Literature Review

Nebraska inmates provide hospice care for fellow prisoner ABC KETV 7, Omaha, NE; by Mary Regli; 11/12/24 When you're in prison, there comes a point when either your sentence or your life comes to an end. The Nebraska Department of Correctional Services has come up with an idea to help inmates in either situation-- at no additional cost. They're transforming the prison from the inside out with a new program that's providing palliative and end-of-life care for incarcerated individuals. The prisoners we met are all serving time for heinous crimes. The purpose of the program is to have other inmate volunteers provide final care for dying or critically ill prisoners and help with their rehabilitation. "In the end of life, it doesn't really matter what you've done or what reason you're here; you're still a human, and you still deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. And this program embodies that," said Lori Palik, the department's director of nurses. Volunteers go through a ten-week program where they learn what they need to be able to care for their fellow inmates. 

Startup Guaranteed looks to improve end-of-life care Healthcare Brew; by Cassie McGrath; 11/6/24 After losing her father, Jessica McGlory founded a startup to improve end-of-life care. In August 2019, Jessica McGlory got a call that her father had had a double heart attack and was admitted to a hospital in Chicago. As his health declined, McGlory became his caregiver and healthcare proxy. But she said she never got the opportunity to discuss her father’s end-of-life care or his wishes. “I thought it was going to be an opportunity to really focus on my loved one, but instead, [I] had to focus on everything else and really didn’t get the support [I] expected from the hospice,” she told Healthcare Brew. Hospice is palliative care that typically includes counseling, physical care, medicine, and equipment for patients with terminal illnesses. Two years later, despite having no previous experience in healthcare, McGlory decided to take action. In 2022, she launched Guaranteed, a New York-based hybrid end-of-life care startup that works to support people with terminal illness as well as their loved ones and caregivers. ... Guaranteed has raised $10 million to date and is looking to expand into three more states next year, she said.

Pennsylvania signs home care, hospice efficiency bills into law McKnights Home Care; by Adam Healy; 11/5/24 Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) signed into law two bills that will reduce operational challenges and improve recruitment efforts for home care and hospice agencies. House Bill 155 allows healthcare providers, including home care and hospice agencies, to use remote video technology for interviews with direct care workers. Meanwhile, Senate Bill 1080 allows licensed practical nurses (LPNs) to pronounce death in home-based hospice settings. These two new laws will make direct care worker recruiting processes more accessible and efficient, while improving end-of-life care for both patients and providers, according to the Pennsylvania Homecare Association. “The signing into law of HB 155 and SB 1080 helps create efficiencies in how we deliver home-based care,” Mia Haney, chief executive officer of PHA, said Friday in a statement. “With a growing demand for these services, efforts such as these allow providers to use their time effectively and focus on what’s most important — quality of care.”

[Global] Palliative care integration into humanitarian settings ten years since the resolution

[Nebraska Department of Correctional Services] NDCS launches hospice care volunteer program News 2 North Platte, NE; 11/4/24 A new program is aiming to bring transformative change to end-of-life care in Nebraska correctional facilities. The Nebraska Department of Correctional Services recently launched a hospice care volunteer program to ensure terminally ill patients are not alone in their final moments. The first cohort of 16 volunteers selected from the Reception and Treatment Center completed 10 weekly trainings, delivered by healthcare professionals. The trainings covered various aspects of hospice care, including communication skills with patients and families, confidentiality, end-of-life care and stress management. In the program, volunteers work with NDCS team members and healthcare providers a few hours each day to addresses the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of incarcerated individuals who have a terminal diagnosis. This will allow them to maintain employment within the facility and participate in programming, NDCS said.

Pennsylvania LPNs will now be able to make death pronouncements Tri-State Alert; 11/4/24 A bill sponsored by Sen. Lynda Schlegel Culver (R-27) was signed into law this week to enable licensed practical nurses (LPNs) working in a hospice setting to make death pronouncements. “I am grateful for the governor’s support of this important legislation,” Culver said. “LPNs are with patients and their families until the moment of death, providing essential care during emotional times. Allowing LPNs to make death pronouncements, which was previously only a function of doctors, RNs, physician assistants, and coroners, can alleviate wait times that grieving families often experience.” The bill was amended in the House of Representatives to also provide needed clarification on the waiver of birth and death certificate fees for members of the armed services, veterans, and their families. The law now outlines specifically whose documents qualify for the waiver, as well as applicants and scenarios for which the fee may be waived. 

8 phrases leaders should reframe to demonstrate credibility in 2025 Forbes; by Dr. Cheryl Robinson; 11/4/24 ... The nuances of leadership communication play a pivotal role in shaping team dynamics and organizational culture. Employees are acutely attuned to the subtleties in their supervisor’s communication, using these cues to gauge trustworthiness and interpret intentions. In this context, the power of language can either reinforce a leader’s message and authority or inadvertently undermine their position. ...  As we approach 2025, aspiring and established leaders must refine their communication strategies. Elevating their linguistic toolkit can help leaders more effectively embody their potential and inspire their teams. ...

Future-proofing healthcare: Upskilling the workforce to meet tomorrow’s challenges Healthcare Business Today; by Chris Trout; 11/4/24 A surgical technician recently told me, “We’re constantly helping people.” This simple yet powerful sentiment captures the essence of what healthcare workers ... focus on every day. However, the healthcare industry is undergoing profound changes that will shape its future over the next decade and beyond. These changes, driven by workforce shortages, AI and technological advancements, and shifting skill demands, have the potential to either enhance or burden healthcare systems. ... One of the most significant forces driving change is the shortage of healthcare workers, especially in critical areas like nursing. ...  The replacement cost for a nurse is estimated to be between $40,000 and $60,000, covering recruitment, temporary staffing and lost productivity. But these numbers don’t account for the consequences of staffing shortages: diminished patient care, declining morale and increasing mental health challenges among overworked staff. Despite these challenges, healthcare organizations have a remarkable opportunity to develop talent, especially in entry-level and middle-skill roles. [Click on the title's link to continue reading.]

How to use the 7Cs of compassionate leadership to ease post-election tension Forbes; by Laurel Donnellan; 10/31/24 As of this post being published, less than a week away from November 5, 2024, the presidential election is a toss-up. Once the ballots are tallied, about 50% of the electorate will be disappointed. Some will be broken-hearted, others outraged, and others will move on quickly. As a compassionate leader, you must prevent and alleviate the suffering of others. So, it would be best if you were prepared to address this disappointment, regardless of the outcome and your political views. ... Over the last 5 years, while writing these posts at Forbes, my team and I have researched the attributes of successful, compassionate leaders. We have identified seven common characteristics that can be applied to being the best leader after this election. ...

Blue Ridge Care expands bereavement care with new Center for Hope & Healing Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 11/1/24 Blue Ridge Care has unveiled its new Center for Hope & Healing, a facility dedicated to offering comprehensive grief care. The Virginia-based nonprofit hospice, palliative care and PACE provider financed the center through philanthropic donations. The facility is located in the same building as Blue Ridge’s PACE program, according to CEO Jason Parsons. At the center, Blue Ridge bereavement care staff will offer specialized programs, workshops, support groups and individual counseling. “The center is a central organizing unit of our mission fulfillment in the areas of grief, family support and loss in a place people can come to that’s welcoming, inviting and centered around hope and healing,” Parsons told Hospice News. ... The center was built to create a relaxing atmosphere to help put visitors at ease, according to Parsons, with a sky blue color palette and several murals depicting natural scenes. In one display, a collection of rocks symbolizes the weight of grief. Visitors can write a message on the rocks to “leave that weight behind,” Parsons said. They can also paint their loved ones’ names on a mural of a branching tree in the lobby area. 

How to celebrate veterans in hospice on Veterans Day 3HC, Goldsboro, NC; by 3HC; retrieved from the internet 10/31/24 Some served our country in foreign lands while others dutifully protected us on our home shores. All of them demonstrate commitment and courage, helping secure the rights and freedoms we so often take for granted. These brave men and women should be celebrated every day—not just on Veterans Day. ... Do you have a relative or loved one in hospice care who is a veteran? Read more to discover great ways to celebrate veterans in hospice on Veterans Day. ...

Providence Alaska Medical Center tests virtual care model, announces hospice partner Alaska Business - Healthcare, News; 10/28/24 Providence Alaska Medical Center (PAMC) recently launched a new way of caring for patients that combines bedside nursing with a virtual or remote nurse and a dedicated patient care technician or certified nursing assistant. Known as co-caring or virtual nursing, the bedside nurse manages direct patient-care duties while the virtual nurse coordinates other support tasks. Also this month, the Washington-based not-for-profit healthcare system that operates PAMC announced it will partner with Compassus...Co-Caring Model Leverages Skilled Nurses: Virtual nursing is a response to a strained labor market. A study by the National Center for Health Workforce Analysis shows Alaska is projected to lead the nation in nursing vacancies, with as many as 23 percent of openings unfilled, by 2030. The co-caring model helps address the impending shortage while providing added patient care, Providence officials say.

Nonprofit organizes free home cleanings for cancer patients The Dallas Express, Dallas, TX; by Patti Villegas; 10/27/24 When facing a serious illness, even simple tasks can become overwhelming. However, one nonprofit organization is stepping in to help alleviate some of that burden for individuals with cancer. Cleaning for a Reason, founded in 2006, has facilitated free home cleaning services for more than 57,133 cancer patients in the U.S. and Canada, providing services valued at a total of more than $19 million. The non-profit organization partners with residential cleaning companies and community volunteers to “clean the homes of cancer patients to provide hope, relief, control, and cleanliness,” the group’s website states. The volunteers’ work not only enhances the patients’ physical environment but uplifts their spirits as well.