Literature Review
All posts tagged with “Clinical News | Patient Safety.”
Understanding hospice care: Eligibility, cost and purpose
06/10/25 at 03:00 AMUnderstanding hospice care: Eligibility, cost and purpose Emmanuel Hospice; 6/5/25 How do you want to live? It may be surprising to learn that’s the first question Emmanuel Hospice asks every new patient. Isn’t hospice about dying? While hospice is often associated with death, Melissa Wedberg will tell you it’s more about living, especially at Emmanuel Hospice, where she serves as vice president of community relations. With more than a decade in the hospice industry, Wedberg has spent years dispelling this and many other myths. Despite having roots in the U.S. dating back to the 70s, there remains a lot of mystery about hospice. Common questions Wedberg hears include: What is hospice and who’s eligible? How does hospice work? How is hospice paid for? Editor's note: This simple question jumps to the core of person-centered care, "How do you want to live?"
MLN Fact Sheet: Creating an effective hospice Plan of Care
05/30/25 at 03:00 AMMLN Fact Sheet: Creating an efffective Hospice Plan of CareCenters for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Medicare Learning Network (MLN); 5/10/25 The hospice plan of care (POC) maps out needs and services given to a Medicare patient facing a terminal illness, as well as the patient’s family or caregiver. CMS data shows that some hospice POCs are incomplete or not followed correctly. This fact sheet educates on creating and coordinating successful hospice POCs. The primary goal of hospice care is to meet the holistic needs of an individual and their caregiver and family when curative care is no longer an option. To support this goal:
Assisted living facility where woman was fatally beaten operated out of 'pure greed:' Suit
05/29/25 at 03:00 AMAssisted living facility where woman was fatally beaten operated out of 'pure greed:' Suit Delaware New Journal; by Isabel Hughes; 5/20/25 The family of an 83-year-old woman who was fatally beaten by another resident at The Summit assisted living in North Star has accused the facility and its parent company of "pure greed," claiming in a recently filed lawsuit that the previously violent assailant was not removed from the facility because he brought in nearly $400,000 for the company. The family of Shyuan Hsia who was attacked and left to suffer in her room for hours on the night of Aug. 5, 2024 filed the 84-page suit in New Castle County Superior Court in late April. ... Discovery Senior Living, the lawsuit says, "recklessly failed to remove" him, "because if they did so, they stood to lose approximately $370,000 in revenue." That number was derived from:
From an old ambulance, they help the growing homeless population
05/28/25 at 02:30 AMFrom an old ambulance, they help the growing homeless population CT Mirror; by Ginny Monk; 5/25/25 The needs of the unhoused are becoming more complex, and the fight for state support is fierce. ... Launched in 2021, the [Neighborhood Health workers] team drives a refurbished ambulance to shelters or encampments, then provides health care on-site for people experiencing homelessness. They’re out nearly every day. In recent months, as more people, particularly seniors, have lost their housing, health workers are finding that the cases they handle are more complicated. People often have multiple diagnoses, and with older age groups, there are often health complications that make the illnesses or injuries harder to treat. Sometimes, conversations are veering to end-of-life care. These conversations between health care professionals and patients are poignant as state lawmakers debate funding for the systems that offer shelter and other services for the unhoused population. ...
66 top hospitals for patient experience, safety: Healthgrades
05/27/25 at 03:00 AM66 top hospitals for patient experience, safety: Healthgrades Becker's Hospital Review; by Mariah Taylor; 5/14/25 A total of 66 hospitals received both Healthgrades’ Outstanding Patient Experience and Patient Safety Excellence awards. Healthgrades released its 2025 Outstanding Patient Experience Award, which recognizes hospitals that provide top-quality care while ensuring a positive healthcare experience for patients. The company analyzed data from 3,059 hospitals that submitted at least 100 patient experience surveys to CMS between January and December 2023. It used 10 metrics from the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems patient survey data. ... Read more about the methodology here. For patient safety, Healthgrades analyzed 14 patient safety indicators using inpatient data from the Medicare Provider Analysis and Review file and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality’s Patient Safety Indicators Technical Specifications and AHRQ WinQI software. Read the methodology here. ...
ACC issues new tool to provide guidance on using Apple Watch for heart health monitoring
05/26/25 at 03:00 AMACC issues new tool to provide guidance on using Apple Watch for heart health monitoring American College of Cardiology; ACC News Story; 5/20/25 The ACC has issued a new "Leveraging Apple Watch for Cardiovascular Care" tool, designed to provide guidance for clinicians and patients using health data collected while wearing an Apple Watch to effectively track and manage cardiovascular health. Through the tool, clinicians can establish best practices for incorporating Apple Watch data relevant to a patient's care plan, create an implementation plan for collecting and responding to data, and develop processes for working with patients to ensure they are using the watch correctly and seeking care where appropriate. The tool also advises when an Apple Watch should not be used, including clinically indicated rhythm monitoring where immediate alerts to a clinician are needed.
Hospice nurse fired after granddaughter shares video of alleged misconduct
05/22/25 at 03:00 AMHospice nurse fired after granddaughter shares video of alleged misconduct NBC WJAR-10, Providence, RI; by Leanna Faulk; 5/16/25 A hospice nurse has been fired after a Facebook video posted by the granddaughter of a terminally ill man allegedly caught the nurse verbally abusing him inside HopeHealth Hospice & Palliative Care on Main Street in Providence. Aryanna Pecoraro said she was visiting her 69-year-old grandfather, John Carney, during the early morning hours of May 3 when she overheard a nurse speaking aggressively to him through the closed door of his room. Carney had been admitted to the hospice center on April 30 and was in the late stages of emphysema. “I hear her say to my grandfather, ‘I’m not coming back into this room. I don’t care if you fall out of the bed onto the floor. I’m tired of your BS," Pecoraro said in an interview with NBC 10. “She also mocked him while he groaned in pain. I couldn’t believe someone could be that cruel to a person who couldn’t defend himself.” ... HopeHealth issued the following statement in response to the video and allegations: ...
Santa Maria woman sentenced to 10+ years for stealing from elderly clients
05/21/25 at 03:00 AMSanta Maria woman sentenced to 10+ years for stealing from elderly clients NBC KSBY-6, California's Central Coast; by KSBY Staff; 5/20/25 A former Santa Barbara County investment advisor was sentenced Monday to just over 10 years in federal prison for stealing millions of dollars from elderly clients of her investment advisory business in the Santa Maria area. Julie Darrah, 52, of Santa Maria, ran an investment advisory business called Vivid Financial Management Inc. (VFM). ... Prosecutors say she stole approximately $2.25 million from her clients between November 2016 and July 2023. ... In December 2024, a U.S. District judge found her liable to pay back her clients $2,416,511. Department of Justice (DOJ) officials say Darrah abused the trust her victims placed in her, accusing the defendant of manipulating her elderly clients into believing she would take care of them in their older years, like a daughter. Darrah would then use this trust to persuade her victims to sign documents giving her the ability to transfer funds from their bank accounts into other accounts, including her own. Some of her victims were reportedly left in desperate circumstances, without the money to pay for needed end-of-life care. ... Anyone who thinks they may be a victim of financial fraud can contact the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11.
In the wake of HICPAC: How APIC is leading the fight to preserve national infection prevention standards
05/15/25 at 02:00 AMIn the wake of HICPAC: How APIC is leading the fight to preserve national infection prevention standards Infection Control Today, Branbury, NJ; by Tori Whitacre Martonicz; 5/13/25 The Trump administration has disbanded a federal advisory committee that guided efforts to prevent the spread of infections in health care facilities. The Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC) established national standards for hand hygiene, mask-wearing, and isolating patients with infectious diseases that most US hospitals adhere to.Infection Control Today® (ICT®) spoke with Connie Steed, MSN, RN, CIC, FAPIC, an infection prevention consultant and former president of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC), about HICPAC's disbanding and its implications for national standards in infection control.
A daughter’s cautionary elder care tale
05/13/25 at 03:00 AMA daughter’s cautionary elder care tale The Progressive Magazine - Book Review; by Bill Lueders; 5/12/25 The call that woke Judy Karofsky in the middle of the night on May 18, 2015, was from a hospice nurse, who got right to the point: “I’m calling to tell you that your mother has died.” Karofsky, deeply shaken by the unexpected news, managed to ask, “Did she struggle?” Karofsky’s important new book, DisElderly Conduct: The Flawed Business of Assisted Living and Hospice, does not mention the hospice nurse’s response to this question. But it does note that she called back a moment later to say: “I’m so sorry . . . . I called the wrong number. I’m at a different facility and I had the wrong file.” Karofsky’s mother, Lillian Deutsch, had not died at all. It was someone else’s mother. Apologies were made. This is just one of many stories Karofsky shares throughout the book about the final years of her mother’s life in Wisconsin. This particular anecdote strikes me as noteworthy not just as an example of the sort of awful things that can happen when facilities are understaffed and staff members are overworked, but also because Karofsky’s first reaction was to wonder whether she struggled.Editor's note: Though printed news typically lifts up the good, compassionate moments of hospice care, most all of us have experienced negative accounts--professionally and/or personally. While this book is sure to give significant insights, perhaps the most important lessons are waiting to be validated from your own family caregivers, employees, and volunteers. What stories are behind your lower-than-you-want CAHPS Hospice scores? Dig deeper. May we all listen, learn, and improve care.
Hospice nurse caring for 97-year-old woman noticed something unusual. A Ring Camera allegedly showed the unthinkable
05/06/25 at 03:00 AMHospice nurse caring for 97-year-old woman noticed something unusual. A Ring Camera allegedly showed the unthinkable People; by Samira Asma-Sadeque; 5/2/25 A Florida man is under arrest after a woman allegedly caught him on a Ring camera raping her 97-year-old aunt. The victim, who has not been named, is nonverbal and bedridden, her niece said, according to an arrest report cited by Local 10. Timothy Morris, a 66-year-old from Homestead, Fla., was arrested on a charge of sexual battery of a physically incapacitated person, according to Miami-Dade County online court records reviewed by PEOPLE. Investigators say the victim is in hospice care, where Morris would often assist with her care, reportedly in the absence of hospice staff, per the arrest report from the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office.
Safe Harbor Estate Law launches “Dignity Drive” to support Minnesota hospice patients during Elder Law Month
05/02/25 at 03:00 AMSafe Harbor Estate Law launches “Dignity Drive” to support Minnesota hospice patients during Elder Law Month The Luverne Journal, PR Underground; 5/1/25 In recognition of May as Elder Law Month, Safe Harbor Estate Law is proud to announce the launch of the Safe Harbor Dignity Drive, a community-wide campaign to collect clean, comfortable clothing and comfort items for hospice patients facing end-of-life care with limited resources. Inspired by conversations with their partners at St. Croix Hospice, Safe Harbor learned that many patients spend their final days without appropriate clothing—often due to significant weight loss, mobility challenges, or a lack of support. Soft, well-fitting clothing can provide warmth, dignity, and peace during an incredibly sacred time. “We believe everyone deserves to feel respected and cared for—especially in their final days,” said Margaret Barrett, founder of Safe Harbor Estate Law. “The Dignity Drive is our way of helping ensure no one spends those moments without the basic comfort of clean, cozy clothing.”
7 signs at home care is needed for someone with dementia
04/29/25 at 02:00 AM7 signs at home care is needed for someone with dementia VeryWell Health; by Christopher Bergland; 4/25/25 ... At-home dementia care can look different for every family. Some people live alone and may get by with periodic check-ins from professionals in the dementia care community throughout the week. Others might require daily visits from Alzheimer's home care dementia services. Sometimes, a paid caregiver comes to the house daily, or unpaid loved ones provide 24/7 in-home care.
CMS releases HOPE Guidance Manual (V. 1.01) and Tables
04/25/25 at 03:00 AMCMS releases HOPE Guidance Manual (V. 1.01) and TablesCenters for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); by CMS; 4/22/25On April 22, 2025, CMS released the HOPE Guidance Manual (V. 1.01) and connected tables. Providers can use v1.01 for HOPE planning, as this is considered final before HOPE implementation. Also note that earlier this month, the final HOPE data specs have also been released, helping software developers to finalize their HOPE software for testing in the coming months.
Prevention of acute hospital transfers for long-term care residents at the end of life
04/24/25 at 02:00 AMPrevention of acute hospital transfers for long-term care residents at the end of life American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AJHPM); by Kirsten Lanpher, DMS, MSPA, PA-C and Kirsten Brondstater, DMS, MSPAS, PA-C; 3/24/25 Findings: Long-term care residents are a vulnerable population with advanced comorbidities who often require high acuity care and are subject to preventable transfers to the hospital at the EOL. These disruptions in EOL care cause harm and complications, negatively impacting quality of care. The consequences of these events can be mitigated with early advance care planning to include documentation of EOL care goals, onsite medical clinicians to make critical decisions and provide care within LTC facilities, and adequate staffing with proper palliative and hospice care training. Conclusion: Immediate action is needed to advocate for this high risk population and implement interventions to prevent hospital transfers at the EOL, therefore improving quality of care and positively influencing LTC residents’ EOL experience.
Integrating social determinants into palliative care
04/18/25 at 03:00 AMIntegrating social determinants into palliative care Hospice News; by Holly Vossel; 4/16/25 Strong staff education and reimbursement are among the keys to successfully integrating social determinants of health within a palliative care program. Screening tools developed by the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) include five areas of social determinants of health: food and housing insecurity, transportation needs, utility difficulties and interpersonal safety. Supplemental domains include financial stability, employment and family and social support, among others.
HHS cuts pose threat to older Americans' health and safety
04/18/25 at 03:00 AMHHS cuts pose threat to older Americans' health and safety Newsweek; by Kristin Lees Haggerty and Scott Bane - The National Collaboratory to Address Elder Mistreatment at Education Development Center (EDC); The John A. Hartford Foundation; 4/17/2 On March 27, 2025, the federal government announced major cuts to the department of Health and Human Services (HHS). ... Sounding the Alarm for Elder Justice: The population of older adults is rapidly growing, and one in 10 experience abuse, neglect, and/or exploitation—a risk that is even higher for those living with dementia. ... Cutting services to older adults will increase these risks and costs. Moreover, ... 11.5 million family and friend caregivers provide over 80 percent of help needed for people living with dementia in the U.S. Without access to services like Meal on Wheels, adult day care, and respite care, we can expect caregiver burden and strain to increase significantly and with it, rates of elder abuse, emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and nursing home placements. We know this because of the abuse spike seen clearly during the COVID-19 pandemic, which doubled to over 20 percent of older adults, as services were limited, and older adults were socially isolated. HHS cuts are also likely to result in loss of specialized expertise in identifying and addressing elder mistreatment, so that when elder abuse does occur, we won't have the services to stop it and make sure it won't happen again.
Palliative care and advanced cardiovascular disease in adults: Not just end-of-life care: A scientific statement from the American Heart Association
04/18/25 at 03:00 AMPalliative care and advanced cardiovascular disease in adults: Not just end-of-life care: A scientific statement from the American Heart Association AHAIASA Journals - American Heart Association; by Lucinda J. Graven, PhD, APRN, FAHA, Lisa Kitko, PhD, RN, FAHA, Martha Abshire Saylor, PhD, MSN, BA, RN, Larry Allen, MD, MHS, FAHA, Angela Durante, PhD, RN, Lorraine S. Evangelista, PhD, RN, CNS, WAN, FAHA, Amy Fiedler, MD, James Kirkpatrick, MD, Lakeisha Mixon, MSW, and Rachel Wells, PhD, MSN, BA on behalf of the American Heart Association Complex Cardiovascular Nursing Care Science Committee of the Council on Cardiovascular and Stroke Nursing; and Council on Cardiovascular Surgery and Anesthesia; 4/17/25 ... This scientific statement (1) discusses the application of effective communication, shared decision-making, age-friendly care, and advance care planning in advanced cardiovascular disease palliative care; (2) provides a summary of recent evidence related to palliative care and symptom management, quality of life, spiritual and psychological support, and bereavement support in individuals with advanced cardiovascular disease and their care partners; (3) discusses issues involving diversity, equity, and inclusion in cardiovascular disease palliative care; (4) highlights the ethical and legal concerns surrounding palliative care and implanted cardiac devices; and (5) provides strategies for palliative care engagement in adults with advanced cardiovascular disease for the care team.
Heart & Soul: Nikki Harris
04/11/25 at 03:00 AMHeart & Soul: Nikki HarrisCharleston Area Medical Center, Charleston, WV; 4/8/25 Nikki Harris is a Charge Nurse on 4 West at Memorial Hospital. Harris’ coworkers say she always provides excellent care but went out of her way for one man who wasn’t even her patient. The man’s wife was near the end of life in Hospice at Memorial Hospital. He had not been able to see or visit her since his own hospitalization. Recognizing the importance of this moment, Harris went above and beyond by personally escorting him to his wife’s side. She ensured that he had the time he needed to hold her hand, express his love and say goodbye before her passing. Harris’ compassion and selflessness in providing this extraordinary gesture of care during such a difficult time was deeply appreciated. She made a meaningful difference in this patient’s life and honored the final moments of his wife’s life.
Why cameras are popping up in eldercare facilities
04/11/25 at 03:00 AMWhy cameras are popping up in eldercare facilities The New York Times; by Paula Span; 4/7/25 Roughly 20 states now have laws permitting families to place cameras in the rooms of loved ones. Facility operators are often opposed. ... The assisted-living facility in Edina, Minn., where Jean H. Peters and her siblings moved their mother in 2011, looked lovely. “But then you start uncovering things,” Ms. Peters said. Her mother, Jackie Hourigan, widowed and developing memory problems at 82, too often was still in bed when her children came to see her in mid-morning. So Ms. Peters bought an inexpensive camera at Best Buy. She and her sisters installed it atop the refrigerator in her mother’s apartment, ... Monitoring from an app on their phones, the family saw Ms. Hourigan going hours without being changed. They saw and heard an aide loudly berating her and handling her roughly as she helped her dress. ... Though they remain a contentious subject, cameras in care facilities are gaining ground. By 2020, eight states had joined Minnesota in enacting laws allowing them, according to the National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care: Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and Washington. [Continue reading ...]
2 nursing staff practices tied to safety risks: Study
04/09/25 at 03:00 AM2 nursing staff practices tied to safety risks: Study Becker's Clinical Leadership, Washington, DC; by Mariah Taylor; 4/3/25 Washington, D.C.-based George Washington University and Premier researchers found overreliance on agency nurses and nurse overtime was associated with lower patient safety. The study, published April 2 in JAMA Network Open, analyzed data on quality measures for pressure ulcers and nurse staff overtime and agency use from 70 U.S. hospitals from January 2019 through December 2022. Researchers found that nearly half of the hospitals in the study utilized more nurse overtime and agency hours than was safe. The average hours exceeding safe thresholds for agency staff reached 140% and 63.6% for nurse overtime. Overuse of agency nurses and overtime hours was associated with increased rates of pressure ulcers. [Continue reading ...]
Housing instability complicates end-of-life care for aging unhoused populations
04/09/25 at 03:00 AMHousing instability complicates end-of-life care for aging unhoused populations The Conversation; by Pilar Ingle, University of Denver; 4/7/25 Research estimates that one-third or more of the unhoused population in the U.S. is age 50 or older. Unhoused people of all ages face high rates of chronic and serious illness. They also die at younger ages compared with people who are not unhoused. Yet, there are few options for palliative and end-of-life care for unhoused people. ... In 2024, Colorado saw a 30% increase in the number of people experiencing homelessness from the year before. Nationally, 771,480 people — the highest number ever recorded — experienced homelessness last year. As the number of people experiencing homelessness in the U.S. grows, so too does the need for palliative and end-of-life care for these individuals. ... [Continue reading ...]
Strong social connections improve older adults’ well-being regardless of setting, study finds
04/08/25 at 03:00 AMStrong social connections improve older adults’ well-being regardless of setting, study finds McKnights Long-Term Care News; by Donna Shryer; 4/7/25 Social connections, trust in others in their community and community cohesion significantly improve elderly well-being whether seniors live at home or in nursing facilities, according to a new comparative study published in BMC Public Health. However, researchers found that nursing home residents generally reported lower subjective well-being compared to their community-dwelling counterparts, even after accounting for health status and demographic factors. ... According to the authors, these findings “indicate the necessity for tailored interventions that address the unique needs of each care environment to promote healthier aging experiences. [Continue reading ...]
What to do if a loved one is evacuated from a nursing home or assisted living
04/07/25 at 03:10 AMWhat to do if a loved one is evacuated from a nursing home or assisted living AARP; by Emily Paulin; 1/10/25, updated 1/23/25 Running from a wildfire is a terrifying ordeal for anyone. But there’s added fear for those who have limited mobility, rely on medical equipment or suffer from dementia and struggle to comprehend what is happening. ... Evacuating these vulnerable, high-needs residents is a complex and precarious operation. Family members may be unsure of how to find their loved one or what to do to support them in a disaster situation. We’ve gathered advice from disaster response and long-term care experts on five topics to help family caregivers navigate these situations.
Jackson County nurse braves floodwaters to reach isolated hospice patient
04/07/25 at 03:00 AMJackson County nurse braves floodwaters to reach isolated hospice patient Fox 56, Jackson County, KY; by Corey Elam; 4/4/25 When deadly flooding cut off access and phone service for a Jackson County hospice patient on Friday [4/4/25], a healthcare worker teamed up with emergency management teams to care for her patient. According to Hospice Care Plus, after finding out her patient was isolated and couldn’t be reached by phone, Nurse Makale Fox worked with Jackson County Emergency Management (JCEM) to find a way to get to her. “With the support of Jackson County Emergency Management, Makale ... was able to safely navigate through the flooded area and reach her patient, ensuring they received the comfort and care they deserved,” Hospice Care Plus wrote. The hospice care nonprofit thanked Makale for her unwavering commitment, as well as JCEM for making it possible for her to get to her patient. [Continue for photos and more ...]