Literature Review

Calvary Hospital doubles down on palliative care and hospice expansion Becker's Hospital Review; by Kelly Gooch; 3/24/25 Michael Fosina began serving as president of Calvary Hospital in New York City in January, bringing decades of healthcare experience to the role. ... Mr. Forsina told Becker’s he’s excited about Calvary’s mission as the organization celebrates its 125th anniversary. Recently, the hospital integrated services with its parent organization, ArchCare, the healthcare ministry of the Archdiocese of New York. Mr. Fosina shared his perspective on Calvary’s role in New York and its future in meeting patient needs. ... [Michael Fosina described:] "ArchCare has all of the components of post-acute care when you include our end-of-life hospital and our hospice program. The integration allows us to accept patients, move patients around, have them stay connected with the physician — the team physician. So the transitions of care are not as dramatic as if you’re going from one organization to the next organization." [Continue reading ...]

Hosparus Health hosts senior resource fair for community NBC WNKY News 40, Bowling Green, KY; by Noah Faerber; 3/18/25 Hosparus Health invited partners from the community to WKU’s Medical Science Complex for a senior resource summit. It offered seniors a chance to speak with different organizations that can help them prepare for their future. From Bowling Green Parks & Rec’s fitness department to different healthcare groups, staff were excited to have so many groups out to help look toward what’s next.

Mannford nursing home quickly evacuated seniors as wildfire neared2 News Oklahoma, Mannford, OK; by Douglas Braff; 3/15/25Our crews have seen selflessness on full display in Mannford after March 14’s wildfires. ... As the wildfire was approaching nearby neighborhoods, staff at Cimarron Point Care Center in Mannford had to act quickly to get the 44 seniors living there out of harm’s way. “There are lots of things that need to be done, and it takes a lot of teamwork,” Frank Sullivan [the owner of CPCC] pointed out. ... Luckily, he said local authorities gave him an early heads up so the nursing home would have time. ... While most residents were transported by school bus, he noted, “Several had to be transported by ambulances. Some of 'em are on hospice ... and their condition is dire.”

Healing spaces: The art of hospital architecture The Daily Utah Chronicle; by Isra Habib; 3/13/25 In the 20th century, architects designed hospitals as stark and functional structures with long hallways, sterile walls and fluorescent lighting that prioritized efficiency yet provided little comfort. These spaces, designed for practicality, often neglected the emotional and psychological needs of patients and their families. Today, however, architects are redesigning hospitals to heal both body and mind. They aim to transform the intimidating experience of being in a hospital into one that is comforting and supportive.

Mid-Ohio Valley emergency rooms ask for breathing room as respiratory illnesses flare up The Parkersburg News and Sentinel, Marietta, OH; by Staff Reports; 3/11/25 As flu, COVID and other respiratory illnesses increase, Memorial Health System is advising people to take preventive measures, prioritize rest at home or seek medical attention elsewhere before heading to an emergency department. "When needed, seeking care through a primary care provider or at a Physicians Care Express location can help ensure timely treatment and help keep emergency departments available for those in urgent, life-saving situations,” according to a release from the Health System. ... Emergency care should be sought for respiratory illnesses if people experience the following:

The rising importance of social workers on the home health team Home Health Care News; by Audrie Martin; 3/10/25 Addressing social determinants of health (SDoH) is becoming increasingly important due to new regulations from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the shift toward value-based care payment models. With ongoing staffing shortages and a growing demand for home-based care services, social workers are taking on greater responsibilities to support the health care system. ... Individuals requiring home health care often need complex support that addresses both their medical and psychosocial needs, especially if they are isolated from typical social interactions and services. Some home care teams are now integrating home health social workers (HHCSWs) to provide a comprehensive approach to care that considers these SDoHs.Ediotor's note: March is National Social Work Month. Click here for National Association of Social Worker's (NASW) Social Media Toolkit for Social Work 2025.

Poised for growth, Missouri’s largest aging services nonprofit changes name: Lutheran Senior Services is now EverTrue St. Louis Business Journal; by Jackie Hamilton, VP of Advancement, EverTrue; 3/7/25 One of the oldest nonprofit agencies in the St. Louis region is changing its name to reflect a dynamic change and growth in desired services and offerings for those 60 plus. Beginning this week, the 165-year-old Lutheran Senior Services (LSS) organization, which also is the 11th largest nonprofit senior living provider in the country, will be known as EverTrue. “It’s a transformative moment for the organization,” said Adam Marles, president and CEO of EverTrue. “From right here in St. Louis, we’re leading the country in aging services. In this next chapter, we needed a name and a brand that positioned us for future growth and opportunities, while still being true to our mission.” 

The twofold challenge of an older population — and how systems are adapting Becker's Hospital Review; by Kelly Gooch and Kristin Kuchno; 2/21/25 In less than a decade, older Americans are projected to outnumber children for the first time in U.S. history, sparking conversations about the need for age-friendly healthcare.  At the same time, declining birth rates and longer life expectancies — half of babies born in 2020 are expected to live past 100 years — pose potential workforce challenges. Becker's connected with four health system leaders to explore the challenges this demographic shift presents and how they are preparing to address it. [Click on the title's link to continue reading.]

Providence, Compassus finalize home health joint venture HomeCare, Renton, WA and Brentwood, TN; 3/5/25Providence, a nonprofit health system serving the Western U.S., and Compassus, a national provider of integrated home-based care services, announced they have finalized the first phase of a joint venture for home health, hospice and community-based palliative care in Alaska, Texas and Washington. The new entity will operate under the name Providence at Home with Compassus. In Lubbock, Texas, the Covenant Health hospice program that is part of the Providence family of organizations will be rebranded as Covenant Health at Home with Compassus. Under the agreement, Compassus will manage operations for the joint venture, which will include six home health locations in Alaska and Washington, and five hospice and palliative care locations in Alaska, Texas and Washington.

Humana selects Thyme Care for oncology services MociHealthNews and HIMSS Media; by Anthony Vecchione; 3/3/25 Humana has unveiled an agreement with value-based cancer care platform Thyme Care with the aim of providing oncology support for its Medicare Advantage (MA) members. The agreement impacts MA members who reside in Michigan, New York, Illinois, Indiana, Tennessee, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Eligible Humana members will have access to Thyme Care’s services, which include 24/7 virtual care navigation. Additionally, patients will be connected to a care team made up of oncology nurses, nurse practitioners, social workers and resource specialists. Thyme Care's team will provide medication guidance, urgent care support, chronic condition management and palliative care support.

Breaking bad news: Guidance on disclosing a dementia diagnosis Medscape; by Megan Brooks; 3/3/25 As biomarker testing for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) evolves, timely and compassionate disclosure of a diagnosis is more complex than ever. Yet, clinicians may struggle with how — or in some cases whether — to disclose that a patient has mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia. A recent perspective offers a practical roadmap to help clinicians navigate these challenging conversations. The authors from the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, noted that disclosure of a dementia diagnosis “is particularly nuanced and requires a conscientious approach. Clinicians must assess patients’ understanding and appreciation of symptoms, goals for the evaluation, and desire for information.” 

Bayada Home Health Care introduces first Director of Veterans Affairs HomeCare, Pennsauken Township, NJ; 2/28/25  As part of its ongoing commitment to U.S. veterans and their families, BAYADA announced the appointment of U.S. Army Veteran Ally O’Neal to director of Veterans Affairs, BAYADA Hospice. BAYADA created this new position, with the help of O’Neal, to ensure its hospice services are tailored to meet the unique physical, emotional and psychological needs of veterans and their families. As BAYADA director of Veterans Affairs, O’Neal will work collaboratively with clinicians, clinical educators, service providers, community organizations and veteran service agencies to enhance the quality of care and support provided to veteran patients and their families, something dear to O’Neal's heart. 

Hospitals may buckle under 'tsunami' of patients Modern Healthcare; by Alex Kacik; 2/25/25 Health systems are treating sicker patients, straining already full emergency departments and inpatient units. Many health systems are struggling to keep up with the increasingly complex healthcare needs of an aging population, leading to overcrowded emergency rooms and delays in care. Providers are ramping up strategies to treat patients more efficiently and keep those who aren't as sick out of emergency departments. These strategies are critical as capacity wanes and providers face a potential decline in federal healthcare funding, executives said. Health systems are revamping patient admission and discharge processes; bolstering virtual, home and urgent care offerings; expanding clinician recruitment efforts and adding observation beds. But providers are concerned they won't be able to act quickly enough to meet the growing demand for care.