Literature Review
All posts tagged with “Clinical News | Spiritual Care News.”
Facing dementia: Clarifying end-of-life choices, supporting better lives
03/01/24 at 03:00 AMFacing dementia: Clarifying end-of-life choices, supporting better lives The Hastings Center; 2/28/24The report includes 10 recommendations for policymakers, research funders, clinical and legal practitioners, and professional societies. ... “Facing Dementia: Clarifying End-of-Life Choices, Supporting Better Lives” is the major product of a Hastings Center research project, codirected by Hastings senior research scholar Nancy Berlinger and President Emerita Mildred Z. Solomon.
Right-sizing interprofessional team training for serious-illness communication: A strength-based approach
02/29/24 at 03:00 AMRight-sizing interprofessional team training for serious-illness communication: A strength-based approach PEC Innvov, by Liana Eskola, Ethan Silverman, Sarah Rogers, Amy Zelenski; distributed 2/28/24Objective: Palliative care communication skills help tailor care to patients' goals. With a palliative care physician shortage, non-physicians must gain these serious illness communication skills. Historically, trainings have targeted physician-only groups; our goal was to train interprofessional teams.
Surgeon shares biggest lesson: ‘Never underestimate the power of hope'
02/29/24 at 03:00 AMSurgeon shares biggest lesson: ‘Never underestimate the power of hope Mofitt Cancer Center, by Corrie Pellegrino; 2/27/24An Interview with Dr. Monica Avila. ...[Question] What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned from a patient?[Response] I think the biggest lesson is to never underestimate the power of hope and the power of the patients’ will to live. I’ve had patients literally placed on hospice care who I have taken to the operating room, had successful optimal debulking for ovarian cancer and who are living life right now after chemotherapy. So I never underestimate patients’ ability to keep going and keep living.
[Palliative Care] Are we consulting, sharing care, or taking over? A conceptual framework
02/29/24 at 03:00 AMAre we consulting, sharing care, or taking over? A conceptual frameworkPalliat Med Rep, by José Pereira, Christopher Klinger, Hsien Seow, Denise Marshall, Leonie Herx; 2/23/24Background: Primary- and specialist-level palliative care services are needed. They should work collaboratively and synergistically. Although several service models have been described, these remain open to different interpretations and deployment.Aim: This article describes a conceptual framework, the Consultation-Shared Care-Takeover (C-S-T) Framework, its evolution and its applications.
Embracing the platinum rule in palliative care: Treating patients the way they want to be treated
02/29/24 at 02:00 AMEmbracing the platinum rule in palliative care: Treating patients the way they want to be treated Anschutz, by Tari Advani, MD; 2/26/24 One of the first take aways from this journey, for me, in a mid-career directional change from emergency medicine to palliative care was a move away from the golden rule and towards the platinum rule. Treat patients the way they want to be treated, not the way we want to be treated. It is so simple, it allows people to exist in their own context, with their own histories and their own wishes. And, we, as caretakers, take the kind of care of them that they want. Where had that idea been during the past 20 years of my career? How many situations had I judged, wrongly, based on my own preferences, not the preferences of the patient.
Communicating with patients with hearing loss or deafness—Can you hear me?
02/28/24 at 03:00 AMCommunicating with patients with hearing loss or deafness—Can you hear me? JAMA Intern Med, by Dianne P. O'Leary, PhD and Timothy J. O'Leary, PhD, MD... Virtually all health care professionals want to provide the best possible care and to communicate as effectively as possible. However, ... frequent communication failures are leading to inferior care for the hearing impaired. Effective communication might require some or all of the approaches listed in [this article].
CareAcademy launches hospice care curriculum and expands offerings to serve post-acute care providers nationwide
02/28/24 at 03:00 AMCareAcademy launches hospice care curriculum and expands offerings to serve post-acute care providers nationwidePR Newswire, news provided by CareAcademy; 2/27/24CareAcademy ... proudly announces the launch of its Hospice Care curriculum, marking a significant expansion of its offerings to support post-acute care providers. Renowned for its user-friendly platform and high-quality content, CareAcademy is broadening its focus to be a key player in the broader post-acute care landscape, serving home health, hospice and palliative care organizations.
Racial differences in shared decision-making about critical illness
02/28/24 at 03:00 AMRacial differences in shared decision-making about critical illnessJAMA Intern Med, by Deepshikha C. Ashana, MD, MBA, MS; Whitney Welsh, PhD; Doreet Preiss, PhD; et al; published online 2/26/24Question: How do critical care clinicians approach shared decision-making with Black compared with White caregivers of critically ill patients?Findings: In a thematic analysis of 39 audio-recorded clinician-caregiver meetings, racial differences were most evident in the following clinician behaviors: providing emotional support to caregivers, acknowledging trust and gratitude expressed by caregivers, disclosing medical information, and validating caregivers' treatment preferences.
Being there for a loved one's final breaths
02/27/24 at 03:00 AMBeing there for a loved one's final breaths NextAvenue, by Elaine Soloway; 2/26/24"I'll be downstairs," I told him one night. "And I'll be up to kiss you goodnight before I go to sleep." He smiled and squeezed my hand. I had barely settled on the couch when the hospice worker appeared at the top of the stairs. "He's gone," she said. I learned this pause is not unusual. Hospice workers report that some people who are dying wait to be alone for their final breaths.
Not all mourning happens after bereavement – for some, grief can start years before the death of a loved one
02/26/24 at 03:00 AMNot all mourning happens after bereavement – for some, grief can start years before the death of a loved one The Conversation, by Beth Daley; 2/22/24For many people, grief starts not at the point of death, but from the moment a loved one is diagnosed with a life-limiting illness. Whether it’s the diagnosis of an advanced cancer or a non-malignant condition such as dementia, heart failure or Parkinson’s disease, the psychological and emotional process of grief can begin many months or even years before the person dies. This experience of mourning a future loss is known as anticipatory grief.Editor's Note: All clinical team members need to be equipped to tune into and validate grief that is already underway. Social workers and chaplains--especially--need to be trained to tend grief in the present, and to know how to make high-acuity referrals to bereavement counselors.
Advance praise for Oncology and Palliative Social Work: Psychosocial Care for People Coping with Cancer
02/26/24 at 03:00 AMAdvance praise for Oncology and Palliative Social Work: Psychosocial Care for People coping with Cancer Oxford Academic - Oxford University Press; 2/23/24Oncology and Palliative Social Work: Psychosocial Care for People Coping With Cancer (OPSW) fills an important gap in the serious illness literature. The book illustrates the need for integrating palliative care early in the lives of patients with cancer and illuminates the important role that social workers have in providing psychosocial support services across the cancer trajectory.
Understanding the discordance about prognosis between clinicians and terminally ill patients and their surrogates
02/26/24 at 03:00 AMUnderstanding the discordance about prognosis between clinicians and terminally ill patients and their surrogates: A conversation with Douglas B. White, MD, MASThe ASCO Post, by Jo Cavallo; 2/25/24Research shows that about half of adults near the end of life in the United States are too ill to participate in decisions about whether to accept life-prolonging treatment, requiring family members and other proxies to serve as surrogate decision-makers for their critically ill loved ones. However, research also shows that surrogates of patients with advanced illness often have optimistic expectations about prognosis, which often lead to the increased use of invasive treatment (including life support) in dying patients and delays in the integration of palliative care.
We gave palliative care patients VR therapy. More than 50% said it helped reduce pain and depression symptoms
02/23/24 at 03:00 AMWe gave palliative care patients VR therapy. More than 50% said it helped reduce pain and depression symptomsThe Conversation; 2/22/24Our study, published this week in the journal BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care, found more than 50% of patients experienced clinically meaningful reductions in symptoms such as pain and depression immediately after a 20-minute VR session. ... Personalised VR means each person experiences content that is meaningful to that individual. So rather than asking patients to choose, for example, between a rainforest and a beach VR experience, we interviewed the patients before their sessions to gauge their interests and create a VR session tailored to them.
Psychological issues in palliative care: Elissa Kozlov and Des Azizoddin
02/23/24 at 03:00 AMPsychological issues in palliative care: Elissa Kozlov and Des AzizoddinGeriPal podcast, by Alex Smith; 2/22/24Today we talk with two psychologists who are deeply invested in addressing psychological aspects of care for people living with serious illness. Elissa Kozlov, a geropsychologist and director of a new population aging MPH at Rutgers, surveyed AAHPM members, and found that doctors reported major shortcomings in level of comfort and knowledge caring for patients with psychological illness. She conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of 38 palliative care trials, finding that many excluded people with serious illness, and a lack of impact on psychological outcomes. Analyzing the Health and Retirement Study, she found 60% of older adults screened positive for depression in the last year of life.
Mental health service integration in hospice organizations: A national survey of hospice clinicians and medical leadership
02/23/24 at 03:00 AM
Identity shifts throughout HCT: A holistic approach to patient, caregiver support
02/23/24 at 01:00 AMIdentity shifts throughout HCT: A holistic approach to patient, caregiver supportHematology Advisor; by Katie Schoeppner, MSW, LICSW; Leah Christianson, OPN-CG; Hailey Hassel, MSW, LICSW; Cortney Alleyne, MPH; 2/20/24Patients undergoing hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT), their caregivers, and family members often experience dramatic shifts in their identity during and after the transplant process. These shifts can cause significant disruption in their lives, even among the most stable family and friend units. With holistic guidance and informed, empathetic care from professionals on healthcare teams, these patients and their support persons can better cope with the identity-related challenges they face.Editor's Note: See the patients you serve as persons. While this article focuses on person undergoing hematopoietic cell transplant, its rich insights about the patient/person's "tangible and intangible identity shifts" apply to the persons you serve, whatever the diagnosis. Read this article to develop your empathy and its practical applications throughout the services your organizations provide.
Barriers and facilitators to end-of-life care delivery in ICUs: A qualitative study
02/22/24 at 03:00 AMBarriers and facilitators to end-of-life care delivery in ICUs: A qualitative studyCrit Care Med; by Lauren M Janczewski, Adithya Chandrasekaran, Egide Abahuje, Bona Ko, John D Slocum, Kaithlyn Tesorero, My L T Nguyen, Sohae Yang, Erin A Strong, Kunjan Bhakta, Jeffrey P Huml, Jacqueline M Kruser, Julie K Johnson, Anne M Stey; 2/19/24Objectives: To understand frontline ICU clinician's perceptions of end-of-life care delivery in the ICU.Setting: Seven ICUs across three hospitals in an integrated academic health system.Subjects: ICU clinicians (physicians [critical care, palliative care], advanced practice providers, nurses, social workers, chaplains).Conclusions: Standardized work system communication tasks may improve end-of life discussion processes between clinicians and families.
Studies conducted at University of New Mexico on Hospice and Palliative Medicine recently published (Cultural advocacy for indigenous individuals with serious illness)
02/22/24 at 03:00 AMStudies conducted at University of New Mexico on Hospice and Palliative Medicine recently published (Cultural advocacy for indigenous individuals with serious illness) American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, by Jeanna Ford, DNP, APRN, ACNS-BC, ACHPN, FPCN, FCNS, and Constance Dahlin, MSN, ANP-BC, ACHPN, FPCN, FAAN; first published 2/2/24, posted in Health & Medicine Daily 2/20/24Indigenous American (I.A.) individuals with serious illness and their families have unmet needs. Often, this group is viewed as a minority within a minority. Numerous health challenges exist within the I.A. populations resulting in dire health care situations. Historical trauma and mistrust of the healthcare system impacts access to quality palliative care by this marginalized population. ... The aim is to empower palliative care clinicians the knowledge to provide culturally sensitive and congruent care to I.A. individuals with serious illness and their community.
Death can be isolating and dehumanizing. But what if it didn’t have to be?
02/21/24 at 03:00 AMDeath can be isolating and dehumanizing. But what if it didn’t have to be?City Life, by Ben Seal; 2/17/24... In the three years since Elaine’s passing, I’ve longed for a world where more people could be given the chance to die as she did — with the fullness of life surrounding her, and with complete support, emphasizing the emotional and spiritual, not just the medical. In Philadelphia and beyond, a growing community of death-care workers — doulas, nurses, grief counselors, social workers, even funeral directors — is trying to build that world. They are reclaiming death and dying from the institutional model that has become the norm over the past century. Editor's Note: Has hospice now become so institutionalized and medical/regulatory focused that we have lost sight of "emphasizing the emotional and spiritual, not just the medical"? I ask the question, but do not draw judgment, as answers must be contextualized.
Funerals becoming a thing of the past as end-of-life rituals change
02/20/24 at 03:30 AMFunerals becoming a thing of the past as end-of-life rituals change County Life, by Sharon Harrison; 2/16/24As times are changing, more and more people don’t want a traditional, religious funeral and instead are seeking alternatives to align with present day values.
Is the patient dead?
02/19/24 at 03:00 AMIs the patient dead?AMA Journal of Ethics; email 2/14/24Debate over the criteria by which doctors declare brain death has some bioethicists concerned. The AMA Journal of Ethics offers the following educational resources:
Understanding the discordance about prognosis between clinicians and terminally ill patients and their surrogates
02/16/24 at 02:00 AMUnderstanding the discordance about prognosis between clinicians and terminally ill patients and their surrogatesThe ASCO Post, by Jo Cavallo; 2/14/24A Conversation with Douglas B. White, MD, MASResearch shows that about half of adults near the end of life in the United States are too ill to participate in decisions about whether to accept life-prolonging treatment, requiring family members and other proxies to serve as surrogate decision-makers for their critically ill loved ones. However, research also shows that surrogates of patients with advanced illness often have optimistic expectations about prognosis, which often lead to the increased use of invasive treatment (including life support) in dying patients and delays in the integration of palliative care.
How to support adolescents and young adults with cancer at the end of life
02/15/24 at 03:00 AMHow to support adolescents and young adults with cancer at the end of lifeThe Oncology Nursing Society Voice, by Kimberly Rivera DNP, RN-BC, OCN®, NPD-BC; 2/12/24... [Cancer] is the fourth leading cause of death in adolescents and young adults (AYAs), following accidents, suicide, and homicide. ... Appropriately defining the difference between palliative and end-of-life care can improve AYAs’ engagement with services such as advance care planning—a specific step that increases AYAs’ likelihood of receiving early palliative care. However, many palliative and hospice care services are geared toward pediatric or adult populations and may not meet AYAs’ unique needs, impeding effective care planning.
The Last Portrait: Local photo exhibition captures different takes on dying [Hospice & Palliative Care, Inc., New Hartford, NY]
02/14/24 at 03:00 AMThe Last Portrait: Local photo exhibition captures different takes on dyingUtica Observer Dispatch, by Amy Neff Roth; 2/9/24... The 26 black-and-white photos, taken by local photographer Mark DiOrio, all capture moments in the life of someone who has been diagnosed with a terminal illness. “I wanted to photograph them because they’ve been given news that nobody wants to hear,” DiOrio explained. “They’ve been given the news that it’s going to be their time soon. And when you’re given that kind of news, you have choices to make on how you handle it. I felt that these people, what they had to say and the emotions that they communicated in that moment were invaluable.”