Literature Review

New play focuses on Advance Care Planning for LGBTQ+ families and caregivers Hospice Foundation of America; by Lisa Veglahn; 7/29/24 Hospice Foundation of America (HFA) has added a new version of the short play “Lily” by award-winning playwright Bryan Harnetiaux to its AD (Advance Directives) Project, a collection of plays that dramatize the importance of advance directives. In the play, Jo visits her ex-wife, Lily, who is seriously ill. Jo is surprised that after years apart, Lily has asked to see her. She is even more surprised by Lily’s request that Jo serve as her surrogate decision maker when or if she cannot make healthcare decisions for herself. Hospice Foundation of America’s AD Project uses two-character, 10-minute plays featuring different relationships and settings. The plays are easy to produce and are intended for use by hospices, hospitals, and other community-based organizations wanting to engage audiences in discussions about advance care planning.The world premiere of the newest version of “Lily” was produced by Accord Hospice & Palliative Care in Sedona, AZ, in partnership with PFLAG Sedona, Unify Sedona, and the Sedona International Film Festival.Editor's Note: Click here for licensing information, to use this play in your community.  

‘Good’ death different for everyone Altoona Mirror, Altoona, PA; 7/26/24 The social and economic inequities patients suffer in life often shapes their death” was a key point of a July 13-14 article in the Review section of the Wall Street Journal. ... In the article, which was written by Dr. Sunita Puri, a palliative care physician and the author of “That Good Night: Life and Medicine in the Eleventh Hour,” Puri focuses on the conundrum many families face when dealing with the question of where to spend the final days of life. ... “New research classifies the rise in home deaths as progress,” the message immediately under the article’s headline begins, “but we need to look more closely at what these deaths look like.” ... Puri, now 10 years into her physician career, says it is now clear to her that there is much more to a “good” death than where it occurs. “Presuming a home death is a success obscures important questions about the process,” she wrote. “Did this person die comfortably? Did their caregivers have the resources and guidance they needed? Was dying at home a choice or simply the only option?” 

Death can be a gentler exit for those enrolled in hospice care The Blade; by Kimberly Wynn; 7/28/24 A baby coming into the world needs a lot of care, and families prepare for that wailing, cooing bundle of life with cribs, and changing tables and advice from mothers-in-law. When baby formula was in short supply, family members branched out to scour retail shelves for the necessities. For those leaving this world, care is also needed, according to Victoria Palenske, branch director for Elara Caring, which offers home health and hospice services in the Toledo area. Such souls may need oxygen, pain medications, and spiritual counseling, as well as a hand to hold. “People deserve a lot of care at the beginning of life, but they also deserve care at the end of their life,” said Ms. Palenske, who began her career as a registered nurse whose focus turned to hospice services. “It is a calling.”Editor's Note: Thank you Elara Caring for this mission-oriented description of hospice care that gently addresses "dying," in contrast to some hospice materials that deny or completely divert purposes related to terminal illness, dying, death, or bereavement.  

Hospices strategize sustainable growth for Veteran Programs Hospice News; by Holly Vossel; 7/26/24 Hospices combat both operational and financial challenges as they seek to grow and evolve their veteran programs around the diverse and complex needs of patients and their families. Some of the largest expenses associated with offering veteran services include staffing and training costs ... In addition to staff training, this includes having ways to honor veterans for their service, assess the social determinant of health resources they may need and identify gaps of caregiver support. ...Editor's Note: Notable mentions include Carlos Graveran, executive director at Maryland-based Frederick Health Hospice; Sherri Bickley, vice president of patient support services at Oklahoma-based Crossroads Hospice & Palliative Care; and Carla Creegan, PACE director of clinical services and director of adult day swervices at Empath Health.

Hospice driving 'die-alogue' series sparks end-of-life conversations OrilliaMatters; by Giesele Winton Sarvis; 7/21/24 Comedian Jerry Seinfeld was the inspiration for Driving Die-alogues created by Hospice Huronia [Ontario, Canada]. Debbie Kesheshian, executive director of Hospice Huronia, and Tammy Vater, the supportive care coordinator, were trying to think of a way to normalize conversation around the often taboo subject of death and dying. They decided to follow Seinfeld's model with his show Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee, where Seinfeld picks up a fellow comedian and they have a chat while going for coffee. "Tammy and I thought let’s go for a drive and have a conversation that is just normal and human. Her and I ask a question and we go back and forward with open dialogue," says Kesheshian. A year later, the duo have created approximately 30 short videos posted on YouTube and the Hospice website and they plan on creating more.

New hospice care centre breaks ground Bernews, Bermuda; 7/22/24 The future of hospice care in Bermuda has taken a leap forward with the groundbreaking on the site of the new Woodland Grove Care Centre on Spice Hill Road, Warwick. A spokesperson said, “Community partners and board members of Friends of Hospice were present to mark the symbolic first shovel-strike of the multi-year construction of Bermuda’s first purpose-built hospice and eldercare care facility. The Care Centre will significantly increase and improve on the care options available on island. ... The building will have an aesthetic character heavily inspired by traditional Bermudian residential character, massing, and vernacular. The provision of functional gardens and landscaped outdoor areas, around the building, contribute to the home environment and will offer tranquil and calming spaces.

Vital Signs: Digital Health Law Update | Spring 2024 Jones Day - Vital Signs; by Vital Signs' Editors; July 2024Welcome to Vital Signs, a curated compilation of the latest legal and regulatory developments in digital health.  [Topics include the following:]

Hospice El Paso celebrates new center for care with ribbon cutting ceremony ABC KVIA TV-7, El Paso, TX; by Valeria Medina; 7/18/24 Hospice El Paso has announced its new Center for Compassionate Care (CCC). Hospice El Paso celebrated the new center with a ribbon cutting ceremony held July 18th. Hospice El Paso says the new center is state-of-the-art and includes pain and anxiety management care. The facility offers 24-hour short-term hospitalized care for the needs of their patients. The CCC is also opening a pediatric unit that will be utilized to care for terminally-ill children and their families.

A personal approach: Patient Care Coordination Inc. celebrates a decade of inclusive healthcare Classic 96.7 FM BWZ, Philadelphia, PA; 7/17/24Philadelphia-based Patient Care Coordination Inc. (PCC), led by Founder and Executive Director Paul S. Rimar, proudly commemorates its 10th anniversary. With a steadfast commitment to inclusivity, particularly within the LGBTQ community, PCC has grown to serve over 6,500 participants across 21 counties in Pennsylvania, delivering high-quality, value-based healthcare services. ... A cornerstone of PCC’s mission is its dedication to the LGBTQ community. Rimar’s personal experiences with LGBTQ-specific challenges have profoundly influenced PCC’s inclusive policies and practices. ... [Rimar's] comprehensive background, including roles in long-term care, hospice, managed care, and transplantation, has been instrumental in PCC’s evolution and success.

Streamlining financial processes in end-of-life care: The crucial role of revenue cycle management for hospices United Business Journal - UBJ; by Rahul Kumar; 7/16/24In the increasingly complex healthcare landscape, hospices face unique challenges in managing their financial processes. One crucial aspect that significantly impacts their efficiency and sustainability is Revenue Cycle Management (RCM) for hospices. This blog post aims to shed light on the essential role of RCM for hospices in streamlining financial operations, ensuring they can continue to provide compassionate and high-quality end-of-life care.

Top News Stories Of The Month, June 2024 (teleioscn.org)

CMS: GUIDE Model Participants and Infographic CMS.gov and various press releases; retrieved from the internet 7/10/24 The Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience (GUIDE) Model is a voluntary nationwide model test that aims to support people with dementia and their unpaid caregivers. The model began on July 1, 2024, and will run for eight years. Editor's Note: Multiple press releases are populating across the internet. We share this list of links to information, participants, and sample press releases from well-known participants. 

A professional’s perspective: Ageism within the healthcare system; does it exist? Northern Kentucky Tribune; by Jeff Rubin; 7/6/24 A friend of mine named Dee recently shared with me a particularly unpleasant experience she had with a young hospital discharge planner regarding her 97-year-old mom in California. It appears Dee had a heck of a time trying to get her mom discharged to home health care rather than hospice, even though the particular care she needed could have been better delivered at home. A geriatrician by training, Dee ... recognized the invaluable role of hospice in providing end-of-life care. However, the situation she found herself in was less a question of end-of-life and more of palliative care. ...  A recent study in the US sampling 2,035 individuals between 50 and 80 years of age revealed that 93.4% experienced ageism firsthand. Their perception extended to professionals like doctors, nurses, therapists, social workers, and psychologists whose services included working with older people. [Click on the title's link for significant data, descriptions, and resources.]