Literature Review

Meijer donates $10,000 in memory of longtime employee WoodTV.com, Algoma Township, MI; by Kyle Mitchell; 11/1/24 A longtime employee at the Rockford Meijer store who died earlier this year was honored Friday with a $10,000 donation made in her name. The store director presented a check to representatives of Faith Hospice in honor of Pat Julien. Julien, the mother of WOOD TV8 engineer Michael Julien, died in July following a battle with breast cancer. She worked at the Rockford Meijer for 15 years. The impact she made inspired the employees to select a charity for the store to support in her memory. ... The store selects a charity to donate to every year through the Meijer Team Gives program. This year, the employees wanted to do something in Pat Julien’s memory. The store originally planned to donate $5,000, but decided to donate the full $10,000 amount on behalf of the company, assistant store director Kurt Guarisco said. “We voted on that as a team within the store and what happened is we chose Faith Hospice,” Guarisco said. Editor's note: Click here for Faith Hospice, in Byron Center, Michigan.

Tidewater Rotary cleans, revitalizes outdoor spaces at Talbot Hospice The Star, Easton, MD; 11/1/24 Members of the Tidewater Rotary Club, along with their families and friends, recently gathered to revitalize the backyard patio and garden areas at Talbot Hospice. Over two Saturdays, volunteers transformed the space, giving it a fresh, renewed look. The project supported Talbot Hospice by enhancing outdoor spaces where residents and families can find peace and comfort. Efforts included removing poison ivy and brush, power washing structures, and repainting the pergola and wood fence. Patios connected to patient rooms, leading to the gardens, received newly built benches, minor repairs and a fresh coat of paint. Window trims were repainted, and outdoor furniture was power washed.  

NPHI CMO, CIO Dr. Cameron Muir: Translate hospice quality into value Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 11/1/24 As both Chief Medical Officer and Chief Innovation Officer for the National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation, Dr. Cameron Muir has committed to help guide operators towards a value-based future. NPHI is a national advocacy organization with more than 100 nonprofit advanced illness care providers, including those offering hospice and palliative care services. Muir joined the organization in 2019 as its chief of clinical innovations. During his tenure, he has helped to develop and oversee the launch of the NPHI Innovation Lab, which focuses on designing systematic approaches to improve advanced illness care by examining trends in population health, claims analytics and practice optimization. Muir recently sat down with Hospice News to talk about the ways medicine and health care innovation intersect, as well as the need to focus on quality to prepare for the industry’s value-based future. [Click on the title's link to continue reading.]

See photos from Ohio's Hospice facility in New PhiladelphiaTimesReporter; by Andrew Dolph; 10/31/2024[The Ohio Hospice Truman House was renamed the Dr. Leslie Harrod Campus.]

Chapters Health System launches new Chapters Health West DivisionCision PRWeb; by Chapters Health System; 10/30/24 Chapters Health System, in collaboration with four highly respected not-for-profit organizations — Hospice East Bay (Pleasant Hill, CA), Hospice of Santa Cruz County (Santa Cruz, CA), Nathan Adelson Hospice (Las Vegas, NV) and Willamette Vital Health (Salem, OR) — is proud to announce the creation and official launch of Chapters Health West. This landmark partnership signifies the beginning of a new era in not-for-profit hospice care across the Western United States, blending innovation with a commitment to compassionate, community-based care. "We are building a future where we can do more, innovate more and serve more," said Andrew Molosky, MBA, CHPCA, president and chief executive officer for Chapters Health. "By aligning our strengths, we will continue to deliver exceptional care while expanding our capacity to meet the growing needs of those navigating serious illness and grief in our communities." 

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.

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 ..."

YoloCares: State awards nearly $3 million to YoloCares The Enterprise; by Craig Dresang; 10/19/24 In a move to expand and deepen the regional safety net for people facing a serious or life-limiting illness, Davis-based YoloCares recently applied for, and secured, a nearly $3 million commitment from the State of California to add an Enhanced Care Management component to its portfolio of offerings. By design, ECM intends to address the social determinants of health  which are the nonmedical factors that influence health outcomes. ... [As] Medi-Cal looks towards a major transformation in the structure of benefits, ECM is the Golden State’s initiative to address a lack of palliative and supportive care services.  ... According to Lisa Adams, YoloCares’ director of patient access and palliative care, “Our clinical team is adept at responding to the complex and unique needs of our patients and their families, often going above and beyond the scope of typical palliative care to help our patients find comfort and dignity during health challenges and transitions. This funding and recognition from the state simply acknowledges and supports the work we have been doing all along.”

Update on 3 nonprofit hospices impacted by Helene Hospice & Palliative Care Today; Chris Comeaux with Cordt Kassner and Joy Berger; 10/17/24Chris Comeaux shared updates on hospices impacted by the recent natural disaster. While no patients or staff were lost, some completely lost their homes or experienced significant property damage.  The final loss of life remains uncertain due to unaccounted people. Hospices nationally have shown unity in supporting local counterparts through financial aid, supplies, and volunteer efforts coordinated by many nonprofits. Certain areas may lack electricity until March. Hospices face challenges like displaced skilled nursing facilities, but resources are being mobilized. Chris announced a tabletop discussion in November to learn from this experience and highlighted the need for continued patient monitoring, especially in evacuation zones. To read more and contribute:

A new Hope(West CEO): HopeWest CEO resigns, assures smooth transition The Daily Sentinel, Grand Junction, CO; by Jace Dicola; 10/13/24 HopeWest is on the search for a new Chief Executive Officer.According to current HopeWest CEO Cassie Mitchell, her departure is bittersweet, but the 30-year-old or ganization couldn’t be in better shape for a smooth transition. Mitchell will remain CEO until the end of this year after her successor is selected. HopeWest is a nonprofit provider of the county’s Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly and regional hospice, palliative and grief services. “It’s been a good two and a half years,” Mitchell said. “The organization is in a really strong place: quality is good, sustainability is good and we’re still 100% committed to our nonprofit, community-based mission.” The departure from HopeWest — to return to her home state of Kentucky — stems from a job opportunity in Mitchell’s old stomping grounds that will allow her to help with her faraway family’s “pressing” needs. She will serve as COO for another serious-illness health care provider currently amid a merger between two nonprofits. 

Hospice in a hurricane: How Empath Health responded to back-to-back disasters Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 10/11/24 Hospice providers in the southeastern United States are reeling from the impacts of two massive hurricanes that have occurred during the past two weeks. ... The Florida-based hospice and senior services provider Empath Health saw the majority of its service region affected by [Hurricane Milton], which caused substantial damage to infrastructure in many communities. Empath reported no major injuries among its employees, according to CEO Jonathan Fleece. However, some employees did lose entire homes or experienced significant damage, as well as cars and other essentials. ... “We do our best through pre-storm planning to come up with our communication plans with our patients and their families, ...” Fleece told Hospice News. “When we can’t reach people by phone, once we have any kind of access to roads, we will do our very best to do some sort of a check in.” These efforts are coordinated through an emergency management team, led by commander Matt Chaloux, that engages in disaster planning and response, Fleece said. Building on lessons learned from Hurricane Ian in 2022, Empath also established a mobile response unit — a vehicle designed to provide clinical, communications and logistical support during catastrophic events. The unit is modeled after similar vehicles used by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Empath Health has set up a fund to aid employees who were affected by the hurricanes, helping to provide them with housing, transportation, child care and other needs, according to a statement posted by Fleece on LinkedIn. The organization's board of trustees has pledged to mathc donations dollar-for-dollar up to $500,000.Editor's note: Click here to donate to Empath Helath's fund to aid employees. 

Hospice of Central PA President Gil Brown to retire Abel Personnel; by Rochelle Shenk; 10/9/24 After more than a decade of service at Hospice of Central PA, president Gil Brown will retire Dec. 31. According to a news release, Brown has been a driving force behind the organization’s growth, steering it through significant achievements and fostering strong relationships with health care partners and the community. Since joining Hospice of Central PA in 2014, Brown has led the organization through numerous milestones, including earning Joint Commission accreditation and securing a 5-star status in the We Honor Veterans program offered by the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization. ... “Working with Gil has been a truly inspiring experience,” said Hank Straub, HCP Board Member. “His unwavering commitment to compassionate care and his visionary leadership have not only shaped Hospice of Central PA, but also set a high standard for excellence. Gil’s ability to lead with both heart and strategic focus has made a lasting impact, and it has been an honor to collaborate with him in serving our community.” 

Guest column: Hopewest – Breaking the silence: Supporting suicide prevention and survivors of loss Special to the Herald Times; 10/2/24 Those left in the wake of a suicide loss sometimes aren’t sure where to turn or what to do. Uprooted by shock and overcome by the grief of losing someone to suicide can feel painful and isolating. ... The stigma surrounding suicide deaths, particularly on the Western Slope of Colorado, often hinders individuals from seeking the support they need. To address this crisis in our communities, we must not only bring awareness to suicide prevention but also collectively understand and acknowledge the challenges that survivors of suicide loss face. “Grief after the loss of a loved one to suicide is a unique and painful experience. Survivors struggle with a range of challenges, from the heavy weight of stigma surrounding the death, to judgment from others,” said Judy Eskelson, HopeWest Meeker Bereavement Counselor. “And for many in our community, they may not fully understand the ins and outs of this type of grief. Life after this kind of death can be overwhelmingly difficult, leaving families to navigate a path they never expected to walk.” ... Following the devastating loss of a loved one to suicide, the HopeWest bereavement team is here to walk alongside individuals and families needing a source of comfort and guidance through their grief journey. Editor's note: Though many hospices provide bare, minimum grief support, many others--like HopeWest--live out their mission by providing a fuller scope of bereavement counseling and support. What does your hospice provide? Throughout your service area, do bereaved persons (whether hospice deaths or not) think of your agency as the "dying, death and bereavement" expert, or not?