March, 2023

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Is Hospice Losing Its Way: A Podcast with Ira Byock and Joseph Shega

GeriPal

Summary Transcript Summary In November of 2022, Ava Kofman published a piece in the New Yorker titled “How Hospice Became a For-Profit Hustle.” Some viewed this piece as an affront to the amazing work hospice does for those approaching the end of their lives by cherry picking stories of a few bad actors to paint hospice is a bad light. For others, this piece, while painful to read, gave voice to what they have been feeling over the last decade – hospice has in some ways lost its way in a

Hospice 220
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Longer Hospice Stays Lead to Larger Medicare Cost Savings

Hospice News

Despite years of scrutiny over the duration of hospice care, new data show that longer stays reduce health care costs in the last year of life by as much as 11%. All told, hospice care — regardless of length of stay — saves Medicare approximately $3.5 billion for patients in their last year of life, a 3.1% reduction. But those with stays of six months or more yielded the highest percentage of savings.

Medicare 342
professionals

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A safe space, a trusted resource: Meet a hospice social worker

HopeHealth

Social workers provide everything from emotional support to help with community and financial resources. Here’s how they fit into a hospice team. The post A safe space, a trusted resource: Meet a hospice social worker appeared first on HopeHealth.

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AlayaCare Delivers 172 percent ROI for North Country Home Services with 8.4 Month Payback

AlayaCare

Key findings in Nucleus Research report from North Country Home Services (NY) reveal 95 percent improvement in accounts-receivable collection, proving that for every dollar invested in AlayaCare, agency realizes $2.50 payback Standout ROI Results: 172 percent ROI 95 percent visit completion Investment payback in 8.4 months $2.50 payback to $1 dollar invested in AlayaCare MONTREAL, CANADA —21 st March 2023— AlayaCare , an end-to-end home and community-based care platform, today published a report

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The Ultimate Guide to Improving Caregiver Engagement & Retention

Want to learn how to retain your caregivers & improve caregiver retention X3? The home care industry is experiencing turnover rates of over 80%. How are you ensuring your agency is retaining caregivers? This FREE eBook from Smartcare Software is packed with industry secrets needed to keep your caregivers happy, engaged, and retained, unlocking the full potential of your agency.

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Four Skills You’ll Need When Supporting a Person Exploring MAID

Life & Death Matters

There are very few issues in healthcare right now that generate stronger emotions than MAID – Medical Assistance in Dying. In June 2016, MAID became legal in Canada. Since then, some of the people who met the criteria for MAID have chosen to die with MAID. As people become aware of MAID, they may explore […] The post Four Skills You’ll Need When Supporting a Person Exploring MAID appeared first on Life and Death Matters.

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Celebrating the Value of Specialty Nursing Certification on Certified Nurses Day 

Daily Nurse

AACN joins hospitals and healthcare organizations in recognizing certified nurses for their professionalism, leadership, and commitment to excellence in the care of patients and families as part of Certified Nurses Day , Sunday, March 19. As healthcare becomes increasingly complex and challenging, nursing certification has become an essential mark of excellence.

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RAND Corp.: Families Report Better Care from Nonprofit Hospices

Hospice News

The families of patients who received care from nonprofit hospices give their providers higher marks on quality than those who went with for-profits, a RAND Corp. study has found. RAND researchers analyzed Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) Survey data from 653,208 caregivers whose family members received care from 3,107 hospices between April 2017 and March 2019.

2017 339
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“This work has changed me”: Q&A with HopeHealth’s chief medical officer

HopeHealth

In his 35 years at HopeHealth, Chief Medical Officer Edward W. Martin, MD, has changed this organization. And in return, it’s changed him. In this Q&A, he shares how. The post “This work has changed me”: Q&A with HopeHealth’s chief medical officer appeared first on HopeHealth.

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5 tips to increase continuity of care in home care [free care plan worksheet]

AlayaCare

Increasing continuity of care in home care is an important step in providing quality service to your clients. It is one of the 3 ways to improve care management in home care that we covered in our blog recently. Continuity of care also allows for a better understanding of your client’s condition and needs over time, allowing for more effective treatments and improved outcomes.

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Access to Abortion Medications: Why Should Nurses Care?

AJN Off the Charts

She sat in my office, tissue in hand, tears rolling down her cheeks as she tried to process the news I’d just confirmed: she was pregnant, and really, really needed to not be. She was living in her brother’s small house, her seven-year-old son with her, sleeping on a sofa while trying to put her life back together after a divorce. She had chronic kidney disease, and had been told that another pregnancy could cause kidney failure.

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Kim Ellis, the Diabetes NP, on Diabetes Awareness

Minority Nurse

Diabetes Alert Day was introduced in 1988 and for decades has helped raise awareness about diabetes this significant medical condition. During her early years as a nurse, Kim Ellis MSN, FNP-C, CDCES and founder of Ellis Diabetes Education & Consulting, LLC , discovered there was a big need for diabetes information in the communities she served, so she focused her specialty in helping folks with the condition and sharing education.

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Gabapentinoids – Gabapentin and Pregabalin: Tasce Bongiovanni, Donovan Maust and Nisha Iyer

GeriPal

Summary Transcript Summary Gabapentin is the 10th most prescribed drug in the United States and use is increasing. In 2002, 1% of adults were taking gabapentinoids (gabapentin and or pregabalin). By 2015 that number increased to 4% of US adults. There are a lot of reasons that may explain the massive increase in use of these drugs. One thing is clear, it is not because people are using it for FDA approved indications.

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CMS Extends Hospice VBID Through 2030

Hospice News

The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is extending the value-based insurance design demonstration for calendar years 2025 to 2030, including the hospice component. The hospice component of VBID, also called the MA carve-in, launched in 2021 and was originally slated to complete after four years. Each year, elements of the program have gone through planned changes, and that will continue through the extension.

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Checklist: What to look for in a hospice provider

HopeHealth

Choosing a hospice provider can feel like an overwhelming decision. Here’s a list of what to ask about, based on recommendations from Consumer Reports and caregiver experience surveys from not-for-profit status to 24/7 crisis response. The post Checklist: What to look for in a hospice provider appeared first on HopeHealth.

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3 Ways HCBS can prepare for an increased demand 

AlayaCare

President Biden’s announcement of a $150 billion pledge to home and community-based services (HCBS) has been met with widespread approval from advocates and organizations that serve the elderly and individuals with disabilities. This new budget signals a major shift in how healthcare is delivered, with much greater emphasis on home-based care over institutional care.

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Relaxing: An Undervalued Skill as a Nurse

AJN Off the Charts

Image copyright Tanya Parker Taking the art of collage seriously. I recently attended an art workshop at the Biggs Museum of American Art led by artist Melissa Sutherland Moss , whose work is currently on exhibit there. The award-winning artist shared her process and guided participants in creating collage art based on the themes of self-identify and reflection.

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A Day in the Life: Physical Rehabilitation Nurse

Daily Nurse

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to work as a nurse in physical rehabilitation ? Here are the basics that you need to know. Adam Francis, MSN, RN, Director of Nursing at Brooks Rehabilitation Hospital – Bartram Campus , took time to answer our questions. Adam Francis, MSN, RN, is the Director of Nursing at Brooks Rehabilitation Hospital – Bartram Campus.

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Psychedelics – reasons for caution: Stacy Fischer, Brian Anderson, Theora Cimino

GeriPal

Summary Transcript Summary Psychedelics are having a moment. Enthusiasm is brimming. Legalization is moving forward in several states , following the lead of Oregon and Colorado. FDA is considering approval, shifting away from Schedule I restrictions, paving the way for use in clinical practice. Potential use in palliative care , chronic pain , and for mood disorders is tantalizing.

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Prospero Health to Merge with Landmark within UnitedHealth Group’s Optum

Hospice News

After quietly being acquired by Optum toward the beginning of last year, home-based care provider Prospero Health is merging with Landmark Health. The two companies are under the ownership of UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) subsidiary Optum. Landmark reportedly joined Optum at the beginning of 2021. Both Landmark and Prospero are major palliative care providers in addition to their other medical services.

2019 306
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From a dementia caregiver: 10 tips for self-care

HopeHealth

When you’re caring for a loved one with dementia, how can you also find energy to take care of yourself? A dementia caregiver shares tips and examples. The post From a dementia caregiver: 10 tips for self-care appeared first on HopeHealth.

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5 ways AI and advanced algorithms are optimizing scheduling for home care agencies 

AlayaCare

The home care industry is currently facing several challenges due to the increasing demand for services and the rising costs of providing care. Increasing aging populations, labor shortages, technological advances, and regulatory changes have all contributed to more complex operations. At the same time, home care agencies must handle a rising number of patients with increasingly complex medical conditions that require customized treatments.

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Women’s History Month 2023: Telling Our (Nursing) Stories

AJN Off the Charts

The National Women’s History Alliance organizes Women’s History Month each March. This year, the theme, “Celebrating Women Who Tell Our Stories,” was picked to draw attention to “women in every community who have devoted their lives and talents to producing art, pursuing truth, and reflecting the human condition decade after decade.” To this end, the organization has been highlighting such literary notables as Maya Angelou, Toni Morrison, Gloria Steinem, and Willa Cather, among others.

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Trees Not Tombstones: Remembering Loved Ones Outside

Solace

While fewer people are choosing traditional burial in cemeteries, families often still want a place to visit — or the feeling of pride that comes with stewardship — as a reminder of their loved one. For many, nature provides the perfect setting. Public green spaces are a great place to honor memories with a plaque, bench, tree or donation that honors a loved one.

2020 105
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Everyday challenges of being a nurse team leader: “Do you have two minutes?”

Evidence-Based Nursing - BMJ blogs

Blog by Jo McVey (Lecturer of Mental Health Nursing) at Glasgow Caledonian University. Being a N urse Team Leader in Older Adult Community Mental Health Services is three-fold: there is the management of staff, the management of a caseload of patients, and the management of a service. The advice given is “be prepared and be organised,” however, the reality is that we must be prepared to be unprepared.

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Congress Grills HHS Secretary on Response to Hospice Fraud

Hospice News

On the matter of hospice program integrity, policymakers have many questions and few answers. U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra appeared yesterday on Capitol Hill for a hearing on President Biden’s proposed federal budget, during which several Congress members raised the issue of hospice fraud. The key issue in these discussions is a proliferation of newly licensed hospice operators in multiple states, some of which have been associated with suspicious or unethical practic

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What palliative care means for COPD and other lung diseases

HopeHealth

For people living with a lung disease like COPD, palliative care means extra support for symptoms, and crucial information for the road ahead. The post What palliative care means for COPD and other lung diseases appeared first on HopeHealth.

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How the budget pledge is improving access to quality, affordable health care

AlayaCare

President Biden’s announcement of a $150 billion pledge to home and community-based services (HCBS) has been met with widespread approval from advocates and organizations that serve the elderly and individuals with disabilities. This new budget signals a major shift in how healthcare is delivered, with much greater emphasis on home-based care over institutional care. “We are thrilled to see the White House’s commitment to homecare in the United States with an unprecedented $150 billi

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Why Diversity In Healthcare Makes a Difference When Treating Patient Pain

Minority Nurse

The fundamental mission of every healthcare provider is to first do no harm. Unfortunately, however, for far too long systemic inequities in the healthcare system have perpetrated and perpetuated harm. Both implicit and explicit biases have strongly determined healthcare processes, including informing how patient pain is understood, diagnosed, and treated.

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It’s OK To Say No To Protect Your Mental Health

Nurse.com

At times, the lines between our personal and professional lives can become blurred — especially in nursing. When you think of your role as a nurse, terms such as “compassionate and “committed” may come to mind. And while these words capture your identity as a nurse, it’s important to define who you are separately from your workplace. Setting boundaries at work can be uncomfortable and even scary.

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Nurse’s Side Gig: Stand-up Comedian

Daily Nurse

Laughter is the best medicine, especially when being a stand-up comedian is a nursing side gig that helps nurses deal with the profession’s stress. Just ask Kelli Dunham RN BSN, Community School Director of NYC Public Schools. Dunham has been performing comedy as a nurse for 25 years.

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Hospice Length of Stay: Balancing Patient Needs Against Regulatory Compliance

Hospice News

Though evidence shows that longer hospice stays reduce costs, providers are still walking a regulatory tightrope. On one hand, longer hospice stays can lead to improved patient and family satisfaction and greater cost saving opportunities. On the other hand, regulators often treat stays longer than six months or frequent recertifications to be red flags that signal malfeasance.

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How to Reduce Patient abuse by Warning Others Early

Healthy Workforce Institute

Workplace violence is on the rise. Globally, every hour, two nurses are assaulted by a patient at work. And that number is based on the reported incidents. As we already know, workplace violence is highly underreported. Therefore, healthcare organizations have an ethical responsibility to their employees to keep them as safe as they can by making sure they are warned early of potential violence.

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Leveraging the Power of Automation in Specialty Pharmacy 

AlayaCare

Patients are paying more of their healthcare costs every day and providers need to examine their patient experience to determine how it is impacting their revenue. Automation can be a powerful tool for specialty pharmacy and home infusion businesses to create a more efficient and enjoyable experience for both staff and patients. Automated scheduling and appointment reminders, electronic medical records and automated documentation, inventory management systems, patient engagement tools, and billi

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Doctorate Research: Funding Difficulties and the Creation of Change

Evidence-Based Nursing - BMJ blogs

By Dr. Nicola Dunlop RGN PhD @NicolaDunlop13 Prior to Covid 19 researchers were not usually considered change leaders but that is exactly what I achieved with this study. As an expert practitioner in the fields of Benign Essential Blepharospasm (BEB) I felt compelled to respond to investigate and reorganise care and treatment. The condition BEB causes bilateral eyelid muscular contractions, intermittent blinking and or sustained closure of the eye that can be disabling (DeFazio, 2017) in the mai

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Traditions Health of Houston Awarded Hospice Accreditation from The Joint Commission

Traditions Health

Traditions Health of Houston Awarded Hospice Accreditation from The Joint Commission Nashville, TN – Traditions Health of Houston has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for Hospice Accreditation by demonstrating continuous compliance with its performance standards. This is the fifteenth hospice branch of Traditions Health that has been awarded Joint Commission Accreditation.

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Racism and Other Forms of Bias are a Threat to Safe Patient Care

Daily Nurse

Many people, including nurses, carry some bias, whether it is recognized by the individual or not. One study in the March issue of the Journal of Emergency Nursing sought to explore that more in-depth. Through the study “ The Experiences of United States Emergency Nurses Related to Witnessed and Experienced Bias ,” researchers sought a broad view of the knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and lived experiences of ED nurses and their associated implicit and explicit biases.