Literature Review

How quality, compliance, technology factor into hospice recruitment Hospice News; by Holly Vossel; 10/17/24 Quality, compliance and technology investments are becoming increasingly crucial when it comes to hospices’ recruitment and retention strategies as they seek to gain an advantage in the health care labor market. Finding and keeping quality employees who are able to keep up with the fast pace of today’s hospice compliance landscape has become a challenging feat, according to SilverStone Health CEO Alfonso Montiel. The Dallas, Texas-based health system provides palliative, home health and hospice, among other services. ... More than half of hospices nationwide underwent multiple audits simultaneously during 2023, according to survey findings from LeadingAge, the National Alliance for Care at Home and the National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation (NPHI). ...

Forbes Leadership Strategy: 5 reasons you should seek to work with people who think differently Forbes; by Kate Vitasek; 10/17/24 One of the most common pitfalls we see in the business world is when organizations exclusively work with people who think like they do. While at first glance, this could seem like it would help the organization become more unified, in the long run, it can actually do more harm than good. Instead, you should seek to work with people who think differently from you. By bringing in people with unique perspectives and backgrounds, you can unlock a host of valuable benefits that will serve you well in both the short- and long-term. 

Heartlinks expands hospice, palliative programs with new adult family home Hospice News; by Holly Vossel; 10/16/24 Heartlinks is opening a de novo located in Sunnyside, Washington, with an aim of providing a range of services to seniors in the area. Hospice and palliative care will be a “strong focus” of services provided at the new senior living facility, Heartlinks Adult Family Home, said Shelby Moore, the organization’s executive director. Other services available include 24/7 access to personal care, assistance with activities of daily living, medication management and respite care. The new location is designed to create a peaceful and comforting space for individuals with advanced and life-limiting illnesses in an area that lacks resources for patients and their families, Moore stated. 

Video: North Hawaii Hospice holds lantern floating ceremony Big Island Video News; 10/15/24 The annual floating lantern ceremony was held Sunday evening at the Fairmont Orchid. ... The event was organized by North Hawaii Hospice, ... “The goal is to honor and remember those who have passed, in a group setting,” said North Hawaiʻi Hospice executive director Faye Mitchell. “We get to share in our grief, but also in our joy about the people that we’ve loved and who are no longer with us.” ... “When people come, they have a lantern paper which they get to decorate and write messages for their loved ones. And then they put that lantern paper onto a base, and at sunset we helped them light a candle in that lantern. ... “I am an organizer of this event, but I am definitely also a participant,” Mitchell said. “I lost my son Geno in February of this year. He was 24 years old. I have to say, one of the key things I learned from the experience is that grief shouldn’t be kept to myself. ... There’s something about sharing your grief with others who know what it’s like. So that’s why I share it even now, with everyone watching, because if … you’ve lost someone you’re not alone, and if you share this experience with others you’d be surprised how many people have gone through this. It’s so much better not to be alone in this."

What the heck is a PBM, and why does it matter? Forbes; by Web Golinkin; 10/14/24... [Pharmacy Benefit Managers] PBM BasicsUnless you are a healthcare industry insider—and even if you are— it’s difficult to understand exactly how PBMs work. While they are essentially invisible to the average health plan member, PBMs have a tremendous impact on which medications are covered, the prices paid for these medications, and how patients access them. Here’s a summary of key PBM functions: Formulary Management. ... Negotiating Discounts and Rebates. ... Pharmacy Network Management. ... Claims Processing. ... Clinical Management. ... How PBMs Influence Drug Costs: Rebate System. ... High Deductible Health Plans. ... Prior Authorization and Step Therapy. ... Spread Pricing. ... What Are the Alternatives? ...

The quiet, transformative power of introverted leaders Forbes; by Benjamin Laker; 10/14/24 When workplaces celebrate loud voices, charismatic personalities, and the “move fast, break things” attitude of leadership, introverts may seem out of place. Leadership, we’re told, belongs to the extroverts—the ones who command rooms, deliver inspiring speeches, and thrive in the spotlight. But what if we’ve been overlooking a quieter form of leadership all along? Introverted leaders are often the unsung heroes of organizations, possessing a unique power that’s grounded in thoughtfulness, empathy, and a deep understanding of their team. The truth is, the quiet power of introverted leaders is not just an alternative leadership style—it’s a vital force for creating sustainable success.

Family Hospice celebrates grand opening EIN Presswire, Gainesville, GA; by BPR International; 10/14/24 Family Hospice announces the grand opening of its new location in Gainesville. The community is invited to a grand opening celebration on Tuesday, October 22 ... The unveiling of the Gainesville location marks a significant milestone for Family Hospice, which is expanding its network of compassionate care services to better serve the community in northeast Georgia. Focusing on providing quality end-of-life care and support for patients and their families, Family Hospice is dedicated to enhancing the comfort and dignity of those facing terminal illnesses. “We are committed to providing compassionate end-of-life care for those facing a life-limiting illness,” said Robin Stanton, Chief Operating Officer of Family Hospice. “This new location allows us to expand our Family and reach patients and their families in the comfort of wherever they call home in Gainesville and surrounding counties.”

Managing the hospice payment cap by balancing Length of Stay Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 10/15/24 Careful management of the hospice aggregate cap is key to providers’ sustainability as regulatory scrutiny continues to heat up. The cap is designed to prevent overuse of hospice, put controls on Medicare spending and foster greater access to care among patients. For Fiscal Year 2024, the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services set the cap at $33,394. In 2025, this will rise to $34,465. “While the cap is a beneficiary driven cap, meaning the reimbursement allowed per Medicare beneficiary, it is not assessed at the beneficiary level, but rather in the aggregate at the agency provider number level for all beneficiaries served by the agency in the cap,” Rochelle Salinas, vice president of operations for CommonSpirit Health at Home, said. “This allows for greater flexibility in providing care to those in need.” ... [Click on the title's link to continue reading.]

Fun Run participants honor loved ones while raising funds for hospice care The Baynet, Waldorf, MD; by Hospice of the Chesapeaker; 10/14/24 Wearing commemorative T-shirts, flouncy tutus and colorful socks, the runners and walkers in Hospice of the Chesapeake’s Blue Crab Fun Run came to have fun while supporting an essential Charles County not-for-profit organization. They were cheered on by Reuben B. Collins, II, Esq., President of the Charles County Board of Commissioners, who served as Grand Marshal for the inaugural event. Collins said he was grateful for the support and guidance he received while his father was cared for by Hospice of the Chesapeake in 2022. “I am thinking of my father today and I know he is smiling down on us this morning,” Collins said. He encouraged participants to dedicate each of their steps to the memory of a loved one. ... The event raised nearly $30,000, with all proceeds benefitting patients and families in Charles County, ensuring they have access to expert and compassionate supportive, hospice and grief care.

7 reasons leadership soft skills are imperative for growth Forbes; by Brent Gleeson; 10/11/24 In high-performance organizations, leaders often prioritize technical know-how and measurable metrics. But dismissing soft skills as unimportant is a critical mistake that can lead to team breakdowns, missed opportunities, and poor results. According to a 2023 Harvard Business report, 76% of respondents identified empathy, communication, and the ability to manage conflict as essential leadership skills for driving team effectiveness, especially in diverse and remote work environments. Leaders who lack these soft skills may struggle to build trust and create psychologically safe workplaces, which are essential for team cohesion and innovation in high-performance settings​. But organizations must adopt a deliberate, strategic, and deeply integrated approach to developing soft skills in order to maximize ROI, ensuring that these efforts are aligned with the company’s culture, core values, and business objectives. ... [Click on the title's link for its list.]

Hospices seek creative hiring, retention solutions as labor costs rise Hospice News; by Holly Vossel; 10/11/24 Fierce competition for clinical resources amid widespread workforce shortages has hospices taking nimble approaches to their recruitment strategies, including pivoting financial investments and building stronger educational partnerships. Competition in the health care market has been driving up salaries, particularly among nurses, according to Jennifer Lemere, vice president of clinical operations at St. Croix Hospice, a portfolio company of the private equity firm H.I.G. Capital. But rising compensation trends are also occurring across the interdisciplinary spectrum, Lemere added. ...

Hospice in a hurricane: How Empath Health responded to back-to-back disasters Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 10/11/24 Hospice providers in the southeastern United States are reeling from the impacts of two massive hurricanes that have occurred during the past two weeks. ... The Florida-based hospice and senior services provider Empath Health saw the majority of its service region affected by [Hurricane Milton], which caused substantial damage to infrastructure in many communities. Empath reported no major injuries among its employees, according to CEO Jonathan Fleece. However, some employees did lose entire homes or experienced significant damage, as well as cars and other essentials. ... “We do our best through pre-storm planning to come up with our communication plans with our patients and their families, ...” Fleece told Hospice News. “When we can’t reach people by phone, once we have any kind of access to roads, we will do our very best to do some sort of a check in.” These efforts are coordinated through an emergency management team, led by commander Matt Chaloux, that engages in disaster planning and response, Fleece said. Building on lessons learned from Hurricane Ian in 2022, Empath also established a mobile response unit — a vehicle designed to provide clinical, communications and logistical support during catastrophic events. The unit is modeled after similar vehicles used by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Empath Health has set up a fund to aid employees who were affected by the hurricanes, helping to provide them with housing, transportation, child care and other needs, according to a statement posted by Fleece on LinkedIn. The organization's board of trustees has pledged to mathc donations dollar-for-dollar up to $500,000.Editor's note: Click here to donate to Empath Helath's fund to aid employees.