Literature Review

Well-being outcomes of health care workers after a 5-hour continuing education intervention-The WELL-B randomized clinical trialJAMA Network Open; J. Bryan Sexton, PhD; Kathryn C. Adair, PhD; 9/24To test the effectiveness of Well-Being Essentials for Learning Life-Balance (WELL-B), a web-based continuing education program [was developed] to deliver ... interventions to improve 4 dimensions of HCW [health care workers] well-being (ie, emotional exhaustion, emotional thriving, emotional recovery, and work-life integration). [The] ... sessions improved short-term HCW emotional exhaustion, emotional thriving, emotional recovery, and work-life integration. Health care worker impressions of WELL-B were positive. These findings suggest that WELL-B is a beneficial intervention. 

Global collaboration launches culturally inclusive palliative care education tool Hospice News; by Holly Vossel; 9/16/24 An international collaboration has led to the development of a new palliative care training tool aimed at improving quality and equitable access. Health systems across the globe are recognizing a growing need to boost the supply of providers able to care for a swelling, aging population of serious and terminally ill patients. Rising demand was among the driving forces behind the newly unveiled COllaboratively DEveloped culturalY Appropriate and inclusive Assessment tool for Palliative Care Education (CODE-YAA@PC-EDU). The palliative care education tool was developed in concert by the Council of Europe, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations. The organizations joined forces to design a sustainable training model that could build up the palliative workforce. The project is supported in part by the research network European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST).

The patient care experience on full display Modern Healthcare; by Mary Ellen Podmolik; 9/13/24 Art exhibits can promote a visceral reaction. The one that just opened along a hallway of windows on Thomas Jefferson University’s health sciences campus certainly does just that. The installation includes five hospital beds, life-sized mannequins inside large pill bottles, personal possessions and deeply personal quotes from five unnamed people who’ve gone through life-threatening trauma — a miscarriage, a pulmonary embolism, a wait for a kidney transplant, a case of undiagnosed paralysis and cancer. The Philadelphia artist behind the exhibit, Pepón Osorio, is the cancer patient. “Convalescence” is a complex and compelling exhibit of patient pain, reliance on drugs and inequitable care — part of the patient experience that can get lost in the daily tussle between providers and payers. “It is a critique of the healthcare system,” Megan Voeller, director of health humanities at the university, told me.

The persistent stigma attached to dementia encourages denial InForum; by Carol Bradley Bursack; 9/14/24 Dear Carol: ... At age 70, I was diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Theoretically, that diagnosis means that I have a few more memory glitches than normal for my age. A percentage of people with MCI will develop Alzheimer’s disease, but not all. Yet, some family members treat me like I shouldn’t make decisions beyond what I want for dinner. ...Dear Al: The stigma attached to mental illness, cognitive decline, and even aging, illustrates widespread ignorance of facts. The more people like you speak up the better the future will be for others. ... For now, work on educating your family about MCI.  ... Here's a start: 

Innovative program reduces nurse turnover and fosters development Oncology Nursing News; by Heather Wood, RN, OCN and Marie Garcia, RN, OCN; 9/12/24 Cancer incidence is on the rise in the US, especially among the growing older population. ... Unfortunately, the current shortage of oncology nurses is expected to worsen, as fewer people enter the profession while aging nurses retire. By 2025, a shortage of 200,000 to 450,000 oncology nurses is predicted in the US. ... In response, The US Oncology Network (The Network) has developed one of the most comprehensive programs in the nation to support the professional development and retention of new oncology nurses. ... Designed to enhance their knowledge of fundamental oncology, OCEAN is a collaborative effort bringing together a multidisciplinary team of experts and speakers from across The Network. The program provides fundamental oncology knowledge around 12 core areas delivered over 22.5 hours of live virtual learning. Content ranges from ... various treatment modalities ... to palliative care and advanced care planning. OCEAN’s impact extends beyond skill development, fostering a sense of belonging and purpose among participating nurses. ... Early results from the program are promising, such as increased retention rates [12% better than the national average] and cost savings. 

Nursing students learning to respect culture, tradition at the end of life St. Cloud Live, St. Joseph, MN; by Stephanie Dickrell; 9/6/24  It is called the golden hour — the hour before someone’s death. It’s a time of grief, but it’s also a sacred space. Two nursing instructors at the College of St. Benedict and St. John’s University are trying to make that time better for patients and their loved ones by better preparing their students who will be with them in their final moments. While the rituals surrounding death may vary by time, geography and culture, the program wants to make sure all cultures are respected. ... Julie Keller Dornbusch and Mary Pesch, both trained as Advanced Practice Registered Nurses ... received a prestigious grant from the Morgan Family Foundation of nearly $100,000 to create and test nursing simulations using culturally specific care for the Catholic community, Somali Muslims and Ojibwe people.Editor's note: This article indicates that "training material on culturally specific end-of-life care" is non-existent. This statement is misleading. Examine:

Employer educational assistance programs can help long-term care workers pay off student loansMcKnight's Senior Living; by John Roszkowski; 9/3/24Employer-based educational programs still can be used to help pay off worker students’ loans through the end of next year, potentially enabling long-term care employers to provide relief to their workers who are struggling to pay off such debt. The IRS issued a reminder last week that employers who offer educational assistance programs also can use them to help pay for their employees’ student loan obligations through Dec. 31, 2025. Although educational assistance programs have been available to employees for many years to help them pay for tuition, books, supplies and other educational expenses, the option to use them to help workers pay off student loans has only been available for payments made after March 27, 2000, according to the IRS. The student loan provision will expire at the end of 2025. The student loan payment initiative may be one way for senior living, nursing home, home care and hospice employers to attract and retain employees, many of whom may be trying to pay off student loans.Publisher's note: Some hospices offer employer-based educational programs - does yours?

Sophisticated caregiver training remains an underutilized retention, ROI tool Home Health Care News; by Audrie Martin; 8/22/24 ... [Only] 43.8% of home-based care staff and 55% of home health and hospice staff feel prepared to care for new clients, according to the 2024 Activated Insights Benchmarking Report. As a possible result, the annual care staff turnover rate has climbed 14% in the last two years to almost 80%. Organizations demonstrating a commitment to continuing education improve employee satisfaction by allowing caregivers to hone their skills and grow in their careers. Investing in employees’ long-term success will impart a sense of purpose and possibility within a role known for turnover and burnout. “The average home-based care provider offers five hours of orientation and eight hours of ongoing training,” the report read. “Those who offer at least eight orientation hours and 12 hours of ongoing training see an increase of $1,103,291 in revenue. However, while establishing a clear path is one of the top strategies to retaining long-term employees, only 39% of providers have one.”

The importance of competencies in pain management and palliative care Greenwich Sentinel, Greenwich, CT; by Russell R. Barksdale, Jr.; 8/21/24 ... Competencies, ongoing pharmacological education, regular patient pain assessments, management, and medication adjustments are all crucial processes for healthcare providers in today’s complex medical environment. Regrettably, metabolic and behavioral issues related to pain medications, especially opioids, if not properly managed, poses risk of addiction. Beginning in the late 1990s, the consumption of medical opioids used to treat pain increased in many countries worldwide. Since that time, alarmingly the United States has outpaced every other country in per capita opioid consumption. ... [Click on the title's link to continue reading.]

TCN podcast: The need to know on the 2025 Hospice Wage Index Telios Collaborative Network (TCN); podcast hosted by Chris Comeaux; 8/21/24 In this episode of TCN Talks, Chris interviews Annette Kiser, Chief Compliance Officer with Teleios and Judi Lund Person, Principal with Lund Person & Associates LLC.  The conversation covers the need to know around the final published 2025 Wage Index for Hospices.  Some of the key points discussed are:

Elder abuse is unreported. City employees will now be trained to recognize it. San Antonio Report, TX; by Iris Dimmick; 8/21/24 City of San Antonio employees will soon be trained on how to identify and report elder abuse thanks to a collaborative effort to increase awareness of the underreported “crisis” gripping the community. City Council’s Public Safety Committee greenlit the policy Tuesday, which directs the city’s Department of Human Services and Texas Adult Protective Services (APS) to develop training curricula for staff. ... The largest share of elderly abuse cases in Bexar County is reported by medical personnel, followed by relatives, community agencies and the victims themselves. In 2022, a woman died in a local hospital after her three adult children allegedly neglected her hospice care. In 2018, a caretaker in San Antonio was charged with several felonies after police found an elderly, disabled woman was languishing in soiled clothes for months at a time.Editor's Note: What elder neglect and abuse training do you require for your hospice and palliative care interdisciplinary team members and volunteers? What incident reporting and follow-up systems do you have in place? The CMS Hospice Conditions of Participation requires the patient's comprehensive assessment to include "a thorough evaluation of the caregiver's and family's willingness and capability to care for the patient." Subpart A, § 418.3 

Hospice and Palliative Nurses Foundation receives $1.2 million impact grant Hospice & Palliative Nurses Association (HPNA); August 2024 newsletter, with webpage posted 7/8/24 The Hospice and Palliative Nurses Foundation (HPNF) is thrilled to announce that it has been awarded a transformative $1.2 million impact grant from the Hospice and Palliative Credentialing Center (HPCC). The Sandra Lee Schafer Impact Grant, given in memory of the late Sandra Lee Schafer, MN, RN, AOCN®, will empower HPNF to create a legacy of sustainable giving, which will impact the hospice and palliative care community for years to come. “We are deeply honored and grateful to receive this impact grant from HPCC, given in tribute of Sandy,” said Virginia (Ginger) Marshall, MSN, ACNP-BC, ACHPN®, FPCN, chief executive officer of HPNF. Sandra was an unwavering advocate of specialty nursing certification. ... Sandra served as the director of credentialing of the Hospice and Palliative Credentialing Center from 2004 until her sudden passing in 2018.

The most urgent needs in medical education Becker's Hospital Review; by Mariah Taylor; 7/30/24 Healthcare is rapidly changing, presenting challenges to new physicians and the organizations that train them. The rise of AI, new technologies, patient demands and increased awareness in social determinants of health and equity have pushed leaders and organizations to change how they evaluate healthcare workers' preparedness as they enter the field. ...