Literature Review

New York State Department of Health Launches Center for Hospice and Palliative Care New York State Department of Health; Press Release; 8/19/24 The New York State Department of Health today announced the new Center for Hospice and Palliative Care, which will be under the Department's Office for Aging and Long Term Care (OALTC). The new Center, established under the leadership of Governor Kathy Hochul, will be led by Kara Travis, a health care executive who most recently served as Chief Executive Officer of Mountain Valley Hospice and Palliative Care in Gloversville, New York. "This new center will help us remove barriers that impact access to the profound comfort, support and dignity that palliative and hospice services can provide for individuals and families facing the end of life," State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said. "Launching the Center for Hospice and Palliative Care was a top priority for this Department and highlights Governor Hochul's ongoing commitment to eliminating healthcare disparities for all New Yorkers."

Honest conversations and cherishing the day: Leadership advice from oncology leaders Becker's Hospital Review; by Elizabeth Gregerson; 8/16/24 Leaders from two of the top five cancer centers, as ranked by U.S. News & World Report, shared with Becker's the best leadership advice they have received. ...

Reimagining end-of-life practices: Setas Eternal Living’s MyCoffin offers a sustainable legacy Franklin County Free Press; 8/13/24 In the heart of Pennsylvania’s countryside, a quiet revolution is taking place that promises to transform our end-of-life practices. At Setas Eternal Living, innovation and sustainability are at the forefront, offering an eco-friendly alternative to traditional burials through their unique MyCoffin. MyCoffin is designed to biodegrade the human body in under three years, and their pet coffin will biodegrade your pet in under two. This initiative aims to honor life while promoting environmental stewardship, reflecting a profound respect for nature’s cycles. ... The eco-friendly burial market is gaining momentum as more people become aware of the environmental impact of traditional burial practices. According to industry projections, the U.S. coffin and casket manufacturing industry is shifting towards greener alternative. ...

The Hastings Center awarded $1.5 million by PCORI to study organizational trustworthiness and community-engaged research  EurekAlert! AAAS; Susan Gilbert, The Hastings Center; 8/13/24 A research team at The Hastings Center has been approved for $1.5 million in funding by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) to study organizational trustworthiness as it relates to community-engaged research. Led by Virginia A. Brown, PhD, a research scholar at The Hastings Center, the study will be the first to investigate the role of organizational trustworthiness in shaping research engagement processes and outcomes. 

Hospice of Greater Cleveland: A new partnership between Judson and McGregor Senior Living Communities Morningstar, Cleveland, OH; by PR Newswire; 8/15/24 For Judson and McGregor Senior Living Communities, organizational aspirations have always been to provide continuity of care and quality service through our dedicated teams. ... We are pleased to announce that the two organizations have embarked on a new joint venture. ... This strategic partnership, built on the strengths of both organizations, is designed to provide the utmost comfort, dignity, and support to our hospice residents during their end-of-life journey, ensuring a seamless and enhanced experience for all. ... Hospice of Greater Cleveland will begin its work on August 15, 2024. This partnership reflects the ongoing support of our collective organization and the missions that drive our commitment to seniors in Northeast Ohio.

Person-centered, goal-oriented care helped my patients improve their quality of life Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine; by Lee A. Jennings and James W. Mold; orignially posted 5/24 issue, again on 8/15/24 When the goal is to help patients improve their quality of life, it makes sense to focus directly on the activities and relationships that are most important to each patient. This can be accomplished most effectively by following a three-step process that includes 1) connecting with the patient around what matters to them, 2) co-creating a goal-oriented plan, and 3) collaborating with patient, family, team members, and consultants to increase the probability of success. Once this approach has been mastered and the necessary systems, processes, and relationships are in place, this should not take more time than a problem-oriented approach, and it will almost certainly be more satisfying for both physician and patient. Editor's Note: Simple. Effective. Meaningful.

Hospices leverage community resources to serve vulnerable homeless populations Hospice News; by Holly Vossel; 8/13/24 Hospices are increasingly collaborating with community organizations to better address the end-of-life needs of the homeless population. Isolated homeless senior populations are reaching concerning levels nationwide. Many medical and nonmedical issues can be exacerbated at the end of life among unhoused and homeless seniors compared to others, according to James Patrick Hall, executive director of Rocky Mountain Refuge. The Denver-based nonprofit organization offers shelter for people with end-of-life care needs. ... Homeless populations have increased across the country in recent years, with seniors among those reaching “record-high” volumes and outpacing other demographic groups, Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies research recently reported. Editor's Note: For data specific to your state, click here for The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's "The 2023 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report (AHAR) to Congress."

Center for Hospice Care Heartwize Program brings an individualized approach to cardiac care Great News Life; by Lauren Grasham; 8/12/24 To help patients live peacefully and at ease during one of life’s most vulnerable moments, Center for Hospice Care (CHC) welcomes all with open arms to its HeartWize program. Through the program, the CHC staff develops individualized plans with each patient and their loved ones to help them manage heart failure and other heart diseases, allowing patients to receive quality care in the comfort of their own homes without the worry of a hospital visit. “When their symptoms are not managed promptly, it gets to the point that patients can't breathe. When a patient can't breathe, the very first thing they're going to want to do is go to the hospital,” said Director of Nursing Chrissy Madlem. “It's important that we teach them the techniques to manage these end-of-life care symptoms that they're dealing with so they can stay home and be comfortable with their families.”Editor's Note: The Center for Hospice Care is in Mishawaka, IN.

CMS unveils services available to patients in the GUIDE Model, integrates palliative care principles Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 8/12/24 The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has outlined the range of services that will be available to patients aligned with the agency’s Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience (GUIDE) payment model. The payment model is designed to improve quality of life for dementia patients and their caregivers by addressing care coordination, behavioral health and functional needs. While the model does not use the term “palliative care,” it does incorporate principles and practices traditionally associated with those services, such as interdisciplinary care and caregiver support, among others. ... Nearly 400 health care organizations are developing Dementia Care Programs (DCPs) to potentially serve hundreds of thousands of Medicare beneficiaries nationwide, the CMS stated in a fact sheet. 

New hospital beds and over-bed tables enhance comfort at Wayne T. Patrick Hospice House thanks to Lutz & Chester Healthcare Foundations The News & Reporter, Lancaster, SC; News Release; 8/12/24 Hospice & Community Care is delighted to announce the successful installation of eight state-of-the-art hospital beds and eight over-bed tables at the Wayne T. Patrick Hospice House. This significant upgrade was made possible by a generous $25,000 grant from The Herbert and Anna Lutz Foundation and a $15,000 grant from the Chester Healthcare Foundation, marking the latest contributions in our long-standing partnerships with both organizations. The new beds, which replace the original equipment from 2008, offer enhanced comfort and versatility for patients. 

Transforming healthcare: Enabling change through tailored change management strategies Healthcare Dive; by Brad Cauthen and Jenny Denver, and Scott Madden; 8/12/24In the fast-paced and demanding healthcare environment, where every moment focuses on patient care, introducing and managing operational changes—such as implementing a new system or altering an existing process—can be particularly challenging. ... Here are some tips for creating effective change management initiatives tailored to the operational realities of the healthcare setting and fostering a change-ready environment. ...

Empath Health, American Health Plans launch ISNP joint ventureHospice News; by Jim Parker; 8/6/24The nonprofit senior care provider Empath Health is partnering with the Medicare Advantage organization American Health Plans (AHP), a division of American Health Partners to serve patients who are enrolled in Institutional Special Needs Plans (ISNP). ISNPs are Medicare Advantage plans that are designed to serve beneficiaries who live in skilled nursing facilities. Through the Empath partnership, members of AHP’s American Health Advantage of Florida ISNP will receive interdisciplinary services from TruHealth of Florida, the clinical arm of the ISNP. TruHealth is a newly established joint venture between AHP and Empath. Patients will also have access to Empath Health’s “full-life care” model.Notable mentions: Jonathan Fleece, Empath Health CEO.

Becoming time rich with physician moms: Sarah Wittry and Nicole Perrotte MarketScale - Ripple of Change; by Todd Otten; 7/30/24 In today’s high-stress healthcare environment, physician mothers face the formidable challenge of balancing demanding careers with their personal lives. The conversation on work-life balance is more relevant than ever, with more women in medicine seeking ways to manage these dual responsibilities effectively. How can physician moms navigate this landscape to reclaim time for themselves without guilt? What strategies can physician moms employ to achieve a healthier work-life balance? This pressing question lies at the heart of today’s discussion on the Ripple of Change podcast. ... Key points of discussion: