Literature Review

After death of nurses, CT lawmakers look for solutions: 'We just cannot ignore that risk' CT Insider, by Ken Dixon, 3/19/24 Home health agencies would have to find out more background information about their patients, and would be reimbursed for providing visiting nurses with escorts to certain homes and neighborhoods under legislation pushed Monday by Senate President Pro Tempore Martin Looney. ... It was inspired in part by the murder last year of Joyce Grayson of Brooklyn, Connecticut who was killed in a halfway house for sex offenders in Willimantic, as well as the January death of Ototegile Morulane, a live-in caregiver and citizen of the Republican of Botswana who died in an East Lyme house fire. Editor's Note: Though this article was appeared in the CT Insider 3/19/24, we are posting it today for context of our next article, "CT Hospice says it can't provide home care under bill to protect healthcare workers," published 4/16/24.

Primrose Hospice utilising Minecraft to help children through bereavement Redditch Standard, UK; 4/13/24 The Primrose Hospice has been delving into the online gaming world to support children and young people who have someone close to them with a life-limiting illness or are bereaved. Alongside the regular support the popular game Minecraft is used to provide extra therapy. ... The Primrose has received training provided by Ellie Finch who specializes in counselling through video games, such as Minecraft.

Health Talk: Getting into a health care career The Barre Montpelier Times Argus Online, by Peg Bolgioni; 4/13/24According to the American Hospital Association, there will be a shortage of up to 3.2 million health care workers by 2026. America will face a shortage of up to 124,000 physicians by 2033 and will need to hire at least 200,000 nurses per year to meet increased demand, and to replace retiring nurses. ... The mission of Southern Vermont Area Health Education Center is to enhance community efforts to grow and sustain the health workforce in southern Vermont. One of the ways we do this is by delivering pathway programs that connect students to health careers. [Click the title's link to read about this event.]Editor's Note: How might your organization create similar career engagement and education in your community? 

Shared decision-making between nephrologists, patients key to conservative kidney management Healio, by Mark E. Neumann; 4/15/24 ... Conservative kidney management: Patients who decline dialysis treatment do so for many reasons, Fahad Saeed, MB, BS, and colleagues wrote in a paper published in the American Journal of Nephrology. Patients told researchers that quality of life; fewer symptoms caused by dialysis; more personal time; avoiding the burden of dialysis, including for family and friends; witnessing a family member or friend on dialysis and wanting to have a peaceful death were reasons to select conservative kidney management.

 Health Care Fraud and Abuse 2023 Year in ReviewJD Supra; by Kevin Coffey, Meredith Eng, Haley Essner, Rebecca Hsu, Christopher Kim, Tessa Lancaster, Dayna LaPlante, Logan Moore, Angela Powers; 4/12/24 Polsinelli proudly introduces the Health Care Fraud and Abuse 2023 Year in Review, a comprehensive examination of the evolving landscape surrounding the False Claims Act (“FCA”) and fraud & abuse enforcement efforts in the United States. Since its significant amendments in 1986, the FCA has stood as a formidable tool in combating health care fraud, with the Department of Justice reclaiming over $75 billion in allegedly fraudulent proceeds. 

Leadership is not a license to do less. Leadership is a responsibility to do more. - Simon Sinek

Hospices call on Government to help fund rising staff bill ShropshireStar.com, United Kingdom; 4/14/24 Hospices are facing a huge cash shortfall because of a rising staff bill which is putting services at risk, a charity has warned. Hospice UK said the Government must provide cash urgently after its analysis showed hospices will need £120 million to match upcoming pay rises in the NHS. ... Hospice UK said rising costs, such as energy and food prices, together with squeezed donations as people cope with an increased cost of living, mean hospices are currently budgeting for a total deficit of £186 million this year.Editor's Note: Increasingly, we are seeing more articles for hospice community fundraisers throughout the UK: England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. Repeatedly, the tone is dire; requests are urgent.

VR off a smartphone? Tech breakthrough could allow seniors to do away with clunky headsets McKnights Senior Living, by Aaron Dorman; 4/11/24 Virtual reality is becoming more and more popular among older adults. Could the next innovation allow them to experience VR from their smartphone? A full-color, three-dimensional display can be generated off of a smartphone screen, according to new research. Such a breakthrough would make it even easier, and cost-effective, for senior living providers to offer VR and augmented reality content for residents or allow for new telehealth opportunities. The technology would involve only a smartphone screen and a second screen called a “spatial light modulator” to create the multi-layered image

NHPCO's CaringInfo program launches new consumer blog, insights NHPCO Press Release; 4/15/24 CaringInfo, a program of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO), has launched a new consumer blog, Insights, offering timely and practical content on serious-illness care and services from a variety of perspectives in both English and Spanish. ... CaringInfo also offers more information about advance directives and free advance directives and instructions for all 50 states plus Puerto Rico and Washington DC in both English and Spanish, downloadable as PDF files.

'I'm dying, you're not': Those terminally ill ask more states to legalize physician-assisted death The Washington Post, by Jesse Bedayn, AP; 4/12/24 On a brisk day at a restaurant outside Chicago, Deb Robertson sat with her teenage grandson to talk about her death. She’ll probably miss his high school graduation. ... “Medical aid in dying is not me choosing to die,” she says she told her 17-year-old grandson. “I am going to die. But it is my way of having a little bit more control over what it looks like in the end.” ... At least 12 states currently have bills that would legalize physician-assisted death. ... Two states have gone in the opposite direction. ...

Experts say Shannen Doherty’s approach to cancer ciagnosis can be helpfulToday Headline; 4/16/24Shannen Doherty, the actor best known for her role in “Beverly Hills, 90210,” has stage 4 cancer. She’s getting rid of her material possessions so she can focus on spending time with her mother. On an episode of her podcast, “Let’s Be Clear With Shannen Doherty,” released on April 1, the actor said she wants to sell off some of her stuff so her mother doesn’t have to worry about dealing with it if she dies. ... She also said she hopes to use that money to travel with her mom without dipping into her savings.

Modern Healthcare's Diversity Leaders Awards: Nominate a diverse leader Modern Healthcare; 4/12/24 The Diversity Leaders in Healthcare awards program takes great pride in honoring the healthcare executives and organizations working to further equity and inclusion at their organizations and in the overall industry. ... [Click on the title's link for Individual and Organizational Awards' Dates, Eligibility, Criteria, Required Materials, and more] 

Hospices face ‘devastating’ financial crisis as staff costs rises, charity warns Shropshire Star, United Kingdom; 4/15/24 Hospices are facing a “devastating” financial crisis because of rising staff costs which are putting services at risk, a charity has warned. The chief executive of Hospice UK, Toby Porter, said the last year had seen the “worst financial results for the hospice sector in around 20 years.”