Literature Review

Pennant’s home health, hospice growth ‘significantly ahead’ of prior expectationsHome Health Care News; by Audrie Martin; 8/7/24The Pennant Group Inc. (Nasdaq: PNTG) leaders highlighted the company’s significant home health growth Tuesday. They also teased continued expansion in the East Coast and elsewhere. “We are thrilled to report record-breaking second quarter results as we continue to experience momentum across all our service lines and create meaningful growth opportunities for local leaders and teams,” Pennant CEO Brent Guerisoli said during the company’s second-quarter earnings call. “Our financial performance and growth trajectory reflect the consistent efforts we have applied to every aspect of our business through our five key focus areas: leadership development, clinical excellence, employee engagement, margin and growth.” The Pennant Group is a holding company based in Eagle, Idaho, with independent operating subsidiaries that provide health care services through 117 home health and hospice agencies and 54 senior living communities across 13 states.

Local hospice and palliative care center starts virtual reality program to better patient experienceKYMA (Yuma, AZ); by Danyelle Burke North; 8/6/24The Southwestern Palliative Care and Hospice is bringing a new virtual reality experience program to its center. They added the Oculus VR device to their program to better their hospice and palliative patient experience. They say it provides a therapeutic escape and a way for patients to digitally see new environments without needing to leave their bed.

HOV takes on icy challenge to help end ALSLovin' Life [AZ]; by Lin Sue Flood; 8/4/24Several members of Hospice of the Valley’s Tucson care team enjoyed getting soaked for a great cause: the 10th anniversary of the Ice Bucket Challenge, the global phenomenon that transformed the fight against ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. The annual Ice Bucket promotion is a fun way to raise awareness and enhance support for those living with ALS. Hospice of the Valley’s Tucson team was excited to accept the chilly challenge. The nonprofit hospice works closely with ALS Arizona to support and care for patients with the neuromuscular condition.Publisher's note: A great way to raise awareness about your organization is to raise awareness for others!

Hospice patient and wife renew marriage vows in special silver anniversary ceremony[MS] WDAM; By Charles Herrington; 8/3/24Buddy and Sonja Myers celebrated 25 years of marriage with a special ceremony at Life Church. The couple renewed their vows during that ceremony. The ceremony was arranged by caregivers at ComfortCare Hospice of Laurel. Buddy Myers has cancer and is a hospice patient. “We went to the Justice of the Peace and got married, and I still laugh at Buddy to this day because he was repeating the vows to the judge and the judge said, ‘You’re not marrying me, tell her,’” Sonja Myers said... The Myers were married on June 8, 2000. Sonja Myers wanted to wear a wedding dress as they planned to renew their vows. That’s when caregivers at ComfortCare Hospice stepped in. “After I got to talking with the family, it came to me that (Sonja) wanted to walk down an aisle next year, at their 25th (anniversary) and so, I started contemplating for a little while and thinking about it and was like, ‘We could make that happen a little early,’” said Raven Anderson, a registered nurse with ComfortCare Hospice.

How systems are changing compensation to attract executive talentModern Healthcare; by Caroline Hudson; 8/6/24Organizations are paying higher salaries, reassessing incentives, redefining leadership roles and investing more in key positions to optimize operations, according to SullivanCotter. The firm provides data from more than 2,100 health systems, hospitals, medical groups and health plans for Modern Healthcare’s 2024 Executive Compensation Survey. Here are five takeaways from the survey findings.

Empath Health, American Health Plans launch ISNP joint ventureHospice News; by Jim Parker; 8/6/24The nonprofit senior care provider Empath Health is partnering with the Medicare Advantage organization American Health Plans (AHP), a division of American Health Partners to serve patients who are enrolled in Institutional Special Needs Plans (ISNP). ISNPs are Medicare Advantage plans that are designed to serve beneficiaries who live in skilled nursing facilities. Through the Empath partnership, members of AHP’s American Health Advantage of Florida ISNP will receive interdisciplinary services from TruHealth of Florida, the clinical arm of the ISNP. TruHealth is a newly established joint venture between AHP and Empath. Patients will also have access to Empath Health’s “full-life care” model.Notable mentions: Jonathan Fleece, Empath Health CEO.

Bluegrass Care Navigators receives grant award from Disabled Veterans National FoundationAppalachian News-express; 8/5/24Bluegrass Care Navigators announced in a statement it has received a grant from the Disabled Veterans National Foundation for $18,000 which will allow BCN to focus its Integrative Medicine therapies on serving more of veteran patients.

Hospice advocate Judi Lund Person ... featured on Close Up Radio Western Slope Now, Ashburn, VA; by EIN Presswire; 7/26/24 (article) and 7/29/24 (recording)... Talking about where you’d like to be, who you’d like to be, and what you’d like to do is essential to entering this life-stage with confidence and grace. As the former Vice President of Regulatory and Compliance at the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) and a longtime advocate for hospice services under Medicare, Judi Lund Person has been working hard for more than 40 years to protect the definition of hospice care and to provide resources and guides for hospice providers to meet the Medicare requirements and provide high quality hospice care. ... Her passion for supporting patients and families during and after death began as a child. “When I was 12, my dad had a heart attack at night and passed when he was only 42. With two younger sisters, ages eight and ten, I was stunned that no one seemed to know what to do with us concerning our grief as children. We were left to try and figure it out on our own. I always thought that wasn’t quite right. Deep down, that experience was a driver for my career. I always knew families deserved more support during the grieving process,” shares Ms. Person. Editor's Note: Click here for the session's description. Click here for the recording. 

Merger will take advocacy efforts to new heights, NAHC, NHPCO leaders sayMcKnight's Home Care; by Adam Healy; 8/1/24The merging of two major trade associations is a key step forward for home care and hospice advocacy efforts, according to leaders of the National Association for Home Care & Hospice and the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization... The [NAHC-NHPCO] Alliance also provided an update on its CEO search. The organizations have previously stated that neither Dombi nor Ben Marcantonio, CEO of NHPCO, will be eligible to lead the merged organization. Instead, CEO candidates have come from a variety of backgrounds, including healthcare policy and advocacy, consulting and lobbying, government agencies and regulated entities, according to Melinda Gruber, vice chair of the Alliance’s transition board of directors. “We’ve had a large number of candidates and interest,” Gruber said Wednesday. “We are nearing the finalist selection phase … and we cannot wait to make an announcement after that.” Finally, NAHC and NHPCO disclosed that “The NAHC-NHPCO Alliance,” the associations’ current moniker, will likely not be the name it uses as a fully merged organization. “Trademark hurdles” have delayed the announcement of its official new name, but it is anticipated to be revealed soon, according to Ken Albert, chair of the transition board.

Valley Health, Blue Ridge hospice collaborate to expand care in Luray WHSV 3, Luray, VA; by Michael Russo; 8/1/24 Health systems in the Valley are joining together to expand their offerings for hospice care. Page Memorial Hospital in Luray will benefit from the collaboration between Valley Health and Blue Ridge Hospice and the pair’s Hospice in the Hospital Program. Valley Health and Blue Ridge Hospice signed an agreement July 15 to allow BRH’s staff to work with Valley Health’s team to provide “supplemental comfort care services” to ensure patients receive comprehensive care throughout and following their stay in the hospital. 

Bluegrass Care Navigators receives grant to care for veterans The Anderson News, Lawrenceburg, KY; 8/1/24 Bluegrass Care Navigators (BCN) is honored to announce it has received a grant from the Disabled Veterans National Foundation (DVNF) for $18,000 which will allow us to focus our Integrative Medicine therapies on serving more of our veteran patients across our service lines. “Thank you, DVNF, for your generous support,” Liz Fowler, President and CEO of BCN, said. “This grant empowers us to continue serving our veteran patients with integrative medicine therapies like art, music, and massage sessions. Your kindness ensures that all veterans, regardless of financial means, receive the holistic care they deserve.” 

Want more effective hospice nurses? Overhaul your onboardingMcKnight's Home Care; by Raianne Melton; 7/18/24The benefits of a comprehensive onboarding program are undeniable. Companies that prioritize onboarding see a median revenue increase of 49% per employee compared to those that don’t. Employees who undergo a successful onboarding process are 69% more likely to remain with a company for three years or more.

NAHC & NHPCO leaders say united organization already at work HomeCare; 8/1/24 The new group formed by the recent merger of the National Association for Homecare and Hospice (NAHC) and the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) has already gotten to work advocating in the industry—even though it doesn’t yet have a name or CEO. That’s what leaders said in a town hall meeting to discuss the progress of the alliance, which, for now, is being called “the alliance” as a sort of shorthand. “The work of the organizations doesn’t stop because of the merger,” said Ken Albert, chair of the group’s transition board, told more than 230 attendees for the online town hall on Thursday, July 31. “We’re continuing to serve members in all ways.” The two groups officially merged July 1 and hoped to have a name ready for the launch but encountered hurdles regarding trademark, said.