Literature Review

Breaking the barriers in information sharing: Changing the discussion from legal risk to C-suite opportunity N2K; by Rick Howard; 9/16/24 In the evolving landscape of cybersecurity, sharing information among institutions is critical to bolster defenses against increasingly sophisticated threats. Cooperation between organizations can strengthen everyone’s defenses, but such an approach requires openness and transparency, something that many organizations have been reluctant to do. ... The C-suite – comprising top executives such as the CEO, CFO, CIO, CISO, and others – plays a critical role in shaping an organization's approach to cybersecurity. In the context of information sharing, the C-suite's role is pivotal in driving the cultural and operational changes necessary to transition from a risk-averse stance to one that recognizes the strategic value of collaboration and information exchange. One of the most successful initiatives that C-suite leaders can champion is participation in industry-specific Information Sharing and Analysis Centers (ISACs). ... [Following discussions include:] The business case for information sharing ... Enhanced risk management ... Cost savings and resource efficiency ... Compliance and legal benefits ... Innovation ... Professional Development ... Challenges to information sharing ... Legal and regulatory complexities ... Risk of exposure and misuse ... Trust issues among organizations ... Technical barriers ... Cultural and organizational obstacles ... Sharing information ... Categorize information by sensitivity ... Assess recipients ... Vet the data ... Monitoring and oversight ... Engaging in industry-wide collaboration ... Real world examples - Health-ISAC and the faulty CrowdStrike update ... The path forward ... [Click on the title's link for the full article and a whitepaper.]

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. 

AI scribes show promising results in helping family doctors and nurse practitioners spend more time with patients and less time on paperwork LaGrange Daily News, Toronto, Canada; by PR Newswire / Canada Newswire; 9/11/24 Family doctors report spending 70% to 90% less time on paperwork in a study evaluating the use of artificial intelligence (AI) scribe technology. OntarioMD (OMD), a subsidiary of the Ontario Medical Association (OMA), announced this week the findings of the study that examined the use of AI scribes by more than 150 family doctors and nurse practitioners (NPs) over a three-month period. AI scribes capture conversations between family doctors or nurse practitioners (NPs) and their patients and summarizes them into detailed electronic medical notes. The family doctors and NPs assessed AI scribes' effectiveness in reducing their time spent on administrative tasks and the results are very promising. ... The results also support the Ministry of Health and Ontario Health's Patients Before Paperwork (Pb4P) initiative aimed at helping doctors spend more time caring for patients instead of doing unnecessary paperwork.

Seven pillars to put healthcare consumers at the heart of the digital transformation Forbes; by Hélène Musikas, Géraldine Maouchi, Lorenzo Mandelli, Daniel Brown; 9/6/24 The digital age has seen many industries undergo a profound transformation, evolving into agile "Hybrid Organizations" that blend traditional and digital business models. ... The healthcare sector, however, faces a unique set of challenges on its journey toward this transformation. ... One of the most significant shifts in healthcare is the rising concept of "Self-Care". Seven Ways To Harmonize The Digital Landscape In Healthcare ...

Bay Bluffs opens hospice wing as end-of-life care models change Interlochen Public Radio; by Michael Livingston; 9/4/24 Three new beds for hospice care opened in Harbor Springs today marking the end of a year-long pivot for an end-of-life care organization in the region. Last year, McLaren Health System closed hospice facilities in Petoskey and Cheboygan. Combined, the facilities provided more than a dozen beds for hospice in the region. At the time, McLaren called the decision to close "difficult" but necessary due to staffing constraints and said it would move to prioritizing outpatient hospice care - when a nurse visits patients in the home rather than a facility. But a group of advocates in Petoskey said residential hospice is needed in the region - especially for people with serious terminal illnesses. David McBride leads the newly renamed group, Friends of Hospice of Little Traverse Bay. It used to be called the Friends of Hiland Cottage for the facility in Petoskey. ... That’s what led to a partnership with skilled nursing facility Bay Bluffs in Harbor Springs. It’s the Emmet County Medical Care Facility and owned by the county health department. Bay Bluffs is not a licensed hospice provider but it is able to outsource hospice from other companies while providing rooms for families to gather with their loved ones and trained nursing. This newer model of end-of-life care is a growing trend and has been tried in other places such as Arbor Hospice in Ann Arbor which closed its residential facility in 2022.

“What I wish I knew about hospice”: A Cleveland Clinic palliative care physician’s insights The Healthy; by Dr. Patricia Varacall, DO; 9/3/24 End-of-life care is deeply personal and incredibly complex. An expert MD shares essential insights on hospice: "At its core, is about human connection." … Laura Hoeksema, MD, MPH, FAAHPM, medical director of Cleveland Clinic Hospice and staff physician in the department of palliative and supportive care, explains the importance of hospice: “Death is a part of life just as much as birth is. When time becomes limited, patients need to be able to spend time in a way that’s meaningful to them.” ... Dr. Hoeksema emphasizes that choosing hospice care is exactly that—a choice. The team offers additional support, guiding patients and their families through the last months of life. ... “When a patient has a serious illness, it’s common for their illness to become the primary focus,” reflects Dr. Hoeksema. The constant anticipation of how the disease might progress can create overwhelming anxiety. With hospice, the illness recedes into the background, allowing the emphasis to be on caring for the person as a whole. ... “The most profound healing I’ve witnessed as a physician has been in patients receiving hospice care,” Dr. Hoeksema adds. She recalls seeing families reconcile after years of tension and others coming together after long periods of distance. The joy on a patient’s face when surrounded by loved ones, laughing and reminiscing, is what it’s all about. “Hospice care, at its core, is about human connection.”

LifeTouch Hospice still providing end-of-life care in South ArkansasEl Dorado News-Times; by Keturah Smith; 8/28/24LifeTouch Hospice said Monday they would like the South Arkansas community to know the company remains fully operational and continues to offer care to terminally ill patients after merging with Little Rock-based Arkansas Hospice last year. "There has been some misconception in El Dorado with the closing of the hospice house," said Hannah Odell, LifeTouch provider relations representative, at the El Dorado Rotary Club meeting. "LifeTouch Hospice is very much still around." While the physical location of LifeTouch has closed, Odell mentioned their services can be provided at the nursing home, local hospital, assisted living, home or wherever care is needed. "We're contracted with South Arkansas Regional Hospital for [general inpatient care] for the most critical patients," Odell said. ...

VNA Hospice and Don Quijote supports Meals on Wheels with annual benefit dinner GreatNews.Life, Valparaiso, IN; by Garrett Spoort; 8/27/24 Don Quijote Restaurant hosted its fourth annual VNA Hospice NWI Meals on Wheels benefit dinner on Sunday, August 25. The event serves as a traditional fundraiser while educating the community and sharing stories about the program. Bob Franko, CEO of VNA Hospice NWI, has high anticipation every year as this event inches closer. “This is something that we look forward to every year,” Franko said. “We have about 250 people in our Meals on Wheels program. Every $125 that we raise today will feed a senior for a month. Food scarcity has become more of an issue in our community for the seniors, so this event is really important for us.” Don Quijote has supported the mission for VNA Hospice’s Meals on Wheels program. The restaurant covers all of the event costs, allowing all of the funds raised to go directly to feeding seniors in need.Editor's Note: What a wonderful community partnership. Typically, nonprofit organizations are raising money for their own services. This initiative has a larger, collective purpose and community engagement that benefits all involved.

Between the hospital and the street: Addressing a crucial gap in care healthleaders.com; by Eric Wisklund; 8/23/24 A unique program in Salt Lake City is managing care for underserved patients who live on the street or in an unsafe location, and helping hospitals reduce ED crowding, improve care coordination and reduce costs in the process. The INN Between is a nine-year-old program that began as a 16-bed Catholic convent and is now an 80-bed “assisted living facility” of sorts, offering everything from hospice care to rehabilitation and care management services. The organization addresses a significant care gap for health systems and hospitals who see these patients in their Emergency Departments and ICUs—and who often discharge them to an uncertain care landscape. ... The INN Between, which operates year-to-year on a budget of $1.6 million (recently cut down from $2 million), exists on a mishmash of charitable donations, grants, and the occasional federal or state subsidy. Editor's Note: Pair this compassionate solution with the scathing article about hospice fraud and abuse of homeless persons, Fraudulent hospices reportedly target homeless people, methadone patients to pad census, by Jim Parker at Hospice News.

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.]

Molina Healthcare of Ohio donates $125,000 to address shortage of home care and hospice nurses Business Wire; by Ben Jackey; 8/21/24 Molina Healthcare of Ohio ("Molina") awarded a $125,000 grant to the Center for Community Based Care (CCBC), the nonprofit foundation arm of the Ohio Council for Home Care & Hospice (OCHCH). The investment will fund efforts to address the shortage of nurses in home care and hospice settings and support a new hotline aiding Ohioans managing serious illnesses from home. ... "Molina believes all individuals should have access to high-quality care and our support of CCBC will help create greater capacity for Ohioans to receive care from home," said Ami Cole, plan president for Molina Healthcare of Ohio. "CCBC is reducing gaps in health equity and we are proud to invest in their work."

17 ways nonprofits can bolster their DEI efforts Forbes; by Dr. Ara J. Baghdasarian; 8/20/24 Nonprofits that hope to make a meaningful, lasting and widespread impact must take an intentional approach to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). Doing so can help organizations better support the communities they serve while allowing diverse viewpoints to be heard and implemented. To that end, 17 members of Forbes Nonprofit Council share their top strategies for nonprofits looking to transform their DEI efforts. From understanding your target audience to emphasizing accountability, these approaches can ensure your organization's programs are accessible, inclusive and culturally sensitive.