Literature Review
All posts tagged with “Post-Acute Care News | Challenges.”
Baptist Health taps 3 vendors to build a population health system that works
07/29/24 at 03:00 AMBaptist Health taps 3 vendors to build a population health system that works Healthcare IT News; by Bill Siwicki; 7/26/24With help from Oracle, Innovaccer and Salesforce, the South Florida provider is scoring big population health wins, including a 7% increase in coding gap closure rate and a 17% increase in annual wellness visit completion rates. Baptist Health South Florida operates a network of 11 hospitals covering four counties. It also includes numerous ambulatory facilities, urgent care centers and emergency departments to provide comprehensive healthcare services across the region. ... "One of our primary issues was the fragmented nature of patient data across multiple provider organizations and electronic health record systems," said Milady Cervera, vice president, population health and physician integrated networks, at Baptist Health South Florida. "This lack of interoperability made it difficult to gain a comprehensive view of our patients' health status, care history and ongoing needs. ..."
5 evolving trends on end-of-life matters
07/26/24 at 02:55 AM5 evolving trends on end-of-life matters The Leavenworth Echo, Wenatchee, WA; 7/21/24 One of the most difficult conversations many people have in their lives involves the end of life. While often uncomfortable to think about or discuss with others, talking about and sharing end-of-life wishes should be a common occurrence. In fact, 91% of Americans believe talking about death and dying is healthy and normal, but 1 in 4 (27%) are uncomfortable actually doing it, according to a first-of-its-kind survey commissioned by the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA), the world’s leading and largest funeral service association. With nearly one-third (31%) of survey respondents admitting they’re uncomfortable thinking about their own mortality, Remembering A Life, the organization’s online resource for accessing grief resources and funeral planning information, is offering a free downloadable guide, Start the Conversation, to help family and friends have meaningful conversations about loved ones and how they’d like to be remembered.
Millions burdened by the cost of long-term care
07/24/24 at 03:10 AMMillions burdened by the cost of long-term care AHCJ - Association of Health Care Journalists; by Breanna Reeves; 7/18/24 ... [Robert] Ingenito shared the mounting costs of caring for his father, who became really sick in 2023. During the panel, Ingenito shared the estimated total cost of caring for his father for just a few months: $57,000. ... [In the U.S.] 8 million people over age 65 need long-term care services, but 3 million were not receiving them. ... Most people in the U.S. are cared for by unpaid caregivers, which are oftentimes spouses and daughters who have no prior experience in caregiving.
Fewer deaths after serious illness in veterans treated with PARC Care Model
07/15/24 at 03:00 AMFewer deaths after serious illness in veterans treated with PARC Care Model U.S. Medicine; by LaTina Emerson; 7/11/24 After a serious illness, veterans who received medical care via the Post-Acute Recovery Center (PARC) model experienced fewer deaths and more days outside of the hospital compared to those not treated with PARC, according to a recent study. ... Using telehealth, PARC is administered by nurse practitioners to address the complex needs of intensive care unit (ICU) survivors as they transition from hospital to home and improve access to post-ICU care for high-risk veterans, ... Each year, “more than 100,000 veterans transition from ICUs to their home after treatment for life-threatening illnesses, but this transition presents many challenges, including unresolved acute medical issues and the lingering effects of acute organ dysfunction,” according to the study authors. ...
Caregiver charged with abusing dementia patient
07/11/24 at 03:30 AMCaregiver charged with abusing dementia patient The Freeman, Waukesha County, WI; by Freeman Staff; 7/9/24 A West Allis woman has been charged after she allegedly struck a dementia patient in her care and put a pillow over the woman’s face out of frustration. Erica Junger, 22, was charged Monday in Waukesha County Circuit Court with a count of intentionally abusing a patient, and faces up to six years in prison if convicted. She made an initial appearance in court Monday, where she was released on a $2,500 signature bond and ordered by Court Commissioner David Herring not to work in any job where she is responsible for the health care and safety of others. ... She said she "snapped" and did things she wasn’t supposed to do, but didn’t mean anything by it. ... The complaint did not identify the facility where the incident took place. But it did identify Junger as an employee of Agrace Hospice, which contracts with the facility.
Judge Realty partners with Hospice Savannah to offer home modification to support aging in place
07/11/24 at 03:00 AMJudge Realty partners with Hospice Savannah to offer home modification to support aging in placeSavannah Business Journal Staff Report; 7/8/24Judge Realty recently announced a partnership with Hospice Savannah to encourage and support aging in place. Judge Property Management, a division of Judge Realty, is working in conjunction with Hospice Savannah’s CAPABLE+ program to help older adults live independently with strategic support in the privacy of their home environment. ... Hospice Savannah’s CAPABLE program provides a support team, including a Registered Nurse, an Occupational Therapist and a Handyworker who offer home visits and provide limited care for older adults, which can decrease hospitalization and reduce healthcare costs. The standard CAPABLE program is available as a free service for low-income adults age 62 or older in Chatham, Bryan Effingham or Liberty County who are cognitively intact, but experiencing some difficulty bathing, dressing, grooming, eating or walking.
A professional’s perspective: Ageism within the healthcare system; does it exist?
07/10/24 at 03:00 AMA professional’s perspective: Ageism within the healthcare system; does it exist? Northern Kentucky Tribune; by Jeff Rubin; 7/6/24 A friend of mine named Dee recently shared with me a particularly unpleasant experience she had with a young hospital discharge planner regarding her 97-year-old mom in California. It appears Dee had a heck of a time trying to get her mom discharged to home health care rather than hospice, even though the particular care she needed could have been better delivered at home. A geriatrician by training, Dee ... recognized the invaluable role of hospice in providing end-of-life care. However, the situation she found herself in was less a question of end-of-life and more of palliative care. ... A recent study in the US sampling 2,035 individuals between 50 and 80 years of age revealed that 93.4% experienced ageism firsthand. Their perception extended to professionals like doctors, nurses, therapists, social workers, and psychologists whose services included working with older people. [Click on the title's link for significant data, descriptions, and resources.]
Grief care efforts should include settings outside of hospice, provider group say
07/05/24 at 03:00 AMGrief care efforts should include settings outside of hospice, provider group say McKnights Senior Living; by Kimberly Bonvissuto; 7/3/24 If standards are developed for high-quality bereavement and grief care, they must apply to settings outside of traditional hospice care, such as affordable senior housing, where there is a “critical lack” of mental health services. That’s according to LeadingAge, which submitted comments last week to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality on a draft report from a research project that will inform an independent panel that will develop standards for high-quality bereavement and grief care. Katy Barnett, LeadingAge director of home care and hospice operations and policy, highlighted the need for cross-continuum grief and bereavement assessments, interventions and resources, including in settings outside of traditional hospice care, such as affordable senior housing.
Senior care experts detail how to build a coveted ‘destination workplace’
07/05/24 at 03:00 AMSenior care experts detail how to build a coveted ‘destination workplace’ McKnights Home Care; by Josh Henreckson; 6/27/24 Faced with today’s complex array of financial, staffing and regulatory challenges, senior care operators need to rely on a broad range of workplace solutions, a panel of experts said. ... Providers should be actively listening to their employees’ needs and trying to meet the evolving desires of the labor market, they emphasized at McKnight’s “Meeting of the Minds” thought-leader discussion. This must take place whether they’re pursuing recruiting strategies, trying to improve staff retention, integrating new technological advances or investing in new benefits and professional development. “The one area that’s going to undergird everything for your success is paying attention to the most important capital, which is human capital,” said Navin Gupta, CEO at software provider Viventium. “Pay attention to the caregiver experience from recruitment … to retention to recognition and development — the entire journey."
[Four-day workweeks:] A flexibility trend gaining steam in nursing
07/01/24 at 03:00 AM[Four-day workweeks:] A flexibility trend gaining steam in nursing Becker's Clinical Leadership; by Erica Carbajal; 6/26/24 A growing number of health systems are embracing four-day workweeks for nurse leaders — a strategy that has helped some boost recruitment, retention and staff engagement. Over the past year, the needs and well-being of nurse managers have come into focus, with hospitals and health systems taking a closer look at how to best support them in addition to bedside nurses. Survey findings have indicated nurse managers have a hard time fully disconnecting from work, and they crave much of the same work environment factors that front-line nurses do, such as the ability to take time off when needed and work-life balance support. As such, four-day schedules have increasingly become part of the conversation at many hospitals and health systems.
AMA Advocacy 2024 efforts
07/01/24 at 03:00 AMAMA Advocacy 2024 efforts American Medical Association; by AMA; Updated June 2024, 6/27/24 There are far too many everyday practice challenges interfering with patient care. That’s why the American Medical Association is advocating to keep physicians at the head of the health care team, reform the Medicare physician payment system, relieve the burdens of overused prior authorizations and so much more. [Key advocacy efforts include:]
Senior Helpers is first in-home care company in country to achieve CHAP Age-Friendly Care Certification
07/01/24 at 03:00 AMSenior Helpers is first in-home care company in country to achieve CHAP Age-Friendly Care CertificationPR Newswire, Towson, MD; by Senior Helpers; 6/27/24 Senior Helpers ... is the first in-home care provider in the United States to be Age-Friendly Care at Home certified by Community Health Accreditation Partner (CHAP). "We have always set the highest standard of care for ourselves and our clients, and we are thrilled to be recognized for that," said Mari Baxter, COO of Senior Helpers. "Our proprietary LIFE Profile assessment tool sets us apart from others in the industry and helped position us to be the first in the country to achieve the Age-Friendly Care Certification. ... The three Senior Helpers locations that have earned the coveted Age-Friendly Care Certification for home care are Senior Helpers of Milwaukee, Senior Helpers of Charlotte, and Senior Helpers of Greater Chicagoland. More locations are expected to receive their certifications soon. Editor's Note: Community Health Accreditation Partner (CHAP) is a sponsor for Hospice & Palliative Care Today. Congratulations
Chronic loneliness and the risk of incident stroke in middle and late adulthood: a longitudinal cohort study of U.S. older adults
06/29/24 at 03:20 AMChronic loneliness and the risk of incident stroke in middle and late adulthood: a longitudinal cohort study of U.S. older adults eClinical Medicine, Part of THE LANCET Discovery Science; by Yenee Soh, Ichiro Kawachi, Laura D. Kubzansky, Lisa F. Berkman, and Henning Tiemeier; 6/24/24 Loneliness has been implicated as a stroke risk factor, yet studies have examined loneliness at only one time point. The association of loneliness changes and risk of incident stroke remains understudied. Our aim was to examine the association of loneliness with incident stroke, particularly the role of loneliness chronicity. Chronic loneliness was associated with higher stroke risk independent of depressive symptoms or social isolation. Addressing loneliness may have an important role in stroke prevention, and repeated assessments of loneliness over time may help identify those particularly at risk.Editor's Note: This is the source research for an article we posted yesterday, 6/28/24, titled
HHS to impose penalties on providers that block patients’ health information
06/28/24 at 03:00 AMHHS to impose penalties on providers that block patients’ health information McKnights Home Care; by Adam Healy; 6/24/24In a bid to promote easier access and exchange of patients’ health records, the Department of Health and Human Services published a final rule Monday outlining penalties for providers that block access to electronic health information. ... Fragmented and inaccessible patient data can prevent long-term and post-acute care providers from seeing the full picture of a patients’ health. Hospitals, for example, are not required to share updates about a patient’s health with the patient’s post-acute care provider. As a result, home health and home care agencies frequently cannot access patients’ electronic health records to help assess and treat patients. Three disincentives: ... First, hospitals that commit information blocking can be subject to a reduction of three quarters of an annual market basket update. Second, clinicians eligible for the Merit-based Incentive Payment System will receive a zero score in the “promoting interoperability performance” MIPS category, which can be equivalent to roughly a quarter of the clinician’s MIPS score in a given year. Lastly, providers that participate in information blocking can have their Medicare Shared Savings Program or Accountable Care Organization eligibility revoked for at least one year. ...Editor's Note: Almost any solution raises additional challenges. How does HIPAA interface with this? How might a cyberattack at a hospital (or other healthcare agency) affect the patients' other agencies, putting them at risk as well?
Chronic loneliness can raise stroke risk in older adults, findings show
06/28/24 at 03:00 AMChronic loneliness can raise stroke risk in older adults, findings show McKnights Long-Term Care News; by Kristen Fischer; 6/24/24 A new study links loneliness to stroke risk, showing that those who are regularly lonesome have a 56% higher risk for stroke than those who are more socially connected. Situational loneliness wasn’t linked to a higher risk for stroke, which indicates that the stroke risk stems from chronic loneliness. Investigators led by a team from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health published their report Monday in eClinicalMedicine. Research has already linked loneliness to an increased risk for cardiovascular disease. The new report is one of the first to evaluate the association between loneliness and stroke risk.
Hospice of Marion County trains first responders to care for dementia patients
06/21/24 at 02:00 AMHospice of Marion County trains first responders to care for dementia patients Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 6/18/24 Florida-based Hospice of Marion County, an affiliate of Empath Health, is training first responders in its community on how to treat dementia patients. For several years, the nonprofit hospice has been educating family caregivers and others in their community about the experiences of dementia patients and how to better interact with them. More recently, Hospice of Marion County [Ocala, Florida] has been expanding that training to include local law enforcement and fire departments, as well as medical students and staff at assisted living facilities, among others. The training uses a series of tools to simulate symptoms of dementia, related to visual, tactile, auditory senses, their ability to process information and perform certain tasks. The education helps first responders address the unique challenges associated with caring for dementia patients, according to Dr. Mery Lossada, chief medical officer of Hospice of Marion County.Editor's Note: Bravo, Hospice of Marion County!
Dangerous heat puts tens of millions in the US on alert; paired with NIH & OSHA resources for you to protect patients and employees
06/19/24 at 02:00 AMNIH: Hot weather safety for older adults OSHA: Heat - Working in outdoor and indoor heat environmentsOSHA - Occupational Safety and Health Administration; retrieved from their website 6/18/24
Palliative care considerations in frail older adults
06/13/24 at 03:00 AMPalliative care considerations in frail older adults Annals of Palliative Medicine; by Andrew E Russell, Rachel Denny, Pearl G Lee, Marcos L Montagnini; 6/6/24, online ahead of print...This paper aims to guide clinicians in providing patientcentered care for older adults with frailty in the outpatient setting. Through a comprehensive literature review, we describe the leading models of frailty, frailty screening tools used in the clinical setting, and the assessment and management of palliative care needs in frail patients. We also describe emerging models of care focusing on palliative care for older adults with frailty and discuss issues related to access to palliative care for this population.
Addus to buy Gentiva’s personal care assets for $350 million
06/12/24 at 03:00 AMAddus to buy Gentiva’s personal care assets for $350 million Home Health Care News; by Andrew Donlan; 6/10/24 Addus HomeCare Corp. is set to acquire Gentiva’s personal care assets for about $350 million.Those assets amount to over 16,000 home care patients per day, in Arizona, Arkansas, California, Missouri, North Carolina, Tennessee and Texas. Addus – which just left the state of New York – will fund the acquisition through its existing revolving credit facility. “We believe this acquisition is a great strategic fit for Addus, and we are excited about the opportunity to expand our personal care market coverage in seven states, including Texas and Missouri, which are new markets for Addus,” Addus CEO Dirk Allison said. ... Addus currently provides home care, home health care and hospice services to over 49,000 consumers through 214 locations spanning 22 states.
What does death look like for those experiencing homelessness in Southern Nevada?
06/11/24 at 03:00 AMWhat does death look like for those experiencing homelessness in Southern Nevada?
NYCHA, HPD and HDC celebrate completion of nearly 200 units of senior housing in Bed-Stuy
05/29/24 at 03:00 AMNYCHA, HPD and HDC celebrate completion of nearly 200 units of senior housing in Bed-Stuy New York Law School; by Veronica Rose; 5/28/24 On May 23, 2024, the New York City Housing Authority, the Department of Housing Preservation and Development and the New York City Housing Development Corporation celebrated the completion of the Atrium at Sumner project, a new eleven-story residence for seniors. ... Of these 190 units, 57 apartments have been reserved for seniors who formerly experienced homelessness, and 132 apartments are available to senior households at 50 percent area median income or less. ... On-site social services will be provided through Selfhelp’s Active Services for Aging Model with voluntary social work support for individual residents and a Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE Center) on the ground floor open to residents.
Healthcare sees highest Chapter 11 bankruptcy filings in 15 years: report
05/27/24 at 02:30 AMHealthcare sees highest Chapter 11 bankruptcy filings in 15 years: reportMcKnights Senior Living; by Kathleen Steele Gaivin; 5/20/24Chapter 11 bankruptcies in healthcare, including senior living reached a multiyear high in the first quarter of 2024. That’s according to the newest Polsinelli-TrBK Distress Indices Report, published Wednesday. “We continue to see intense stress in senior living,” Jeremy R. Johnson, a bankruptcy and restructuring attorney at Polsinelli and co-author of the report, said in a press release issued in conjunction with the report. ... The Southeast continues to outpace the rest of the country as the busiest region for bankruptcy filings, according to the report. The Southeast region reported 33.4% of the filings in the first quarter, followed by Northeast and Delaware at 30.8% and 16.1%, respectively. Since the benchmark period of 2020, the Northeast has shown the biggest increase in filings.
Transformative peer connections: Early experiences from the ASCO Palliative Care Community of Practice
05/27/24 at 02:00 AMTransformative peer connections: Early experiences from the ASCO Palliative Care Community of Practice American Society of Clinical Oncology; by Mazie Tsang, Cristiane Bergerot, Natasha Dhawan, Rushil Patel, Darcy Burbage, Tingting Zhang, Jafar Al-Mondhiry, Joseph McCollom, Ramy Sedhom; 5/22/24 online ahead of print in June 2024 ... there are barriers to implementing palliative oncology at many institutions for myriad reasons. ... In this article, we discuss an innovative strategy that ASCO implemented called the Communities of Practice (CoP). We share our experiences as the Palliative Care CoP and how our group seeks to develop processes and structures to collectively promote systemic change and enhance palliative care delivery for people with cancer. Our Palliative Care CoP engages with senior leaders, administrators, and those in power to achieve a shared vision of delivering holistic health care for people with serious illness. ... [We address] eight main domains:
Uber expands healthcare reach with new patient transport platform
05/24/24 at 03:00 AMUber expands healthcare reach with new patient transport platform Modern Healthcare / Crain's New York Business; by Amanda Glodowski; 5/17/24 Uber has announced a new platform to help caregivers facilitate transportation for those they care for. The move also further expands the company’s footprint in the healthcare space. The new offering ... allows caregivers to request and monitor rides and deliveries of prescriptions, groceries and over-the-counter items for those they care for. In the coming months, Uber said it will start to partner with Medicare Advantage, Medicaid and commercial plans to reimburse consumers for the cost.
Tuesday Health launches revolutionary Supportive Care solution with $60 million of strategic investment from healthcare leaders
05/24/24 at 03:00 AMTuesday Health launches revolutionary Supportive Care solution with $60 million of strategic investment from healthcare leadersInvestors Observier; by PR Newswire; 5/21/24Tuesday Health, a pioneer in value-based care dedicated to transforming serious illness, has launched its innovative supportive care solution in partnership with Valtruis, Blue Venture Fund, Mass General Brigham Ventures , and CareSource. This alliance brings a $60 million strategic investment to Tuesday Health, fueling its mission to redefine supportive care for patients and caregivers facing serious illnesses. "Leveraging clinical expertise, advanced data solutions, and cutting-edge technology, while partnering with Ohio's largest Medicaid plan, its largest hospice provider and the unmatched palliative care experience of Mass General, Tuesday Health is dedicated to tackling one of healthcare's biggest challenges-providing support and care in the right setting, at the right time, for those facing serious illness", said Jim Wieland, CEO of Tuesday Health.Editor's Note: What is the difference between supportive care and palliative care? Click here for a description from ASCO, the American Society of Clinical Oncology.