Literature Review

Breaking free from self-doubt: A guide to authentic leadership and communication Forbes - Leadership; by Lynn Smith; 11/27/24 In my years of coaching hundreds of top executives, entrepreneurs and CEOs, I've noticed a persistent challenge that holds many back from their full potential as leaders and communicators: self-doubt. This inner critic—what I call the "Brain Bully"—creates a constant stream of negative self-talk. Even the most accomplished leaders wrestle with thoughts like "What if I say the wrong thing?" or "What if I don't sound smart?" These are exact quotes from some of my clients. The larger issue is that inner dialogue was preventing those leaders from communicating clearly and concisely. The self-doubt in their head was reading all across their faces and through their body language. In a time when 93% of communication is weighed by nonverbal cues, we had to do something about this. ... [Click on the title's link to continue reading.]

Don’t let CMS publish list of lowest-performing hospices, Alliance tells lawmakers McKnights Home Care; by Liza Berger; 11/26/24 Acting on its plan to keep the hospice Special Focus Program in the spotlight until the end of the year, the National Alliance for Care at Home has sent congressional leaders a letter urging them to remedy the grading system for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ program targeting underperforming hospices. “CMS is on the verge of publishing a list of what they claim will be poor-performing hospices based on this flawed grading system,” Ken Albert, president and CEO of Andwell Health Partners and chair of the Alliance, wrote in a Nov. 22 letter to chairmen and ranking members of House and Senate finance committees. “When you see this list, you should view it skeptically, because CMS will have committed a grave error that risks steering patients away from reputable hospices that may be on the list and toward providers that — because they may not have been surveyed at all — could be low-quality or completely fraudulent.”

NUMC partners with Hospice of New York to offer hospice servicesLong Island Press; 11/27/24 The Nassau Health Care Corporation, which represents Nassau University Medical Center, and the A. Holly Patterson Extended Care Facility have announced a partnership with Hospice of New York to offer hospice services for the first time for patients, regardless of their ability to pay. ... Megan C. Ryan, NHCC interim president and CEO [said,] “Hospice of New York’s proven expertise ensures that this initiative will provide the highest standard of care to patients and their families, including those from low-income and at-risk populations. Bringing this kind of care to those at their most vulnerable is why NUMC exists and why this partnership is so groundbreaking for both our institution and Hospice. We welcome the Hospice team to the NUMC family.” Ryan announced the appointment of Simon Ulubabov to the recently-created position of executive vice president for Hospital and Palliative Care Services at NUMC. 

TCN Podcast: Industry Trends Teleios Collaborative Network (TCN); podcast hosted by Chris Comeaux, with Maria Warren; 11/27/24Join us for an insightful conversation with Maria Warren, Vice President of McBee, part of NetSmart, as she demystifies the challenges of hospice care audits. Maria shares her journey from entry-level consultant to a leader in compliance, highlighting how audits, designed to combat fraud, can unintentionally burden resources and detract from patient care. Her thoughtful perspective sheds light on balancing regulatory demands with compassionate care. We also dive into the transformative role of technology in hospice care with insights from Betsy Hansen. Discover how electronic medical records (EMRs) go beyond digital documentation to improve patient outcomes and streamline operations. Learn about the potential of EMRs to enhance compliance and care quality while tackling the challenges of implementing innovative, user-friendly systems. This segment emphasizes the importance of creativity and high standards in overcoming staffing hurdles and fostering a supportive care environment.

Nurse diagnosed with blood cancer fulfills dying wish to see new ‘Wicked’ movie Fox 13 Tampa Bay, FL: by Jennifer Kveglis; 11/26/24 A Tampa Bay area nurse who was diagnosed with blood cancer had one dying wish – to see the new movie "Wicked" in theaters. With the help of friends and family, that wish was fulfilled on Monday. Misty Steffen is a wife and mother, and she was also HCA Florida South Shore's chief of nursing. "I've loved every day of my life being a nurse," she said. "Twenty-six years that I got to be one and serve and love and decrease anxiety and increase trust and explain." ... [Description of her serious illness trajectory ...] "It's not what I thought would be the end of my story, but I'm at peace knowing whether I live or whether I die," she said. Steffen said she, her daughter and her husband always sang songs from "Wicked" in the car. Together, they've seen the musical on Broadway twice. Her last wish was to see the new movie in theaters. "The next thing I know he's [her husband] rented out the whole room in the theater," she said. HCA Florida Brandon paramedics, where Steffen worked too, as the assistant chief of nursing, transported her in their ambulance at no charge. "He's like we've got people who are going to come take you in an ambulance to ‘Wicked,’" she said. "I just started balling and I go...'what? Why am I so deserving of that?'" Steffen will spend the coming days surrounded by loved ones, many of whom flew in from all over the country. Editor's note: While this story appears to be focused on the movie "Wicked," it's more about relationships, meaning-making, quality of life, and ... her husband rented out the "whole room in the theater"! If you--like I--enjoy this movie weekend, Misty Steffen's story gives a new meaning to giving thanks, creating new memories from old for now and ahead. From Part 2 of Wicked, "... because I knew you, I have been changed for good."

Hospice staff packs Thanksgiving meals for families Coosa Valley News, Rome, GA; by Staff; 11/27/24 It was a labor of love on Wednesday morning as teammates, volunteers and family members gathered again to provide Thanksgiving meals for families served by Atrium Health Floyd Medical Center Heyman Hospice Care. The meals, made or donated by Hospice teammates, volunteers and family members, included turkey, ham, dressing, mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, green beans, sweet potatoes, potato salad and corn. A variety of pies and cakes were baked for dessert. Nearly 150 meals were packed up and delivered personally to the families. Melissa Washington, a social worker with Hospice, once again served as the onsite director as the food boxes were assembled and sent out. She and others were also there late Tuesday night getting things ready. “We can do this!” exclaimed Washington as she encouraged the workers lined up behind tables as the assembly line began its work. Casey Blankenship, program director for Heyman Hospice Care, said the annual event started in the 1990s. 

Coastal Hospice joins Shore Gives More for Giving Tuesday fundraiser ABC 47 WMDT, Salisbury, MD; by Site Staff; 11/26/24 Coastal Hospice is teaming up with the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore for Giving Tuesday. They are one of many non-profits signed up for the Shore Gives More campaign. It’s an online giving event that provides non-profits the opportunity to inspire the community. Editor's note: Heads up, be on the lookout for a post from us on Monday 12/2/24 with a wide scope of ways to support our hospice and palliative care community through "Giving Tuesday."

Valley Health and Hospice of the Panhandle collaborate to expand hospice care Global Data; 11/26/24 Valley Health has partnered with Hospice of the Panhandle to launch a hospice care programme within its hospitals, War Memorial Hospital (WarMH) in Berkeley Springs and Hampshire Memorial Hospital (HMH) in Romney, West Virginia, US. An agreement, effective from 1 November, integrates Hospice of the Panhandle with the hospitals' existing care teams, aiming to enhance the quality and accessibility of end-of-life care for eligible patients and their families.  The Hospice in the Hospital programme, which began in 2020 at Winchester Medical Centre, has now extended to all Valley Health hospitals in Virginia and, with this recent development, to West Virginia. HMH and WarMH operations vice president Heather Sigel said: “We are extremely thankful to the Hospice of the Panhandle team for partnering with us to offer Hospice in the Hospital at both War Memorial and Hampshire Memorial. ..."

Early hospice care has transformative impact McKnights Senior Living; guest column by Aaron Housh, CEO of Good Samaritan Hospice in Roanoke and Christiansburg, VA; 11/25/24 Hospice care is more than a medical service — it’s a lifeline of compassion, connection and support during one of life’s most vulnerable moments. For more than 20 years, I’ve witnessed the profound impact hospice can have, not just on residents and patients but on the families who love and care for them. But this impact is magnified when hospice care is introduced early. ... One of the greatest gifts hospice provides is time — time to prepare, time to connect and time to say goodbye. A friend once shared how hospice changed her family’s experience with her mother’s death. The nurse spent time explaining what to expect, answering questions and normalizing the changes they were seeing. That preparation eliminated panic, allowing the family to focus on being present. Her mother passed with dignity, surrounded by love and understanding. This story illustrates what I’ve seen time and again: families who enter hospice early have the opportunity to build trust with their care team, process emotions and fully use the services available to them. Those families are better equipped to navigate the physical and emotional challenges of end-of-life care, creating space for meaningful moments and lasting memories.

Hospice of Northeast Missouri marks 30 years, eyes future growth KBUR, Burlington, MO; by collinleddy; 11/25/24 Hospice of Northeast Missouri recently marked 30 years of service, expanding from its original focus in Adair County to cover a ten-county region. This growth addresses the critical need for end-of-life care in rural areas, providing support for patients and their families in managing symptoms and caregiving responsibilities. The organization has seen an increase in demand for its services, particularly among Medicare recipients in rural areas. Between 2010 and 2022, the percentage of rural Medicare beneficiaries using hospice care rose from 34% to 42%, reflecting broader trends in aging populations and the growing importance of caregiving. ... As the hospice looks ahead, it plans to further expand its resources and focus on community education, ensuring that more families are aware of the benefits hospice care provides during difficult times.Editor's note: Per the ongoing number of hospices that celebrate decade-marker anniversaries, we typically do not post those articles. However, the growth patterns in these descriptions reflect hospice organizational trends nationwide: expanding geographical access, rural utilization, increased priorities for caregivers, snf the importance of community education.

[United Kingdom] Hospice urges people to recycle Christmas trees BBC News; by Holly Phillips; 11/23/24 A charity is asking the public to recycle their Christmas trees this year. St. Barnabas Hospice, in Lincoln, is inviting people to take part in their "tree-cycle" initiative, by disposing of their tree in an eco-friendly way while supporting the charity. People who have bought a real tree can register for it to be collected so it can be recycled or replanted in the new year. Volunteers from the hospice will be picking up trees between 7 and 12 January in return for a voluntary donation. 

Elizabeth Nemacheck: The personal consequences of EPH's discontinuation of in-home hospice Estes Park Trail-Gazette, Estes Park, CO; by Elizabeth Nemacheck; updated 11/22/24 I am writing regarding Estes Park Health's decision to eliminate in-home hospice and home health care in Estes Park. Hospice helps the family by dismantling hospice, Estes Park Health has off-loaded the end-of-life burden solely on the family, during one of the most difficult and totally predictable life events. I hope to illustrate three key issues we identified by sharing my story. My father died at home in September of 2024. After his terminal cancer diagnosis midsummer, my family discussed my dad's wishes in consultation with his oncologist and primary care doctor. Like so many of us, my dad decided that he would very much like to die at home, so that became our goal. We sought alternatives to hospice support beyond Estes Park Health's discontinued home hospice care; once we confirmed that the only hospice available in Estes was in-hospital hospice, we built the infrastructure ourselves to be able to keep my dad at home. Thankfully we had the financial resources to do so, and a lot of gumption. While we were able to keep him at home, we identified three key issues:

South Jersey organization helps families caring for ailing loved ones by delivering Thanksgiving meals Fox 29 Philadelphia; by Marcus Espinoza; 11/23/24 Haddonfield, N.J. - The holiday season and stress go hand-in-hand for many, but for some, like the Esposito family, holidays like Thanksgiving can be especially challenging. Thankfully, organizations like Samaritan step up with efforts like a food drive in South Jersey. "Samaritan for years has been delivering meals to hospice, palliative and bereaved families all around our five-county area," explained Volunteer Coordinator Lisa DiCerto. DiCerto is a long-time Volunteer Coordinator and says give back days really highlight their mission as an organization to provide not just a hot meal during Thanksgiving, but a chance for families to worry about one less thing. ... It’s a large operation full of volunteers committed to helping their neighbors. "We are delivering to about 140 different locations today," DiCerto said. Editor's note: Giving thanks year-round, Samaritan Hospice (and its other services) provides a beautiful, simple way to thank their staff: click here to view. "Fill out the form to send us a message. We welcome your thoughts about the care you and your loved one received. We’ll make sure to share it with the hospice team, palliative care professionals, or grief counselors who took care of you, your family member, or friend."