Literature Review

HomeCare & Hospice receives Renodin Grant Olean Times Herald, Allegany, NY; 11/14/24 HomeCare & Hospice announces it has received a generous grant from the Dr. Lyle F. Renodin Foundation to support its comfort care basket initiative for hospice patients. This funding will enable HomeCare & Hospice to provide comfort care baskets filled with thoughtfully selected items that promote relaxation, comfort and dignity for those facing end-of-life care. Each basket is designed to offer a bit of respite, bringing a sense of warmth and care to patients during a vulnerable time. The Dr. Lyle F. Renodin Foundation, affiliated with the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany, is committed to supporting projects that uplift individuals experiencing poverty, homelessness, food insecurity and other vulnerabilities. “We are deeply grateful to the Dr. Lyle F. Renodin Foundation for their support,” said Melissa Sullivan, CEO of HomeCare & Hospice. “This grant will allow us to provide meaningful and comforting items to our hospice patients, helping to ease their journey and providing support that reflects the compassion and respect at the heart of our mission.”

Mom of 4 is placed in hospice care 2 weeks before son's wedding. On his big day, she's on the dance floor with a smile (exclusive) People; by Jordan Greene; 11/14/24 ... In October, before entering hospice care, Liv recalls how her mom was in the hospital, and all she could talk about was attending the wedding. With Olivia's health deteriorating, Liv says her brother Salvatore and his fiancée Kelsey had even considered holding the wedding ceremony in the hospital room if necessary. But that contingency plan quickly became unnecessary. On Nov. 2, their mom defied expectations and arrived at Basilica Hudson in Hudson, New York, alongside the other 105 guests to watch her son walk down the aisle — turning the hopes of her kids and everyone else in attendance into a reality. In fact, Liv says her mom exceeded even the best-case scenario the family had imagined. ...

VITAS seeking large acquisitions in hospice CON states Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 11/13/24 As it considers potential acquisitions, VITAS Healthcare is focused on large assets in certificate of need (CON) states. VITAS is a subsidiary of Chemed Corp. (NYSE: CHE). The company this year made its return to the M&A market after a hiatus of several years. In April, VITAS acquired Covenant Health and Community Services’ hospice operations as well as one assisted living facility in an $85 million deal. With that transaction under its belt, more are likely on the way, according to Mike Witzeman, vice president and CFO for Chemed. “We are fairly optimistic on a pipeline of potential Covenant-size deals, but there are a few hurdles from an internal perspective that we would certainly want to keep in mind. First is we like CON states or states where there are restrictions on barriers of entry,” Witzeman said during a presentation at the UBS Healthcare Conference. “The second would then be locations that, generally speaking, have some size to them. That’s important, obviously, from a patient flow perspective, but also from a staffing perspective.” The third major consideration is the price tag. The Covenant deal was sealed at a multiple of 6x to 8x EBITDA. ...

Aroostook Hospice Foundation achieves $150,000 matching grant campaign goal The County, Presque Isle, ME; 11/13/24 The Aroostook Hospice Foundation is thrilled to announce the success of its recent Matching Grant Campaign, which raised an astounding $150,000 for the Aroostook House of Comfort. This achievement was made possible through the community’s generosity and a $75,000 match pledged by an anonymous donor. Launched in June, the campaign quickly gained momentum, with individuals and organizations coming together to meet the matching goal. These funds will directly support the Foundation’s mission to provide compassionate, inpatient hospice care when patient needs exceed what home hospice care can offer. Established in 2009 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the Aroostook Hospice Foundation was created to establish and sustain an inpatient hospice facility for the region. After years of dedicated fundraising and  community support, the Aroostook House of Comfort opened its doors in 2018, becoming one of only four inpatient hospice facilities in Maine. Since then, it has delivered quality end-of-life care to approximately 1,000 individuals and their caregivers in partnership with Northern Light Home Care & Hospice, a Medicare-certified hospice provider. Together, they ensure patients receive comfort, dignity and compassionate support on one’s journey through  hospice, serving both the patient and their caregivers.  

This one skill turns managers into great leaders Makeda Andrews - YouTube; by Makeda Andrews; 11/12/24 Have you ever thought about what the secret sauce is that turns a decent manager into great leader? Well it’s probably not what you think. Which is why in this video, I’m sharing the one game-changing skill that will elevate your leadership capacity and significantly impact the results you get. [Short-cut: the answer is "Emotional Intelligence," with excellent practical examples.]

TCN Anatomy of Leadership: Caring for Others with David Levy - Every interaction is an opportunityTeleios Collaborative Network (TCN); podcast by Chris Comeaux; 9/11/24In this episode of the Anatomy of Leadership podcast, David Levy, Professor of Management at the United States Air Force Academy, explores the concept of leadership and the importance of every interaction as an opportunity. The dialogue delves into an array of intriguing subjects such as the Air Force Academy's unique design, the “Masters of the Air” series, and Malcolm Gladwell's book, The Bomber Mafia. David Levy also discusses the importance of belonging, agency, and efficacy in leadership and how these concepts can contribute to the well-being of individuals and organizations. The conversation explores the importance of competence and context in performance, as well as the critical need for belonging in organizations. It introduces the concept of the Lens X, which consists of the needs of belonging, agency, and efficacy, and the narratives that shape our experiences.Editor's note: Continuing to honor this week's Veterans Day awareness, we thank David Levy for his service and leadership. Teleios Collaborative Network is a sponsor for our newsletter. 

Kaiser keeps cutting costs to stem operating losses Modern Healthcare; by Caroline Hudson; 11/8/24 Kaiser Permanente has continued implementing cost-cutting measures in an attempt to quell losses stemming in part from high medical expenses. ... Oakland, California-based Kaiser reported a $608 million operating loss in the third quarter, compared with a $156 million gain in the year-ago period. Net income was $845 million in the third quarter, compared with $239 million a year ago. CEO Greg Adams said in a news release he remains confident in Kaiser's integrated model and thinks it helps the health system navigate changes in the operating environment. Kaiser reported a $13 million gain in the quarter related to the Geisinger Health acquisition earlier this year. Kaiser Foundation Hospitals acquired Geisinger in April and folded it into Risant Health, a new nonprofit formed to create a national value-based care network. Washington, D.C.-based Risant is tasked with acquiring a handful of other systems to add to the network. In June, Risant announced plans to buy Cone Health in Greensboro, North Carolina, as part of a deal expected to close next year.

Gilchrist’s commitment: Bridging the gap in hospice care for minority communities Afro News - The Black Media Authority; 11/11/24 Equitable access to hospice care remains a critical issue, particularly in minority communities where disparities persist. Black Americans, for instance, continue to be underrepresented in hospice and palliative care services despite ongoing efforts to bridge the gap. Gilchrist, a trusted provider of end-of-life care for more than 30 years, is committed to addressing this inequity head-on. ... Veterans also face disparities in hospice care, especially African American veterans, who make up 12.4% of the veteran population, ... At the heart of Gilchrist’s commitment to serving Black communities in Baltimore lies the William L. and Victorine Q. Adams Gilchrist Center Baltimore. Named after two African American pillars of the local community, this state-of-the-art facility at Stadium Place on East 33rd Street serves as a beacon of hope for residents of Baltimore City and their families.

Veterans guest house to open a hospice home: Serving veterans through their final journey ABC 8 KOLO, Reno, Nevada; by Rebecca Kitchen; 11/11/24 For the last 30 years, the Veterans Guest House has made a commitment to serve veterans and their families as they seek medical care in our area. And over those 30 years, the need has grown tremendously. In fact, the Guest House has regularly been at capacity this year. To accommodate the increased need, the Veterans Guest House has also expanded on the services it offers. ... Every day, veterans and their families are confronted with end-of-life decisions. Some, have the resources to live out those days in comfort. But others face those last moments with uncertainty. “So, our solution is providing a home so they can get the hospice care and the 24-hour care that they need when they can’t get that where they live,” said Froslie. The current home and mission remain the same. This is a second home that will offer a cost-free, private residence for veterans in their final days. It is not a medical facility. Veterans will enroll with a hospice provider of their choice, who will oversee their medical needs. 

$1M state grant awarded to fund Erie’s first residential hospice center WJET Erie, Erie, PA; by Nicole Lee; 11/7/24 A state grant injects new life into a plan to build Erie County’s first residential hospice center. The palliative care clinic, which will be built in McKean Township, just received a $1 million state grant. Now, its planners are looking for community support to bring the plan to the finish line. “On Friday we got a call from Representative Banta saying that we got a $1 million RACP grant,” said Julia Strzalka, executive director of the Julia Hospice & Palliative Care. [Click here for Julia Hospice & Palliative Care.]

Cynder Sinclair: Calling nonprofits and donors to prepare for Giving Tuesday [Dec 3] Noozhawk, Santa Barbara, CA; by Cynder Sinclair; 11/7/24 Giving Tuesday, the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving and the internationally recognized day to contribute to charity, is upon us. It’s time for all nonprofits and donors to get ready. Unlike Black Friday and Cyber Monday, Giving Tuesday invites us to improve our community by donating to causes that resonate with us. ... Preparing for Giving Tuesday can significantly boost a nonprofit’s fundraising efforts. Here are some key steps to get ready:

Column: Norbert Peiker, architect and marathon runner finishes his life’s raceRichland Source; by Carl Hunnell; 11/7/24Norbert Peiker was never a cancer survivor. He was a cancer thriver. And when he left this earth Oct. 28 at the age of 84, it wasn’t because he finally lost a heroic 28-year battle with bone cancer. Losing was never in his mentality during his long and accomplished life. Nor was it a part of his death. Cancer took his body. It never touched his mind. Or his heart. I first met Norbert Peiker during his brilliant tenure as a long-distance runner when I came to Mansfield in 1990 as a reporter at the Mansfield News Journal. ... Norbert then called me each evening to tell me how many miles he had run that day. ... He covered the distance in 12 days, averaging 38 miles a day, and raising $50,000 along the way. [Through the years he] completed 47 marathons, including five Boston Marathons. [That] would merely scratch the surface of Norbert Peiker, the man. ... In September, however, he told me, “My Friend, fighting pain, immobility and mental stress for years, my focus deserves to be reconnection with quality of life; therefore, I have decided on joining hospice home care. With a strong loving family on my mind I’m truly blessed.” [Click on the title's link to read this inspiring story.]