Literature Review
All posts tagged with “Palliative Care Provider News | Operations News | Staffing.”
CT hospitals need nurse-to-patient ratios. Legislators should mandate them
12/12/23 at 03:18 AMCT hospitals need nurse-to-patient ratios. Legislators should mandate themBy Kristin Henry, RNCT MirrorDecember 9, 2023As a registered nurse in Connecticut—one who graduated in 2019 shortly before the COVID-19 pandemic made its boisterous presence—I have seen firsthand the detrimental effects that inadequate staffing and unsafe nurse-to-patient ratios can have on the health of your loved ones. ... Appropriate nursing staff not only would achieve clinical and economic improvements in patient care, it would decrease nurse fatigue and burnout. ... Unsafe nurse-to-patient ratios have been statistically shown to increase patient mortality. ... Gov. Ned Lamont signed a bill into law effective October 1 of this year. Under Public Act 23-204, CT hospitals must create a dedicated staffing committee to develop nurse staffing plans. Hospitals that fail to comply can face penalties. This bill is a small step in a very long staircase. Nowhere in this bill does it mention mandating specific staffing ratios. Until nurses and patients are protected from unsafe situations by the state, the battle is not over.
Why health systems are dropping their IT teams
12/09/23 at 03:02 AMWhy health systems are dropping their IT teamsModern HealthcareDecember 7, 2023The digital transformation is underway at health systems but it increasingly doesn’t involve in-house IT departments. Health systems are transitioning their analytics and tech employees to managed service companies as they look to scale virtual care, artificial intelligence and analytics initiatives. By moving the work out-of-house and the employees with it, a process called rebadging, health systems struggling with razor-thin margins say they can deploy IT projects more efficiently while saving on costs. ... In November, consulting firm Guidehouse surveyed health system CEOs and chief financial officers about their top three IT investment priorities in 2024. A third of respondents said they have expanded relationships with IT outsourcing partners ... But there are downsides to the strategy. The transition of employees can be bumpy. Also, by offloading IT employees, the quality of work can be worse when the outside company doesn’t understand the system as well.
Nursing home palliative, hospice care provide CNAs new opportunities
12/08/23 at 08:20 AMNursing home palliative, hospice care provide CNAs new opportunitiesMcKnight’s Long Term Care NewsDecember 7, 2023A lack of end-of-life training may leave certified nurse assistants unprepared to work with patients receiving palliative or hospice care, but nursing homes must do more to cross-train and build their confidence. That was the message this week from Karl Steinberg, MD, CEO of Stone Mountain Medical Associates, and certified nurse aide Telisa Green, who addressed barriers to quality, end-of-life care during a webinar hosted by the National Association of Health Care Assistants. The speakers recognized that education in this care area can be hard to come by for CNAs, who are broadly trained in vitals and other care-taking tasks. “Almost all of the palliative care skills that CNAs learn are on-the-job training,” Steinberg acknowledged. “I absolutely will advocate for increasing the availability of palliative care training for nursing assistants.” ... Both presenters emphasized the importance of prioritizing a patient and their family’s comfort over too much devotion to a formalized care plan, as well as being an advocate for the patient’s well-being—especially in end-of-life and hospice settings.
Nurses seeking work in U.S. on the rise despite visa pause
12/08/23 at 04:00 AMNurses seeking work in U.S. on the rise despite visa pauseModern HealthcareDecember 6, 2023A record number of occupational visa certificates were issued this year to nurses and other healthcare workers by the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools. The nonprofit, which helps foreign-educated nurses work in other countries by verifying their credentials for federal and state agencies, said it issued almost 27,000 visa certificates this year—85% of which were for registered nurses—twice as many as in 2022. The number of certificates has quadrupled since 2017. The commission’s report also found that 78% of those who applied for a visa certificate intended to apply for a permanent green card, an increase from 64% in 2022.
Insights on Exposing, Resolving Chronic Underfunding of Nursing Homes
12/07/23 at 03:59 AMInsights on Exposing, Resolving Chronic Underfunding of Nursing HomesSkilled Nursing NewsDecember 5, 2023As nursing homes grapple with a tough economic and labor environment—which has forced closures and created access issues—patient and nursing home advocates underscored the emotional toll of care, calling upon the federal and state governments to do more to address new and emerging generational challenges to care.
Labor challenges slowing nonprofit hospital recovery—Fitch
12/07/23 at 03:24 AMLabor challenges slowing nonprofit hospital recovery—FitchModern HealthcareDecember 5, 2023Nonprofit hospitals and health systems are recovering financially but more slowly than expected, according to a report Fitch Ratings published Tuesday. Much of the sector has broken even in operations on a month-to-month basis in 2023, but it happened later in the year and to a lesser extent than analysts anticipated, the credit ratings agency reported. Labor costs, although softening, remain the top pressure point. Fitch is keeping the nonprofit hospital sector in the “deteriorating” category. Downgrades have outpaced upgrades by about 3-to-1 so far in 2023. Negative rating outlooks grew from 8.9% in 2022 to 10.7% this year. ... In 2024, operational success will largely hinge on how well hospitals recruit and retain employees, Fitch concluded.
After strike, Everett nurses, Providence agree on tentative contract
12/07/23 at 03:20 AMAfter strike, Everett nurses, Providence agree on tentative contractEverett (WA) HeraldDecember 5, 2023Everett, WA—Providence Regional Medical Center Everett reached a tentative contract agreement with more than 1,300 union nurses, the hospital announced Monday. The agreement—reached Friday night—comes after nearly nine months of talks and a five-day strike in November. Nurses walked out Nov. 14 to protest understaffing, the main sticking point between both sides. ... If the new agreement stands, nurses will have a contract that includes most of the terms they have asked for. The nurses’ union, United Food and Commercial Workers 3000, declared victory in a message to nurses Saturday.