Literature Review

How Houston Methodist’s ACO reduced its end-of-life spending by nearly 20% MedCity News - Hospitals; by Katie Adams; March 10, 2025 Houston Methodist Coordinate Care is reducing costs through a partnership with Koda Health, a digital platform that guides patients through their end-of-life choices. Preliminary findings show the technology resulted in a 19% reduction in the total cost of care for patients at the end of their life, which equals nearly $9,000 in savings per patient. ... The ACO has been working with Koda Health for more than three years — and it is saving money by getting patients more involved in their end-of-life care plan.

PBS documentary, Going Your Way, premieres nationally March 31 Nine PBS, St. Louis, MO; by Sarah Brandt; 3/11/25 A new documentary produced in St. Louis by Nine PBS, Going Your Way, will get a national premiere on PBS stations across the country on Monday, March 31. It will air locally at 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. Central, following the network’s popular series Antiques Roadshow. The documentary debuted locally on Nine PBS in October 2024. Going Your Way focuses on the personal, medical and spiritual issues surrounding end-of-life care, the options available, and steps that can be taken to put those wishes to practical use. The documentary’s title highlights the active role many people are now taking to ensure their death goes according to their own plans and wishes. The film was produced with expert consultation from the Oasis Institute and features insights from health professionals in St. Louis, ... [and] personal stories of families dealing with these decisions and issues ...

Local pharmacist advising Ohio health director on palliative care Herald-Star, Steubenville, OH; by Christopher Dacanay; 3/10/25 A local pharmacist hopes to “expand utilization” of palliative care in Jefferson County and increase patients’ quality of life from her new position as an adviser to the Ohio Department of Health director. Steubenville resident Mary Mihalyo, doctor of pharmacy, was appointed Dec. 10 to the Palliative Care and Quality of Life Interdisciplinary Council. Bringing her own expertise, Mihalyo joins a diverse, 20-person group of professionals with experience in the provision of palliative care. ... Mihalyo, who founded Steubenville’s A&B Pharmacy with her husband, is the former CEO of Delta Care Rx LLC. She now serves as chief clinical officer for the company, which has been rebranded as Dragonfly Health. ... Her professional work, since [1999], has focused on serving hospice and palliative care patients locally and nationally as part of interdisciplinary teams. ... [Council members] ... actively consult with and advise the director on palliative care initiatives in the state, identify standards of practice, pinpoint initiatives at the state or national level integrating palliative care into the healthcare system and developing its practice and lay out patient identification guidelines for health care providers.

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.]

Mahogany CEO: Hospice on cusp of ‘tremendous revolution’Hospice News; by Holly Vossel; 3/7/25 Mahogany Home Health and Hospice recently launched services in southwestern Ohio. The new hospice startup is the first Black-owned hospice and home health organization statewide with a drive to improve utilization among underserved populations. This is according to Victor Couzens, owner, founder and CEO of Mahogany Home Health and Hospice. The organization recently received a green light from state licensing agencies to begin serving Cincinnati and Dayton, Ohio and surrounding communities. ... Couzens recently told Hospice News, ... "As a hospice chaplain, I was often confronted with the pressure of trying to fit a square peg into a round hole when it comes to how underserved communities are actually reached and cared for. It’s about offering insights, or even evidence-based approaches, to meeting the needs of Black and brown people, the needs of the LGBTQ+ community, the needs of immigrants and just any other groups who do not make up the majority of the patient population. ..."

Helios Care honors hospice social workers Allotsego,Oneonta NY; by Dan Ayres, President and Chief Executive Officer of Helios Care; 3/6/25March is National Social Work Month, a time to recognize and honor the invaluable contributions of social workers across the country. The theme for National Social Work Month this year is “Compassion and Action,” which 100 percent sums up our team of social workers at Helios Care, the hospice for Otsego, Delaware and Schoharie counties. All social workers are indeed special, but hospice social work is very unique. ... Hospice social workers at Helios Care are trained to provide a holistic approach to end-of-life care, helping patients and their families navigate emotional, psychological, and practical challenges. Community education, bereavement counseling, bearing witness to those at end of life, practical assistance in the home and advanced care planning are just some of the duties of a hospice social worker. Thank a social worker this month—their work is truly remarkable.

Film: Lives well livedSecond Wave Southwest Michigan and Lives Well Lived; film by Sky Bergman; 3/6/25A Life Well Lived, a series of community meetings and learning opportunities that concludes March 15, and the documentary "Lives Well Lived," by guest speaker Sky Bergman, ... On the film's website, filmmaker Sky Berman describes, "In our society, the elderly are often overlooked. Lives Well Lived celebrates the incredible wit, wisdom, and life experiences of older adults living full and meaningful lives in their later years. Their stories are about perseverance, the human spirit, and staying positive during the great personal and historic challenges. I hope these stories inspire people of every age to achieve the longevity of both health and spirit, and to realize that growing older can be a journey to be celebrated." ... Beginning with its premiere at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, Lives Well Lived has screened in more than 200 cities. The film has won eight awards, and the theatrical run garnered enthusiastic reviews and a 100% Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Organizations like Aging 2.0, AARP’s Movies for Grownups, Encore.org, and Leading Age have screened Lives Well Lived. Now the film is available on PBS! Editor's note: Click here for Second Wave Southwest Michigan use of this film for community outreach. Click here for the film's website, Lives Well Lived.

A hospice for kids: Grinnell family eyes Iowa City for state's first pediatric hospice Des Moines Register, Des Moines, IA; by Richard Hakes; 3/6/25 A Grinnell couple’s dream to help other families after they lost their young son to a rare disease took a big step forward in Iowa City just a few days ago. Shanna and Curtis Sieck’s non-profit called Mason’s Light House has signed a contract for land just west of the Johnson County Historic Poor Farm as the initial step toward building Iowa’s first pediatric hospice. Named in honor of their son, the facility is expected to be only the fourth in the United States. ... Mason’s Light House would accept up to seven children for both hospice and respite care, provide family suites and be fully staffed with a pediatric palliative care team of nurses, social workers, therapists and other specialists in the field. There would be no cost to patients and their families who use it.

VNA Hospice NWI celebrates staff, volunteers and community at annual dinner banquet NWI.Life; by Garrett Spoor; 3/4/25 For more than half a century, VNA Hospice NWI has been assisting seniors in Northwest Indiana with hospice care and the Meals on Wheels program. The organization hosted its Annual Dinner and Awards banquet on Monday, March 3, ... “The big purpose of the annual dinner is to thank all the people who made last year possible,” [Maria Galka, director of development] said. “It’s a great opportunity for us to show our appreciation for the staff, volunteers and our supporters. We present our annual report from the past fiscal year and look forward to what's coming in the new year.” ... VNA Hospice NWI was presented with a check for $32,798 from Don Quijote Restaurante to support VNA Meals on Wheels. The Legion Riders Post #94 provided a check for $12,500 for the VNA Hospice NWI. The dinner presented plenty of awards and scholarships to recognize some of the attendees ...Editor's note: What appreciation events and awards/recognitions do your organization regularly provide for your employes, volunteers, and community? Click on this article's title to explore the scope of this organization's highly valued Annual Dinner and Awards. When you have events such as these, remember to take provide "take-out" food for your employees who are duty elsewhere, like your on-call office and hospice inpatient care.

The project: This is hospice care PA Mediapoint, United Kingdom; 3/1/25 Hospice UK approached us to support the launch of their national “This is Hospice Care” campaign. The campaign aimed to raise awareness about hospice care and encourage people to leave a gift in their will to their local hospice. ... To further strengthen the campaign’s storytelling, we encouraged hospice nurses to bring objects representing the diverse services offered by hospices. Some of props included a pug to represent pet therapy, a potted plant symbolising hospice gardens and outdoor spaces, a birthday cake reflecting the sense of community and celebration within hospices, and a gift box to emphasise the theme of leaving a legacy. Bringing together nurses from twelve hospices, the shoot successfully blended visual storytelling with the core campaign messages. The imagery not only highlighted the importance of hospice care but also created compelling content for national and regional media.Editor's note: This creative initiative can be adapted easily for hospice teams (clinical and non-clinical), volunteers, and more. Click on the title's link to read more about this project's meaningful design, implementation, and outcoms.

Here's how the federal funding freeze is impacting Kodiak organizations KMXT, Kodiak, AL; by Davis Hovey; 2/28/25 Billions of dollars in federal funding going to Alaska nonprofits and other entities are in jeopardy after a funding freeze implemented by the Trump administration. The fallout in Kodiak is impacting domestic violence shelters, agriculture programs and many other organizations. ... And then there are indirect impacts. For example, Hospice & Palliative Care of Kodiak relies partially on money from entities who have had their funding frozen. Hospice is a non-medical entity and the only one providing end-of-life services for those experiencing serious illness, death and bereavement in Kodiak. Executive director Diane Ibarra explained the organization’s funding structure during a local public affairs show, ... "So although we’re not directly reliant on federal funds, the people that often donate to us are. So if federal funding goes out the window, there goes our funding," Ibarra explained.

45% of end-of-life cancer patients potentially overtreated: 5 study notes Becker's Hospital Review; by Elizabeth Gregerson; 2/28/25 Almost half of all Medicare enrollees with cancer nearing end of life receive aggressive overtreatment as opposed to supportive palliative or hospice care, according to a study published Feb. 21 in JAMA Health Forum. Here are five things to know from the study:

19-year-old says home hospice is a gift, not doom and gloom Keloland Media Group, Sioux Fall, SD; by Tom Hanson; 2/27/25 ... Cheyenne may be 19, but she is wise beyond her years, especially when it comes to something doctors discovered when she was 11. “I have stage 4 Metastatic Osteosarcoma, which is bone cancer in my lungs and It hasn’t responded very well to treatment, so that’s so I’m on hospice, but not because, I’m not on hospice because its the end right now, I’m on hospice because just so I have that extra support,” she said. Cheyenne knows people often misunderstand what hospice is all about. “It’s like doom and gloom and it’s like the end, there’s nothing they can do and that’s just not the case, she said. She was able to go on her road trip because Sanford’s Home Hospice team, including Becky Jibben, helped plan the trip and organize support teams along the way if Cheyenne needed help.