Literature Review

Thanksgiving tradition brings meals to hospice families in Northeastern Pennsylvania  ABC News 16 WNEP, Scranton, PA; by Jack Culkin; 11/28/24 It's become a holiday tradition for many volunteers to fill their cars at Mansour's Market in Scranton on Thanksgiving morning, delivering meals to those in hospice care. Ray Gillette, a long-time volunteer, shared, "We've been doing this for a long time, and we've taken the boys with us. Our oldest grandson is 14. This is his 14th year that he's come to deliver with us." ... [Diane Baldi, CEO of Hospice of The Sacred Heart] says the event began as an idea. Quickly growing to not just caring for their patients, but their families too.  "19 years ago, in our very first, we may have had 20 patients. Today we have 200. So it has grown exponentially," said Baldi. ... Along with classic holiday staples like turkey, mashed potatoes, and cranberry sauce, each meal includes a hand-made card. "I like it because it has like a turkey on the front and it has like all the stuff that you would eat," Said nine-year-old Olivia Catalano. She and her classmates made dozens of these cards, each featuring a Thanksgiving message or drawing. ... With each card placed and each meal delivered, workers successfully brought more than 600 meals to hospice families across Northeastern Pennsylvania. 

NUMC partners with Hospice of New York to offer hospice servicesLong Island Press; 11/27/24 The Nassau Health Care Corporation, which represents Nassau University Medical Center, and the A. Holly Patterson Extended Care Facility have announced a partnership with Hospice of New York to offer hospice services for the first time for patients, regardless of their ability to pay. ... Megan C. Ryan, NHCC interim president and CEO [said,] “Hospice of New York’s proven expertise ensures that this initiative will provide the highest standard of care to patients and their families, including those from low-income and at-risk populations. Bringing this kind of care to those at their most vulnerable is why NUMC exists and why this partnership is so groundbreaking for both our institution and Hospice. We welcome the Hospice team to the NUMC family.” Ryan announced the appointment of Simon Ulubabov to the recently-created position of executive vice president for Hospital and Palliative Care Services at NUMC. 

Nurse diagnosed with blood cancer fulfills dying wish to see new ‘Wicked’ movie Fox 13 Tampa Bay, FL: by Jennifer Kveglis; 11/26/24 A Tampa Bay area nurse who was diagnosed with blood cancer had one dying wish – to see the new movie "Wicked" in theaters. With the help of friends and family, that wish was fulfilled on Monday. Misty Steffen is a wife and mother, and she was also HCA Florida South Shore's chief of nursing. "I've loved every day of my life being a nurse," she said. "Twenty-six years that I got to be one and serve and love and decrease anxiety and increase trust and explain." ... [Description of her serious illness trajectory ...] "It's not what I thought would be the end of my story, but I'm at peace knowing whether I live or whether I die," she said. Steffen said she, her daughter and her husband always sang songs from "Wicked" in the car. Together, they've seen the musical on Broadway twice. Her last wish was to see the new movie in theaters. "The next thing I know he's [her husband] rented out the whole room in the theater," she said. HCA Florida Brandon paramedics, where Steffen worked too, as the assistant chief of nursing, transported her in their ambulance at no charge. "He's like we've got people who are going to come take you in an ambulance to ‘Wicked,’" she said. "I just started balling and I go...'what? Why am I so deserving of that?'" Steffen will spend the coming days surrounded by loved ones, many of whom flew in from all over the country. Editor's note: While this story appears to be focused on the movie "Wicked," it's more about relationships, meaning-making, quality of life, and ... her husband rented out the "whole room in the theater"! If you--like I--enjoy this movie weekend, Misty Steffen's story gives a new meaning to giving thanks, creating new memories from old for now and ahead. From Part 2 of Wicked, "... because I knew you, I have been changed for good."

TCN Podcast: Industry Trends Teleios Collaborative Network (TCN); podcast hosted by Chris Comeaux, with Maria Warren; 11/27/24Join us for an insightful conversation with Maria Warren, Vice President of McBee, part of NetSmart, as she demystifies the challenges of hospice care audits. Maria shares her journey from entry-level consultant to a leader in compliance, highlighting how audits, designed to combat fraud, can unintentionally burden resources and detract from patient care. Her thoughtful perspective sheds light on balancing regulatory demands with compassionate care. We also dive into the transformative role of technology in hospice care with insights from Betsy Hansen. Discover how electronic medical records (EMRs) go beyond digital documentation to improve patient outcomes and streamline operations. Learn about the potential of EMRs to enhance compliance and care quality while tackling the challenges of implementing innovative, user-friendly systems. This segment emphasizes the importance of creativity and high standards in overcoming staffing hurdles and fostering a supportive care environment.

Providers hoping for better days ahead with ‘suspicious,’ unannounced CMS site visits McKnights Long-Term Care News; by James M. Berklan; 11/25/24 A campaign to strip mystery out of unannounced, often thinly explained site visits by Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services contractors may be bearing some fruit. Providers have been rattled by visitors’ demands for information and the ability to take photos with little explanation. They’re hoping that the government-hired fact-checkers communicate and execute their mission better moving forward. ... “When the people who educate consultants and others don’t know about something, it’s concerning. It was so suspicious with the way they [contractors] came into facilities,” McCarthy said. Upon investigation, provider advocates were able to confirm the site visits are legitimate and can happen to any provider or supplier as part of their Medicare enrollment or verification process. And while explicit advance notice may not be given, a record of the visits’ orders can be confirmed in the Provider Enrollment, Chain, and Ownership System (PECOS). [Click on the title's link to continue reading.]

South Jersey organization helps families caring for ailing loved ones by delivering Thanksgiving meals Fox 29 Philadelphia; by Marcus Espinoza; 11/23/24 Haddonfield, N.J. - The holiday season and stress go hand-in-hand for many, but for some, like the Esposito family, holidays like Thanksgiving can be especially challenging. Thankfully, organizations like Samaritan step up with efforts like a food drive in South Jersey. "Samaritan for years has been delivering meals to hospice, palliative and bereaved families all around our five-county area," explained Volunteer Coordinator Lisa DiCerto. DiCerto is a long-time Volunteer Coordinator and says give back days really highlight their mission as an organization to provide not just a hot meal during Thanksgiving, but a chance for families to worry about one less thing. ... It’s a large operation full of volunteers committed to helping their neighbors. "We are delivering to about 140 different locations today," DiCerto said. Editor's note: Giving thanks year-round, Samaritan Hospice (and its other services) provides a beautiful, simple way to thank their staff: click here to view. "Fill out the form to send us a message. We welcome your thoughts about the care you and your loved one received. We’ll make sure to share it with the hospice team, palliative care professionals, or grief counselors who took care of you, your family member, or friend." 

The Alliance applauds Gerald’s Law passing through Congress National Alliance for Care at Home (the Alliance; formerly NAHC and NHPCO); Press Release; 11/19/24 The National Alliance for Care at Home (the Alliance) celebrates the historic passage of H.R. 8371, the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act in the U.S. House of Representatives last night with a bipartisan vote of 389-9. This landmark legislation includes Section 301, Gerald’s Law, which addresses a critical gap in benefits impacting seriously-ill veterans and their families receiving hospice care. The story of Gerald “Jerry” Elliott, a U.S. Army veteran, underscores the importance of this legislative achievement. Diagnosed with cancer, Jerry was admitted to his local Veterans Affairs (VA) hospital in 2019 before transitioning to VA hospice care at home to be surrounded by his family. After his passing, his family discovered they were ineligible for full burial and funeral financial support because Jerry died outside of a VA facility.

Valley Health's 'hospice in hospital' program expands to another hospital Becker's Hospital Review; by Mariah Taylor; 11/19/24 Hospice in the Hospital, a collaboration between Winchester, Va.-based Valley Health and Winchester-based Blue Ridge Hospice, has expanded to Warren Memorial Hospital in Front Royal, Va. The Hospice in the Hospital program provides hospice care services to hospitalized patients who meet general inpatient hospice criteria, according to a Nov. 18 news release. The patients receive emotional, psychosocial, and spiritual care from a team of social workers, music therapists, chaplains and volunteers. The program originated at Winchester Medical Center in 2020 and expanded to two additional Valley Health hospitals earlier this year. With its launch at Warren Memorial, all of Valley Health System's hospitals in Virginia now incorporate the Hospice in the Hospital program. 

Embracing the ‘soft front, strong back’ leadership style People Management; by Gaia van der Esch; 11/15/24 This method empowers leaders to take bold decisions, but also to be grounded in principles and inspire others to do the same, says Gaia van der Esch. What do you think of when asked to imagine a leader? Probably your big boss, someone decisive, authoritative, comfortable with power and hierarchy, competitive and with a strong track record of delivering results. However, from my experience managing teams and being managed by others, I know how difficult it is to find a boss who is also a good leader. By ‘good leader’, I mean someone who knows how to share power and responsibilities, who values trust, respect and the wellbeing of employees. Someone who possesses clear values that underpin their leadership decisions and ground them when leading by example. Someone who knows how to inspire others and dedicate time to helping employees reach their full potential, ultimately transforming them into leaders. And, most of all, a good leader should possess emotional intelligence: being empathetic, listening to and being ready to learn from everyone – no matter their role, not fearing showing doubt or vulnerability in their team and being bold in encouraging others to do the same. 

Owatonna MN Hospice Care Program by Freedom Home Care updated and relaunched Freedom Home Care, Owatonna, MN; 11/15/24 Freedom Home Care announced the relaunch of its enhanced Hospice Care Supplement Program, designed to provide support for families and their loved ones receiving hospice care. The program addresses critical gaps by offering additional assistance with daily household tasks, personal care, family respite, overnight caregiving and 24 hour care.  ... The Hospice Care Supplement program is designed to complement the essential medical and emotional care provided by hospice teams, creating a holistic approach that prioritizes both the patient’s and the family’s well-being.

LECOM Health opens Erie County's first specialty hospice unit Erie Times-News, Erie, PA; by David Bruce; 11/15/24 Erie County will soon have its first specifically designed medical unit for end-of-life care when LECOM Nursing and Rehabilitation Center opens its Visiting Nurses Association Specialty Hospice Unit later this month. Until now, local hospice patients who require a higher level of medical care than what can be provided at home usually lived their final days at a nursing home or hospital. The reluctance to open a dedicated hospice unit in Erie County is due to operating costs, Lin said. State laws require each unit to have a medical director and registered nurses, and the reimbursement for hospice care makes it difficult to cover those costs if there are fewer than four or five patients at a time. "Since this unit is part of the Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, we can share the medical director and registered nurses," Lin said.

CMS ramps up efforts to root out ‘door knocker’ hospice schemes Hospice News; by Holly Vossel; 11/15/24 The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently elaborated on its plans to expand public education campaigns designed to help protect hospice beneficiaries from fraudulent actors in the space. ... “One of the areas we’re working with right now is to enhance education — beneficiary education specifically,” Pryor said during a recent CMS webinar. “We have hospice beneficiaries who are unfortunately fraudulently signed up for the benefit in these kind of, what we call, ‘door knocker scams.’” The scams include bad actors reaching out to beneficiaries with offers of free goods and services, such as groceries, TVs, reclining chairs and furniture, Pryor explained. The fraudulent marketing tactics are posing significant complications for Medicare beneficiaries, he said.

Carolina Caring celebrates fourth graduating class of CNA Training and Job Placement Program Focus, Newton, NC; 11/13/24 On the evening of Thursday, October 24th, Carolina Caring recognized the seven graduates of its latest Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) Training and Job Placement Program. ... This state-approved CNA Training Program runs for eight weeks at Carolina Caring’s Newton campus on 3975 Robinson Road. Led by licensed nursing instructors, these courses provide expert hands-on education which prepares students to pass the intensive North Carolina Nurse Aide certification exam. Students receive financial aid throughout the program, and all graduates who successfully complete their certifications are offered positions with Carolina Caring. ... “Carolina Caring blessed me by selecting me for this program and providing me with an opportunity that I otherwise would not have been able to financially invest in at this current moment,” said Allison Ackley, class valedictorian. “They poured into me, and so I’m going to be pouring back into them.”Editor's note from Carolina Caring's website: "In 1979, Carolina Caring was established as one of North Carolina’s original three hospice providers. We were a small group of grassroots volunteers with a mission: to help our parents, grandparents and neighbors walk through their final moments with dignity and respect." We congratulate you on this innovative, mission-driven educational and staffing initiative.