Literature Review

One of the most important things you can do on this Earth is to let people know they are not alone. ~ Shannon L. Adler

[Canada] Aerobic physical activity and depression among patients with cancer-A systematic review and meta-analysisJAMA Network Open; Matthew Kulchycki, MD; Henry Ratul Halder, MSc; Nicole Askin, MLIS; Rasheda Rabbani, PhD; Fiona Schulte, PhD; Maya M. Jeyaraman, MD; Lillian Sung, MD, PhD; Deepak Louis, MD; Lisa Lix, PhD; Allan Garland, MD, MA; Alyson L. Mahar, PhD; Ahmed Abou-Setta, PhD; Sapna Oberoi, MD, MSc; 10/24A cancer diagnosis increases the risk of anxiety, depression, and emotional distress among patients. Depression prevalence among patients with cancer ranges from 13% to 27%, which is 2 to 3 times higher than the general population. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, APA [aerobic physical activity]was associated with modest short-term and long-term reductions of depression among adults with cancer. Future studies should discern the effectiveness of APA in combination with other strategies for managing depression across various populations of patients with cancer.

Effectiveness of a mobile app (Meds@HOME) to improve medication safety for children with medical complexity: Protocol for a randomized controlled trialJMIR Research Protocols; Nicole E Werner, Makenzie Morgen, Sophie Kooiman, Anna Jolliff, Gemma Warner, James Feinstein, Michelle Chui, Barbara Katz, Brittany Storhoff, Kristan Sodergren, Ryan Coller; 9/24The Meds@HOME mobile app provides a promising strategy for improving PCG [primary caregiver] medication safety for CMC [children with medical complexity] who take high-risk medications. In addition, this protocol highlights novel procedures for recruiting SCGs [secondary caregivers] of CMC. In the future, this app could be used more broadly across diverse caregiving networks to navigate complex medication routines and promote medication safety.

Racial differences in pain assessment and false beliefs about race in AI modelsJAMA Network Open; Brototo Deb, MD, MIDS; Adam Rodman, MD, MPH; 10/24Physicians undertreat Black patients’ pain compared with White patients, irrespective of setting and type of pain, likely from underassessment of pain and undertreatment of pain on recognition. Large language models (LLMs) encode racial and ethnic biases and may perpetuate race and ethnicity–based medicine. Although LLMs rate pain similarly between races and ethnicities, they underestimate pain among Black individuals in the presence of false beliefs. Given LLMs’ significant abilities in assisting with clinical reasoning, as well as a human tendency toward automation bias, these biases could propagate race and ethnicity–based medicine and the undertreatment of pain in Black patients. Mitigating these biases involves many strategies during dataset preparation, training, and posttraining stages.

Annual wellness visits and early dementia diagnosis among Medicare beneficiariesJAMA Network Open; Huey-Ming Tzeng, PhD; Mukaila A. Raji, MD, MS; Yong Shan, PhD; Peter Cram, MD, MBA; Yong-Fang Kuo, PhD' 10/24Optimal dementia care depends on early recognition of cognitive impairment and timely diagnosis of Alzheimer disease and related dementias (ADRD). Optimal dementia care should reflect what matters most to patients and adhere to evidence-informed ADRD stage-specific health care. These findings indicate that AWV [annual wellness visit] recipients had a timelier first MCI [mild cognitive impairment] diagnosis than those who did not receive an AWV, but first ADRD diagnosis differed little. This study suggests that the Medicare AWV health policy may increase MCI identification, prompting more specialized care.

Telehealth vs in-person early palliative care for patients with advanced lung cancer-A multisite randomized clinical trialJAMA; Joseph A. Greer, PhD; Jennifer S. Temel, MD; Areej El-Jawahri, MD; Simone Rinaldi, ANP-BC; Mihir Kamdar, MD; Elyse R. Park, PhD, MPH; Nora K. Horick, MS; Kedie Pintro, MS; Dustin J. Rabideau, PhD; Lee Schwamm, MD; Josephine Feliciano, MD; Isaac Chua, MD, MPH; Konstantinos Leventakos, MD, PhD; Stacy M. Fischer, MD; Toby C. Campbell, MD; Michael W. Rabow, MD; Finly Zachariah, MD; Laura C. Hanson, MD; Sara F. Martin, MD; Maria Silveira, MD; Laura Shoemaker, DO; Marie Bakitas, DNSc; Jessica Bauman, MD; Lori Spoozak, MD; Carl Grey, MD; Leslie Blackhall, MD; Kimberly Curseen, MD; Sean O’Mahony, MB, BCh, BAO; Melanie M. Smith, MD; Ramona Rhodes, MD; Amelia Cullinan, MD; Vicki Jackson, MD; for the REACH PC; 9/24 The delivery of early palliative care virtually vs in person demonstrated equivalent effects on quality of life in patients with advanced NSCLC [non-small cell lung cancer], underscoring the considerable potential for improving access to this evidence-based care model through telehealth delivery. [These] findings underscore the potential to increase access to evidence-based early palliative care through telehealth delivery.

Saturday newsletters focus on headlines and research - enjoy!

As IV shortage continues after hurricane, U.S. invokes wartime power to speed recovery CBS News; by Alexander Tin; 10/15/24 The Biden administration says it has invoked the wartime powers of the Defense Production Act to speed rebuilding of a major American factory of intravenous fluids that was wrecked by Hurricane Helene last month. Damage to the plant in North Carolina has worsened a nationwide shortage of IV fluids, and hospitals say they are still postponing some surgeries and other procedures as a result. Some 60% of the nation's IV supplies had relied on production from the plant, run by medical supplier Baxter, before it was damaged by the storm. "Ensuring people have medical supplies they need is a top priority of the Administration. It's exactly why we are working closely with Baxter to support cleanup and restoration of the facility, including invoking the Defense Production Act to help production resume as quickly as possible," an official with the Department of Health and Human Services told CBS News on Tuesday.

The future of healthcare systems with Richard Church Podcast by Teleios Collaborative Network; by Chris Comeaux; 10/15/24 In this conversation, Chris Comeaux interviews Rich Church, the Chief Growth and Strategy Officer of Parkview Health in Ft. Wayne, Indiana.  Chris and Rich discuss the future of nonprofit healthcare systems.  Rich explains that nonprofit systems need to think like for-profit organizations in the future in terms of managing their finances, but the difference lies in how they use their margins to invest back into their communities. Nonprofits use their margins to provide care to those who may not have access otherwise, while for-profits distribute their margins to stockholders.  Rich also emphasizes the importance of innovation and simplification in healthcare, as well as the need for a cultural shift that encourages risk-taking and learning from mistakes.  The conversation explores the importance of preventing high acuity care and keeping patients healthier to bend the cost curve in the long run.

Gentiva reaches $19.4 million False Claims Act Settlement Policy & Medicine; by Thomas Sullivan; 10/15/24 Gentiva – formerly known as Kindred at Home – reached a $19.4 million settlement with the United States, resolving allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by holding on to overpayments for hospice services provided to patients who were ineligible to receive hospice benefits under various federal health care programs. Kindred is made up of entities that were previously part of an enterprise that did business through various subsidiaries as Kindred at Home. Kindred provided health care services, including hospice services, using various business names during the time periods relevant to the settlement. The settlement resolves allegations brought by the United States and the State of Tennessee against certain Kindred entities alleging that from 2010 until February 2020, the entities knowingly submitted (or caused to be submitted) false claims for hospice services to hospice patients in Tennessee and other states who were ineligible for Medicare or Medicaid hospice benefit because they were not terminally ill. The settlement further resolved allegations that the defendants improperly concealed or otherwise avoided the obligation to repay the hospice claims at issue. The settlement also resolves allegations that SouthernCare New Beacon – a subsidiary – allegedly violated the Anti-Kickback Statute by willfully paying remuneration to a consulting physician to induce Medicare beneficiary hospice referrals.

AAHPM Board President: Telehealth access ‘critical’ for hospice patientsHospice News; by Jim Parker; 10/17/24 The forthcoming expiration of telehealth flexibilities implemented during the pandemic could have a devastating impact on vulnerable populations, including those receiving hospice or palliative care. This is according to Dr. Holly Yang, board president of the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM). Currently, temporary federal rules allowing for greater access to telehealth are set to expire on Dec. 31. While legislation is in play to extend them, the outcome is uncertain, and the end of the year is approaching. Hospice News sat down with Yang to discuss the importance of these flexibilities and how their impending departure could impact patients and families, particularly those in rural areas or with limited mobility, poor health equity or social determinants of health needs.

BCBS reaches record antitrust settlement for $2.8B Becker's Payer Issues; by Jakob Emerson; 10/16/24  The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, along with the 33 independent BCBS companies, have agreed to pay $2.8 billion to settle antitrust claims from healthcare providers, marking the largest settlement of its kind in the healthcare industry. In addition to the cash settlement, the plaintiffs stated in an Oct. 14 filing in Alabama federal court that BCBS plans must implement significant operational changes across 16 categories. These changes include how BCBS processes claims, communicates, contracts with, and makes payments to providers. The new operational requirements are expected to alleviate administrative burdens and inefficiencies experienced by providers, according to the plaintiffs' counsel. The settlement applies to providers who treated BCBS members between July 2008 and October 2024. The tentative agreement still requires approval from U.S. District Judge R. David Proctor. The BCBS Association denies the allegations made in the lawsuit.

5 reasons why green burial services are a growing trend The LaGrange Daily News; by Syndication Cloud; 10/17/24 Times are quickly changing throughout the country, and many of our common rituals are beginning to shift. The conventional funeral involving an expensive casket, embalming services, flowers and other costly expenses are no longer as popular as they once were. Instead, individuals and families are turning toward eco-friendly burial services, which are known as green burials. The green burial services Springfield Ohio specialists at Jackson, Lytle & Lewis ... have supported countless families with this growing trend. Below are five reasons why green burials are continuing to grow in popularity throughout the United States.