Literature Review
All posts tagged with “Clinical News | Physician & Nursing News.”
AI 'early warning' system shows promise in preventing hospital deaths, study says
09/18/24 at 03:00 AMAI 'early warning' system shows promise in preventing hospital deaths, study says Pique NewsMagazine, Toronto, Canada; by Nicole Ireland; 9/16/24 An AI early-warning system that predicts which patients are at risk of deteriorating while in hospital was associated with a decrease in unexpected deaths, a new study says. The study, published Monday in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, found a 26 per cent reduction in non-palliative deaths among patients in St. Michael's Hospital's general internal medicine unit when the AI tool was used. "We've seen that there is a lot of hype and excitement around artificial intelligence in medicine. We've also seen not as much actual deployment of these tools in real clinical environments," said lead author Dr. Amol Verma, a general internal medicine specialist and scientist at the hospital in Toronto. "This is an early example of a tool that's deployed that was rigorously tested and evaluated and where it's showing promise for actually helping improve patient care." ... The technology called CHARTwatch continuously analyzed more than 100 different pieces of information about each patient in the unit, Verma said. When the AI tool predicted that a patient was deteriorating, it sent an alert to physicians and nurses, prompting them to quickly intervene.
Global collaboration launches culturally inclusive palliative care education tool
09/18/24 at 03:00 AMGlobal collaboration launches culturally inclusive palliative care education tool Hospice News; by Holly Vossel; 9/16/24 An international collaboration has led to the development of a new palliative care training tool aimed at improving quality and equitable access. Health systems across the globe are recognizing a growing need to boost the supply of providers able to care for a swelling, aging population of serious and terminally ill patients. Rising demand was among the driving forces behind the newly unveiled COllaboratively DEveloped culturalY Appropriate and inclusive Assessment tool for Palliative Care Education (CODE-YAA@PC-EDU). The palliative care education tool was developed in concert by the Council of Europe, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations. The organizations joined forces to design a sustainable training model that could build up the palliative workforce. The project is supported in part by the research network European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST).
Talk about death, but live your life: What people working in end-of-life care have learned
09/18/24 at 02:00 AMTalk about death, but live your life: What people working in end-of-life care have learned Yahoo Life; by Elena Sheppard; 9/16/24 Eventually, we are all going to die. It’s a reality that most people are uncomfortable with and do everything they can to avoid thinking about. But for people who work in end-of-life care, such as hospice workers and death doulas, death is both a fact of the job and a part of their everyday reality. While the work may sound grim, those who do it say that their daily proximity to death doesn't cast a shadow over their lives; rather, it has enabled them to more purposefully celebrate life’s beauty. ... Yahoo Life spoke to hospice professionals to hear the life lessons they’ve learned by working so closely with death. Here’s what they said. ...
‘We did it!’: West Penn nurses celebrate their new contract
09/16/24 at 03:00 AM‘We did it!’: West Penn nurses celebrate their new contract Pittsburgh Union Press, Pittsburgh, PA; by Steve Mellon; 9/12/24 Before Joanne Germanos had a chance to approach a podium to make her announcement, someone in the crowd called out, “We did it!” ... What Germanos and her fellow union nurses at West Penn did was win a new contract that raises pay and addresses staffing and burnout issues that the nurses say have been pushing experienced nurses out of the profession. Ninety percent of the hospital’s union nurses voted to approve the contract Wednesday. Under the three-year deal, pay for nurses will rise an average of 24%, with some seeing increases as high as 35%. By contract’s end, all nurses will make at least $40 an hour; nurses with 20 years of experience will make at least $50 an hour. ... Pay, however, isn’t the only issue. At rallies, union nurses have called on hospital administrators to address staffing and scheduling problems that can affect patient care and cause nurse burnout. They took those concerns to the bargaining table and, on Thursday, said they were thrilled with the outcome.
Bayada Home Health Care settled nurses’ wages class action lawsuit for $13.5 million
09/16/24 at 03:00 AMBayada Home Health Care settled nurses’ wages class action lawsuit for $13.5 million Head Topics - Daily Botique; 9/13/24 The settlement, if approved by a judge, will cover nearly 11,000 Bayada nurses in Pennsylvania. Bayada Home Health Care Inc., one of the nation’s largest home care providers, agreed to settle a class-action lawsuit in Philadelphia alleging the company failed to pay nurses for time spent updating the incoming nurse or caregiver on a patient’s condition and for time spent in mandatory training sessions the $13.5 million Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas settlement.Editor's note: Additional information is behind a paywall at the Philadelphia Inquirer.
AI scribes show promising results in helping family doctors and nurse practitioners spend more time with patients and less time on paperwork
09/13/24 at 03:00 AMAI scribes show promising results in helping family doctors and nurse practitioners spend more time with patients and less time on paperwork LaGrange Daily News, Toronto, Canada; by PR Newswire / Canada Newswire; 9/11/24 Family doctors report spending 70% to 90% less time on paperwork in a study evaluating the use of artificial intelligence (AI) scribe technology. OntarioMD (OMD), a subsidiary of the Ontario Medical Association (OMA), announced this week the findings of the study that examined the use of AI scribes by more than 150 family doctors and nurse practitioners (NPs) over a three-month period. AI scribes capture conversations between family doctors or nurse practitioners (NPs) and their patients and summarizes them into detailed electronic medical notes. The family doctors and NPs assessed AI scribes' effectiveness in reducing their time spent on administrative tasks and the results are very promising. ... The results also support the Ministry of Health and Ontario Health's Patients Before Paperwork (Pb4P) initiative aimed at helping doctors spend more time caring for patients instead of doing unnecessary paperwork.
Innovative program reduces nurse turnover and fosters development
09/13/24 at 03:00 AMInnovative program reduces nurse turnover and fosters development Oncology Nursing News; by Heather Wood, RN, OCN and Marie Garcia, RN, OCN; 9/12/24 Cancer incidence is on the rise in the US, especially among the growing older population. ... Unfortunately, the current shortage of oncology nurses is expected to worsen, as fewer people enter the profession while aging nurses retire. By 2025, a shortage of 200,000 to 450,000 oncology nurses is predicted in the US. ... In response, The US Oncology Network (The Network) has developed one of the most comprehensive programs in the nation to support the professional development and retention of new oncology nurses. ... Designed to enhance their knowledge of fundamental oncology, OCEAN is a collaborative effort bringing together a multidisciplinary team of experts and speakers from across The Network. The program provides fundamental oncology knowledge around 12 core areas delivered over 22.5 hours of live virtual learning. Content ranges from ... various treatment modalities ... to palliative care and advanced care planning. OCEAN’s impact extends beyond skill development, fostering a sense of belonging and purpose among participating nurses. ... Early results from the program are promising, such as increased retention rates [12% better than the national average] and cost savings.
Helping patients keep their dignity in their final moments
09/13/24 at 03:00 AMHelping patients keep their dignity in their final moments Physician's Weekly; by Linda Girgis, MD, FAAFP; 9/11/24 In the US, approximately $365 billion is spent annually on end-of-life care, or ten percent of total healthcare expenditures. While some of this is essential, such as hospice care, much is spent on futile care. The Merriam Webster Dictionary defines futile as “serving no useful purpose, completely ineffective.” While we may be able to keep patients alive longer, such as using ventilators, it should be evaluated as to the endpoint. It is futile if the patient has no hope of recovery. ... How can we help our patients die with dignity?
Why so many patients are confused about CPR and do-not-resuscitate orders
09/12/24 at 03:00 AMWhy so many patients are confused about CPR and do-not-resuscitate orders STAT; by Lindsey Ulin; 9/11/24 Inherently difficult conversations are made more so by a lack of physician training. When a patient is admitted to the hospital in the U.S., there’s a standard question physicians like me are supposed to ask: “If your heart stops beating, do you want us to do CPR?” On the surface, this may seem like a mechanic asking a customer, “If your car stalls, do you want us to jumpstart the engine?” Who would say no to this, especially in a hospital? The problem is that this exchange, which we call asking about “code status” in medicine, centers around a closed-ended question. Talking to a patient about their preferences for cardiac resuscitation, intubation, and/or other life-sustaining treatments needs to be a complete, often lengthy discussion, not just a box to check. ...
On a culture of physician leadership development
09/11/24 at 03:00 AMOn a culture of physician leadership development Forbes; by Leon E. Moores, MD, DSc, FACS; 9/9/24 ... How do we create a culture of continuing physician leadership development? Over a decade ago, I was tasked with answering this very question. As a senior army surgeon, I approached the two-star general in the Army Medical Corps. I asked if I could put together a comprehensive program for physician leadership development for the 4200+ doctors in the US Army. ... We concluded that four distinct LOEs (lines of effort) needed development and implementation to create a culture of physician leadership. These LOEs, it turns out, are just as applicable in civilian healthcare as they were in the armed forces.
Nursing students learning to respect culture, tradition at the end of life
09/10/24 at 03:00 AMNursing students learning to respect culture, tradition at the end of life St. Cloud Live, St. Joseph, MN; by Stephanie Dickrell; 9/6/24 It is called the golden hour — the hour before someone’s death. It’s a time of grief, but it’s also a sacred space. Two nursing instructors at the College of St. Benedict and St. John’s University are trying to make that time better for patients and their loved ones by better preparing their students who will be with them in their final moments. While the rituals surrounding death may vary by time, geography and culture, the program wants to make sure all cultures are respected. ... Julie Keller Dornbusch and Mary Pesch, both trained as Advanced Practice Registered Nurses ... received a prestigious grant from the Morgan Family Foundation of nearly $100,000 to create and test nursing simulations using culturally specific care for the Catholic community, Somali Muslims and Ojibwe people.Editor's note: This article indicates that "training material on culturally specific end-of-life care" is non-existent. This statement is misleading. Examine:
When rounding sparked improvements, per 4 chief nursing officers
09/10/24 at 03:00 AMWhen rounding sparked improvements, per 4 chief nursing officers Becker's Hospital Review; by Erica Carbajal; 9/5/24 Rounding the floor with front-line nurses and staff is more than just a management practice for leaders to show face — it is a vital tool for connecting with employees and driving meaningful change. In conversations with hospital leaders, they often echo the sentiment of how routinely spending time with front-line staff uncovers opportunities to address pain points in their daily workflow. With nurses often pointing to lack of resources and support as drivers of job dissatisfaction and burnout, rounding represents a key strategy to positively affect staff engagement and retention, and thus, patient care. Becker's recently asked four chief nursing officers to share a recent example of a time when rounding sparked a process change or improvement at their hospital. Here are their responses: ... Editor's note: "Rounding" best practices and outcomes apply to hospice and palliative care multidisciplinary teams.
Bittersweet bouquet: Hospice worker transforms her grief into a garden of memories
09/09/24 at 03:00 AMBittersweet bouquet: Hospice worker transforms her grief into a garden of memories ABC 13, Grand Rapids, MI; by Matt Gard; 9/5/24For the most part, Kaitlyn Dawson’s desk at the Emmanuel Hospice office is exactly what you’d expect it to be. On her left, she has office supplies, ... but it’s what’s on the wall over her left shoulder that really gives this workspace character. Inside three separate picture frames are hundreds of flowers. Kaitlyn was an art major at Grand Valley State University before she switched to social work, and she still has a passion for creativity. Every one of those flowers – whether red, purple or orange - was her creation. ... “These flowers represent patients that I have been able to be a part of their journey at end of life,” said Kaitlyn, who has worked in hospice for about four years. “I had one particular case that was really difficult, and I remember leaving that visit and thinking ‘I'm going to start doing this process in honor of her.’ And I went to the store and I bought pencils and a notebook and decided I was going to do flowers. It was easy. It was simple. It was something I could sit down and do in the evening, and if I lost a couple of people that day, I could draw a couple of flowers.” Before Kaitlyn knew it, she had a "bittersweet bouquet."
Rounds with Leadership: Focusing on the outcomes of NP practice
08/30/24 at 03:00 AMRounds with Leadership: Focusing on the outcomes of NP practice American Association of Colleges of Nursing - The Voice of Academic Nursing; by American Colleges of Nursing (AACN); 8/28/24 ... In a synopsis of more than 50 research studies, the American Association of Nurse Practitioners found that patients under the care of NPs have fewer unnecessary hospital readmissions, higher patient satisfaction scores, and fewer unnecessary emergency room visits than patients under the care of physicians only. Recent studies have shown that ... NPs engaging in end-of-life care had fewer hospitalizations and higher hospice use; ... Despite such compelling evidence, challenges to NP education and practice continue. More than 20 states have yet to grant full scope of practice authority to NPs, denying these expert clinicians the opportunity to exercise the full range of their clinical expertise.
This was the year advanced practice nurses thought they’d get full practice authority in NC. They were wrong.
08/30/24 at 03:00 AMThis was the year advanced practice nurses thought they’d get full practice authority in NC. They were wrong.NC Health News - NC Board of Nursing; by TwumasiD-Mensah; 8/29/24 Every so often, Megan Conner, a nurse anesthetist in Greenville said she sees a patient who’s driven for hours to come for a screening colonoscopy but who instead has to be sent to the emergency department. ... It frustrates Conner that so many patients, who have to travel sometimes hours for care in eastern North Carolina, end up not getting it because of common ailments they can’t get treated closer to home.That’s why Conner is a big believer in the Safe, Accessible, Value-directed and Excellent Health Care Act (SAVE Act), which would give advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) like her full practice authority. She argues the data show that more nurse practitioners would provide primary care in rural North Carolina if the state would give them autonomy to practice, bringing care to small burgs that often go without. And now, the demands for care are being driven by hundreds of thousands of patients newly eligible for care because of Medicaid expansion. Along with a growing number of lawmakers who believe the legislation is overdue, advanced practice nurses thought this would be the year that the SAVE Act finally passed. They were wrong. [Click on the title's link to continue reading.]
Not intervening as a form of care: Negotiating medical practices at the end-of-life
08/29/24 at 03:00 AMNot intervening as a form of care: Negotiating medical practices at the end-of-life AnthroSource, by the American Anthropological Association; by Simon Cohn, Eric Borgstrom, and Annelieke Driessen; 8/27/24 ... The story of Keith, a patient living with multiple sclerosis but now with limited time left, introduces a common feature of biomedicine; once set on a particular trajectory, clinicians are often committed to a cascade of options without really questioning their ultimate value: "When I saw the doctor, the first thing he said was, ‘Oh, we can do this, or we can do that…’ So I said, ‘No, you won't. You won't do any of those things, thank you very much.’ And then when he suggested a drug that will give me ‘an extra few months’, I replied ‘Does that give me an extra few months now, or an extra few months at the end? Because I want the few months now, I don't want them at the end.’" Here, Keith recounts how his doctor seemed compelled to suggest one treatment after another with the intention of prolonging his life, rather than acknowledge that because he was dying, a different approach might be more appropriate. ...
Majority of Mission nurses pledge support for strike vote
08/29/24 at 03:00 AMMajority of Mission nurses pledge support for strike vote The Biltmore Beacon, Asheville, NC; by Andrew R. Jones; 8/28/24 Nursing leaders at Asheville’s Mission Hospital said they have the pledges needed to call for a strike vote, increasing the likelihood of a significant labor action at the HCA Healthcare-owned facility if an agreement wasn’t reached this week. Local nursing representatives said that more than 800 of the approximately 1,600 registered nurses, including members of the Mission Hospital United union and non-union members, signed pledges agreeing to vote on a possible strike at the Asheville hospital, the only Level II trauma center in WNC. The vote will be held over four days, Aug. 25, 26, 28, and 29. Nurse union leaders told Asheville Watchdog that they anticipate most of the nurses covered by the union contract will authorize a strike that could last from one to three days. ... Several other unions at HCA hospitals across the nation — including those in Nevada, Florida, Texas and Kansas — are moving toward strike votes right now, nurses said. ...
My dad had an Advance Directive. He still had to fight to die
08/27/24 at 03:00 AMMy Dad had an Advance Directive. He still had to fight to die Newsweek - My Turn; by Maggie Schneider Huston; 8/26/24 My mom died peacefully. My dad died 72 days later, angry at the doctors for ignoring his wishes. ... Dad had heart surgery on December 20, 2023. An hour after the surgery ended, his vital systems started shutting down. A cascade of interventions, one after another, kept him alive. Four days later, he said: "Put me on hospice." The doctor dismissed this request, rolling his eyes and saying: "Everyone on a ventilator says that." On Christmas Day, my father asked for hospice again. He was in pain. He knew his recovery would be long and ultimately futile. He would never have an acceptable quality of life again. ... Dad's care team insisted palliative care was the same as hospice care, but he knew the difference. He wanted hospice care. Finally, they reluctantly agreed and called for a social worker to make arrangements. It wasn't necessary. Once they removed his treatment and relieved his pain, he died five hours later. ... Editor's Note: This article is not about Medical Aid in Dying (MAiD). It is about honoring Advance Directives, person-centered care with communications and actions related to "palliative" vs. "hospice" care.
Doctors saved her life. She didn’t want them to.
08/27/24 at 03:00 AMDoctors saved her life. She didn’t want them to. DNYUZ; by Kate Raphael; 8/26/24 Marie Cooper led her life according to her Christian faith. ... [And, she] always said that at the end of her life, she did not want to be resuscitated. ... Last winter, doctors found cancer cells in her stomach. She’d had “do not resuscitate” and “do not intubate” orders on file for decades and had just filled out new copies, instructing medical staff to withhold measures to restart her heart if it stopped, and to never give her a breathing tube. In February, Ms. Cooper walked into the hospital for a routine stomach scope to determine the severity of the cancer. After the procedure, [Ms. Cooper's daughter] visited her mother in the recovery room and saw her in a panic. ... [The daughter] called for help and was ushered to a waiting room while the medical team called an emergency code. Ms. Cooper grew even more distressed and “uncooperative,” according to medical records. Doctors restrained her and inserted a breathing tube down her throat, violating the wishes outlined in her medical chart. Ms. Uphold, livid, confronted the doctors, who could not explain why Ms. Cooper had been intubated. ...
Avoid these mistakes in palliative care to enhance your loved one's well-being
08/27/24 at 02:00 AMAvoid these mistakes in palliative care to enhance your loved one's well-being Leesville Leader, Lake Charles, LA; by Evertise Digital; 8/26/24 For people with life-threatening diseases, palliative care is crucial in providing comfort and improving quality of life. It’s essential to focus on the details and avoid common mistakes in order to deliver good treatment. Mistakes in palliative care can inadvertently cause discomfort or diminish the quality of the support provided. It’s critical to recognize and steer clear of certain mistakes to guarantee that your loved one receives the finest treatment possible. By focusing on these key areas, you can enhance their well-being and provide the compassionate, attentive care they need during this challenging time.
Dr. Joe Rotella, AAHPM: The importance of being human – Reflections of an aspiring medical humanist
08/26/24 at 03:00 AMDr. Joe Rotella, AAHPM: The importance of being human – Reflections of an aspiring medical humanist American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine; Event Details; retrieved from the internet 8/23/24The Importance of Being Human - Reflections of an Aspiring HumanistDate: September 17, 2024Time: 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm CTGrand Rounds free; Non-Members $49.00 USD
The importance of competencies in pain management and palliative care
08/23/24 at 03:00 AMThe importance of competencies in pain management and palliative care Greenwich Sentinel, Greenwich, CT; by Russell R. Barksdale, Jr.; 8/21/24 ... Competencies, ongoing pharmacological education, regular patient pain assessments, management, and medication adjustments are all crucial processes for healthcare providers in today’s complex medical environment. Regrettably, metabolic and behavioral issues related to pain medications, especially opioids, if not properly managed, poses risk of addiction. Beginning in the late 1990s, the consumption of medical opioids used to treat pain increased in many countries worldwide. Since that time, alarmingly the United States has outpaced every other country in per capita opioid consumption. ... [Click on the title's link to continue reading.]
West Penn Hospital union nurses vote to authorize strike
08/23/24 at 03:00 AMWest Penn Hospital union nurses vote to authorize strike WPXI.com news, Pittsburgh, PA; by Taylor Spirito; 8/22/24 Union nurses at West Penn Hospital have voted to authorize a strike. On Wednesday, union nurses votes 99.3% in favor of authorizing their negotiating committee to send a strike notice if necessary, rejecting contract proposals from the Allegheny Health Network (AHN) as inadequate to address the region’s nurse staffing crisis. The nurses are calling for resources to recruit new nurses and retain experienced ones. They said the hospital’s nursing staff must obtain 100 more registered nurses to meet the region’s growing patient care needs, a representative from SEIU Healthcare PA said.
Hospice Insights Podcast - Stories of successful hospice leadership: The CEO and Chief Medical Officer relationship
08/23/24 at 03:00 AMHospice Insights Podcast - Stories of successful hospice leadership: The CEO and Chief Medical Officer relationship JD Supra; by Husch Blackwell; 8/21/24 A strong and engaged Chief Medical Officer (CMO) may be a hospice CEO’s most important asset. But what does a successful CEO/CMO relationship look like and how must it evolve to meet today’s challenges? In this episode we get to find out, as Husch Blackwell’s Meg Pekarske is joined by HopeHealth CEO Diana Franchitto and Dr. Edward Martin, CMO, whose trusted relationship has been instrumental to the organization’s success and clinical expansion.
Bioethicists scrutinize Pontifical Academy for Life’s new guidance on withdrawing food, water
08/21/24 at 03:00 AMBioethicists scrutinize Pontifical Academy for Life’s new guidance on withdrawing food, water The Catholic World Report; by Jonah McKeown; 8/16/24 After the Pontifical Academy for Life (PAFL) last month issued a booklet summarizing the Church’s teaching on a number of bioethical issues, the section on “artificial nutrition and hydration” (ANH) has some observers concerned about what they see as a departure from previous Church teaching. ... The Church’s teaching on this issue was recently in the news in the United States because of the ongoing case of Margo Naranjo, a disabled Texas woman whose parents, who are Catholic, announced last month that they had decided to allow Margo to die by starvation in hospice. They were prevented from doing so after a judge intervened. ... What does the Pontifical Academy's new document say? ... “[T]he doctor is required to respect the will of the patient who refuses them with a conscious and informed decision, also expressed in advance in anticipation of the possible loss of the ability to express himself and choose,” the PAFL wrote. he PAFL noted that Pope Francis has emphasized the importance of considering the whole person, not just individual bodily functions, when making medical decisions.Editor's Note: This "guidance" and discussion is much more complex than the summarized information above. Click on the title's link to read more.