Literature Review

My Stories program preserves cherished memories of patients in hospice The Alpena News, Alpena, MI; by Reagan Voetberg; 3/8/25 The Hospice of Michigan in Alpena preserves the stories of patients, not in a book or photo album, but on a flashdrive. It’s called the My Stories program. Patients in hospice are given the opportunity to video record their stories and memories for their loved ones to hear once they’ve passed. Patients do not have to pay a dime to record their life stories. Alpena’s Hospice of Michigan Volunteer Program Coordinator Kristie Lukes talked about how meaningful the My Stories project is to patients and their families. Lukes coordinates volunteers to help patients with their recordings. Lukes explained further what My Stories is. “It’s a recording of the patient’s life and the stories that they want to share with family and patients,” she said. “So it becomes kind of a legacy project.” 

104-year-old WWII veteran honored for his service while in hospice WCCO via CNN Newsource, Cottage Grove, MN; by Reg Chapman; 3/9/25 A World War II veteran in Minnesota has the honor of being the oldest resident in his town. Even at his remarkable age, Don Tietz has not lost his wit or his humor. After he was drafted during World War II, Tietz found himself a long way from his hometown farm. Tietz served as a truck driver, hauling ammunition across America’s campaign into Europe. ... “We spearheaded across France,” he said. ... He also faced the true grim realities of war. ... “There was 212, only 12 of us came back,” he said. ... Tietz now represents a different era of grit and perseverance. Surrounded by friends and family, the Allina Health Hospice Team showed their gratitude to Tietz for his service by giving him a heartfelt ceremony, where he was awarded a pin and certificate. Most importantly, Tietz was given an opportunity to reflect on all of those years.Editor's note: Click here for the We Honor Veterans Program developed by NHPCO (now the National Alliance for Care at Home) in collaboration with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

21 large health systems growing bigger Becker's Hospital Review; by Alan Condon; 3/7/25 Merger and acquisition activity is rebounding after a drop in deal volume during the pandemic, with many large health systems growing their hospital portfolios or planning to add more hospitals in the coming quarters. Twenty-one large health systems growing bigger: 

Intervention increases palliative cancer care consultations/lowers EOL care CancerNetwork.com; by Roman Fabbricatore; 3/11/25A palliative care (PC) intervention combining algorithm-based automated identification of patients eligible for PC led to an increase in PC visits and a decrease in end-of-life systemic therapy among patients with cancer, according to a randomized clinical study (NCT05590962) published in JAMA Network Open. ... "...  Prior efficacy trials in oncology have tested early PC in controlled, primarily academic settings.2To our knowledge, this is the first effectiveness randomized clinical trial of algorithm-driven default specialty PC in community oncology.”

East End Hospice building Saved in LI fires: 'Angels watching over us' Patch, Westhampton-Hampton Bays, NY; by Lisa Finn; 3/10/25 From the ashes of the raging brush fires in the Westhampton area this weekend, a miracle emerged: Despite just being located feet from the spot where charred trees bear testament to the blaze, a structure still stands — the East End Hospice building survived the fire. "Here is our headquarters," East End Hospice President and CEO Mary Crosby wrote on social media. "... inside this building we coordinate the care of hundreds of patients each day. We answer more than 1,000 phone calls a week from families, hospitals, physicians and field staff. Without the dedicated people who work here, there would be no East End Hospice." On Sunday [3/9], she wrote: "Just 24 hours ago, flames roared around this building, damaging our storage structure and spilling into the parking lot. People have said it’s a miracle the building didn’t burn. We know the truth. It was the dedication and skill of our local fire departments that kept our headquarters standing. In the early hours of the fire. We received very little information until a text came through from a firefighter on the ground: 'We saved Hospice.'"

Here’s to Laura Ptucha-Skoog, hospice nurse YubaNet.com; by Timothy May; 3/10/25 “I’m not sure I’d say much at all, not at first. I would just try to listen.” This in response to the question of how a hospice nurse should respond if patients or family members make demands that seem unreasonable, unwise, or downright impossible. ... Laura Ptucha-Skoog should know; she has been an R.N. for decades and a nurse at Hospice of the Foothills for the last nine years. She loves her job, including the challenge of facilitating communication. Her ability to talk frankly with terminally ill hospital patients and families drew her to a career in hospice. “Often,” Laura explains, “the human elements are as challenging as the medical ones. Things like asking the right questions and listening to responses; making sure your patient and their caregivers understand what you are doing and why; verifying that everyone understands where you are in the process; listening to their responses with patience and empathy.” ... 

Hallucinogens may elevate death risk by more than twofold Medscape; by Liz Scherer; 3/5/25 Hallucinogens are associated with a 2.6-fold increased risk for premature death in some individuals seeking emergency care, according to a recent study. The risks are especially substantial in vulnerable patients who are suicidal, who are susceptible to severe mental illness, or have comorbid conditions such as respiratory disease or cancer. The findings come at a time of renewed interest in the therapeutic potential of substances like psilocybin, lysergic acid diethylamide, methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), and ketamine for mood and substance use disorders. In 2023, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research allocated roughly $3 million to three clinical trials examining psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy in the treatment of alcohol use disorder, treatment-resistant depression, and end-of-life psychological distress in patients with advanced cancer.

The staging of 'The Story of My Life' at Asbury Memorial filled with serendipitous moments Savannah Morning News, Savannah, GA; by Amy Paige Condon; 3/6/25 ... [Ray] Ellis, a retired music and drama teacher who works now as a caregiver, and fellow church member Dottie Kluttz, a retired hospice nurse, were hanging decorations in Asbury Memorial’s Social Hall. Ellis shared how his dream of producing “The Story of My Life” was back on his mind … A former hospice nurse, Kluttz founded Savannah Hospice’s Story Keeping program in 2001 as a way for people near the end of their lives to share the story of their lives. …  [Click on the title’s link to read the serendipitous, synergistic encounters that unfolded, resulting in shows March 28, 29, 30.] [Upon underwriting for production costs,] Ellis proposed that ticket sales for the musical could serve as a fundraiser for Savannah Hospice’s Story Keeping program and the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research—a nonprofit near and dear to Ellis, who was diagnosed about three years ago with the progressive brain disease that causes tremors, stiffness and balance problems. … Stage and film actor Mark Rand, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s around the same time as Ellis, agreed to portray Thomas to Ellis’s Alvin—even after Rand thought he would never perform again. …

Tumor: why not use the warrior’s metaphor anymore taketonews; 3/7/25 ... The term "warrior" is often used to describe cancer sick people, referring to their strength, determination and ability to fight the disease. Although the intention is positive, docts and psychologists believe that this metaphor can generate negative effects on people with an oncological disease. The "warrior" label is not always appropriate and can have unwanted psychological effect on cancer patients. ... Use a language that does not reduce the patient to his struggle, but that enhances his entirety, including weakness, depression and pain, can contribute to a more human and respectful experience of care. ... [Click on the title's link for this further information below.]

Assessing pain, anxiety and other symptoms of nursing home residents unable to speak for themselves Regenstrief Institute, Indianapolis, IN; by Kathleen T. Unroe, MD, MHA; 3/10/25 Revamped tool reliably addresses physical and emotional distress, well-being and end-of-life symptoms. As many as half of nursing home residents are cognitively impaired and may be unable to communicate symptoms such as pain or anxiety to the staff and clinicians caring for them. Therefore, information needed for the evaluation of symptoms and subsequent treatment decisions typically does not reliably exist in nursing home electronic health records (EHRs). A new paper reports on the novel adaptation of a commonly used symptom assessment instrument to more comprehensively acquire this difficult-to-obtain data with the ultimate goal of enabling knowledge-based expansion of palliative care services in nursing homes to address residents’ symptoms. 

How to start the hospice conversation: Judy Bartel Cleveland.com, Cleveland, OH; by Guest columnist Judy Bartel, chief clinical officer for Hospice of the Western Reserve; 3/9/25 Discussing hospice care with a loved one is one of life’s most delicate and emotional conversations. For many, the word “hospice” evokes fear -- fear of finality, of giving up, of losing hope. But the truth is, hospice isn’t about giving up; it’s about focusing on what matters most -- comfort, dignity and quality of life. ...

NPHI CEO Tom Koutsoumpas: Modernize hospice benefit for value-based future Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 3/10/25 The health care realm is changing, and hospices must change with it. This is the central thesis that underlies the National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation, which is currently celebrating the 10th anniversary of its founding. NPHI seeks to put nonprofit hospice organizations at the forefront of innovation, the development of new care and payment models and collective action to expand access and prepare for a value-based future. The organization currently has more than 120 members, all nonprofits, who collectively care for more than 580,000 patients.The health care realm is changing, and hospices must change with it. This is the central thesis that underlies the National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation, which is currently celebrating the 10th anniversary of its founding. ... [Click on the title's link to continue reading.]

13th Annual Healthcare Fraud & Abuse Review - 2024 JD Supra; by Bass, Berry & Sims PLC; 3/7/25 Bass, Berry & Sims is pleased to announce the release of the 13th annual Healthcare Fraud & Abuse Review examining important healthcare fraud developments in 2024. Compiled by the firm's Healthcare Fraud & Abuse Task Force, the Review provides a comprehensive analysis of enforcement developments affecting the healthcare industry, significant court decisions involving the False Claims Act, and an overview of settlements involving healthcare fraud and abuse issues.We began the Review over a decade ago with the intention of providing comprehensive coverage of the most significant civil and criminal enforcement issues facing healthcare providers each year. Over that time, the challenges facing the healthcare industry have been significant. ...