Literature Review

LifeTouch Hospice still providing end-of-life care in South ArkansasEl Dorado News-Times; by Keturah Smith; 8/28/24LifeTouch Hospice said Monday they would like the South Arkansas community to know the company remains fully operational and continues to offer care to terminally ill patients after merging with Little Rock-based Arkansas Hospice last year. "There has been some misconception in El Dorado with the closing of the hospice house," said Hannah Odell, LifeTouch provider relations representative, at the El Dorado Rotary Club meeting. "LifeTouch Hospice is very much still around." While the physical location of LifeTouch has closed, Odell mentioned their services can be provided at the nursing home, local hospital, assisted living, home or wherever care is needed. "We're contracted with South Arkansas Regional Hospital for [general inpatient care] for the most critical patients," Odell said. ...

LobsterFest raises more than $115,000 for a good cause Steamboat Pilot & Today; by Eli Pace; 8/28/24 Celebrating its 50th anniversary, the Rotary Club of Steamboat Springs served up more than 300 fresh lobsters Saturday at the Steamboat Springs Airport as Rotarians held to tradition while supporting Northwest Colorado Health’s Home Health and Hospice Services. Northwest Colorado Health is the only provider of Home Health and Hospice in the Yampa Valley, ... “In an average year, we care for more than 250 patients and provide support to their family members,” said Steph Einfeld, CEO of Northwest Colorado Health. ... The Rotarians had 310 lobsters flown in Thursday evening from Maine for the event that sells out every year, and a silent and live auction augmented table sales and sponsorships. According to the Rotary Club, this year’s LobsterFest raised more than $100,000 to support Northwest Colorado Health’s program and $15,000 for other Rotary charities.

Crafting holiday joy for Hernando Pasco Hospice patients Hernando Sun, New Port Richey, FL; by Megan Hussey; 8/26/24 It is the mission of Hernando Pasco Hospice and HPH Hospice Women of Giving to make this coming holiday season a brighter one for all patients served by HPH, and for HPH staff and team members, with the help of beautiful, jubilant holiday cards custom-made for them. It is their goal, in fact, to create at least 1,000 cards for these deserving individuals based in Hernando, Pasco and Citrus counties through the Crafty Christmas Campaign. ... “This is our second year for Crafty Christmas,” said Andrea Arflack, Director of Philanthropy Chapters Health Foundation In support of HPH Hospice. “It was created by one of our staff members in the spirit of giving. We made more than 1,000 cards last year for HPH patients and workers and plan to do the same thing this year.”Editor's Note: Now's the time to adapt this easy, meaningful community engagement with your volunteers and community partners. 

VNA Hospice and Don Quijote supports Meals on Wheels with annual benefit dinner GreatNews.Life, Valparaiso, IN; by Garrett Spoort; 8/27/24 Don Quijote Restaurant hosted its fourth annual VNA Hospice NWI Meals on Wheels benefit dinner on Sunday, August 25. The event serves as a traditional fundraiser while educating the community and sharing stories about the program. Bob Franko, CEO of VNA Hospice NWI, has high anticipation every year as this event inches closer. “This is something that we look forward to every year,” Franko said. “We have about 250 people in our Meals on Wheels program. Every $125 that we raise today will feed a senior for a month. Food scarcity has become more of an issue in our community for the seniors, so this event is really important for us.” Don Quijote has supported the mission for VNA Hospice’s Meals on Wheels program. The restaurant covers all of the event costs, allowing all of the funds raised to go directly to feeding seniors in need.Editor's Note: What a wonderful community partnership. Typically, nonprofit organizations are raising money for their own services. This initiative has a larger, collective purpose and community engagement that benefits all involved.

Austin architects unveil plans for rare pediatric respite and hospice facility CultureMap Austin, TX; by Brianna Caleri; 8/26/24 Few people want to think about the end of a child's life, but pediatric care is a need nonetheless — and it's an underserved one. According to Children's Respite Homes in America, as of 2023, there were only six of such homes in the United States, which makes the plans unveiled at the August 24 Abbey Lights Up COTA Gala incredibly unique. ... The first of its kind in Central Texas, Abbey House will serve as a pediatric respite and hospice facility, meaning that it will provide full-time care to children at various stages of their illness, giving family members a chance to catch up on life outside of medical settings. ... “What we have found is that the design has to find balance between two potentially conflicting concepts – respite and hospice,” said Dr. Patrick M. Jones of Dell Children's Medical Center in a press release. He's the section chief of pediatric palliative care.

Hospices facilities launch, renovate with growth in mind: Julia Hospice & Palliative refuels de novo plans Hospice News; by Holly Vossel; 8/23/24 Pennsylvania-based Julia Hospice & Palliative (JHPC) has reignited plans to launch a de novo after experiencing pandemic-related setbacks. Dubbed Julia House, the facility will provide inpatient hospice and serve as an outpatient palliative care clinic. It will be the first hospice center in Erie County, Pennsylvania, the provider indicated. The new location will allow for improved support for serious and terminally ill patients that lack caregiver support or need higher levels of care, said Dr. Christopher Strzalka, medical director at Julia Hospice & Palliative Care. “For people who don’t have a caregiver in their home, we can put them in our facility and they can live there until their natural death, and they’ll have access to specially trained caregivers in end-of-life care,” Strzalka told local news.

NPHI congratulates Dr. Steven Landers on his appointment as CEO of the NAHC-NHPCO AllianceNational Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation (NPHI); by Rom Koutsoumpas and Carole Fisher; 8/26/24 Senior leaders of the National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation, the national voice for nonprofit advanced illness care, shared the following statement regarding the appointment of Dr. Steven Landers as the inaugural CEO of the newly merged NAHC-NHPCO Alliance:

Dr. Joe Rotella, AAHPM: The importance of being human – Reflections of an aspiring medical humanist American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine; Event Details; retrieved from the internet 8/23/24The Importance of Being Human - Reflections of an Aspiring HumanistDate: September 17, 2024Time: 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm CTGrand Rounds free; Non-Members $49.00 USD

Hospice of the Ozarks introduces Care Coaching, a free non-medical support program KTLO.com; by KTLO staff; 8/22/24 Hospice of the Ozarks is offering a free Care Coaching service to provide an extra layer of support to patients with serious illness. The program aims to assist and encourage participants until recovery or end of life. Primarily designed as a call service, coaches will also visit with clients in person during the initial assessment period. Carol Jackson, care coach at Hospice of the Ozarks, says the service uses a three pronged approach. Jackson says the care provided is individualized for each client in order to serve them best. The Care Coaching service can also help patients with a wide variety of needs, such as medicine, insurance, transportation, food, in-home care, paperwork and follow-ups on doctor’s visits. Jackson gives examples of what she can do for her clients.

Granite VNA launches virtual nurse program Eagle Times, Concord, NH; by Eagle Times Staff; 8/22/24 Granite VNA recently introduced a virtual nurse program, connecting patients with skilled home and hospice care nurses through telephone and video calls. The virtual nurses complement the agency’s field nursing team by conducting regular check-ins with their patients, reinforcing education, addressing patients’ physical and mental health needs, supporting case management and more. Granite VNA currently has three virtual visiting nurses, two who specialize in home care and one who specializes in hospice care. Similar to the agency’s field nurses, the virtual visiting nurses see multiple patients each day. “Virtual visiting nurses play a crucial role in enhancing community health and providing support to Granite VNA’s home and hospice care field nurses,” said Granite VNA Vice President of Education and Quality Tammi Mozier, MBA, PT, ATC, COS-C. 

Transforming hospice care: The evolving role of medical directorsCHAPcast podcast; by Jennifer Kennedy, Daniel Maison; 8/21/24How have federal regulatory changes reshaped the role of hospice medical directors from mere formalities to key players in patient care and organizational leadership? Join Jennifer Kennedy and our esteemed guest, Dr. Daniel Maison, as we unpack the historical "three S's" and explore the significant transformations driven by CMS regulations. You'll gain valuable insights into the evolving responsibilities of hospice medical directors, highlighting their integral contributions to both operational and clinical aspects within hospice organizations.

Credit Unions of Maui raise $38,000 at annual golf tournament to benefit hospice Maui The Maui News; 8/21/24  The Credit Unions of Maui hosted their 9th Annual Charity Golf Tournamenton Aug. 10, 2024, at The Dunes at Maui Lani. This year’s annual event brought together 144 golfers and community supporters, resulting in a remarkable $38,000 raised to benefit Hospice Maui, a local nonprofit organization dedicated to providing compassionate end-of-life care for Maui residents. The tournament exceeded expectations, with participants enjoying a day of friendly competition, prizes, and philanthropy. The funds raised will directly support Hospice Maui’s mission to offer comprehensive hospice and palliative care, including medical services, emotional support, and grief counseling, to individuals and families in need.