Literature Review

WHIAANHPI and SmithsonianAPA unveil joint theme for 2024 Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month: ‘Bridging Histories, Shaping Our Future’ U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; by HHS Press Office; 4/24/24Today, the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (WHIAANHPI) and the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center are proud to present our joint 2024 theme for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AA and NHPI) Heritage Month: “Bridging Histories, Shaping Our Future.” The 2024 theme is an homage to our ancestors and invites all Americans to delve into the legacies, triumphs, and challenges that have shaped AA and NHPI communities. It embodies the spirit of our collective journey – one rooted in resilience and hope – and encourages us to forge intergenerational connections to honor our past and pave a durable path forward.

Understanding is better than criticism The Pike County News Watchman; by Loren Hardin; 4/26/24 The first time I met Glenn was at his brother, Kenny’s, and sister-in-law, Tressie’s wedding anniversary party. ... Glenn walked into the party with a swagger, was wearing dark tinted sunglasses, grabbed his belt, pulled up his pants, stuck out his chest and sat down at the kitchen table. I thought, “Who is this guy wearing dark sunglasses on an overcast day?” To be honest, I thought, “This guy is kind of cocky acting”. Little did I know that in the not-too-distant future, I would become Glenn’s hospice social worker, nor did he? ... [Click on the title's link to read more of this insightful, inspirational story.]

Health disparities across states: 6 new findings Becker's Clinical Leadership, by Kelly Gooch; 4/18/24 The Commonwealth Fund released a new report April 18 examining racial and ethnic disparities in healthcare access, quality and outcomes across the U.S. The report, titled "Advancing Racial Equity in U.S. Health Care: The Commonwealth Fund 2024 State Health Disparities Report," examined state health system performance for five racial and ethnic groups — (non-Hispanic) Black; white; American Indian and Alaska Native; Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander; and Hispanic (any race). [Click on the title's link for (1) Six summary findings, and (2) To download the report. 

Global assessment of palliative care need: Serious health-related suffering measurement methodologyJournal of Pain and Symptom Management; by Xiaoxiao J Kwete, Afsan Bhadelia, Héctor Arreola-Ornelas, Oscar Mendez, William E Rosa, Stephen Connor, Julia Downing, Dean Jamison, David Watkins, Renzo Calderon, Jim Cleary, Joe Friedman, Liliana De Lima, Christian Ntizimira, Tania Pastrana, Pedro E Pérez-Cruz, Dingle Spence, M R Rajagopal, Valentina Vargas Enciso, Eric L Krakauer, Lukas Radbruch, Felicia Marie Knaul; 4/16/24Inequities and gaps in palliative care access are a serious impediment to health systems especially low- and middle-income countries and the accurate measurement of need across health conditions is a critical step to understanding and addressing the issue. Serious Health-related Suffering (SHS) is a novel methodology to measure the palliative care need and was originally developed by The Lancet Commission on Global Access to Palliative Care and Pain Relief. ... The discussion encompasses opportunities for applying SHS to future policy making assessment of future research priorities particularly in light of the dearth of data from low- and middle-income countries, and sharing of directions for future work to develop SHS 3.0.

LGBTQ+ individuals have higher rates of cancer because of disparities in modifiable risk factors, ACS says ONS Voice [Oncology Nursing Society]; by Magdalen Millman; 4/18/24 About 7% of the U.S. population identifies as LGBTQ+, but understanding cancer in this population is difficult because surveillance data are limited to national surveys on risk factors and screening, the American Cancer Society (ACS) observed in a special section of its Cancer Facts and Figures 2024 report on cancer in the LGBTQ+ community. More than 50% of LGBTQ+ individuals have experienced harassment such as slurs, violence, microaggressions, and sexual harassment, even in healthcare settings. “One in 6 LGBTQ+ adults, and 1 in 5 transgender adults specifically, avoid health care due to previous discrimination,” ACS reported. It’s one factor implicated for the disparities affecting LGBTQ+ individuals’ access to cancer care, including prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment, and palliative care. Editor's Note: Click here for this site's Cancer Facts and Figures 2024 report on cancer in the LGBTQ+ community.

One-third of West Virginians may soon have a harder time getting health care after lawmakers declined to fully fund Medicaid Mountain State Spotlight, by Erin Beck; 4/18/24Across West Virginia, it’s already hard for many people to access health care. And unless state lawmakers change the budget they passed last month, it’s about to get even more difficult, especially for people who live in the most rural areas and those considered lower income. Starting in July, at the start of the next fiscal year, West Virginia officials will be forced to dramatically cut the state’s Medicaid budget. Roughly one-third of the state’s population relies on the government health insurance program. ... [Lawmakers] gave the program about $150 million less than was needed. 

Overcoming key diversity gaps within the healthcare continuum MedCity News, by Alexandra Moens; 4/9/24Leaders need a framework to identify, understand, effectively address diversity gaps, and measure improvement across the continuum of care. A data-driven approach can provide valuable insights into demographic trends, disparities in healthcare access and outcomes, and the underlying factors contributing to these discrepancies. Disparities in diversity and inclusion continue to permeate every aspect of healthcare. ... In the U.S., stark statistics reveal the extent of these imbalances. Only about 36% of active physicians are female, with even fewer identifying as non-White. While Black and Hispanic Americans comprise a considerable portion of the population, their representation among healthcare practitioners is disproportionately low. 

The HAP Foundation conducts research study on Black Americans’ experience with serious illness care in ChicagoThe HAP Foundation, by Rachel French; 4/9/24 The HAP Foundation and NORC at the University of Chicago have completed a joint research project to understand the knowledge, attitudes, and experiences of Black Americans around serious illness care in Chicago. Through a community-based participatory research design, narratives from Black individuals living in Chicago were captured by focus groups and in-depth interviews. “Community-Based Study: Prioritizing Dignity and Respect in End-of-Life Care for Black Chicagoans” is being distributed widely to health care providers and the community to encourage conversations and create change in behavioral patterns during end-of-life care.Editor's Note: Click here for this downloadable, 17 page booklet.

Dane County Board approves funding for hospice care program for homeless individualsABC TV 27 WKOW, Madison, WI; by Chloe Morrissey; 4/6/24Multiple organizations aiming to combat homelessness received approval for funding after Thursday night's Dane County Board meeting. One organization, Solace Friends, will be receiving $100,000 for the creation of Solace Home. It's a hospice program for housing insecure individuals given less than 6 months to live. The home can serve up to four people at one time who are currently living on the street, in a shelter or an unstable housing situation. 

Changes coming to Long Beach homeless center where 20 enrolled diedNBC TV 4 Los Angeles, by Mekahlo Medina; 4/3/24... Mayor Rex Richardson addresses the death of 20 residents at the Homekey Hotel, a transitional housing facility in Long Beach, where many employees say was understaffed to attend medical needs. Mekahlo Medina reports for the NBC4 News on March 26, 2024. ... Long Beach said in its statement that “they will be continuing onsite partnerships with Healthcare in Action, Long Beach Community College nursing students, Wellbe Health, and Echo Hospice (palliative care). 

New Federal Health IT Strategy sets sights on a heathier, more innovative, and more equitable health care experienceU.S. Department of Health and Human Services; 3/28/24The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) through the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC), today released the draft 2024–2030 Federal Health IT Strategic Plan (the draft Plan) for public comment. The draft Plan: 

Caring for patients with non-English language preferences American Association of Critical-Care Nurses; 3/25/24 ... With a growing population of people who speak a language other than English at home, nurses and other healthcare professionals must work toward providing better language-inclusive medical care. ... Nurses and other clinical providers must be well-informed regarding the lifesaving nature of language access in healthcare despite any personal bias against or perceived inconvenience of using interpreter services. [This article includes: ]

Medicaid 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.