Literature Review

Houston hospital says doctor’s changes to a database made patients ineligible for liver transplants NBC News 13; by Jamie Stengle and Carla K. Johnson, The Associated Press; 4/12/24 A Houston hospital has halted its liver and kidney transplant programs after it says a doctor manipulated a database for liver transplant patients, making them ineligible to receive a new organ. ... Data from OPTN [The Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network] shows that four patients died or became too ill for a transplant in 2021, 11 in 2022, 14 in 2023, and so far this year, that number was at five.

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? 

Potential CMS measure shows divide over quality training standards Modern Healthcare, by Mari Devereaux; 4/12/24 Hospitals may soon be required to provide set quality training to staff as part of a Medicare reporting program, but health systems and advocacy organizations are split on whether the standardization of quality-related skill sets is necessary to improve patient care.

Physician coaching by professionally trained peers for burnout and well-being: A randomized clinical trial JAMA Network; by Stephanie B. Kiser, MD, MPH; J. David Sterns, MD, MPH; Po Ying Lai, MS; et al; 4/12/24Findings: In this randomized clinical trial of 138 physicians, participants who received 3 months of coaching by professionally trained physician peers had a statistically significant reduction in interpersonal disengagement and burnout, with improvement in professional fulfillment and work engagement.

Expanding perinatal palliative care, hospice Hospice News, by Holly Vossel, 4/10/24A lack of trained staff and evolving health laws are among the leading barriers to expanding perinatal palliative and hospice care among underserved populations. ... Mistrust and fear of discrimination are among the common barriers, along with social determinants of health such as insurance coverage, socioeconomic status and transportation, according to recent analysis from researchers at the Morehouse School of Medicine’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

No nightmares and no light at the end of the tunnel. This dream most often repeats itself before death 247 News Agency; 4/12/24 Does our subconscious know that death is inevitably approaching? Taking into account the latest research, this is quite possible. It turns out that at the end of life many people have the same dream. It’s not a nightmare at all. The topic fascinates many people. For scientists, it is still a mystery that they try to solve by talking to people who survived clinical death or were on the verge of life and death. The best example is Dr. Christopher Kerr, a cardiologist and director of Hospice and Palliative Care Center in Buffalo, ... [who researched] the dreams of patients at the end of life.

Overcoming key diversity gaps within the healthcare continuum MedCity News, by Alexandra Moens; 4/9/24Leaders need a framework to identify, understand, effectively address diversity gaps, and measure improvement across the continuum of care. A data-driven approach can provide valuable insights into demographic trends, disparities in healthcare access and outcomes, and the underlying factors contributing to these discrepancies. Disparities in diversity and inclusion continue to permeate every aspect of healthcare. ... In the U.S., stark statistics reveal the extent of these imbalances. Only about 36% of active physicians are female, with even fewer identifying as non-White. While Black and Hispanic Americans comprise a considerable portion of the population, their representation among healthcare practitioners is disproportionately low. 

Angela Hospice opening a hospice residence at Lourdes Senior Community in Waterford Detroit Regional Chamber, by Angela Hospice; 4/10/24 Angela Hospice will expand its caring services to the Waterford community and beyond, when it begins operating a 15-bed hospice residence at Lourdes Senior Community this summer and providing additional home hospice services in the area. The non-profit will extend its geographic reach further into north Oakland County, offering additional outreach to benefit all in the community, not just those on hospice care, through transformational grief support groups, educational outreach, and their Good Samaritan program, which serves those who are without insurance or the ability to pay for hospice.

HopeHealth’s expanding scope of pediatric hospice, palliative services Hospice News, by Holly Vossel; 4/8/24 HopeHealth has been growing its pediatric hospice and supportive care service lines in recent years to address a range of unmet needs among seriously ill children and their families. The nonprofit health system serves Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts. ... Hospice News recently sat down with pediatrician Dr. Rebecca MacDonell-Yilmaz, medical director of HopeHealth’s pediatric supportive services. 

Anti-DEI initiatives in medicine harm us all MedPage Today - Perspectives; by Aderonke Pederson, MD; 4/9/24I entered into medical school as a top student at the University of Chicago with a high GPA ... and a stellar CV exhibiting strong leadership qualities. I had beaten all odds, despite being a Black orphan migrant with no financial means. Medical school was a grueling process ... I would likely have felt even more socially isolated at my predominantly white institution if not for three essential factors. First, I was welcomed by Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) administrators and participants ... Second, I had a dean of DEI who... said, "You can do this, Ronke." Finally, without my deep faith, ... I would not be where I am today. My experience is not unique from other underrepresented physicians of color. Despite this, DEI programs across the country are under attack.

Why home-based healthcare could invite cyberattacks Modern Healthcare, by Diane Eastabrook; 3/29/24 Cybersecurity experts warn that as more healthcare is provided in patients’ homes, the flow of data between those locations, vendors and providers raises the risk for ransomware attacks. In the wake of the Change Healthcare attack, cybersecurity consultants are scrutinizing home-based care — particularly the storage and transfer of data through telehealth, remote patient monitoring and wearable devices. 

Family caregivers can help shape the outcomes for their loved ones – an ICU nurse explains their vital role The Conversation, by Beth Daley; 4/9/24 The floor nurse had just told me that my new patient – let’s call her Marie – would not stop screaming. ... No matter how much I comforted her, ... she was screaming for her daughter, April, who was on her way. ... As a seasoned bedside critical care nurse, I see firsthand the benefits that family caregivers bring to patient care in the hospital. I also witness the emotional stress that caregivers experience when their loved one comes to the ICU.

Top factors in nurses ending health care employment between 2018 and 2021 JAMA Network; by K. Jane Muir, PhD, RN, FNP-BC; Joshua Porat-Dahlerbruch, PhD, RN; Jacqueline Nikpour, PhD, RN; et al; 5/9/24Question: Why did nurses leave health care employment from 2018 to 2021?Findings: In this cross-sectional study of 7887 nurses who were employed in a non–health care job, not currently employed, or retired, the top contributing factors for leaving health care employment were planned retirement (39% of nurses), burnout (26%), insufficient staffing (21%), and family obligations (18%). Age distributions of nurses not employed in health care were similar to nurses currently employed in health care.