Literature Review

Behind the stethoscope: Exploring nursing ethics Noozhawk, Santa Barbara County, by Green Shoot Media; 4/22/24 The American Nurses Association developed a Code of Ethics for Nurses in the 1950s. It has been revised over the years to respond to technological advances and changes in society and the nursing field. Gallup takes a poll every year asks how the public ranks various professions for having high honesty and ethics. For 22 straight years, nurses come in as the most respected in terms of honesty and ethics. In 2024, 78% of the poll takers perceived them as honest.

Primary and specialty palliative care utilization at a regional Burn center Oxford Academic / Journal of Burn Care & Research; by Zoe Tao, MD, Alexandra Hoffman, BS, Anna Stecher, MD, Niknam Eshraghi, MD, FACS; 4/20/24There is little research informing appropriate specialty palliative care consultation over primary palliative care practice, or the ability of the burn surgeon to perform skills such as effective goals of care discussions. ... There is bias in diverting both primary and specialty palliative care resources toward acutely ill patients and those with less immediate projected mortality may need additional attention.

5 ways the AMA is fighting for physicians in 2024 AMA - American Medical Association; by Kevin B. O'Reilly; 4/18/2024 ... Physicians face far too many challenges that interfere with patient care. That’s why the AMA is advocating to keep doctors at the head of the health care team, reform the Medicare physician payment system, relieve the burden of overused prior authorizations and so much more. These advocacy initiatives are part of the AMA Recovery Plan for America’s Physicians, which includes:

Hospice handoffs may lower odds of Medicare denials Medscape, by Lara Salahi; 4/29/24Clearer communication between primary care clinicians and hospice providers may decrease the number of denied Medicare approvals for end-of-life treatment, according to a small study presented on April 18 at the American College of Physicians Internal Medicine Meeting 2024. Tyler Haussler, MD, acting medical director at  Brookestone Home Health & Hospice in Carney, Nebraska, said he conducted the study. ... CMS requires a "face-to-face encounter" between a physician and hospice caregiver to communicate clinical findings and determine the patient's terminal status. Missing or incomplete documentation of a patient's medical condition remains one of the main reasons the agency denies hospice coverage. 

5 steps to cutting the red tape that adds to doctor burnout American Medical Association (AMA), by Sara Berge, MS; 4/16/24 ... Reducing burnout is essential to high-quality patient care and a sustainable health system. The AMA measures and responds to physician burnout, helping drive solutions and interventions. ... Dr. [Kevin] Hopkins identified the five steps below to get rid of regulatory make-work that interferes with patient care and contributes to physician burnout.

Health care system eats away at the doctor-patient relationship The Boston Globe; updated 4/17/24... The system economically rewards throughput (the number of patients seen per unit time) and procedures rather than the time needed to develop an open and communicative doctor-patient relationship. While a good physician might understand the tests and evaluations that are indicated by a presenting medical problem, the excellent clinician knows which tests and evaluations should not be done. This is primarily ascertained by delving into details of the patient’s physical, psychological, social, family, and economic history. This process, as James highlights, can lead to collaborative and more effective care. ...Editor's Note: This article highlights "Dr. Thea James’s remarkable work at Boston Medical Center in addressing structural inequity in medical care as a means of enhancing outcomes brings up an underlying structural problem across the entire medical care system (“Her health equity message being heard,” April 13, 2024.)

Health Talk: Getting into a health care career The Barre Montpelier Times Argus Online, by Peg Bolgioni; 4/13/24According to the American Hospital Association, there will be a shortage of up to 3.2 million health care workers by 2026. America will face a shortage of up to 124,000 physicians by 2033 and will need to hire at least 200,000 nurses per year to meet increased demand, and to replace retiring nurses. ... The mission of Southern Vermont Area Health Education Center is to enhance community efforts to grow and sustain the health workforce in southern Vermont. One of the ways we do this is by delivering pathway programs that connect students to health careers. [Click the title's link to read about this event.]Editor's Note: How might your organization create similar career engagement and education in your community? 

Implementing spiritual care education into the teaching of palliative medicine: An outcome evaluation BMC Medical Education; by Yann-Nicolas Batzler, Nicola Stricker, Simone Bakus, Manuela Schallenburger, Jacqueline Schwartz, and Martin Neukirchen; 4/15/24 Objective: This is a novel, interprofessional approach in teaching undergraduate medical students about spiritual care in the format of a seminar. The aim of this study is to assess if an increase in knowledge about spiritual care in the clinical context is achievable with this format. ... Conclusions: We conclude that implementing spiritual care education following an interprofessional approach into existing medical curricula, e.g. palliative medicine, is feasible and well perceived among medical students. ...

Potential CMS measure shows divide over quality training standards Modern Healthcare, by Mari Devereaux; 4/12/24 Hospitals may soon be required to provide set quality training to staff as part of a Medicare reporting program, but health systems and advocacy organizations are split on whether the standardization of quality-related skill sets is necessary to improve patient care.

How to become a nurse later in life Board Vitals; 4/11/24 Embarking on a career in the nursing field later in life is an inspiring journey that many individuals choose to undertake. Whether it’s a personal passion or a long-held dream, it’s never too late to pursue a fulfilling career in healthcare. In this guide, we will answer the most common questions asked by those starting a nursing career later in life. Editor's Note: Does your hospice or palliative care organization partner with a nursing school? Or with any other type of university, community college, etc. that educates professionals for roles used in your organization? Explore opportunities to instill information and interest in end-of-life care.

Lankford advocates for Physician-Owned Hospitals to expand healthcare access for Oklahomans James Lankford; 4/11/24 Senator James Lankford (R-OK) participated in a Senate Finance Committee hearing entitled, “Bolstering Chronic Care through Medicare Physician Payment,” where he talked about the importance of encouraging more physician-owned hospitals (POHs) to allow for greater access to healthcare across Oklahoma. ... POHs represent less than five percent of the 5,700 hospitals nationwide. However, POHs have a successful track record of providing individualized and innovative quality care, and they meet a growing demand for health care services, especially in rural areas. 

Why so many nurses are fleeing healthcare — and how hospitals can address the problem MedCity News, by Katie Adams; 4/10/24Nearly one-fifth of nurses are projected to leave the healthcare workforce by 2027. The American Organization for Nursing Leadership published a report revealing one of the biggest reasons nurses are exiting the industry: their managers are too busy to train and support them.