Literature Review

An educator who established Oregon’s first hospice, Joan Buell dies at 90The Oregonian (Portland, OR)December 9, 2023Joan Strong Buell was a woman of many dimensions ... Most important, she was matter-of-fact about death but deeply devoted to transforming the experience of dying—from a traumatic, clinical affair on an uncomfortable hospital cot to a peaceful, dignified occasion in a homelike setting. That conviction is what led her to open what is now known as Hopewell House, the first hospice in Oregon and one of the first in the United States. Joan died on Aug. 19, at the age of 90. A celebration of her life was held in Portland on Dec. 3.

What It’s Like Watching My Friends Die in PrisonBy Martez JohnsonVeraDecember 7, 2023I work in hospice at a maximum-security prison. The question I get the most is, “How can you do that?” Honestly, it’s not easy. We are literally sitting with death. Hospice is a program that we sign up for, where we sit with another prisoner while he dies. That’s not all we do; there’s far more to it than that. But for now, that’s what I’ll say. When someone who is sick and has signed a “do not resuscitate” order gets to the point of no return, they call us in. I or one of my comrades sit with them while they die. When I started hospice, I didn’t really know what it meant. I understood how to do the job itself, but I didn’t really understand its gravity in full. The toll it takes on you. How mental it is. How much love it takes. How much forgiveness you have to give to the man who’s dying in front of you, even when it’s not yours to give. How much it makes you want forgiveness for your past actions. I go into each room knowing that death is on the other side of that door. By the time I show up, there’s no more hope. Can you imagine being in prison without any hope? I don’t think it’s right for any human to die in prison, but I’ve seen it so many times. I walk with death. I sit with death. ... So, to answer that question I get most: I do this because my friends need me to.[Editor’s Note: an advocate for prison reform, a writer, a hospice volunteer, and a mentor.]

How the Hospice Care Index Can Help Shape an Operator’s FutureHospice NewsDecember 7, 2023Strong performance on the Hospice Care Index is becoming increasingly essential to securing payer and referral contracts and will be a key consideration in the federal government’s forthcoming Special Focus Program. ... Health care consumers are also becoming more aware of these data. ... HCI data will be a key component of the algorithm that CMS will use to determine which hospices qualify for the SFP, coming in 2024. CMS plans to target hospices who fall within the lowest 10% of performers on a range of quality metrics and survey data.

America Is Having Yet Another Drug Shortage. Here’s Why It Keeps Happening.By Emily Tucker, PhDNew York TimesDecember 6, 2023The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists found this summer that nearly all of the members it surveyed were experiencing drug shortages, which generally affect half a million Americans. Cancer patients have scrambled as supplies of chemotherapy drugs dwindle. ... Over half of the shortages documented this summer by health consulting firm IQVIA had persisted for more than two years. But even though drug shortages affect millions of Americans, policymakers and industry leaders have provided little to no long-term relief for people in need. ... The people who are most affected by supply chain vulnerabilities—patients—are also those with least say in the choice to buy from reliable manufacturers. ... Legislative action is the only real way to ensure the availability of essential medications. After 20 years of drug shortages, it seems clear that markets alone are not the solution. And there are a few specific ways Congress should address drug shortages. The first is to ensure better quality drug manufacturing. Modernizing manufacturing facilities would make them more reliable and prevent shortages. The second is to improve the adaptability of drug manufacturing itself. Manufacturers should be able to switch quickly to alternative facilities or to increase production when demand unexpectedly increases. The last is to maintain buffer inventory of essential medications within our health care system.

Bipartisan Legislation Aims to Block CMS Staffing Proposal—Most Recently With Senate BillSkilled Nursing NewsDecember 6, 2023Legislation to block the nursing home minimum staffing proposal gained major traction this week, as a bill introduced on the Senate floor late Tuesday received more bipartisan support. Sen. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) led the way with the Protecting Rural Seniors’ Access to Care Act, which aims to stop the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services from finalizing the minimum staffing proposal—along with requiring that a nursing home workforce advisory panel be created. The Senate bill is endorsed by more than 90 organizations, according to Fischer’s office. 

Palliative Care News’ Top 5 Stories of 2023Palliative Care NewsDecember 6, 2023A look back at Palliative Care News’ five most-read stories this year paints a picture of trends shaping the serious illness care space. Securing reimbursement—and the promise of value-based contracts—continues to be top of mind for many palliative care providers as they look ahead to 2024. Operators have their eyes on the ever-shifting payment landscape and the headwinds and opportunities that come with it. Meanwhile, more providers are increasingly working to address health disparities among underserved populations in various settings, including prisons and rural areas, among others. But in the midst of this, workforce shortages and clinical capacity issues remain obstacles to palliative care access. The following are the most-read Palliative Care News articles of 2023.

Why are the holidays so hard?Jenn Flaum, LCSW, MBAExecutive Director, Heartlight Center, Denver, COThe holiday season can be filled with emotions that can be more profound and surprising than other times of the year, especially for individuals who are grieving. Subsequently, it is common for us to ask the question: Why are the holidays so hard? Editor Note: The author includes several suggestions that may be helpful for you, your patients, and their family members.

News about the Upcoming Hospice News Today Transition  Two long-time hospice advocates and entrepreneurs will be assuming publication of Hospice News Today on January 1, 2024, which will be renamed Hospice and Palliative Care Today, LLC.  Leading the effort will be Cordt Kassner, PhD, who, as many of you know, is the brains and number-cruncher behind Hospice Analytics. Cordt will be bringing on an editor, who is well known in the hospice community. We’ll be announcing that name in a week or two.  Cordt and his editor are committed to maintaining—and building upon—the Hospice News Today goal of ensuring that hospice leaders have the information and background necessary to navigate the ever-changing, ever-challenging healthcare landscape to ensure the long-term sustainability and success of the hospice model of care.  They will be making some exciting changes in the newsletter format as they roll out Hospice and Palliative Care Today. You’ll still receive a daily email. Monday through Friday the email will digest the day’s news. Weekend and Holiday editions will present some deeper looks at areas like clinical news.  You’ll soon be able to customize your daily newsletter to the topics and issues of interest to you—although given my personal interest in issues management, I encourage you to cast as broad a net as you’re comfortable.  The newsletter will be dynamically linked to an incredibly interactive website where you can manage your profile, search archives, and more.  And, perhaps most significantly, Hospice and Palliative Care Today will convert to a free-subscription model, relying into the future on the support of advertisers and sponsors to bring this valuable tool to the hospice community.  As hospice leaders, you understand that change is always a challenge. I encourage you to approach the new newsletter with an open mind. Cordt and his editor will be experimenting with various features and options from day one, so be patient. The newsletter you receive on January 1 will not be the same as the newsletter you receive on April 1 or July 1. It will be an invigorating journey of discovery for all of us!  In the next week or two, you’ll start seeing a link in Hospice News Today to take you to the Hospice and Palliative Care Today website to register for your free subscription commencing January 1. Please be sure to respond—and please share the link freely with anyone and everyone who might be interested.  It’s been a rewarding journey for me since 2012 to build this tool for my friends and colleagues in the hospice community. Cordt was one of my first subscribers, so it’s especially gratifying to be able to hand the newsletter to him.  As a reminder, this transition for Hospice News Today has no bearing on the respected online trade publication, Hospice News.  Look for more transition information in the days ahead.  In the meantime time, you can learn more about Cordt here.  Thanks for your continued readership and interest.Mark CohenEditor & Publisher, Hospice News Today

Chris Comeaux, nationally recognized Hospice leader, announces the release of first leadership book.