Literature Review

Terminally ill pediatric patients and the grieving therapist Psychotherapy.net, by Sara Loftin, LPC-S, RPT-S; 4/18/24 A pediatric clinician shares the rewards and challenges of working with terminally ill children and their families. When asked about the favorite aspect of my (dream) job, I could talk for hours. I feel passionate about working in a pediatric hospital setting with chronically ill children and their families. Each day brings new challenges. ... Experiencing the death of a child is the most painful part of my job, and it will never make sense to me although logically, I know this happens. On the other hand, I feel honored to be a small part of the most vulnerable time in a family’s life, and to walk alongside them in their journey of grief and loss. ... It has been impossible for me to not be deeply impacted working in this arena. [This article includes:]

Help Serenity Hospice workers win their unionSEIU503; 4/18/24Workers at Serenity Hospice have been organizing for pay equity, adequate raises, affordable health care, regular hours, PTO, and the ability to manage trauma and compassion fatigue. The workers unanimously decided to form a union, and asked management to voluntarily recognize them. Serenity’s parent company (Addus Healthcare) already has SEIU-represented employees at its home health agency in Eugene. Instead, Addus hired one of the most expensive union-busing law firms in the country, and has been paying them hundreds of dollars per hour to spread anti-union propaganda. Workers are sticking together and staying strong, and plan to vote YES in their union election next week. Editor's Note: Hospice & Palliative Care Today's posting of this article denotes neither support nor opposition to this action. Rather, we are reporting it for hospice and palliative care leadership awareness. Unions and strikes among healthcare professionals--for these same cited reasons--continue to be a growing trend, nationwide.

Health Talk: Getting into a health care career The Barre Montpelier Times Argus Online, by Peg Bolgioni; 4/13/24According to the American Hospital Association, there will be a shortage of up to 3.2 million health care workers by 2026. America will face a shortage of up to 124,000 physicians by 2033 and will need to hire at least 200,000 nurses per year to meet increased demand, and to replace retiring nurses. ... The mission of Southern Vermont Area Health Education Center is to enhance community efforts to grow and sustain the health workforce in southern Vermont. One of the ways we do this is by delivering pathway programs that connect students to health careers. [Click the title's link to read about this event.]Editor's Note: How might your organization create similar career engagement and education in your community? 

Tracking layoffs, closures in healthcare nationwideModern Healthcare; 4/12/24Modern Healthcare is tracking closures and layoffs from health systems, digital health companies, insurers and other related businesses nationwide to better understand how labor costs and concerns are impacting the industry in rural communities and cities alike. 

2 federal bills look to boost pipeline of healthcare workers McKnights Senior Living, by Kathleen Steele Gaivin; 4/12/24 Bills introduced in both houses of Congress may bolster the healthcare workforce if they become law. Both pieces of legislation are supported by LeadingAge. The bicameral Welcome Back to the Health Care Workforce Act is meant to address the shortage of healthcare workers across the country. Specifically, the legislation would help internationally educated healthcare workers overcome barriers to working in the United States ...

New York’s home health, personal care workforce achieves fastest growth in nation: BLS McKnights Home Care, by Adam Healy; 4/10/24 New York is adding home health and personal care jobs faster than any other state, growing its supply of such workers by 12% between May 2022 and May 2023, according to new data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The state added roughly 62,000 home health and personal care aides during that time period, which was more than double that of any other state and accounted for over one third of nationwide home care aide employment growth, according to an analysis by the Empire Center, an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit think tank based in New York. 

PeaceHealth nurses announce plan to picket outside hospital April 18 The Columbian, by Chrissy Booker; 4/10/24 Nurses at PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center in Vancouver will picket outside the hospital April 18. ... The bargaining unit, which includes 1,465 nurses, is negotiating with the hospital for a new three-year contract. According to a news release from the union, “management has not agreed to the association’s proposed workplace protections, staffing commitments or market-rate wages.” PeaceHealth countered that its proposals have been “highly competitive.”

Negotiations end between Local 17 Nurses and Providence St. Patrick Hospital The Fairfield Sun Times - Missoula, MT, by Ian Alvano; 4/9/24 After a standstill of contract negotiations, a new contract has been ratified between the Local 17 Nurse Union and Providence St. Patrick Hospital. The nurses were looking for safe staffing ratios and competitive pay, in a new contract.  Some of the demands were met and some weren't, said Local 17 co-president, Kate Marmorato, regarding the new ratified contract between the nurses and the hospital. 

Fraudsters sentenced in scheme that distributed 7,600 phony nursing diplomas McKnights Home Care, by Adam Healy; 4/8/24Three individuals were sentenced for their role in distributing fraudulent diplomas and transcripts to thousands of nursing students in Florida, New York and New Jersey, the US Attorney’s Office disclosed last week. The registrar of Palm Beach School of Nursing in Lake Worth, FL, was sentenced to 78 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release, and was ordered to forfeit $861,672. The owner and operator of Success Nursing Review in Brooklyn, NY, was sentenced to 36 months in federal prison, three years of supervised release, fined $20,000 and ordered to forfeit $4,698,828.

Why difficult conversations matter: How delivering bad news with clarity and empathy impacts both provider and patient Cedars Sinai, by Cassie Tomlin; 4/8/24Good physicians rely on a battery of hard-won skills to treat serious illness—they observe, predict, test, prescribe and diagnose. But many physicians haven’t been taught how to have productive, mutually beneficial conversations—such as sharing a life-changing diagnosis or informing patients about disease trajectory and symptoms, prognosis and end-of-life care. High-impact communication tools can be learned at any point in a physician’s career, says Jessica Besbris, MD, director of Neuropalliative Care and the Neurology Supportive Care Medicine Program at Cedars-Sinai. Here, Besbris shares why such careful conversations matter for everyone involved, and ways physicians can improve how they discuss serious illness.

Mixed reactions as St. Patrick Hospital nurses approve new contract KPAX-8 Missoula & Western Montana, by Claire Peterson; 4/8/24 The nurse's union at St. Patrick Hospital approved a three-year contract by a narrow vote. ... On Friday, April 5, the nurse’s union at Providence St. Patrick Hospital approved a three-year contract by a narrow vote, bringing months of negotiation to an end. ... The new contract was approved by 56% of the nurses who voted, according to Marmorato. St. Patrick Hospital nurses were fighting for higher wages, plans to prevent workplace violence and more effort to retain staff. 

Frontline burnout in healthcare: A growing crisis demands action MedCity News, by Russ Richmond; 4/4/24Implementing diverse and sustained strategies to empower frontline workers should be the cornerstone of any modern healthcare workforce management program. The healthcare industry faces a critical challenge: rampant burnout among its workforce. Recent data paints a concerning picture: 46% of healthcare workers report feeling burned out (CDC), and 41% of nurses in direct patient care roles are considering leaving their roles (McKinsey). These numbers – significantly higher than pre-pandemic levels – point towards systemic issues demanding immediate attention.

Medicine—Both a Science (Care) and an Art (CARE) JAMA Network - Viewpoint; by Theodore J. Strange, MD and Mario R. Castellanos, MD; 4/3/24In the current era, health care is increasingly characterized by the integration of big data, predictive analytics, medical devices, and artificial intelligence. These technological advancements have undoubtedly transformed the landscape of medical care, offering unprecedented precision and efficiency in diagnosis and treatment. Yet, amidst this surge of scientific innovation, the timeless art of medicine (compassion and caring) remains a foundational aspect of patient-centered health care ... The acronym CARE (compassion, assistance, respect, and empathy) encapsulates these enduring values. ... In a world increasingly driven by data and algorithms, these qualities foster a trusting and supportive relationship between health care professionals and patients, thereby enhancing the healing process and enriching the overall health care experience.