Literature Review

The strength it takes to suffer JAMA Intern Med., by Alice Curtis, Amy Hamblin, MA, and William E. Rosa, PhD, MBE, APRN; 3/4/24J. Randall Curtis, MD, MPH—my dad (A.C.) and my husband (A.H.)—was an intensive care and palliative medicine pioneer whose impact as a researcher, mentor, and humanist was legend long before his death. When Randy first revealed his diagnosis publicly, he said it was exhausting being strong. ... Throughout his career and illness [ALS], Randy came to appreciate medical aid in dying (MAID) as an ethical way for physicians to care for patients. The moral edict of medicine—first, do no harm—does not mean, nor can it mandate, the ultimate prevention of death, but rather that the physician’s role is to ease suffering at all stages of living and dying. For Randy, the only end to his extreme suffering while ALS was surely killing him was the overwhelming act of hastening his own death. In his case, he was his own most compassionate physician.Editor's Note: For the other perspective, see this newsletter's article "Editorial: 'Right to Die' debate comes to Illinois."

The Joint Commission, Kaiser Permanente announce application period for 2024 Bernard J. Tyson National Award for Excellence in Pursuit of Healthcare Equity GlobeNewswire, by The Joint Commission; 3/5/24 The Joint Commission and Kaiser Permanente are now accepting applications for the 2024 Bernard J. Tyson National Award for Excellence in Pursuit of Healthcare Equity. The award program will recognize a healthcare organization that led an initiative that achieved a measurable, sustained reduction in one or more disparities. Bernard J. Tyson, the late CEO and chairman of Kaiser Permanente, worked tirelessly to address the disparities that plague the U.S. healthcare system. Now in its fourth year, the award honors Tyson’s legacy by presenting organizations the opportunity to earn national recognition for their efforts to improve healthcare equity, as well as share best practices and lessons learned with thousands of organizations across the country.

Beloved teacher dies of rare illness, students raise enough money to put her children through college NBC News 10, Rochester, NY; by Jennifer Lewke; 3/6/24 A school of students, devastated by the sudden loss of a favorite teacher, worked together to ensure her legacy lives on. Emily Casey died less than a month after being diagnosed with a rare and frightening disease. In the two weeks since she passed, her students at Our Lady of Mercy School have raised more than $150,000 in her memory. 

Frontline hospice staff need to understand new CMS survey methodsHospice News, by Holly Vossel; 3/5/24Ensuring staff are educated around revisions to hospice survey processes will be key to navigating ongoing regulatory changes in the industry. This year will bring further implementation of survey validation activities, but also new regulatory oversight processes, according to Kim Skehan, vice president of accreditation for the Community Health Accreditation Partner (CHAP) organization.

Palliative care across the spectrum of heart failure JACC Heart Fail;  y Laura P Gelfman, Moritz Blum, Modele O Ogunniyi, Colleen K McIlvennan, Dio Kavalieratos , Larry A Allen; online ahead of print 2/27/24; print 3/8/24 Persons with heart failure (HF) often suffer from poor symptom control, decreased quality of life, and poor communication with their health care providers. ... New models are required that are better informed by high-quality data, engage a range of health care providers in primary palliative care principles, and have clear triggers for specialty palliative care engagement, with specific palliative interventions tailored to patient's illness trajectory and changing needs.

Why not-for-profit health systems need positive margins: Deloitte Becker's Hospital CFO, by Andrew Cass; 2/28/24Health system margins are the "lifeblood of a healthy, patient-centered, innovative health care system and community," according to a report from consulting firm Deloitte.  "Claims that profits are not important in fact undermine the ability to fund the mission, serve the community, and deliver better, equitable care," Deloitte said in the report. ... "[Systems] should consider a holistic approach that integrates margin drivers to create a balanced transformation portfolio, according to the report. Timing and sequencing are important within each driver and "a full understanding of the dollar impact and priority of each is necessary for margin improvement to be successful."

What is the appropriate response when a colleague is not following an aid-in-dying law? American Clinicians Academy on Medical Aid in Dying - Ethics Consultation Service; posted by Jean Abbott, MD, MH; originally posted 2/2/24 and emailed 3/4/24 Outline of Ethics Question: A resource practitioner for aid-in-dying care has encountered practitioners who have not followed the requirements of the laws in that state, including eligibility, documentation, and other standard legal or medical elements of aid-in-dying care. The resource practitioner wonders what ethical responsibilities should guide their response to these concerns. Definition of “resource practitioner”: An experienced prescriber who acts as a source of information or a mentor for others prescribing or consulting for patients considering aid in dying. Their role is to advise the provider on aid-in-dying best medical practices and the process required to comply with the law.

Podcast: Dr. Robert Carolla’s reflections on life and mortality Springfield Daily Citizen; 2/28/24 Dr. Carolla, a pioneer in his field, sheds light on the delicate balance between life and mortality that oncologists navigate daily.  Through his work with the Hospice Foundation of the Ozarks and national recognition from StoryCorps broadcasts, he and his wife, Peg, have touched countless lives with their compassion and dedication. Dr. Carolla’s journey offers a profound perspective shift on life, death, grief and the human experience. 

Premier Hospice Phoenix exits Medicare program, impacting local healthcareBNN, by Mazhar Abbas; 3/4/24Premier Hospice in Phoenix ends its Medicare agreement, sparking concerns among patients and providers. Explore the impact and future of hospice care.

Aspirus Health completes St. Luke's Duluth acquisitionModern Healthcare, by Alex Kacik; 3/1/24Aspirus Health finalized its acquisition of St. Luke's Duluth, forming a 19-hospital system spanning northeastern Minnesota, northern and central Wisconsin and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. ... As part of the transaction, Aspirus will invest at least $300 million over eight years in St. Luke’s and will expand its health plan to St. Luke’s service area within two years. In addition, Aspirus will honor all physician, labor and union contracts, the system said in a news release Friday. Editor's Note: Both Aspirus Health and St. Luke's Duluth provide hospice care.

Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves. ~Carl Jung

Nonprofit behavior altered by monetary donations: evidence from the U.S. hospice industryThe European Journal of Health Economics; by Miao Guo; Lei Guo; Yang Li; 2/24This study investigates whether reliance on monetary donations alters nonprofit firms’ behaviors. Specifically, in the hospice industry, a shorter patients’ length of stay (LOS) speeds up overall patient turnover, allowing a hospice to serve more patients and expand its donation network.Publisher's note: Correlation does not imply causation...

‘My life is a mess but I cope’: An analysis of the language children and young people use to describe their own life-limiting or life-threatening conditionPalliative Medicine, by Katherine Bristowe; Debbie Braybrook; Hannah M Scott; Lucy Coombes; Daney Harðardóttir; Anna Roach; Clare Ellis-Smith; Myra Bluebond-Langner; Lorna Fraser; Julia Downing; Fliss Murtagh; Richard Harding; 3/24Children and young people can provide rich descriptions of their condition. Paying attention to their lexical choices, and converging one's language towards theirs, may enable more child-centred discussions. Expanding discussions about 'what matters most' with consideration of the losses and differences they have experienced may facilitate a fuller assessment of their concerns, preferences and priorities.