Literature Review

Alliance Insurance collecting snacks for hospice homes The Mount Airy News; 12/11/24 Alliance Insurance Services is collecting snacks for Mountain Valley’s in-patient hospice homes located in Dobson and Yadkinville until Monday, Dec. 23. “I know how valuable it is to our community to have a hospice home, and we want these families to have everything they need while staying there with a loved one,” said Christopher Cook, owner of Alliance Insurance Services. “We need to give back to our community, especially during the holiday season, and this is a good way to do that.” “Both hospice homes have special rooms where family members of patients can take a break, or even fix a meal for themselves,” said Melissa Hiatt, executive director of United Fund of Surry. “Stocking their pantry will mean so much to each family.” [List of items needed.]Editor's note: Hospice leaders, you still have time to replicate this, especially in time for New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. Remember to include kosher items for Jewish patients and families, as Hanukkah 2024 starts on December 25 and ends on January 2.

UConn John Dempsey Hospital joins National Age-Friendly Health System Movement UConn Today; by Jennifer Walker; 12/12/24 UConn John Dempsey Hospital was recently accepted for participation in the national Age-Friendly Healthy Systems Movement to improve health care for older adults. The Age-Friendly Health Systems Movement, sponsored by The John A. Hartford Foundation and the Institute for Healthcare Improvement in partnership with the American Hospital Association and the Catholic Health Association of the United States​, is a national collaboration of hospitals and health systems implementing a set of evidence-based interventions to make the care of all older adults equitable and age-friendly. This initiative addresses the reality that a growing proportion of the US population is elderly and has complex healthcare needs which challenge many institutions. This movement is built upon a framework of a set of four best practice interventions known as the 4Ms.

Families value flexibility and compassion in end-of-life care for children with cancer Hematology Advisor; by Megan Garlapow, PhD; 12/12/24 Bereaved families of children who died of cancer expressed a strong desire for high-quality end-of-life care that balanced comfort with continued treatment efforts, particularly chemotherapy, according to results from a study published in Cancer. Families did not perceive a conflict between comfort care and the pursuit of chemotherapy, seeking both as integral parts of their child’s final days. Despite variations in race and location, there was no clear preference for home or hospital deaths, ... Instead, decisions surrounding the location of death were often driven by the child’s preferences, medical needs, the impact on other family members, and prior experiences with death. ... Family decision-making was centered on maintaining hope, avoiding harm, and doing what was best for their child and themselves, with religious beliefs playing a significant role.

Donations helping Solvay Hospice House ABC News WDIO, Duluth, MN; by WDIO; 12/11/24 One of the donations you may have seen on pin pads at Super One [Food] locations within the last few weeks, was in support of the National Hospice Month Campaign. On Wednesday, December 11, 2024, Miners Incorporated presented a check to the Solvay Hospice House. The check was for a donation of $43,705.91 collected from the various Super One locations across the state. What started as purchasing one dollar paper houses has turned it into a donation drive driven on the pin pads at checkout. And with that small change in the last few years, donations have doubled to support the cause. This donation will help continue their mission to provide compassionate care provided at Solvay Hospice House for patients and their families. Susie Marshall, Digital Media Manager at Minors Incorporated, expressed their gratitude to continue their tradition and the efforts from consumers. 

Early successes, untapped potential, lingering questions: AI Adoption in Healthcare Report 2024 Medscape; by Jon McKenna; 12/6/24 ... For this report, Medscape partnered with Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS), a global professional society that includes an interest group focused on AI-related issues. ... Data came from a jointly managed survey to practicing physicians and other clinicians, practicing nurses, IT professionals, clinical leadership, and executive leadership at medical organizations. All respondents were in the U.S. 

Why introverted leaders outperform extroverts by 28% Forbes; by Cynthia Pong, JD; 12/8/24 Move over, charismatic showboats—introverted leaders drive 28% higher productivity from proactive, engaged teams compared to their extroverted counterparts, according to research by Adam Grant from Wharton, Francesca Gino from Harvard Business School and David Hofmann from UNC-Chapel Hill’s Business School. The finding runs counter to conventional wisdom about what makes an effective leader. While extroverts often steal the spotlight at work, introverted leaders are quietly revolutionizing modern workplaces by demonstrating how thoughtful competence can outshine performative leadership any day of the week. ... The secret sauce to introverted leaders’ success? They’re mastering:

CareTrust REIT expands in the Midwest with $97M deal Modern Healthcare; by Diane Eastabrook; 12/10/24 CareTrust REIT has acquired a 46-facility skilled nursing and senior housing portfolio in the Midwest for $97 million. The San Clemente, California-based real estate investment trust said in a Monday news release the facilities include more than 3,800 beds and were purchased through a bankruptcy sale of the assets from an unnamed debtor. It did not disclose the names or specific locations of the facilities.

There are no mistakes, save one: the failure to learn from a mistake. ~ Robert Fripp

Commentary: The coat my mother never wore National Public Radio - WBUR, Boston, MA; by Karen Propp; 12/11/24 Shortly before Thanksgiving 2018, I bought my 87-year-old mother a winter coat — a silvery-gray one that matched her hair. None of us could remember the last time she had left the house, spoken in full sentences or walked without assistance, but my father hoped that a new ultra-light coat might change things.  ... Having been close to others with progressive or terminal illnesses, I did not share his optimism. But it felt cruel to dash my father’s hope, so I hung the coat in the front hall closet, as if it were a talisman that could bring us a miracle. My mother died peacefully, late in the morning that December 24. By the time the men from the funeral home arrived, it was already dark outside. ...Editor's note: Click on the title's link to read how this simple coat evoked a daughter's grief, coping, and realization of her mother's qualities within herself. Non-clinical leaders: in case you're not aware, the extensive body of grief research reveals that grief does not have a last "stage" of "acceptance." Rather, mourning begins with a first step or "task" of accepting realities of the loss (Worden), with another step or "task" of establishing enduring connection (Worden)--which this daughter found within herself. These are not stages. Rather, they are ongoing cycles (mini and macro), with other identified, individualized dynamics.

A centenarian thrives living alone, active and engaged California Healthline - originally published by The Washington Post; by Judith Graham; 12/10/24 “The future is here,” the email announced. Hilda Jaffe, then 88, was letting her children know she planned to sell the family home in Verona, New Jersey. She’d decided to begin life anew — on her own — in a one-bedroom apartment in Hell’s Kitchen in Manhattan. Fourteen years later, Jaffe, now 102, still lives alone — just a few blocks away from the frenetic flashing lights and crowds that course through Times Square. ... She’s an extraordinary example of an older adult living by herself and thriving. ... I’ve spoken with dozens of seniors this past year for a series of columns on older Americans living alone. Many struggle with health issues. Many are isolated and vulnerable. But a noteworthy slice of this growing group of seniors maintain a high degree of well-being. What might account for this, particularly among people in the farthest reaches of old age? [Click on the title's link to continue reading.]

Will AI help improve healthcare security in 2025? Health IT Answers; by Roberta Mullin; 12/10/24 The healthcare sector is particularly vulnerable to cybersecurity risks and the stakes for patient care and safety are particularly high. Healthcare facilities are attractive targets for cyber criminals in light of their size, technological dependence, sensitive data, and unique vulnerability to disruptions. Strengthening our cybersecurity infrastructure and defending against malicious attacks requires vigilance, vision, and collaboration. Can AI help improve healthcare security? We asked our experts what improvements to security we might see in 2025. Here is what they had to say. ... [Click on the title's link to read input from 21 healthcare IT experts.]

Edward D. Viner, celebrated chief physician and medical pioneer, has died at 89 The Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia, PA; by Gary Miles; 12/10/24 Edward D. Viner, 89, of Haverford, retired and celebrated acting chief of medicine at Pennsylvania Hospital, chief of medicine emeritus at Cooper University Hospital, hospice and inpatient care pioneer, expert in hematology and oncology, longtime physician to the Philadelphia Orchestra and Philadelphia Flyers, mentor, and veteran, died Sunday, Dec. 1, of acute myeloid leukemia at his home. ... He established the nascent hospice program at Pennsylvania Hospital in 1975 after facing his own catastrophic medical situation in 1972 and became its chief advocate and fundraiser. ...  In 2015, Dr. Viner established and directed the Center for Humanism at the Cooper Medical School of Rowan to “foster the development of humanistic and professional health care practitioners.” In July 2024, center officials renamed it the Edward D. Viner Center for Humanism. [Click on the title's link to continue reading Dr. Viner's significant contributions to end-of-life care.]