Literature Review

All posts tagged with “Communication | Patients.”



I’m a hospice physician. There’s one thing I dread telling my patients.

04/24/25 at 03:00 AM

I’m a hospice physician. There’s one thing I dread telling my patients. Slate; by Charlotte Grinberg; 4/22/25 Tom was dying, and managing his condition at home was increasingly difficult. ... His wife Sue was in survival mode. A few sleepless nights turned into weeks without rest, during which she was constantly trying to manage Tom’s symptoms and take care of his basic needs. I’m a hospice physician, and it’s at junctures like this that I can offer a life vest that completely changes the end-of-life experience. ... I told Sue that I thought Tom should transfer to our inpatient hospice facility. “You have done everything possible for Tom at home, it’s too much to ask of you or anybody,” I said. “He needs a higher level of care.” ... Getting a devoted spouse to agree to move their dying partner out of the home isn’t always easy. But a few days after Tom arrived at the inpatient hospice facility, Sue cried tears of appreciation describing the daily baths the caretakers there gave him. 

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When they don't recognize you anymore

04/23/25 at 02:30 AM

When they don't recognize you anymore The New York Times - The New Old Age; by Paula Span; 4/20/25 People with dementia often forget even close family members as the disease advances. "It can throw people into an existential crisis," one expert said. [Additional access may require subscription.]

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Palliative care and advanced cardiovascular disease in adults: Not just end-of-life care: A scientific statement from the American Heart Association

04/18/25 at 03:00 AM

Palliative care and advanced cardiovascular disease in adults: Not just end-of-life care: A scientific statement from the American Heart Association AHAIASA Journals - American Heart Association; by Lucinda J. Graven, PhD, APRN, FAHA, Lisa Kitko, PhD, RN, FAHA, Martha Abshire Saylor, PhD, MSN, BA, RN, Larry Allen, MD, MHS, FAHA, Angela Durante, PhD, RN, Lorraine S. Evangelista, PhD, RN, CNS, WAN, FAHA, Amy Fiedler, MD, James Kirkpatrick, MD, Lakeisha Mixon, MSW, and Rachel Wells, PhD, MSN, BA on behalf of the American Heart Association Complex Cardiovascular Nursing Care Science Committee of the Council on Cardiovascular and Stroke Nursing; and Council on Cardiovascular Surgery and Anesthesia; 4/17/25  ... This scientific statement (1) discusses the application of effective communication, shared decision-making, age-friendly care, and advance care planning in advanced cardiovascular disease palliative care; (2) provides a summary of recent evidence related to palliative care and symptom management, quality of life, spiritual and psychological support, and bereavement support in individuals with advanced cardiovascular disease and their care partners; (3) discusses issues involving diversity, equity, and inclusion in cardiovascular disease palliative care; (4) highlights the ethical and legal concerns surrounding palliative care and implanted cardiac devices; and (5) provides strategies for palliative care engagement in adults with advanced cardiovascular disease for the care team.

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Patient-centered communication drives supportive care needs in incurable cancer

04/17/25 at 03:00 AM

Patient-centered communication drives supportive care needs in incurable cancer Oncology Nursing News; by Kristie L. Kahl; 4/16/25 The Primary Palliative Care Communication Intervention (PRECURSOR) may improve the psychosocial experiences of patients with incurable gynecologic cancer and their caregivers in the outpatient setting, according to results of a pilot study presented at the 50th Annual ONS Congress. ... Currently, most of the conversation around supportive care is provider-driven, and clinical tendency is to insert palliative care in the terminal setting. However, the study investigators aimed to integrate supportive care across the cancer continuum.

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For AYAs with advanced cancer, study finds serious communication gaps about their care

04/16/25 at 03:00 AM

For AYAs with advanced cancer, study finds serious communication gaps about their care National Cancer Institute; by Daryl McGrath; 4/15/25 Many adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with advanced cancer don’t have discussions with their clinicians about how they want to approach palliative care until the final weeks of life, a study of medical records of nearly 2,000 young patients showed. ... Talking about care and treatment near the end of life is one of the most challenging aspects of caring for AYAs with advanced cancer, said Ashley Wilder Smith, Ph.D., M.P.H., of NCI’s Healthcare Delivery Research Program and co-leader of NCI’s Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology Working Group. ... “When a young person is faced with a disease that may lead to an early death, it’s vitally important to give them the opportunity to think about what’s most important to them and what happens to them in terms of care in the time they have left,” she said.

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The power of film to change medical culture: A Q&A with a physician-filmmaker about her latest documentary

04/16/25 at 02:00 AM

The power of film to change medical culture: A Q&A with a physician-filmmaker about her latest documentary MedPage Today; by Genevieve Friedman; 4/15/25... We spoke with Jessica Zitter, MD, a critical care and palliative care physician in California, about shifting her career beyond clinical medicine and into the world of film-making. Zitter has produced three documentaries that use storytelling to inspire healthcare providers to connect to their work with purpose, community, and compassion, and in 2022, she founded the production company Reel Medicine Media. Her latest documentary, "The Chaplain & The Doctor," explores her relationship with Betty Clark, a chaplain on Zitter's palliative care team, and the value that can grow from an unlikely partnership.

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Hospitalists in a bind when cancer prognosis hasn’t sunk in

04/16/25 at 02:00 AM

Hospitalists in a bind when cancer prognosis hasn’t sunk inMedscape; by Jake Remaly; 4/15/25 When a patient with cancer is admitted to the hospital, the reason might not be related to the malignancy. But the hospitalist in charge sometimes becomes aware of a major disconnect: The patient, who they just met, does not grasp the severity of their cancer prognosis. On the one hand, the hospital medicine team and patient have advance directives and goals of care to consider, which may steer the course of the hospitalization and any use of hospice. The cancer prognosis — the patient might only have months to live, for example — could be a key component of those conversations. On the other hand, explaining the cancer situation should fall to the oncologist, right? ...

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You've got a friendtor in me: Innovations in peer mentoring for mid-career palliative care clinicians

04/10/25 at 03:00 AM

You've got a friendtor in me: Innovations in peer mentoring for mid-career palliative care clinicians American Journal of Hospice & Palliative Care; April Zehm, Andrew J Lawton, Leah B Rosenberg, Sudha Natarajan, Bethany-Rose Daubman; 3/14/25 Mentoring is crucial to professional success, but little is known about the professional development needs of mid-career hospice and palliative medicine (HPM) clinicians. ... An interprofessional "friendtor" group of five HPM clinicians from three academic medical centers met monthly and for a year-end focus group. ... Several themes emerged that highlight the importance of ...

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Conversations today to empower tomorrow: VITAS Healthcare elevates National Healthcare Decisions Day

04/10/25 at 02:00 AM

Conversations today to empower tomorrow: VITAS Healthcare elevates National Healthcare Decisions Day VITAS Healthcare; Press Release; 4/7/25 Only one in three adults in the United States have a written advance directive, a document critical in providing guidance to medical teams regarding one’s end-of-life wishes. As a pioneer and national leader in hospice and palliative care, VITAS Healthcare advocates for National Healthcare Decisions Day (April 16) and advance care planning––regardless of a person’s age or health status....  On April 16, VITAS will host a free webinar, Advance Directives and Advanced Care Planning, exploring the history, application and types of advance directives. VITAS Regional Medical Director Heather Veeder, MD, will provide practical advice to help healthcare professionals engage in difficult but necessary conversations with patients and families/caregivers. [Continue reading ...]

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Leaders’ past experiences bring fresh perspectives to home-based care

04/09/25 at 03:00 AM

Leaders’ past experiences bring fresh perspectives to home-based care Home Health Care News; by Joyce Famakinwa; 4/2/25 ... Home Instead isn’t the only home-based care company that has an eye for recruiting and leveraging outside talent. Multiple home-based care C-suite executives began their careers outside of health care and are now leveraging these past experiences to bring fresh ideas and strategies to their operations. Finance, journalism and fast food corporations are just a few examples of the industries that line the resumes of home-based care’s top executives. Home Health Care News heard from four home-based care executives and leaders who detailed their experiences working outside of health care, and the lessons they brought with them to benefit the industry. ...

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Seeking human empathy, health insurers turn to AI

04/09/25 at 03:00 AM

Seeking human empathy, health insurers turn to AI Modern Healthcare; by Nona Tepper; 3/27/25 When Florida Blue wanted its call center employees to demonstrate greater emotional intelligence when dealing with customers, the nonprofit health insurance company enlisted a tutor incapable of emotion. A generative artificial intelligence, or genAI, chatbot instructs 30 Florida Blue customer service representatives on how to behave like human beings when interacting with other human beings. The chatbot guides workers on human behaviors, such as when to slow their speech, when to hasten a call to its conclusion and what to recommend to policyholders. The company plans to expand this pilot program to its entire 1,600-person call center team this year. [Continue reading ... access may be limited]Editor's note: Is this backwards? What happened to human kindness? Courtesy and core respect? I am a lifelong lover of new technologies. Still, I am surprised at this seemingly-backwards twist. For whatever works, may we learn and grow in "[behaving] like human beings when interacting with other human beings."

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Leaders on leadership: 10 valuable lessons that will make you think

04/09/25 at 03:00 AM

Leaders on leadership: 10 valuable lessons that will make you think Forbes; by Esther K. Choy; 3/6/25 In the last eight years as a Forbes columnist, I have interviewed leaders who have shared a great deal of insights on successful leadership. Here are 10 quotes on leadership that illuminate the concrete actions that successful leaders "do," not just "think" or "believe." These quotations are from leaders with a variety of backgrounds and business sectors — tech, finance, design, education, and research — but one thing that rings true through all their perspectives — successful leadership is about connection. [Quotes address these themes:]

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Duke University Health System CEO: 7 lessons learned from a complex transformation

04/04/25 at 03:00 AM

Duke University Health System CEO: 7 lessons learned from a complex transformation Becker's Hospital Review; by Craig T. Albanese, MD, CEO of Duke University Health System; 4/3/25 Change management is both the art and science of preparing, supporting and equipping individuals, teams and an organization to adopt and adapt to new beginnings. ... Unifying our organization over the past 21 months, as with most mergers, has been challenging and we are far from finished. ... Lessons Learned:

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1 Red Flag that reveals bad leadership fast: One clear sign can tell you a lot about whether someone is leading well or failing miserably.

04/03/25 at 03:15 AM

1 red flag that reveals bad leadership fast: One clear sign can tell you a lot about whether someone is leading well or failing miserably. Inc., by Marcel Schwantes; 3/28/25 Bad leadership isn’t always obnoxious, toxic, or obvious. Sometimes it shows up in small, everyday moments—how someone talks to their team, how they handle mistakes, or how they treat people when no one’s watching. You don’t need a long list to spot it, either. A few clear signs can tell you a lot about whether someone is leading well … or just holding the title. ... Here is one quick way to recognize bad leadership before it does real damage: a lack of patience ... [Continue reading ...]

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Hospices must ‘evolve’ to better support next generation of caregivers

04/03/25 at 03:00 AM

Hospices must ‘evolve’ to better support next generation of caregivers Hospice News; by Holly Vossel; 3/31/25 Individuals in the millennial and generation Z (Gen Z) age groups represent a swelling proportion of today’s family caregivers. They face unique challenges when providing support for hospice patients compared to others, recent research has found. ... Understanding the competing, complex priorities of these generations is pivotal for hospices’ ability to deliver quality care, according to Nicole McCann-Davis, senior client advisor and research director at Transcend Strategy Group. [Continue reading ...]

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20 leadership behaviors that undermine trust—and how to restore it

04/03/25 at 03:00 AM

20 leadership behaviors that undermine trust—and how to restore it Forbes; by Expert Panel for Forbes Coaches Council; 3/27/25 Trust is the cornerstone of effective leadership, yet even the most well-intentioned executives can inadvertently weaken it. ... Here, members of Forbes Coaches Council share 20 common ways leaders unintentionally compromise trust with teams, along with strategies to restore it.

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Palliative care in the intensive care unit: An integrative review of intensive care unit health care professionals' views and experiences

04/02/25 at 03:00 AM

Palliative care in the intensive care unit: An integrative review of intensive care unit health care professionals' views and experiences Dimensions of Critical Care Nursing (DCCN); by Berit Lindahl and Susan Kirk; May-Jun 2025 ... Our findings suggest there is variation in how palliative care in the ICU is conceptualized and interpreted. Intensive care unit professionals need enhanced competencies and training to develop their confidence in providing palliative care and improve role clarity. Such training should focus on serious illness conversations with patients/families and interdisciplinary teamwork. Integration of palliative consultants into the ICU could be further developed.

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The blind side of leadership: Toxic positivity in workplace culture

04/02/25 at 01:30 AM

The blind side of leadership: Toxic positivity in workplace culture Forbes; by Tracy Lawrence; 3/26/25 A surprising number of leaders are unaware of toxic positivity, even as they unwittingly cultivate it. It’s understandable, but toxic positivity isn't just a cultural nuisance – it's a serious strategic liability. When organizations prioritize "feeling good" over honest communication, they lose the ability to address emerging problems, identify market shifts, and leverage their teams' full capabilities. In my experience coaching executives across industries, I've observed that the most successful organizations aren't those with the fewest problems – they're the ones where issues can be safely identified and addressed before they become crises. [Continue reading ...]

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Managing oncology nurse burnout through peer support, emotional intelligence

04/01/25 at 03:00 AM

Managing oncology nurse burnout through peer support, emotional intelligence Oncology Nursing News; by Pattie Jackel, MN, RN, AOCN; 3/28/25 Debriefing after patient loss, supporting patients at the end of life, and finding outlets outside of work can help oncology nurses avoid burnout. ... Pattie Jakel, MN, RN, AOCN, spoke with Oncology Nursing News® about burnout in oncology nursing and ways to avoid it while providing palliative care to patients. ... You have to have a strong network and support. And my husband is…an architect, so medicine is not his thing, and in the beginning, he’d be like, “Pattie, I can only hear one sad story a week because I can’t hear all your sad stories.” ... "Working in acute care, I saw some horrific death and dying that occurred for our patients. We would definitely debrief afterwards, bring the group together 5 minutes. Sometimes we did longer ones." [Continue reading ...]

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When medicine meets theater

03/31/25 at 03:00 AM

When medicine meets theater The Ticker; by Craig Manning; 3/30/25 Munson Healthcare’s newest partner is going to surprise you. Last year, a pair of physicians at Munson set out to help their colleagues improve at one of the most stubbornly difficult parts of the healthcare profession: delivering bad news to patients. That goal led Munson to strike up a partnership with Old Town Playhouse, melding medicine and theater for an innovative course that gives doctors a chance to practice difficult conversations. The doctors play themselves, informing patients about challenging or terminal diagnoses. The Playhouse actors play the patients, reacting differently depending on how their physician approaches the conversation. 

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Hidden battles: Keeping cancer secret

03/27/25 at 03:00 AM

Hidden battles: Keeping cancer secret Harvard Health Publishing - Harvard Medical School; by Maureen Salamon; post is dated 4/1/25, retrieved from the internet 3/25/25 Some people choose to conceal their diagnosis and treatment. Here's why — and reasons that approach can sometimes backfire. ... [In addition to privacy motives, Cristina Pozo-Kaderman, a senior psychologist at Harvard-affiliated Dana-Farber Cancer Institute] says cancer patients may also wish to:

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If you’re known for these 5 habits, your leadership skills are off the charts

03/21/25 at 03:00 AM

If you’re known for these 5 habits, your leadership skills are off the charts Inc.; by Marcel Schwantes; 3/19/25 In an era of constant disruption, every leader should aspire to have these skills and habits. Business is more unpredictable than ever, and it’s hitting leaders hard. More than half (57 percent) of executives say their companies faced serious disruption last year—way up from the year before. Employees are also checking out—engagement is at a 10-year low. The old way of leading, where authority and expertise ruled, isn’t cutting it anymore. The best leaders today aren’t just the smartest or most experienced—they’re the ones who know how to build trust, bring people together, and lead with confidence and compassion. ... Five power skills of essential leadership: ...

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