Literature Review
All posts tagged with “Clinical News | Advanced Illness Management News.”
[Canada] Medical assistance in dying in patients with destination-therapy left ventricular assist devices
10/31/26 at 03:05 AM[Canada] Medical assistance in dying in patients with destination-therapy left ventricular assist devicesJACC Case Reports; by Jacqueline Carverhill, Michele Bertelli, Omid Kiamanesh; 9/26Case summary: Two male patients with destination-therapy LVADs [left ventricular assist devices] received clinician-administered MAiD [medical assistance in dying]. One had refractory transfusion-dependent gastrointestinal bleeding and died in a community hospice; the other had refractory pain, anxiety, and existential suffering and died on an acute care ward. In both cases, intravenous medications were administered while the LVAD remained active, and the device was deactivated after unconsciousness and apnea were confirmed. These cases describe a practical approach to coordinating MAiD with LVAD deactivation in hospital and hospice settings. The process required advance agreement among the LVAD team, MAiD provider, and palliative care team regarding medication sequencing, responsibility for device deactivation, and anticipated alarms.
Models of palliative care for malignant disease in rural settings: systematic review
10/30/26 at 03:00 AMModels of palliative care for malignant disease in rural settings: systematic review Journal of Pain and SYmptom Management; by Kirsten Arnold, Amy Pascoe, Patrick Steele, Venise Hon, Lisa Mounsey, Natasha Smallwood, Rebecca Disler; 10/28/26 Background: Access to palliative care for people with advanced cancer in rural settings remains inequitable due to workforce shortages, geographic isolation, and limited formalised care structures. This review synthesised evidence on rural palliative care models for people with malignant disease. Method: Systematic review of rural palliative care models for malignant disease published since January 2000; ...
Acute delirium management in hospice and palliative care
10/29/26 at 03:00 AMAcute delirium management in hospice and palliative careJournal of Hospice and Palliative Nursing; by Shih-Yin Lin and Donna E. McCabe; 10/14/26 ... Effective prevention and management of delirium require a multifaceted, interprofessional approach that addresses modifiable risk factors, as well as the underlying acute medical causes. Hospice and palliative care nurses play a central role in implementing evidence-based nonpharmacological interventions and engaging family care partners to reduce symptom burden and improve outcomes through goal-concordant, supportive strategies, including early mobility, hydration, sleep-wake regulation, and careful pharmacological stewardship.
What the dying dream about, and why a Buffalo doctor wants the world to listen
10/28/26 at 03:00 AMWhat the dying dream about, and why a Buffalo doctor wants the world to listen The Buffalo News, Buffalo, NY; by Jon Harris; 10/;27/26 When Dr. Christopher Kerr and his research team at Hospice & Palliative Care Buffalo began studying the end-of-life experiences of their patients, the work was intended to convince skeptical doctors that they should recognize predeath visions and dreams as medically important to improve the care provided to the dying. But after years of research, interviews with more than 1,400 patients and a published book, many of Kerr’s fellow physicians remained uninterested. Kerr’s findings, however, seeped out and reached an even wider audience. Since his TEDx Talk in Buffalo in 2015, Kerr has been interviewed by The New York Times, The Washington Post, Oprah Winfrey for The Oprah Podcast and, just recently, by Steven Bartlett for the popular podcast, The Diary of a CEO.
Austin nonprofits and philanthropists making a difference
10/28/26 at 03:00 AMAustin nonprofits and philanthropists making a difference Modern Luxury, Austin, TX; by The Editors; 10/26/26 In Austin, generosity runs deep. Meet the individuals and organizations who lift lives across the city and invite all of us to share in the rewarding work. ... Project Transitions, a nonprofit founded in 1988 that provides housing, recuperative care, and hospice for people living with HIV, operates a 61-unit supportive housing community called Burnet Place. Austinite Terry Eaton, the president and chief curator of Eaton Fine Art, recently collaborated with Austin artists to curate a pro bono art collection there, extending more than two decades of support ahead of World AIDS Day, Dec. 1. projecttransitions.org
ArcHouse CEO: ensuring safe, speedy hospice admissions
10/28/26 at 03:00 AMArcHouse CEO: ensuring safe, speedy hospice admissions Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 10/26/26 Effective and speedy admissions processes can have a significant influence on the quality of hospice care. This October, the Hospice News Elevate podcast explores the value of effective and efficient admissions, as well as the role of technology in that activity. Hospice News spoke with Paul Mocur, Jr., co-founder and CEO of ArcHouse, a pre-admission platform for care-at-home serving hospice, palliative, and home health providers.
Making Halloween S.A.F.E.R. for individuals with dementia
10/28/26 at 03:00 AMMaking Halloween S.A.F.E.R. for individuals with dementia Alzheimer's Foundation of America; press release; 10/26/26 Frightful sights, scary sounds, and costumed strangers might be Halloween traditions, but they can be unsettling for individuals living with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia-related illnesses. With October 31 approaching, the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA) is offering tips to make Halloween S.A.F.E.R. for loved ones living with dementia. ...
Free webinar for physicians and healthcare professionals: Veterans nearing the end of life - distinct needs, specialized care
10/28/26 at 12:00 AMFree webinar for physicians and healthcare professionals: Reducing hospital readmissions and reducing Hospital Readmissions and Length of stay in advanced illness patients VITAS Healthcare; Press Release; 9/14/26
Academic medical centers implementing new Medical Aid in Dying (MAiD) laws: Challenges and solutions
10/24/26 at 03:30 AMAcademic medical centers implementing new Medical Aid in Dying (MAiD) laws: Challenges and solutionsAcademic Medicine; Robert Klitzman; 9/26Institutions must decide what processes to establish if patients inquire about MAiD, which specific clinicians within an institution should evaluate patients for eligibility and capacity, and prescribe MAiD medications, how to communicate about the new law with patients and local communities, how to educate medical and other students and staff appropriately, and how to make these decisions ... MAiD ... use has been increasing and attitudes changing, and the contexts of different states and their relevant laws vary considerably. This paper provides suggestions for how institutions should address these challenges—by establishing as early as possible a multidisciplinary working group, including providers (e.g., from palliative care, psychiatry, nursing and social work), compliance, other administrative, legal, and ethics stakeholders. Institutions should also provide and organize structured “debriefs” after initial cases (to examine what went well or not) and/or periodic case conferences among clinicians performing MAiD, and mentorship in providing and prescribing MAiD, offering support, in part due to moral distress and other concerns that can emerge.
[Greece] Early clinical mediation in end-of-life disputes: A procedural justice analysis
10/24/26 at 03:05 AM[Greece] Early clinical mediation in end-of-life disputes: A procedural justice analysisHealth Care Analysis; by Olympia Lioupi; 9/26Conflicts arise when surrogates request life-sustaining treatments that clinicians consider medically futile. This article proposes that early presumptive medical mediation with opt-out provisions should become the default initial offer for resolving such disputes. Mediation offers four procedural advantages: (a) protected and appropriately inclusive voice, (b) confidential caucus, (c) interest-based framing, and (d) outcome ownership. Embedding an early, structured offer of mediation in end-of-life policy may reduce escalation and strengthen the procedural legitimacy and acceptability of decision-making when voluntariness and appropriate clinical, ethical and legal safeguards are maintained. However, it cannot guarantee agreement, shorter ICU stays, reduced litigation, or substantively correct ethical outcomes.
Pharmacogenomic-guided opioid prescribing in hospice: Reducing toxicity while maximizing symptom relief
10/24/26 at 03:00 AM[Canada] "Nope, I'm outta here!": Understanding how children with life-shortening and life-threatening illnesses experience clinical environments
10/24/26 at 03:00 AMHospice and end-of-life workers discuss what they’ve learned from their work and patients in their last moments
10/23/26 at 03:10 AMHospice and end-of-life workers discuss what they’ve learned from their work and patients in their last moments The Guardian; by Madelein Aggeler; 10/21/26 ... Courtney first started working with dying patients when she was an oncology nurse. ... After a brief stint working in the ICU, Courtney began working in hospice care full-time. She says her job has reshaped how she approaches her life both personally and professionally. We spoke to her and other hospice and end-of-life workers about what they’ve learned from their work and their patients.
Your living will could get you too much care, or too little: the living will doctors misread
10/23/26 at 01:00 AMYour living will could get you too much care, or too little: the living will doctors misread KevinMD.com; podcast by KevinMD; 10/21/26 When you can’t speak for yourself, a living will is supposed to speak for you. Too often, it doesn’t. Seventy percent of U.S. adults don’t have one, and those who do often keep it in a drawer at home. ... 80 percent of physicians equate the mere presence of an advance directive with a do not resuscitate (DNR) order. Mirarchi calls it the lethal glance, a split-second read by a clinician who has never met the patient. The errors go both ways: resuscitating people who never wanted it and failing to resuscitate people who chose full code. ...
Psycho-oncology and palliative care: treating the person, not just the tumor
10/20/26 at 03:00 AMPsycho-oncology and palliative care: treating the person, not just the tumor CancerNetwork; by Daniel C. McFarland, DO and Ramy Sedhom, MD; 10/19/26 In this episode of Oncology On the Go, Daniel C. McFarland, DO, spoke with Ramy Sedhom, MD, about how to build a cancer practice where symptom management and emotional support are part of routine oncology care rather than an outside referral. ... McFarland emphasized that therapeutic presence and the ongoing patient-clinician relationship are healing, even though they are difficult to measure or reimburse. He described the use of shared medical visits in his practice and the value of weekly team meetings that include therapists, chaplains, and other staff.
Alzheimer's Association launches national initiative to bring advances in brain health and dementia care into everyday clinical care
10/20/26 at 02:00 AMAlzheimer's Association launches national initiative to bring advances in brain health and dementia care into everyday clinical care Alzheimer's Association, Chicago, IL; Press Release; 10/6/26 The Alzheimer's Association today announced the launch of the Brain Health & Quality Care Initiative (BHQCI), a new national quality-care initiative designed to help clinicians and health systems integrate brain health and high-quality dementia care into everyday clinical practice. Rapid scientific advances, including blood-based diagnostic testing and disease-modifying treatments for Alzheimer's disease, are creating new opportunities for earlier detection, diagnosis and treatment. At the same time, significant gaps in care remain. ... Closing these gaps requires health care organizations to put evidence-based approaches into practice and build them into everyday care delivery.
Clinical and treatment factors associated with lymphopenia after palliative radiation therapy in cancer patients
10/17/26 at 03:30 AMBest case/worst case: A multisite randomized trial of scenario planning for patients with late-stage kidney disease
10/17/26 at 03:15 AMBest case/worst case: A multisite randomized trial of scenario planning for patients with late-stage kidney diseaseJournal of American Geriatrics Society; by Lily N. Stalter, Bret M. Hanlon, Kyle J. Bushaw, Jenna Nitkowski, Anne Buffington, Katharine L. Cheung, Amy B. Zelenski, Kristine Kwekkeboom, Amar D. Bansal, Deidra Candice Crews, Holly M. Koncicki, Daniel Lam, Alvin H. Moss, Maya K. Rao, Dawn Felicity Wolfgram, Jeniann Yi, Carrie Brill, Tamara Isakova, Margaret L. Schwarze; 9/26Best Case/Worst Case (BC/WC) is a communication tool to support nephrologists and older adults with advanced chronic kidney disease with decisions about dialysis. We compared the effectiveness of training nephrologists to use BC/WC versus usual care on receipt of palliative care, quality of life (QOL), quality of communication, dialysis initiation, and death. While we hypothesized that improving prognostic awareness and communication would increase palliative care utilization, the challenges of connecting patients with life-limiting kidney disease to palliative care are multifaceted, well documented, and likely not surmountable with a communication intervention alone. Conclusion: Training nephrologists to use the BC/WC communication tool does not significantly affect receipt of palliative care or other measurable clinical outcomes.
Sustained effects of auricular point acupressure on chemotherapy-induced neuropathy: A randomized controlled trial follow-up study
10/10/26 at 03:30 AMEnd-of-life care patterns by transplant eligibility among patients with end stage kidney disease
10/10/26 at 03:20 AMEnd-of-life care patterns by transplant eligibility among patients with end stage kidney diseaseJournal of Pain & Symptom Management; by Annie Liu, Jennifer F.N. Kizza-Brown, Ayman Al Jurdi, Ayesha M. Malik, Anushka Dalvi, Sharneet Sandhu, Lina Nurhussien, Nora K. Horick, Onyenma E. Obiejesie, Grace Bizup, Malia Armstrong, Kassem Safa, Sahir Kalim, Samantha Gelfand, Joshua Lakin, James A. Tulsky, Areej El-Jawahri, Nneka N. Ufere; 9/26Adults with end stage kidney disease (ESKD) often spend years awaiting kidney transplantation, during which transplant listing status frequently changes from active to inactive – a phase marked by evolving expectations. In the last year of life, patients had a median of two emergency department visits ... , two hospitalizations ... , and 25 cumulative hospital days ... Overall, 61% died in the hospital and 59% remained full code at death, and 18% were referred to hospice (median stay four days ... ) Conclusion: Adults with ESKD on dialysis experience intensive end-of-life care regardless of transplant eligibility. Switches to inactive status may represent a clinical inflection point to address prognostic understanding and transplant expectations.
Top ten tips palliative care clinicians should know about caring for people with interstitial lung diseases
10/10/26 at 03:10 AMTop ten tips palliative care clinicians should know about caring for people with interstitial lung diseasesJournal of Palliative Medicine; by Jyothsna Kuriakose, Jacopo D'Andria Ursoleo, Barney Isaac, Balamugesh Thangakunam, Donald R Sullivan, Kathleen Lindell, Anne-Marie Russell, Rachel Hadler, Matthew Maddocks, Natalia Smirnova, Russell Portenoy, M R Rajagopal, Sarah Mohammed, Anand S Iyer, Smriti Rana, Natasha Smallwood, Christopher A Jones, Jenifer Jeba Sundararaj; 9/26Interstitial lung diseases (ILD) represent a heterogenous group of illnesses with significant multidimensional suffering and varied prognoses. The complex care needs of people with ILD and their caregivers are underrecognized and incompletely addressed. This gap necessitates shared care by a multidisciplinary team along the illness trajectory. PC [palliative care] clinicians need to understand the illness patterns, prognoses, therapeutic options including lung transplant, symptom management, and other supportive interventions in ILD care. This article distills the current evidence into 10 practical tips to assist PC clinicians in delivering comprehensive care to people with ILD. Well-informed PC teams can significantly influence the illness experience of individuals with ILD and their caregivers, thereby reducing serious health-related suffering.
Free webinar for physicians and healthcare professionals: Advanced lung disease - prognostication and role of hospice
10/07/26 at 03:45 AMFree webinar for physicians and healthcare professionals: Reducing hospital readmissions and reducing Hospital Readmissions and Length of stay in advanced illness patients VITAS Healthcare; Press Release; 9/14/26
Deep sourcing and sensitive multimedia reporting provide a rare, intimate look at medically assisted dying
10/05/26 at 03:00 AMDeep sourcing and sensitive multimedia reporting provide a rare, intimate look at medically assisted dying The Associated Press (AP); by Luis Andres Henao, Laura Bargfeld and Javier Arciga; 10/2/26As medically assisted death expands across the United States, AP delivered a deeply sourced and humane examination of the legal, moral and religious questions surrounding the contentious issue, told through people confronting those questions in their own lives. Global Religion reporter Luis Andres Henao examined state laws, court challenges and the history of medical aid in dying since the first U.S. law took effect in 1997. He interviewed doctors, bioethicists, faith leaders and legal experts, while seeking out voices on both sides of the debate. ... Together, the text, the photographs by Henao and the videos by Bargfeld and Arciga created an intimate, respectful package that made complicated questions of faith, disability rights, medical ethics and personal choice accessible through the experiences of those most directly affected.
Breast cancer awareness month
10/05/26 at 02:00 AMBreast cancer awareness month BreastCancer.org; by Jennifer Carr; 9/21/26 October is about more than pink ribbons. ... Understanding the goals behind the global campaign and the emotions felt by the many different people living with the disease may help you decide if and how you want to commemorate the month. Breast Cancer Awareness Month is an international health campaign that’s held every October. The month aims to promote screening and reduce the risk of the disease, which affects 2.4 million women worldwide.1 Known best for its pink theme color, the month features a number of campaigns and programs designed to: ...