Literature Review

Healthcare bankruptcies in 2023 hit highest level in 5 yearsModern Healthcare, by Caroline Hudson; 1/25/24Healthcare company bankruptcies soared in 2023 to their highest level in the last five years, according to a report released Thursday by Gibbins Advisors. The advisory firm's report, which looked at Chapter 11 bankruptcy case filings from 2019 to 2023, found 79 healthcare companies with more than $10 million in liabilities filed for bankruptcy protection last year. Pharmaceutical and senior care companies made up nearly half of the list. The next-highest year for bankruptcies was 2019, when 51 companies filed for protection.

Assisted Living Report Card allows consumers to compare communities based on reviews, inspectionsMcKnight's Senior Living, by Kimberly Bonvissuto; 1/30/24A new Assisted Living Report Card launched Monday in Minnesota, allowing consumers to compare assisted living communities based on resident and family reviews, along with state inspection ratings. In 2019, the state legislature provided funding to develop the report card and contracted with the University of Minnesota School of Public Health to complete a national review of quality measurements in assisted living.

The doctor will see you … when? Regs, reimbursement delay SNF patient accessMcKnight's Long-Term Care News, by Kimberly Marselas; 1/31/24Patients seen by a physician or other advanced practice provider within a day of a skilled nursing admission were less likely to be rehospitalized compared to patients seen two days post-admission or later. But various obstacles tend to push those physician visits well beyond the first few days of care, University of Pennsylvania researchers found.

Rural hospitals caught in aging-facility dilemma Lexington Herald Leader, by Markian Hawryluk; 2/6/24... Rural hospital closures dropped during the pandemic, from a record-high 18 in 2020 to eight in 2021 and 2022 combined, according to the University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill, as emergency relief funds kept them open. But that life support has ended.

Hospice of the Plains annual hog roast draws big crowdNews Channel Nebraska, by Forrest Hershberger; 2/4/24Hospice of the Plains supporters took part in the 21st annual hog roast an auction hosted by the Sterling Elks Club February 3. The annual event is one of the major fundraisers for the organization, according to Tiffany Storch, CEO/Administrator of Hospice of the Plains.

The last leaf on the vine: What is lost when a generation passes away Inside Higher Ed, by Steven Mintz; 2/6/24... For my extended family, my mother is (or was, depending on when you read this piece) the last leaf on the vine, the last surviving member of a generation born in the 1920s that personally recalls the hardships of the Great Depression and the disruptions, upheavals, sacrifices and horrors of World War II. And that leaf is poised to fall.

Cancer is the leading cause of death in HIV-positive individualsManaged Healthcare Executive, by Logan Lutton; 1/17/24In those with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), there is a 10-fold higher cancer risk than in the general population, according to the annual Cancer Facts and Figures report from the American Cancer Society published today. Because HIV compromises the immune system, it increases the risk of infections like human papillomavirus (HPV) that can lead to cervical cancer. Ten cancers are associated with HIV. These include non-Hodgkin lymphoma, cervical, liver, anal, and lung cancers.Access to care is another barrier for the community. There are still nine states where it is legal for healthcare professionals to refuse to care for LGBTQ+ patients: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Illinois, Mississippi, Montana, Ohio, South Carolina, and Tennessee. The patients in these states account for an estimated 20% of the entire LGBTQ+ population.

Northern Light Health works to get back online after computer server breachMainebiz, by William Hall; 2/5/24Maine's second-largest health care system, Northern Light Health, said on Monday part of its computer network remained down after servers were discovered Saturday to have been breached. Nothern Light Health comprises 10 hospitals including 411-bed Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor; over 1,000 physicians; six home care and hospice centers; and a total of more than 120 care locations.

Explore the enormous benefits of multigenerational living in this essential guide for the modern American familyNewsDirect; 2/5/24In today's rapidly evolving world, the modern American family encounters unprecedented challenges without a roadmap for guidance. Addressing this pressing need, Under One Roof (River Grove Books, Feb. 5, 2024) emerges as a comprehensive guidebook authored by Emily K. Graham, Angel L. Vargas, and John L. Graham. With a wealth of experience and insights, the authors present innovative approaches to multigenerational living, shedding light on its opportunities and complexities.

Key palliative care trends to watch in 2024Hospice News, by Jim Parker; 1/29/24

The first 8 hospitals to attain Joint Commission's equity certificationBecker's Clinical Leadership, by Ashleigh Hollowell; 2/2/24Eight hospitals have achieved The Joint Commission's new health equity certification, which the accrediting organization rolled out in July. Key components of the certification require hospitals to make "health care equity a strategic priority and are collaborating with patients, families, caregivers and external organizations to identify and address needs that help translate equitable health care into better health outcomes," Jonathan Perlin, MD, PhD, president and CEO of The Joint Commission Enterprise, said in a June 27 news release just days before the program launched.

Clinicians and caregivers must keep pace with new pacemaker tech available for seniors: studyMcKnight's Senior Living, by Aaron Dorman; 2/6/24As new pacemaker and implantable heart technology becomes available, it has become increasingly important for caregivers to keep track of the different models. A new survey classifies cardiac implantable electronic devices, or CIEDs, according to both their function and where in the heart their components are placed. The various categories also overlap, the study indicates, as CIEDs can be leadless — that is, have no wires connecting heart implants to the battery — and can include defibrillator shock capabilities.Editor's Note: Dying with an defibrillator can be traumatic for the patient and the family if the implanted defibrillator attempts to shock the person back to life, even after the heart has given out. Examine this with your Medical Director, physicians and nurses, and Policies and Procedures.

What to know about the federal government’s big changes to marijuana rules coming soonCannabis Business Executive (CBE); 2/5/24It could come today. Or in a few weeks. Maybe within the next month.Whenever it happens, rescheduling marijuana under the Controlled Substances Act – which regulates what drugs are considered illegal and just how illegal they are – would be the biggest step the federal government has taken toward marijuana legalization since it was first outlawed nearly 100 years ago.