai, Yue Li, Brian E. McGarry, Thomas V. Caprio, Helena Temkin-Greener; 5/19/25 Background: Hospice services are widely used by assisted living residents at the end of life, yet concerns exist about the adequacy and quality of hospice care in this setting. Conclusions: Higher frequency of hospice staff visits was associated with better perceived hospice quality. Policies supporting greater hospice staff engagement, including nonclinical staff, may enhance end-of-life care experiences for assisted living residents.
A proposal to remove hospice providers from a state review poses a threat to patient care
05/19/25 at 03:00 AMA proposal to remove hospice providers from a state review poses a threat to patient care The Boston Globe, Boston, MA; by Diana Franchitto; 5/16/25 The General Assembly should maintain rigorous standards and oppose rolling back Rhode Island’s Certificate of Need process, writes HopeHealth president and CEO. ... As the president and CEO of HopeHealth Hospice & Palliative Care, I am proud that Rhode Island offers some of the highest-quality hospice care in the nation. But right now, legislation before the General Assembly could put that quality at risk.A proposal in Governor Dan McKee‘s fiscal 2026 budget would eliminate the requirement that hospice providers be scrutinized by Rhode Island’s Certificate of Need (CON) process. Some may position this as an effort to streamline government, but those of us who work in hospice care know better. The CON process isn’t one of the flashier, public-facing functions of state government, but it has a direct impact on the quality of health and hospice care that Rhode Islanders receive throughout their lives. ... Exempting hospice from meeting the rigorous standards that a CON requires poses an immediate threat to the quality of patient care. ...
Quality measure considerations for pediatric palliative and end-of-life care
05/03/25 at 03:35 AMQuality measure considerations for pediatric palliative and end-of-life careAmerican Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine; Hannah Hommes, MSN, RN; Diane Forsyth, PhD, RN; April Rowe Neal, PhD, RN; 3/25 There is an emerging need to provide high-quality pediatric palliative care and end-of-life care to children, adolescents, and young adults with life-limiting illnesses. The aim of this literature review was to explore current quality measures utilized in pediatric palliative care and end-of-life care among pediatric patients with life-limiting illnesses within the conceptual framework of Comfort Theory. Emergent themes among quality measures were categorized into 7 domains: (a) Alleviation of distressing symptoms, (b) Structures and processes of care, (c) Health care utilization, (d) Location of death and bereavement care, (e) Patient and family experiences, (f) Psychological and spiritual care, and (g) Cultural, ethical, and legal considerations. These domains support the physical, psychospiritual, sociocultural, and environmental contexts of Comfort Theory. Quality measure research, development, and standardization should focus within the 7 domains identified for the promotion of comfort, equity, and accessible care.
How do we encourage and advance the quality of hospice care in America?
04/28/25 at 02:00 AMHow do we encourage and advance the quality of hospice care in America?AAHPM Quarterly; by Larry Beresford; Spring 2025While the majority of hospice agencies work hard to provide good care, stories about those that fail to live up to their ethical or legal obligations have appeared in prominent journalistic settings in recent years. But if we dig deeper into quality, we see lots of questions about what quality hospice care really means. What kinds of messages should hospices be delivering to their various publics about quality and about choosing the provider that will meet their particular needs?Notable mentions: Judi Lund Person, Holly Yang, Rebecca Yamarik, Alan Kaplan, Martina Meier, Martha Twaddle, Joseph Shega, John Mulder, Edward Martin, Jennifer Kennedy.
CMS releases HOPE Guidance Manual (V. 1.01) and Tables
04/25/25 at 03:00 AMCMS releases HOPE Guidance Manual (V. 1.01) and TablesCenters for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); by CMS; 4/22/25On April 22, 2025, CMS released the HOPE Guidance Manual (V. 1.01) and connected tables. Providers can use v1.01 for HOPE planning, as this is considered final before HOPE implementation. Also note that earlier this month, the final HOPE data specs have also been released, helping software developers to finalize their HOPE software for testing in the coming months.
Executive Personnel Changes - 4/18/25
04/18/25 at 03:00 AMExecutive Personnel Changes - 4/18/25
Research brief: Medicare Advantage Special Needs Plans linked to use of inferior hospice care
03/12/25 at 03:00 AMResearch brief: Medicare Advantage Special Needs Plans linked to use of inferior hospice carePenn LDI - Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics; 3/11/25 Beneficiaries of Medicare Advantage special needs plans are significantly more likely to use lower-quality hospices than beneficiaries of other Medicare plans. These disparities may result from the geographic availability of high-quality hospices or the referrals that beneficiaries receive from their plans’ contracted hospitals and nursing homes. The results support incentivizing referrals to high-quality hospices and improving consumer information about hospice quality.