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All posts tagged with “Post-Acute Care News | Hospital News.”
Tool simplifies requests for palliative care consults
04/05/24 at 02:00 AMTool simplifies requests for palliative care consultsAmerican Association of Critical-Care Nurses; 4/2/24A simple screening tool integrated into the admissions process for critically ill patients can streamline requests for palliative care consultations, according to a study published in Critical Care Nurse (CCN). ... An initiative in the mixed surgical and medical ICU at Bon Secours Mercy Health Anderson, a 230-bed, community hospital in Cincinnati, sought to improve the process of requesting palliative care consultations. “ Integrating Palliative Care Screening in the Intensive Care Unit: A Quality Improvement Project” demonstrates the potential impact of adding a simple screening tool at the point of admission to initiate automatic referrals for palliative care consultations.
Nursa Survey finds 98% of hospital CFOs view nurse staffing as top challenge
04/04/24 at 03:00 AMNursa Survey finds 98% of hospital CFOs view nurse staffing as top challenge Morningstar, provided by Business Wire; 4/2/24Survey results offer insight into C-suite perspectives on workforce trends and financial impact. Nursa, a nationwide platform that exists to put a nurse at the bedside of every patient in need, today released the results of a survey with healthcare decision-makers that examines their perspectives on the evolving social contract of employment, opinions on the 1099 workforce, and reflections on what makes a nurse truly valuable to an organization. Key findings from the survey include:
Man with chainsaw assaults Vermont hospital workers, destroys property
04/03/24 at 03:30 AMMan with chainsaw assaults Vermont hospital workers, destroys property Becker's Hospital Review, by Madeline Ashley; 4/1/24 A man was taken into custody by Vermont State Police after assaulting staff and destroying property with a chainsaw at St. Johnsbury-based Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital. State troopers apprehended Tyler Roy, 27, on March 25 in the hospital parking lot "actively assaulting staff," according to a March 31 Vermont State Police news release. Mr. Roy was taken into custody and is cited to appear in Caledonia County Superior Court on April 6.
[Maine] Senate backs safe staffing bill with aim to increase patient safety, decrease nurse burnout
04/03/24 at 03:00 AM[Maine] Senate backs safe staffing bill with aim to increase patient safety, decrease nurse burnout Main Morning Star, by Lauren McCauley; 3/27/24 If passed, Maine would be the second state in the country to institute nurse-to-patient ratios. ... Sen. Stacy Brenner (D-Cumberland), who sponsored the bill, shared with the chamber her experience as a nurse and how the stress of being understaffed can contribute to burnout and what she described as “moral distress.” ... Brenner said the bill accomplishes two goals: increasing patient safety and increasing nurse retention.
Michael Dowling: 9 healthcare nuances that defy simple criticisms
04/02/24 at 03:00 AMMichael Dowling: 9 healthcare nuances that defy simple criticismsBecker's Hospital Review; by Michael J. Dowling; 3/28/24Those who work in healthcare should be proud of the distinct role we play in our communities and society. ... Beyond all the numbers and details, it is important to understand that healthcare is deeply human and personal. We are all potential patients — many of us have already been. ... [Click on the article's title for Dowling's 9 differences and distinctions for nonprofit healthcare.]
Interruptions: Bad for hospitalists and their patients
04/02/24 at 03:00 AMInterruptions: Bad for hospitalists and their patientsThe Hospitalist, by Larry Beresford; 4/1/24More than 10 years ago this magazine published an article by Winthrop Whitcomb, MD, MHM, a pioneer of hospital medicine and co-founder of the Society of Hospital Medicine, warning of the hazards of workflow interruptions for hospitalists, which he labeled a career satisfaction issue for clinicians but a safety and quality risk for their patients. A decade later, the problem has surely gotten worse as hospital financial pressures and staff shortfalls push caseloads higher and job stresses drive burnout and premature retirement for doctors who have been pulled in too many directions in their work.
UCI Health completes acquisition of 4 Tenet hospitals
04/02/24 at 03:00 AMUCI Health completes acquisition of 4 Tenet hospitals Becker's Hospital Review, by Naomi Diaz; 3/27/24 Orange, CA-based UCI Health has completed its acquisition of Tenet Healthcare's Pacific Coast Network, which includes four hospitals in Southern California and their associated outpatient locations. As part of the agreement, Dallas-based Tenet's medical centers — Fountain Valley Regional Hospital, Lakewood Regional Medical Center, Los Alamitos Medical Center and Placentia-Linda Hospital — will now be part of UCI Health, according to a March 26 news release from UCI Health. The hospitals were sold for $975 million.
Integrating palliative care screening in the intensive care unit: A quality improvement project
04/02/24 at 02:15 AMIntegrating palliative care screening in the intensive care unit: A quality improvement projectCritical Care Nurse; by Traci N. Phillips, DNP, APRN, ACNP-BC, CCRN; Denise K. Gormley, PhD, RN; Sherry Donaworth, DNP, APRN, ACNP-BC, FNP-BC; 4/1/24Background: Patients admitted to the intensive care unit have complex medical problems and increased rates of mortality and recurrent hospitalization for the following 10 years ... Delayed access to palliative care can result in untreated symptoms, lack of understanding of care preferences, and preventable admissions. Conclusion: The screening process can maximize the benefit of palliative care services with early patient identification, improved consultation efficiency, decreased critical care resource use, and reduced readmission rates.
High intensity of end-of-life care for minority patients with lung cancer
04/01/24 at 03:00 AMHigh intensity of end-of-life care for minority patients with lung cancerU.S. Medicine; 3/27/24While disparities in lung cancer mortality among racial and ethnic minorities are well documented, not as much is understood about how racial and ethnic minority patients with lung cancer are treated at the end of life. A study led by researchers from the Indiana University School of Medicine and the Richard L. Roudebush VAMC, both in Indianapolis, sought to determine if those patients experience higher rates of intensity of care at the end of life (EOL) compared with non-Hispanic white (NHW) patients.
[Rural Hospitals] A popular healthcare myth debunked
04/01/24 at 03:00 AM[Rural Hospitals] A popular healthcare myth debunked Becker's Hospital CFO Report, by Laura Dyrda; 3/28/24Many in the healthcare industry assume rural hospitals are inherently worse off financially than urban hospitals. It's easy to see why. ... But a February Kaufman Hall report refutes the financial divide between rural and urban hospitals. When comparing rural and urban hospitals as a collective, the firm found no statistically significant difference in average operating margin. Rural and urban hospitals on average have similar operating margins and financial performance. So why do we often associate more dire financial struggles with rural hospitals over urban ones?
Hospital charity care falls short of nonprofit tax breaks: Lown
04/01/24 at 03:00 AMHospital charity care falls short of nonprofit tax breaks: Lown Modern Healthcare, by Caroline Hudson; 3/26/24The vast majority of nonprofit hospitals aren't providing a level of community support equal to the value of what they are receiving in tax breaks, according to a study published Tuesday. ... Using 2021 Internal Revenue Service data, Lown found about 80% of nonprofit hospitals, or more than 1,900 out of 2,425 hospitals, received more in tax break benefits than the support provided to communities.
4 ways to drive transformational change in sustainability
03/29/24 at 03:15 AM4 ways to drive transformational change in sustainabilityAmerican Hospital Association; 3/26/24Like a growing number of health care organizations, New Jersey’s Hackensack Meridian Health (HMH) system has been on a journey for some time now to reduce its environmental impact and boost sustainability practices. Recent achievements include:
Bon Secours Mercy Health posts $123.9M operating loss; new CFO to begin July 1
03/29/24 at 03:00 AMBon Secours Mercy Health posts $123.9M operating loss; new CFO to begin July 1 Becker's Hospital CFO Report, by Alan Condon; 3/26/24 Cincinnati-based Bon Secours Mercy Health reported a $123.9 million operating loss (-1% margin) in 2023, improving on the $323.5 million operating loss (-2.9% margin) in 2022, according to financial documents published March 25. ... Agency costs declined from $504.1 million in 2022 to $256.2 million in 2023. ... Debbie Bloomfield, PhD, will retire as CFO at the end of 2024 after more than three decades with the health system. She will begin transitioning from her CFO role on July 1 and shift to financial leadership oversight of the system's subsidiaries. Travis Crum, senior vice president of finance, will take over as CFO on July 1.
How home-based care providers are leveraging palliative care in hospital partnerships
03/28/24 at 03:00 AMHow home-based care providers are leveraging palliative care in hospital partnerships Home Health Care News, by Patrick Filbin; 3/26/24 Oftentimes, talks between home health providers and their many referral partners are an exercise in education. For providers offering palliative care, that education usually starts at a 101-level. Part of that conversation with hospital and health system partners includes convincing case managers that patients will be better suited at home. Editor's Note: Features Choice Health at Home CEO David Jackson; Kaiser Permanente Senior Director of Care Hospice and Palliative Care Gina Andres
Hospitalists more likely to recommend hospice than specialists: Study
03/28/24 at 03:00 AMHospitalists more likely to recommend hospice than specialists: Study Becker's Hospital Review, by Mariah Taylor; 3/27/24 A New Haven, CT-based Yale School of Medicine study [published in the American Cancer Society Journals] suggests oncology hospitalists have better hospice utilization and reduce hospital stays for cancer patients compared to oncologists. Researchers compared referrals for hospice settings from hospitalist-led services and oncologist-led services. Hospitalist-led services referred 11.8% of patients to inpatient hospice settings, nearly double the referral rate of oncologist-led services (5.8%). The adjusted average length of stay before inpatient hospice care was 6.83 days for hospitalist-led care and 16.29 days for oncologist-led care.
Palliative care in the cardiovascular intensive care unit: A systematic review of current literature
03/28/24 at 03:00 AMPalliative care in the cardiovascular intensive care unit: A systematic review of current literatureCardiovascular Revascularization Medicine, by Agastya D Belur, Aryan Mehta, Mridul Bansal, Patrick M Wieruszewski, Rachna Kataria, Marwan Saad, Annaliese Clancy, Daniel J Levine, Neel R Sodha, Douglas M Burtt, Gregory S Rachu, J Dawn Abbott, Saraschandra Vallabhajosyula; 3/24/24, online ahead of print Results: Of 5711 citations, 30 studies were included. All studies were published in the last seven years and 90 % originated in the United States. Heart failure was the most frequent diagnosis (47 %), and in-hospital mortality was reported in 67 % of studies. There was heterogeneity in the timing, frequency, and background of the care team that determined palliative care consultation. In two randomized trials, there appeared to be improvement in quality of life without an impact on mortality.
Northwell hospital nurses set strike date
03/27/24 at 03:00 AMNorthwell hospital nurses set strike date Becker's Hospital Review, by Kelly Gooch; 3/22/24 Members of the New York State Nurses Association are set to strike April 2 at Staten Island University Hospital in New York City. The union represents 1,300 workers at the facility, according to an NYSNA news release. ... The union cited concerns about having enough staffing to meet the needs of the Staten Island community and contends wages are also still a key sticking point at the bargaining table. Members are seeking a contract that ensures enough experienced nurses are at the bedside to provide safe patient care.
Medicaid Health Plan will reimburse Health Equity Certification
03/26/24 at 03:00 AMMedicaid Health Plan will reimburse Health Equity Certification HealthPayerIntelligence, by Kelsey Waddill; 3/22/24 Meridian Health Plan of Illinois, Inc.—a wholly-owned subsidiary of Centene Corporation that offers Medicaid coverage—announced that it will cover part of the fee hospitals must pay to undergo health equity certification through the Joint Commission. ... The health plan’s goal in offering this aid is to support providers’ efforts to reduce local care disparities.
Eight nurses from St. Vincent Hospital filed suit yesterday in Worcester Superior Court against Tenet Healthcare for wrongful termination after blowing the whistle on unsafe patient care conditions
03/26/24 at 03:00 AMEight nurses from St. Vincent Hospital filed suit yesterday in Worcester Superior Court against Tenet Healthcare for wrongful termination after blowing the whistle on unsafe patient care conditions ABC WATE.com 6 / Cision PR Newswire; by Massachusetts Nurses Association; 3/22/24 Eight registered nurses represented by the Massachusetts Nurses Association at St. Vincent Hospital filed a lawsuit yesterday in Worcester Superior Court against the hospital and its owner, Dallas-based for-profit owner Tenet Healthcare alleging they were fired for exercising their legal and professional obligation to report "unsafe and illegal conduct and conditions" that jeopardized the health and dignity of the patients under their care. ... last month the nurses' claims were validated by The Joint Commission, which conducted an investigation into the nurses' complaints and found the hospital to be "non-compliant with applicable Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) Conditions."
Nurse managers' 4-day workweeks: How it's going at Mount Sinai
03/26/24 at 03:00 AMNurse managers' 4-day workweeks: How it's going at Mount Sinai Becker's Clinical Leadership, by Mariah Taylor; updated 3/22/24In fall 2022, New York City-based Mount Sinai Health System launched its four-day workweek program for nurse managers. More than a year later, the program continues to improve staff engagement, satisfaction and has become an important retention strategy, Beth Oliver, DNP, RN, chief nurse executive for the system, told Becker's. Dr. Oliver added, experienced nurse managers play a critically vital role in supporting staff retention and engagement, championing organizational culture, and ensuring quality and safety of patient care.
Researchers advocate for more home-based options for end-of-life care
03/26/24 at 02:00 AMResearchers advocate for more home-based options for end-of-life care McKnights Home Care, by Adam Healy; 3/25/24 As older adults increasingly prefer to receive end-of-life care in their homes, new, community-based options will be critical to help patients achieve a home death, according to a new research review published in Palliative Care and Social Practice. ... The researchers analyzed 28 studies conducted between 2002 and 2023 related to factors that affect patients’ abilities to achieve a home death. One persistent issue, they found, was a lack of available home palliative care services.
36 rural hospitals have closed since 2020
03/25/24 at 03:00 AM36 rural hospitals have closed since 2020 Becker's Hospital CFO Report, by Alan Condon; 3/21/24 The closures highlight the heightened financial challenges that rural hospitals face amid persisting workforce shortages, rising costs and leveling reimbursement. In addition, only 45% of rural hospitals now offer labor and delivery services, and in 10 states, less than 33% do, according to the Center for Healthcare Quality and Payment Reform. [Listed in the article] are the 36 rural hospitals that closed since 2020, beginning with the most recent.
A $400M incentive drives hospitals to meet health equity goals
03/25/24 at 03:00 AMA $400M incentive drives hospitals to meet health equity goalsModern Healthcare, by Kara Hartnett; 3/21/24 Hospitals across Massachusetts are building infrastructure to examine health disparities and address social needs, driven by new incentives within the state's Medicaid program. The program is authorized to pay out $400 million annually to private acute-care hospitals, divided among those that comply with an evolving set of operational and quality standards related to health equity. Eventually, healthcare organizations will receive distributions based on their ability to close gaps in care.
Racial/ethnic differences in care intensity at the end of life for patients with lung cancer
03/25/24 at 03:00 AMRacial/ethnic differences in care intensity at the end of life for patients with lung cancer The ASCO Post, by Matthew Stenger; 3/21/24 The study used data from the California Cancer Registry linked to patient discharge data abstracts. The primary outcome measure was intensity of care in the last 14 days before death, with greater intensity defined as any hospital admission or emergency department visit, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, intubation, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), hemodialysis, and death in an acute care setting. ... The authors concluded: “Compared with [non-Hispanic White] patients, [Asian/Pacific Islander], Black, and Hispanic patients who died with lung cancer experienced higher intensity of [end-of-life] care. Future studies should develop approaches to eliminate such racial and ethnic disparities in care delivery at the [end of life].”
Providence Chief Nursing Officer: All hospitals should be using these 3 tools
03/22/24 at 03:15 AMProvidence Chief Nursing Officer: All hospitals should be using these 3 tools MedCity News, by Katie Adams; 3/19/24 The workforce shortage is especially acute among nurses. There are 193,100 projected job openings per year for nurses in the U.S. between 2022 and 2032, but only 177,400 new nurses are predicted to enter the workforce during that entire 10-year period. That isn’t even enough to fill one year’s worth of the projected job openings. In order for this issue to improve, hospitals must embrace the technology on the market that has been proven to alleviate nurse burnout, said Syl Trepanier, chief nursing officer at Providence, in a recent interview at the ViVE conference in Los Angeles. ...