Literature Review

New hospice care centre breaks ground Bernews, Bermuda; 7/22/24 The future of hospice care in Bermuda has taken a leap forward with the groundbreaking on the site of the new Woodland Grove Care Centre on Spice Hill Road, Warwick. A spokesperson said, “Community partners and board members of Friends of Hospice were present to mark the symbolic first shovel-strike of the multi-year construction of Bermuda’s first purpose-built hospice and eldercare care facility. The Care Centre will significantly increase and improve on the care options available on island. ... The building will have an aesthetic character heavily inspired by traditional Bermudian residential character, massing, and vernacular. The provision of functional gardens and landscaped outdoor areas, around the building, contribute to the home environment and will offer tranquil and calming spaces.

Salvation Army in Lufkin, Harbor Hospice, and other businesses hold ‘Beat the Heat’ fan drive ABC KTRE TV9, Lufkin, TX; by Vanessa Johnson; 7/21/24 “We have a fan drive going on right now from July 1st to July the 31st,” Amy Allen, the director of nursing with Harbor Hospice in Lufkin, said. The fan drive is for those in both Angelina and Nacogdoches counties that need one but do not have the means to get one. ... “They have no resources, they have no money, they have no way to get this. During the hurricane I know we all suffered from the heat, and we felt what they feel like daily,” Jenny Wright, the volunteer coordinator at Harbor Hospice, said. 

Is your organization truly clinically integrated? TCNtalks podcast; host Chris Comeaux; 7/17/24 In this conversation, Chris Comeaux and Dr. Will Faber discuss the importance of clinically integrated networks (CINs) in the Hospice and Palliative Care industry.  They explore the challenges and benefits of creating a CIN, including reducing costs, improving quality of care, and competing with larger organizations. Dr. Faber explains that CINs are legal entities that allow independent providers to come together for group effectiveness, enabling them to negotiate with payers and improve quality while reducing healthcare costs.  They also touch on the concept of the triple aim and the evolving concept of the quintuple aim in healthcare. CINs are attractive to hospice and palliative care organizations because they provide a way to stay independent while being part of something larger. 

Streamlining financial processes in end-of-life care: The crucial role of revenue cycle management for hospices United Business Journal - UBJ; by Rahul Kumar; 7/16/24In the increasingly complex healthcare landscape, hospices face unique challenges in managing their financial processes. One crucial aspect that significantly impacts their efficiency and sustainability is Revenue Cycle Management (RCM) for hospices. This blog post aims to shed light on the essential role of RCM for hospices in streamlining financial operations, ensuring they can continue to provide compassionate and high-quality end-of-life care.

[Global Partners in Care] 25 Years of Compassion and Impact eHospice; 7/9/24 In 2024, Global Partners in Care (GPIC) celebrates its 25th anniversary. Over the past 25 years, GPIC has been dedicated to enhancing access to compassionate care for individuals and families across the globe who face serious illness, death and grief. This silver anniversary is a significant milestone in the history of the organization. Not only does it provide an occasion to reflect on the impact the organization has made, but it also provides an opportunity to consider numerous future possibilities. 

Provider of in-home imaging services and 24/7 radiologist access raises $200M Radiology Business; by Marty Stempniak; 7/9/24 HarmonyCares, a provider of in-home X-ray services that spans 15 states, has raised $200 million in new capital, leaders announced Monday. Based in Nashville, Tennessee, the company is focused on physician-led care for vulnerable patients who cannot travel to a traditional healthcare facility. HarmonyCare Diagnostics brings the latest digital X-ray technology to patients’ homes or long-term care facilities, offering rapid results with board certified radiologists “available 24/7.”

Judge Realty partners with Hospice Savannah to offer home modification to support aging in placeSavannah Business Journal Staff Report; 7/8/24Judge Realty recently announced a partnership with Hospice Savannah to encourage and support aging in place. Judge Property Management, a division of Judge Realty, is working in conjunction with Hospice Savannah’s CAPABLE+ program to help older adults live independently with strategic support in the privacy of their home environment. ... Hospice Savannah’s CAPABLE program provides a support team, including a Registered Nurse, an Occupational Therapist and a Handyworker who offer home visits and provide limited care for older adults, which can decrease hospitalization and reduce healthcare costs. The standard CAPABLE program is available as a free service for low-income adults age 62 or older in Chatham, Bryan Effingham or Liberty County who are cognitively intact, but experiencing some difficulty bathing, dressing, grooming, eating or walking.

20 solutions for navigating nonprofit board member conflicts Forbes; by Forbes Nonprofit Council; 7/5/24 A nonprofit's board members guide the organization in the right direction. But with any diverse group of people working together, disagreements and conflicts are inevitable. When these conflicts arise, it's important to have strategies in place to maintain effective board management. To help, 20 Forbes Nonprofit Council members explain how boards can navigate conflict and turn disagreements into opportunities. With these tips, your nonprofit board will be on its way to growth and stronger governance.

Being present is one way to help dying friendAsk the Doctors; by Elizabeth Ko, MD and Eve Glazier, MD; 7/5/24Dear Doctors: My friend was diagnosed with multiple myeloma 10 years ago. His chemo is no longer working, and his doctors say there’s nothing else to be done. He has accepted whatever is coming. He has lost weight, and sometimes the pain is bad. How can I help him?Dear Reader: No matter how long someone has been dealing with a serious illness, the cessation of active treatment can be devastating. This is true not only for the person approaching the end of their life, but also for family and friends. The response to this transition often includes a rotating mix of grief, sorrow, fear, anxiety, dread and anger. However, people also often feel acceptance, peace, hope and even relief. Again, these are experienced not only by the individual who is ill, but also by the people around them. When spending time with someone with a terminal illness, you are looking for balance. That is, you want to be supportive and helpful, but not overwhelm them with your attentions. Hospice care professionals say this can be achieved by asking the person what they need. ... Always check with the person before starting a new task or a project. This keeps them in control of the events around them, which bolsters mental and emotional well-being. [Italics and bold are from this newsletter's editor.]Editor's Note: Calling all hospice and palliative leaders, in the midst of carrying out our professional roles most of us experience the dying and deaths of family, friends, and acquaintances. This article gives meaningful, practical ways to both be present and do simple things that can empower and support the person who is dying. We invite you to pair this article with our newsletter's "Today's Encouragement: We are human beings ..."

How Hospice of the Chesapeake is innovating bereavement care, family support Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 7/4/24 Maryland-based Hospice of the Chesapeake has been pursuing innovation in its bereavement and caregiver support programs. The nonprofit hospice and palliative care provider offers grief care to its entire community regardless of whether a family member was one of their patients. Out-of-pocket payments for those services are on a sliding scale. To expand its reach, Hospice of the Chesapeake works with organizations like schools, senior living communities and other community partners, according to Faith Fitzgerald, director of community support programs for the hospice.

Hospice Palliative Care Society launches Rec Room Programs Prince George Citizen, British Columbia, Canada; by Citizen staff; 7/2/24 The Prince George Hospice Palliative Care Society (PGHPCS) is offering  new  Rec Room Programs, furthering the organization’s commitment to expanding hospice services for the community. This new addition aligns with the strategic goal of creating a space for individuals with life-limiting illnesses, their caregivers, and those grieving. The Rec Room is dedicated to promoting healing and wellness through meaningful connections and tangible support. Programs offered include:

Green Bay Packers Foundation awards $1.75 million in grants [$125k to Agrace Hospice Care Foundation] Philanthropy News Digest; 6/29/24 The Green Bay Packers Foundation has announced 10 grants totaling $1.75 million to support organizations serving Wisconsin’s Brown, Dane, and Milwaukee counties. Recipients include ... ; Agrace Hospice Care Foundation, which will receive $125,000 to expand dementia and Alzheimer’s services throughout Wisconsin; ... “The Packers Foundation is pleased to award a record amount in impact grants to 10 organizations doing critically important work in their communities,” said Packers president and CEO Mark Murphy. “From education, mentoring, and community building programs to providing care and support for our most vulnerable neighbors, the grant recipients will create direct and lasting impacts throughout the state of Wisconsin.”

NAHC re-files lawsuit against HHS, CMS over home health cuts Home Health Care News; by Joyce Famakinwa; 6/28/24 The National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC) hasn’t given up on efforts to push back on Medicare home health payment calculations. NAHC has re-filled its lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The lawsuit focuses on the home health PDGM budget neutrality adjustment, which imposed both permanent and temporary calculations with a methodology that NAHC believes is noncompliant with the law. The original lawsuit was filed last summer, and in April the case was dismissed by a federal court in Washington D.C. The case was dismissed on the basis that NAHC did not fully exhaust administrative appeal remedies. ... There are a number of factors that made NAHC decide to re-file the lawsuit, according to [NAHC President, William A.] Dombi. “No. 1, it will be faster,” he said. “No. 2, we are highly likely to get the same judge, as there’s a related litigation standard in an assignment of cases,” he said. One of the biggest factors that heavily contributed to NAHC’s decision was the Supreme Court ruling, which upended the Chevron Doctrine.