Literature Review
All posts tagged with “Clinical News | Interdisciplinary Team.”
Daughter stole $25K using [dying] father's credit, debit cards
06/12/24 at 03:00 AMDaughter stole $25K using [dying] father's credit, debit cardsLatrobe Bulletin, Latrobe, PA; by Joseph Bell; 6/6/24 A Vandergrift woman is facing multiple felony charges after she racked up over $25,000 in credit and debit card debt using her father’s accounts. According to court records, 44-year-old Kimberly Sue Shaw of Hancock Avenue is accused of using three of her father’s credit and debit cards for unauthorized purchases, in addition to transferring a sum of money from one of his bank accounts to another while he was hospitalized and later under hospice care. The defendant’s father, Dennis Lee Barger of Washington Township, died May 2.Editor's Note: Often, we think of elder abuse as being physical harm. However, it includes much more, and your interdisciplinary team members must be trained to signs, assessments, interventions, and safety (for the patient and self). Definitions are available on the CDC's "About Abuse of Older Persons" webpage. These definitions include physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional or psychological abuse, neglect, and financial abuse.
How to choose the right hospice care - Brain & Life Magazine
06/12/24 at 02:15 AMHow to choose the right hospice care - Brain & Life Magazine Brain & Life; by Hallie Levine; June/July 2024 Hospice care is designed to help patients die with dignity and provide support to their families. These tips can help ensure it does. ... [Case study examples follow.] In hospice, “the focus shifts from treating the disease to managing symptoms and maintaining quality of life,” says James Gordon, MD, FAAN, a neurologist and retired hospice and palliative care expert at the University of Washington in Seattle. “Patients and their families often get to a point where they ask themselves if the cure is causing more suffering than it's worth,” Dr. Gordon says. “If they are close to the end of life, it's often time for hospice.”Editor's Note: We chose this article because its source, Brain & Life Magazine. This can be an excellent disease-specific resource for your serious illness, palliative, hospice, and bereavement team members. "Brain & Life is powered by more than 40,000 neurologists worldwide who are committed to keeping you and your family better informed." Visit its "Disorders A-Z: Neurologic Disorders Resource Center (brainandlife.org)."
Design, creation, and 13-month performance of a novel, web-based activity for education in primary cardiology palliative care
06/11/24 at 03:00 AMDesign, creation, and 13-month performance of a novel, web-based activity for education in primary cardiology palliative care Journal of Pain and Symptom Management; by Jill M Steiner, Caroline L Doherty, Jill A Patton, Jadry Gruen, Sarah Godfrey, John Mulrow, Richard A Josephson, Sarah J Goodlin; 6/5/24 online ahead of print Cardiovascular disease (CVD) clinicians who care for seriously ill patients frequently report that they do not feel confident nor adequately prepared to manage patients' palliative care (PC) needs. With the goal, therefore, of increasing PC knowledge and skills amongst interprofessional clinicians providing CVD care, the ACC's PC Workgroup designed, developed, and implemented a comprehensive PC online educational activity. This paper describes the process and 13-month performance of this free, online activity for clinicians across disciplines and levels of training, "Palliative Care for the Cardiovascular Clinician" (PCCVC).Editor's Note: Reiterating, this "free, online activity [is] for clinicians across disciplines and levels of training." The trajectories for cardiovascular diseases can elicit enormous anxiety--due to their roller-coaster changes that can result in sudden death--in contrast to the more predictable trajectories for cancer. Whether you use this resource or another, educate your interdisciplinary clinical managers and team members to the all-important disease and care factors for cardiology palliative care, relevant to the scope of professionals' different roles.
Reply to: Frailty and ethics at the end of life: The importance of a comprehensive assessment
06/10/24 at 03:00 AMReply to: Frailty and ethics at the end of life: The importance of a comprehensive assessmentJournal of the American Geriatrics Society; by Colum Thomas MD, Eduardo Bruera MD, William Breitbart MD, Yesne Alici MD, Liz Blackler MBE, LCSW-R, Julia D. Kulikowski MD, Daniel P. Sulmasy MD, PhD; 6/5/24The care of older persons at the end of life often involves competing concerns and highly value-sensitive decisions. In a recent article, we proposed a set of ethical rules—the canons of therapy—to help clinicians navigate complex cases involving older adults with delirium at the end of life. The canons of therapy most pertinent to such cases are restoration, means-end proportionality, discretion, and parsimony (see Table 1 for a description). These canons provide a structured toolset aligned with practical wisdom, which can serve as an ethical heuristic for guiding therapeutic judgments. ...
ASCO updates Guidelines on Palliative Care
06/03/24 at 03:00 AMASCO updates Guidelines on Palliative Care Hematology Adviosor; by Jen Smith; 5/30/24 The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) has released an update to its guidelines on palliative care for cancer patients. The guidelines and related information were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology and JCO Oncology Practice. To develop updated recommendations for integrating palliative care into cancer care, an expert panel reviewed randomized controlled trials, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses published during 2015-2023. Based on their findings, the experts recommend that patients with advanced cancer be referred to specialized interdisciplinary palliative care teams soon after diagnosis, while the patients are still receiving active cancer treatment.
19 myths about dying people need to stop believing
05/31/24 at 03:00 AM19 myths about dying people need to stop believing Million Dollar Sense; by Anuradha Supun; 5/29/24
The real cost of cancer: 49% of patients carry $5K+ in medical debt
05/30/24 at 02:00 AMThe real cost of cancer: 49% of patients carry $5K+ in medical debt Becker's Hospital Review; by Ashleigh Hollowell; 5/28/24 ... Now, 47% of cancer patients accumulate debt as a result of their medical needs, The Wall Street Journal reported May 28. ... Some Americans are facing $38,000 or even more in medical debt, the Journal found. Additionally, more cancer patients are filing for bankruptcy, which one study linked to an 80% increased risk of dying. ... A 2024 survey of 1,284 cancer patients and survivors led by the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network also found that: ...
Educating the future of hospice and palliative care
05/24/24 at 03:00 AMEducating the future of hospice and palliative carePortage.life; by Center for Hospice Care; 5/21/24This spring students at the University of Notre Dame gained insight into the delivery of care to patients and families dealing with serious advanced illnesses. The university, in partnership with Center for Hospice Care (CHC), once again offered the course “Introduction to Hospice and Palliative Care” that was designed by Dr. Dominic Vachon, Director of Ruth M. Hillebrand Center for Compassionate Care in Medicine and Mike Wargo, COO and vice president of the Hospice Foundation. The five-week class covered a variety of topics focused on hospice and palliative care and was taught by CHC staff including physicians, social workers, chaplains, bereavement counselors and other hospice and palliative care support staff.
The human side of AI: Insights on balancing automation and empathy
05/23/24 at 03:00 AMThe human side of AI: Insights on balancing automation and empathy Innovation & Tech Today; by Enrico Palmerino; 5/20/24 ... As AI automates more tasks with clinical precision, empathy is a critical human element we cannot overlook. That intangible ability to understand and share the feelings of another isn’t just a soft skill — it’s an essential catalyst for trust, loyalty, and genuine connection. Consider the healthcare industry, where empathy is (quite literally) often a matter of life and death. Can an AI-powered diagnostic system truly grasp a patient’s fear and vulnerability when facing a serious illness? ... Finding the delicate balance between leveraging AI automation and preserving human empathy is the new challenge before us. It’s a duality that will shape how businesses operate and how we interact with technology. ... Let the machines optimize processes while we optimize the ability to connect and inspire. In this harmonious future, AI is a tool that elevates us — not replaces us.Editor's Note: Is AI a hot topic among your leaders and interdisciplinary clinicians? Often, "empathy" and "communication" are cited as key cautions and conflicts.
Cooling down the clinic: How to de-escalate angry patients and family members
05/23/24 at 03:00 AMCooling down the clinic: How to de-escalate angry patients and family members Oncology Nurse Advisor; by Kathleen Wolf, MBA, BSN, RN, NEA-BC; 5/17/24Handling challenging interactions with patients and families can be a source of stress for oncology nurses. Patients and caregivers could be feeling angry for any number of reasons. The key is to not take their anger personally. It’s more productive to instead understand the cause of their anger. [Read more for common causes and basic de-escalation strategies.]
10 most common sentinel events in 2023: Joint Commission
05/17/24 at 03:00 AM10 most common sentinel events in 2023: Joint Commission Becker's Clinical Leadership; by Mackenzie Bean; 5/15/24 In 2023, patient falls were once again the most common sentinel event reported by healthcare organizations, according to a May 15 report from The Joint Commission. The Joint Commission defines a sentinel event as a patient safety event that results in death, permanent harm, severe temporary harm or intervention required to sustain life. ... The 10 most frequently reported sentinel events for 2023:
Early palliative care perceptions by patients with cancer and primary caregivers: metaphorical language
05/16/24 at 03:00 AMEarly palliative care perceptions by patients with cancer and primary caregivers: metaphorical languageBMJ Supportive & Palliative Care; by Elena Bandieri, Sarah Bigi, Melissa Nava, Eleonora Borelli, Carlo Adolfo Porro, Erio Castellucci, Fabio Efficace, Eduardo Bruera, Oreofe Odejide, Camilla Zimmermann, Leonardo Potenza, Mario Luppi; 5/13/24Methods: Data were collected through a pen-and-paper questionnaire on respondents’ perceptions of the disease, its treatment and their idea of death, before and after receiving EPC [early palliative care]. The data were analysed by identifying all metaphorical uses of language, following the ‘metaphor identification procedure’ proposed by the Praggjelaz Group.Results: Metaphors were used from a variety of semantic fields. EPC was described using spiritual terms, to indicate that this approach was instrumental in ‘restoring life’, ‘producing hope’ and making patients feel ‘accompanied’. The most recurrent metaphors were those referring to light and salvation; spatial metaphors were used to describe the treatment and the hospital as a ‘safe haven’ and ‘an oasis of peace’.
When families fight over a relative with dementia, it’s time to call in the mediator
05/16/24 at 03:00 AMWhen families fight over a relative with dementia, it’s time to call in the mediator The New York Times; by Paula Span; 5/13/24 Trained negotiators can help families struggling with vexing elder-care issues. The four adult children were in agreement. Their father, William Curry, a retired electrical engineer and business executive, was sinking deeper into dementia. ... [But their mother] remained determined to continue caring for her 81-year-old husband at home, despite the increasing toll on her own health. ... As the weeks passed, “we were really at an impasse,” [a daughter] said. “Do you override your mother?” ... [Increasingly,] families seek elder mediation privately, before disputes land in court and imperil or destroy family relationships. [Continue reading for descriptions of how mediation differs from arbitration, from family therapy, and for cautions about this being "a fairly new field with no nationwide certification or licensing requirements."]Editor's Notes: Executive leaders, what community education and resources are you providing for Advance Directives? What family systems education and and problem-solving are you providing for your interdisciplinary team members and grief counselors? Family conflicts are inherent--in some form or fashion--with almost anyone needing dementia care, especially when paired with palliative or hospice care. (If in doubt, ask your seasoned, front-line professionals.)
“Mental wellbeing is as important as physical wellbeing – both are interconnected”
05/15/24 at 03:00 AM“Mental wellbeing is as important as physical wellbeing – both are interconnected” Marie Curie Hospice; by Anne Finucane, Marie Curie Senior Research Fellow, and David Gillanders, Senior Lecturer, Clinical Psychology, The University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom; 5/13/24 At least one in every four people living with a terminal diagnosis will experience depression, anxiety, adjustment disorder or low mood. Many more will experience distress because of deteriorating health and related uncertainty. Feelings of hopelessness, discouragement and even a desire for hastened death can occur. People have reported that psychological support helps them develop better coping strategies, helps them be more open to their situation and improves communication with their families and those involved in their care.Editor's Note: Executive leaders, what value do you give to your interdisciplinary team members and their contributions to patients' mental/emotional care? What advocacy, support and recognition do you have for your social workers, chaplains, counselors? What mental wellbeing measures do your employees experiences throughout your organization--and more directly--from your leadership with them? Perhaps it's time to "take the pulse" of your culture's mental wellbeing.
Impact of implementing serious illness conversations across a comprehensive cancer center using an interdisciplinary approach
05/13/24 at 03:00 AMImpact of implementing serious illness conversations across a comprehensive cancer center using an interdisciplinary approach The American Journal of Hospice & Palliative Care; by Karen Guo, Garrett Wasp, Maxwell Vergo, Matthew Wilson, Megan M Holthoff, Madge E Buus-Frank, James J Perry, Amelia M Cullinan; 5/10/24Objectives: (1) Increase Serious Illness Conversation (SIC) use across oncology teams via an interdisciplinary quality improvement (QI) approach and (2) assess patient reported shared decision making (SDM) experiences with clinicians engaged in SIC implementation.Results: Oncology teams screened a total of 538 patients, identified 278 eligible patients, and completed 144 SIC conversations. The teams improved the proportion of documented SIC among eligible patients from near 0% to a collective frequency of 52%.
What's in the Black Box of a successful nurse and social worker team palliative telecare intervention (ADAPT)? (RP317)
05/04/24 at 02:20 AMWhat's in the Black Box of a successful nurse and social worker team palliative telecare intervention (ADAPT)? (RP317)Journal of Pain and Symptom Management; by Lyndsay DeGroot, PhD, RN, CNE; Kevin Wells; Brianne Morgan, BSN; Michelle Upham, MSW, LICSW; David B. Bekelman, MD, MPH; 5/24Key Message: A nurse and social worker palliative telecare team provided structured symptom management, psychosocial care, and individualized medical changes to improve quality of life, depression, and anxiety for patients with COPD, HF, and ILD. Impact: A nurse and social work palliative telecare team used collaborative care to tailor recommendations to the unique needs and symptoms of each patient, thereby improving quality of life.
The spectrum of end-of-life experiences: A tool for advancing death education
05/04/24 at 02:05 AMThe spectrum of end-of-life experiences: A tool for advancing death educationOmega; by Shared Crossing Research Initiative; 3/24 Abstract: Studies on end-of-life experiences (ELEs) suggest that caregivers and loved ones of dying patients also have ELEs, though these are rarely explored. This article introduces the Spectrum of End-of-Life Experiences (SELE) as a descriptive list of types of ELEs reported by all members of the care unit, including dying patients, their caregivers, and their loved ones. We applied SELE towards identifying ELEs reported by 143 caregivers and loved ones and successfully identified every experience. Interviews revealed that participants viewed their ELEs as profound communicative events, yet a substantial minority also reported struggling to name and process these experiences. We propose that SELE be included in death education to raise awareness about ELEs that can occur within the care unit, and we suggest that SELE has additional applications, including use as a prognostic aid in end-of-life care and as a therapeutic aid for bereavement support.
Shocked at end-of-life: An educational video for hospice workers about Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillators
05/04/24 at 02:00 AMShocked at end-of-life: An educational video for hospice workers about Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillators Journal of Pain and Symptom Management; by Sarah Godfrey, MD, MPH; Christine L. Chen, MD; Melanie S. Sulistio, MD; Sharika Kumar, MD; and Kelley Newcomer, MD; 2/24 Introduction: Hundreds of thousands of patients with implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) die yearly. Though ICD shocks can be lifesaving, they can also be severely painful. One third of ICD patients are shocked in the last day of life irrespective of DNR status. Over 97% of hospice programs admit patients with ICDs, yet only 10% have deactivation policies and less than 50% of hospice patients have their ICD deactivated. ... Conclusion: Hospice personnel have limited knowledge about ICDs, prohibiting best care of patients with these devices at EOL. A short educational video increased knowledge and may serve as a helpful tool. Improving ICD knowledge amongst hospice personnel is essential to ensuring the unique needs of hospice patients with ICDs are met.
Attitudes and beliefs regarding Pain Medicine: results of a national palliative physician survey
04/30/24 at 03:00 AMAttitudes and beliefs regarding Pain Medicine: results of a national palliative physician survey Journal of Pain and Symptom Management; by Daniel K Partain, Wil L Santivasi, Mihir M Kamdar, Susan M Moeschler, Jon C Tilburt, Karen M Fischer, Jacob J Strand; 4/25/24 online ahead of print Objectives: To evaluate referral rates, co-management strategies, and beliefs of palliative physicians about the value of Pain Medicine specialists in patients with serious illness. Conclusion: This study shows that Palliative Care physicians have highly positive attitudes toward Pain Medicine specialists, but referrals remain low. Facilitating professional collaboration via joint educational/clinical sessions is one possible solution to drive ongoing interprofessional care in patients with complex pain.
Across the nation, the fight’s on to protect physician-led care
04/29/24 at 02:00 AMAcross the nation, the fight’s on to protect physician-led careAmerican Medical Association - AMA; by Kevin B. O'Reilly; 4/25/24After helping state medical associations and national specialty societies defeat more than 100 bills to inappropriately expand nonphysicians’ scope of practice in 2023, the AMA is again relentlessly joining its allies in organized medicine to continue the fight for physician-led, team-based care in this year’s legislative session. This intensive and effective advocacy effort has ranged across the country, as the AMA has helped battle scope creep in Alaska, Connecticut, Georgia, Oklahoma, New Hampshire and elsewhere.
Psychosocial distress screening among interprofessional palliative care teams: A narrative review
04/25/24 at 02:00 AMPsychosocial distress screening among interprofessional palliative care teams: A narrative review Journal of Social Work in End-of-Life & Palliative Care, by Chelsea K Brown and Cara L Wallace; 4/23/24With increased need for palliative care and limited staffing resources, non-social workers are increasingly responsible for screening for urgent psychosocial distress. The National Consensus Project guidelines call for all palliative care team members to be competent in screening across domains. ... Although an abundance of validated screening tools exists for outpatient oncology-specific settings, there is minimal guidance on psychosocial screening tools intended for specialty palliative care. The most oft-cited tools have been met with concern for validity across diverse palliative care populations and settings. ...