Literature Review
All posts tagged with “Clinical News | Advanced Illness Management News.”
Best 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: ...
Respecting spinal cord injury patient autonomy in the context of terminal extubation
10/03/26 at 03:25 AMRespecting spinal cord injury patient autonomy in the context of terminal extubationJournal of Palliative Care; by Rainy B S Wortelboer, Lauren Hall, Fareea Khaliq; 9/26Terminal extubation ... is a legally and ethically accepted practice in the United States where mechanical ventilation is withdrawn when ongoing life-sustaining treatment no longer aligns with a patient's stated goals of care. Nearly 42% of intensive care unit deaths involve withdrawal of such measures. Discussions regarding goals of care may be complicated by quality-of-life concerns and potential ableist bias when physical dependence is misinterpreted as incompatible with meaningful life. We present a case-based ethical analysis of an 88-year-old male with traumatic high-level cervical SCI [spinal cord injury] who requested terminal extubation following prolonged hospitalization. After interdisciplinary evaluation confirmed decision-making capacity and with strong family support, he elected hospice care. He was extubated with palliative support and passed 48 h later. This case highlights the intersection of autonomy, capacity, and ethics in end-of-life decisions for patients with SCI and underscores the importance of ethical, patient-centered approaches when considering withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment.
Oral anticoagulants in patients with Atrial Fibrillation and advanced CKD not requiring dialysis
10/03/26 at 03:20 AMA pilot feasibility study of PAL-CHW-PDAC, a digitally enhanced community health worker-led intervention to facilitate stepped palliative care in patients with pancreatic cancer
10/03/26 at 03:15 AMA pilot feasibility study of PAL-CHW-PDAC, a digitally enhanced community health worker-led intervention to facilitate stepped palliative care in patients with pancreatic cancerJournal of Palliative Medicine; by Nikhil R Thiruvengadam, Maud Celestin-Joachim, Lizbeth Rivas, Nishita Matangi, Arman Bahmani, Matthew Oroso, Joel Brothers, Kendrick Che, Andrew Chang, Emmanuel Eguia, Paul Leonor, Gina Mohr, Raja Narayan, Sagar Pathak, Susanne Montgomery, Betty Ferrell; 9/26Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is associated with substantial morbidity and poor quality of life (QOL). Early palliative care (EPC) has been shown to improve QoL and reduce symptom burden in PDAC, but only a minority of PDAC patients receive it. Using three conceptual models, we developed a community health worker (CHW)-led intervention to help facilitate stepped PC. Ninety-four percent of patients strongly agreed that the intervention was acceptable. Themed common responses highlighted by patients centered around the critically important role of the CHW in their care, especially as symptoms worsened. Patients' physical QoL and symptom burden improved from baseline to 12 weeks, while 83% of patients completed their ACP [advance care planning].
When repeat hospitalizations call for a different conversation
10/02/26 at 03:00 AMWhen repeat hospitalizations call for a different conversation South Florida Hospital News and Healthcare Report; by Joseph Shega, MD; 10/1/26 For a person living with advanced illness, repeated hospitalizations often signal more than a change in medical condition: needs may have evolved, priorities shifted or more support is needed. Yet conversations about hospital readmissions frequently focus on metrics, penalties and utilization. Equally important is whether the care plan still reflects the patient and family’s priorities. For caregivers, those moments bring difficult questions: What happens next? How will symptoms be managed? What support will be available at home? Those questions deserve a place in every conversation about reducing readmissions and length of stay. ...
HMN 2026: How palliative care understanding shapes preferences for end-of-life care
09/30/26 at 03:00 AMHMN 2026: How palliative care understanding shapes preferences for end-of-life care Health Medicine Network; 99/28/26 A Swedish population-level study has found that people with a comprehensive understanding of palliative care are more likely to prefer end-of-life care at home or in a hospice. Among individuals with less understanding about palliative care, hospital care is preferred. ... The data were based on a random sample of 3,750 people ages 16–90 from the Swedish population register.
People say they want to die at home. I think about it differently. Guest essay
09/30/26 at 02:00 AMPeople say they want to die at home. I think about it differently. Guest essay International New York Times; by Daniela J. Lamas; 9/29/26What is a good death? We tend to imagine a good death as one that takes place at home, far from the sounds and smells and lines and tubes of an intensive care unit, like the one where I work. I believed this for many years. But after a decade as an I.C.U. doctor, I've come to think we need a different definition of a good death. A death at home can be the right thing for a patient and his or her family. But it is not inherently better. An I.C.U. death can be peaceful and dignified. A death at home can be panicked and painful. Yet we have built a culture, and quality metrics, that treat I.C.U. care at the end of life as a failure. ... "dying." But sometimes intensive care is the right place to care for a dying patient.
Dr. Martin McCormack: The healthcare leader connecting education, governance and a safer world
09/29/26 at 03:00 AMDr. Martin McCormack: The healthcare leader connecting education, governance and a safer world Global Healthcare Magazine; September 2026 issue Long before he held a title [Chief Executive Officer of the College of Anaesthesiologists of Ireland], ... Dr. Martin McCormack sat with families in the hardest hours of their lives, [as a palliative care physician, trauma counselor with patients and families in intensive care, supervising a team of 36 medical social workers, developing bereavement services. ... He measures his own leadership less by what has been delivered in any one period than by the capability it leaves behind. ... Dr. McCormack has been asking some version of the same question that has remained consistent throughout his career: What does this person need from the system around them, and how do we build it so it holds?
How caregivers can prepare for a loved one’s final days
09/29/26 at 03:00 AMHow caregivers can prepare for a loved one’s final days AARP; by Paul Wynn; 9/28/26 When Dr. Chris Kerr’s mother was dying, he had the kind of experience that can change the way a doctor thinks about death. Kerr had spent decades caring for people at the end of life as a palliative care doctor in the Buffalo, New York, area. But when his mother, Shirley, became seriously ill, he experienced death through the lens of a son and a caregiver... “My lasting memory of my mother is her strong connection to her parents,” says Kerr, author of Death Is But a Dream and chief medical officer of Hospice and Palliative Care Buffalo. “It took me a while, but I realized that I had to stop trying to play doctor and just be there for her.”
What is end-of-life care at home? A complete guide for families
09/29/26 at 03:00 AMWhat is end-of-life care at home? A complete guide for families exeleon | Healthcare; 9/28/26 A study published in Federal Practitioner in September 2025, using data from the CDC WONDER database, found that home was the most common place of death among cancer patients between 2003 and 2023, accounting for 40.3% of all recorded deaths. ... This guide walks through what services are typically included, how eligibility works, and what separates in-home support from care delivered in a facility. Along the way, it covers home care for end of life planning, the difference between hospice and general end-of-life support, and practical steps for arranging services quickly.
NIH grant advances research on palliative care at home
09/28/26 at 03:00 AMNIH grant advances research on palliative care at home Indiana University School of Nursing; by Glenda Shaw; 9/23/26 ... A new research project led by Indiana University School of Nursing assistant professor Lyndsay DeGroot, PhD, RN, aims to bring palliative care directly to patients in their homes through a telephone-based program that could make supportive care more accessible for people living with serious chronic illness. To support this work, DeGroot has received a NIH-National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) five-year K23 Career Development Award totaling $916,000. The award will fund her project, “Implementing Community-Based Palliative Care for Adults with Heart Failure or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.”
Assessing palliative care screening tools for patients with cancer
09/28/26 at 03:00 AMAssessing palliative care screening tools for patients with cancer Oncology Nurse; by Vicki Moore, PhD; 9/25/26 A total of 19 screening tools for assessing palliative care needs among patients with cancer were identified in a recent scoping review, but with variation in their applications. The findings of the review were reported in the journal BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care. ... The researchers identified 37 studies that reported a total of 19 screening tools for assessing palliative care needs of patients with cancer, which the researchers grouped into 3 categories. These included universal tools, tools with cancer-specific modules, and tools specifically developed for patients with cancer.
Evaluation of palliative care technical skills in an acute care setting: A simulation-based, qualitative assessment
09/26/26 at 03:35 AMEvaluation of palliative care technical skills in an acute care setting: A simulation-based, qualitative assessmentAmerican Journal of Hospice & Palliative Care; by Daniel Boron-Brenner, Alexzandra Gentsch, Jenna Campolieto, Sepehr Sedigh-Haghighat, John Liantonio; 8/26Emergency physicians frequently encounter patients with serious illness, yet training in palliative care competencies remains inconsistent during emergency medicine (EM) residency. The objective of this study was to qualitatively examine EM residents' perceptions of the intersection between palliative care and emergency medicine following participation in palliative care-focused simulation scenarios. Residents reported uncertainty regarding core palliative care competencies, including interpretation of advance directives, documentation of do-not-resuscitate/do-not-intubate orders, and clinical decision-making during peri-arrest and resuscitation scenarios. Emotional responses included hesitancy and discomfort during high-stakes decision-making, particularly in the setting of limited information. Palliative-focused simulation elicited perceived knowledge gaps and emotional responses relevant to emergency care delivery. Simulation-based education may offer a structured approach to integrating palliative care competencies into EM training.
Core addiction skills training in hospice and palliative medicine fellowships: A national survey addiction skills training in HPM fellowships
09/26/26 at 03:30 AMCore addiction skills training in hospice and palliative medicine fellowships: A national survey addiction skills training in HPM fellowshipsJournal of Pain & Symptom Management; by J Janet Ho, Steven Z Pantilat, Julie W Childers; 8/26Hospice and palliative medicine (HPM) clinicians increasingly care for patients with serious illness and prolonged opioid exposure, yet often report limited training managing consequences like opioid misuse or opioid use disorder (OUD). PDs [program directors] perceived that fellows have low confidence with opioid misuse or OUD, despite commonly encountering such patients. Most programs offered limited training (2-3 hours), though many provided electives. Fewer than 20% of programs had faculty with formal addiction training, and 25% reported no faculty with buprenorphine experience. Conclusion: Despite broad recognition of the importance of core addiction skills, a shortage of faculty expertise constrains education in HPM physician fellowships.
Facilitating decision making at end of life: How physicians’ experiences can inform the work of clinical ethicists
09/26/26 at 03:25 AM[France] Deactivation of cardiac devices at the end of life: Clinical and ethical challenges
09/26/26 at 03:00 AMWhen to reconsider artificial nutrition and hydration near the end of life
09/25/26 at 03:00 AMWhen to reconsider artificial nutrition and hydration near the end of life South Hospital News and Healthcare Report; by Kamal Wahab, MD, HMDC; 9/24/26 Few end-of-life decisions generate more emotion and uncertainty than whether to continue or initiate artificial nutrition and hydration. Clinicians must balance the potential benefits of these interventions against the burdens while keeping the patient’s goals and quality of life at the center of the discussion. Hospice does not mean stopping treatment. Patients may continue treatments that relieve symptoms or improve quality of life. The guiding principle is whether the intervention is helping the patient achieve what matters most to them.
CMS expands the ACCESS Model: new tracks for heart failure, COPD, substance use disorders, tobacco cessation, and extended MSK support
09/23/26 at 03:00 AMCMS expands the ACCESS Model: new tracks for heart failure, COPD, substance use disorders, tobacco cessation, and extended MSK support Foley Hoag; 9/21/26 Key Takeaways:
Palliative and psycho-oncology care: Dr. Ramy Sedhom on patient distress signs
09/23/26 at 03:00 AMPalliative and psycho-oncology care: Dr. Ramy Sedhom on patient distress signs Oncology Nursing News; by Alex Biese; 9/21/26Ramy Sedhom, MD, of Penn Medicine Princeton Health discusses blending palliative care with psycho-oncology to treat patient distress in oncology care. ... In this Q&A with Oncology Nursing News, Sedhom discusses strategies for bridging historical silos between palliative care and psycho-oncology, debunks persistent misconceptions surrounding supportive interventions in curative settings, and identifies clinical red flags for unseen distress.