Literature Review

Mountain Valley celebrates renovated facility The Mount Airy News, Yadkinville, NC; by Mountain Valley; 10/28/24 Mountain Valley, a local hospice and palliative care organization, recently marked the official opening of its newly renovated Yadkinville hospice office. The facility will enable Mountain Valley to expand its services and continue providing care to the residents of Yadkin County. ... Paul Hammes, Mountain Valley board chair and CEO of Hugh Chatham Health, commented on the importance of this project for the community. “This office shows Mountain Valley’s deepening commitment to offering support for Yadkin County residents close to home. It’s important to us to provide quality and compassionate care that doesn’t require our patients and families to leave the comfort of their community.” ... Mountain Valley is a nonprofit organization providing end-of-life care in 18 counties in North Carolina and Virginia.

Strengthening our community: NPHI welcomes four new member organizations National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation (NPHI); by NPHI; 10/30/24 The National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation (NPHI), the national voice for nonprofit advanced illness care, is pleased to welcome four new members to our innovative, mission-driven community: Hospice of the Piedmont, Hospice of Wichita Falls (HOWF), Montgomery Hospice & Prince George’s Hospice, and Stillwater Hospice. These organizations exemplify the dedication and care that NPHI members stand for, strengthening our commitment to mission-driven, nonprofit end-of-life care services across the nation. Editor's note: NPHI is a sponsor of this newsletter.

How today’s hospice fraud could warp tomorrow’s reimbursement outlook Hospice News; by Holly Vossel; 10/28/24 This is the second of a two-part Hospice News series that explores how fraud, waste and abuse in the hospice space could create headwinds for the industry at large. Fraudsters misspend millions of Medicare dollars annually, though the actual hospice-specific amounts are difficult to determine, regulators previously told Hospice News. Industry stakeholders have questioned whether the malfeasance will stymie the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) ability to justify future reimbursement rate increases, which many hospice providers already consider insufficient to support the full range of their interdisciplinary services in today’s economic climate.

Mastering leadership: 6 experience-based qualities to align with a changing business worldForbes / HEC Paris Insights; by Marc Beretta, Daniel Brown; 10/25/24In today’s fast-paced world, effective leadership requires much more than traditional managerial skills. The dynamic nature of modern organizations, combined with the increasing complexity of global challenges, calls for a new type of leader - one who can navigate uncertainty, connect deeply with others, and foster a culture of trust and collaboration. Over the course of 20 years of coaching top executives globally, encapsulated in what we call the Six Leadership Landmarks we attempt to move beyond traditional leadership models, emphasizing vulnerability, self-awareness, and connection with others. Through this framework, leaders can not only guide their teams more effectively but also inspire transformation within themselves and their organizations... The six leadership landmarks we’ve developed over the years are awareness, adaptability, trust, vulnerability, kindness, and a shared vision. [Click on the link above for additional context and detail on these leadership landmarks.]

Large systems outsource home care to focus on 'core business' Becker's Hospital CFO Report; by Alan Condon; 10/25/24 A growing number of health systems are outsourcing home health and hospice operations to third-party specialists with broader geographic reach to reduce cost and administrative burdens and focus on core services. The regulatory environment for home health and hospice is complex, with stringent requirements for reimbursement, reporting and patient care standards. Partnering with an outsourced provider also helps systems mitigate the risks associated with non-compliance and operational issues. Here are four health systems that have outsourced or plan to outsource home health and hospicare care:

Introducing Vivie: A new name with the same heart for service 1045 TheDan.com - Business Wire, Alexandria, MN; 10/24/24 Knute Nelson and Walker Methodist announce their new name and brand—Vivie. Vivie provides home health care, hospice, senior living, rehab, and more. ... With more than 150 years of combined service to older adults in their communities, Vivie unites two trusted legacies under one name and vision. As Vivie, the organization remains dedicated to the values that have made Knute Nelson and Walker Methodist pillars in their communities for generations. After merging in January 2024, the newly formed organization quickly began an extensive process to find a single, unifying name. "While our name is new, our heart for service remains the same," shared Mark Anderson, President and CEO. “We will continue to build on the solid foundation built by Knute Nelson and Walker Methodist, expanding our services to meet the evolving needs of those we serve.” The name “Vivie” is derived from the Latin root “viv” to paint a compelling picture of what it means to live. The new brand represents a vision for the future, rooted in our mission of enriching, empowering, and elevating people throughout life’s journey.

Hospice executives laser-focused on regulation, see change on horizon Hospice News; by Holly Vossel; 10/24/24 ... Hospice News spoke with c-suite executives who have recently stepped into their roles to learn more about what led them to the space and their top priorities. Regulatory challenges are among hospice leaders’ most significant concerns. They also envision opportunities to reform the Medicare Hospice Benefit and diversify their scope of services.

Serenity House Garden receives colorful makeover in honor of patients and families The Oskaloosa Herald, Oskaloosa, IA; 10/23/24 Mahaska Health announced recent enhancements to the Serenity House Garden, made possible by the generosity of Bob and Roxanne Denner. The updated garden now features a vibrant array of new plants and a beautifully revitalized rock landscape, offering a serene and uplifting environment for patients and their families. Roxanne Denner, a member of the Serenity Hospice Auxiliary Board, has been involved in supporting the Serenity House mission for several years. As an avid gardener, she saw this opportunity to enhance the garden as a way to contribute to the well-being of guests and their families. Editor's note: We celebrate the countless hospice and palliative care volunteers who give their time and talents to create more meaningful, compassionate environments and experiences for patients and families. Whom might you thank and recognize?

New FTC regulations could create obstacles for hospice M&A Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 10/24/24 Changes to federal rules governing mergers and acquisitions could have sweeping effects on hospice and other health care transactions. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently finalized a rule that will implement changes to required pre-merger notification forms. Pursuant to the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act, parties to certain transactions must submit these documents to the FTC and other regulatory agencies to help identify and address potential antitrust concerns. The law requires that transactions exceeding $120 million must submit the form, which agencies will use to conduct a 30-day premerger assessment, according to Luke Smith, member at the law firm Bass, Berry and Sims. The final rule will likely complicate the closing of some hospice acquisitions.

Patient, staff satisfaction biggest ROIs of trauma-informed hospice care Hospice News; by Holly Vossel; 10/23/24 Improved patient and staff satisfaction are among the most significant returns on investment for hospices that are pouring greater resources into trauma-informed training. The ability to build a trusting relationship with patients and their families is a key skill set for any hospice professional to possess, but one that takes on a profoundly different meaning when caring for survivors of abuse, violence and trauma. This is according to Amber Ash, pediatric hospice and palliative care social worker at Ohio-based Hospice of the Western Reserve. Trauma-informed education should be a normalized part of hospice’s interdisciplinary training to help staff recognize and respond to a range of experiences, Ash indicated. This type of training can help provide opportunities for improved goal-concordant care while also aligning with staff’s professional goals and personal values, she stated. 

Senator Lorraine R. Inouye announces release of $200,000 for Hospice of Hilo Improvements Hawai'i State Senate; 10/22/24Senator Lorraine R. Inouye (District 1 – Hilo, Paukaʻa, Papaikou, Pepeʻekeo) is pleased to announce that Governor Josh Green has released $200,000 in capital improvement project Grant-in-Aid funds for the Hospice of Hilo. ... “This funding will significantly improve the facilities and services at Hospice of Hilo, ensuring they can continue to provide critical care to our community,” said Senator Lorraine R. Inouye. “Supporting organizations like Hospice of Hilo helps build a stronger, more compassionate future for Hawaiʻi ..."

What the best leadership teams do right Harvard Business Review; by Ron Carucci, Mindy Millward, and Eric Hansen; 10/22/24 Given the unique responsibilities of executive teams, it would seem obvious that they require a specialized set of skills and approaches to be effective. And yet few have cracked the code on building and sustaining such effectiveness. There are three critical, highly interdependent roles they must play to have lasting impact on the company’s performance, culture, and ability to adapt. Executive teams often perform one or two of these reasonably well but fall short in integrating all three. The good news is that, with persistent effort, executive teams willing to put in the work can learn to play all three of these roles — setting themselves apart from the many willing to settle for much less.

Lawsuit filed against Visiting Nurse Service entities and individual defendant for assault of hospice patient NewRamp; by NewRamp Editorial Staff; 10/22/24 The Law Offices of Robert E. Brown has filed a lawsuit against three Visiting Nurse Service entities and individual defendant Joy Odunze-Matthew following the violent assault of Carolyn Albanese, a terminally ill hospice patient under their care. The complaint alleges gross negligence by VNS and its affiliates for failing to properly vet, train, and supervise their staff, specifically the defendant Odunze-Matthew. The lawsuit seeks compensatory and punitive damages to address the physical, emotional, and psychological harm suffered by Ms. Albanese and her family.