Literature Review

The healing power of remembering and recordingLocalTownPages - Franklin; 1/30/24Every person on this earth holds space in the lives of those around them. We fill that space with our voices, talents, wisdom, laughter, touch, beliefs, innovations, style, and even occasionally with our struggles. Each human experience is unique and varied, complex and beautiful.

Psychedelic therapy debate returns to Missouri General AssemblyMissouri Independent, by Rebecca Rivas; 1/30/24Numerous clinical studies nationwide have shown positive results from using psilocybin to treat PTSD, depressiona and substance use. Republican lawmakers are once again pushing legislation that would require Missouri to conduct a clinical study on using psilocybin, more commonly referred to as “magic mushrooms,” to treat depression, substance use or as part end-of-life care. ... In the House Veterans Committee on Tuesday, Republican Rep. Aaron McMullen of Independence plans to present an amended version of the bill that would limit its scope to only veterans. The suicide rate among veterans in Missouri is nearly double the state rate and one of the highest in the country. ... McMullen, a veteran who served in a combat unit in Afghanistan, told The Independent, “While psilocybin is not a panacea for every issue, it represents a first true scientifically-validated hope that we have to address this crisis.”

Effectiveness of an Advance Care Planning intervention in adults receiving dialysis and their families: A cluster randomized clinical trialJAMA Network, by Mi-Kyung Song, PhD, RN; Amita Manatunga, PhD; Laura Plantinga, PhD; 1/29/24In this randomized clinical trial, the [Advanced Care Planning] ACP intervention implemented by health care workers at dialysis centers improved preparation for EOL decision-making but showed mixed effectiveness on bereavement outcomes. The ACP intervention implemented in dialysis centers may be an effective strategy to the dyad preparation for end-of-life care as opposed to the current focus on advance directives.

Spotlight PA court victory leads to new academic research into Pa. medical marijuana program Spotlight PA, by Ed Mahon; 1/29/24After a 15-month legal battle, Spotlight PA in 2022 won access to data showing the reasons why hundreds of thousands of patients qualify for the state’s medical marijuana program. We published a big investigation based on the records last year. ... In an article, the researchers described the work as “the first study in the U.S. of the association between dispensary locations and qualifying conditions.”

Increasing access to care: Designing a blended curriculum to educate adult hospice nurses in caring for pediatric patientsNursing Forum, by Paige L. McDonald, Samia M. Abdallah, Laurie B. Lyons, and Deborah Fisher; 1/29/24Access to care for pediatric hospice patients is inhibited by a lack of providers specifically educated to care for pediatric patients. Education that seeks to address this gap in care must develop the specific knowledge and skills required to care for pediatric patients, and this education must also be delivered in a format that enables convenient access to providers. 

Viewpoint: Care fragmentation, care continuity, and care coordination—How they differ and why it mattersJAMA Intern Med., by Lisa M. Kern, MD, MPH; Julie P. W. Bynum, MD, MPH; Harold Alan Pincus, MD; 1/29/24Health care in the US is characterized by fragmentation, with many patients seeing multiple physicians. Indeed, 35% of Medicare beneficiaries saw 5 or more physicians in 2019.1 Having multiple physicians may be appropriate, but it may also lead to medical errors, unnecessary visits, avoidable hospitalizations, and suboptimal care if all of the physicians do not have complete information about the patient and each other’s care plans.

Your 2024 guide to Joint Commission changes - Becker's Hospital ReviewBecker's Hospital Review, by Ashleigh Hollowell; 1/26/24The Joint Commission is cutting more than 200 standards across its accreditation programs, many of which will take effect July 1. The organization initially announced its plans to scale back standards at this scale in July 2023, describing it as the "second tranche of major standards' reduction" following a first round of cuts in December 2022. ... [Among these], Home Care will receive a 15% reduction in performance elements.

New blood test that screens for Alzheimer’s may be a step closer to reality, study suggestsCNN, by Jacqueline Howard; 1/22/24Testing a person’s blood for a type of protein called phosphorylated tau, or p-tau, could be used to screen for Alzheimer’s disease with “high accuracy,” even before symptoms begin to show, a new study suggests.

Defining key elements of a clinical experience in hospice and palliative medicine for medical residents in the United StatesJ Med Educ Curric Dev, by Carolyn E. Kezar and Andrew J. Lawton; 1/23/24The ACGME [Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education] has ... recognized the importance of HPM [hospice and palliative medicine] training for medical residents, establishing in its 2022 Common Program Requirements for Internal Medicine a new expectation that all residents have a clinical experience in HPM. ... However, internal residencies vary significantly. ... In this perspective, we draw from the available literature and our experience as educators to propose 5 core elements for creating an optimal HPM experience for medical residents.Editor's Note: Does your hospice support nearby medical schools? Rich opportunities abound.

Soul doctors: How Minnesota chaplains' roles are changingMPR News, by Angela Davis and Maja Beckstrom; 1/24/24Chaplains often show up on the worst days of people’s lives. They arrive in a hospital room after a distressing diagnosis. They accompany police to help inform someone of a loved one’s death. One in four Americans have been visited by a chaplain, usually at a hospital or hospice, ... But the role of spiritual caregiver is evolving as society becomes both less religious and more religiously diverse.Editor's Note: Click here for the Board of Chaplaincy Certification, Inc., Palliative Care & Hospice Certification

Cancer report highlights LGBTQ+ issuesPhiladelphia Gay News, by Gary L. Day; 1/23/24Each year, the American Cancer Society (ACS) puts out an annual report with extensive up-to-date information on cancer, its incidence, treatment and other pertinent facts. Cancer Facts & Figures 2024 includes something new: a separate special section on cancer in the LGBTQ+ community.

Norwell hospice honors Weymouth nurse, 99, with a Nightingale pin. "I felt so proud!" The Patriot Ledger, by Sue Scheible; 1/23/24Retired nurse Betty Beecher of Weymouth, nearing 100, describes receiving a Nightingale pin from the NVNA and Hospice, where she now is a patient.

New research challenges the commonly held view that opioids are the most powerful pain relieversSciTechDaily, by University of Sydney; 1/21/24A University of Sydney-led study challenges the prevailing view of opioids as the most effective pain relievers for cancer, revealing significant evidence gaps and suggesting NSAIDs as a potential alternative. This research advocates for more informed choices in cancer pain management, emphasizing patient empowerment and the consideration of non-opioid options.