September, 2023

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Miscommunication in Medicine: A podcast with Shunichi Nakagawa, Abby Rosenberg and Don Sullivan

GeriPal

Summary Transcript Summary Medical communication is tough, although fundamentally at its most basic unit of delivery, it includes really only three steps. First, a clinician’s thoughts must be encoded into words, then transmitted often via sounds, and finally decoded back to thoughts by a patient or family member. Simple, right? Not so much, as each one of these steps is fraught with miscommunication.

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Hospice Providers Increasingly Using Bereavement Support as Employee-Retention Lever

Hospice News

Hospices competing for sparse staffing resources are increasingly recognizing the retention value of including grief care support in their benefits packages. Having bereavement services built into employee benefits packages has a two-pronged impact on hospice worker retention and recruitment, according to Betterleave CEO Cara McCarty Abbott. Employees that have access to grief support services are more likely to remain at a hospice organization for longer periods of time, as well as refer their

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Behind the Scenes: Life as a Body Removal Attendant

Life & Death Matters

One of the people on the care team that is not often considered is the body removal attendant. After everyone in the family has said good-bye to the deceased person and rituals and traditions have been observed, a body removal attendant comes to a home, care facility or hospital to take the person into their […] The post Behind the Scenes: Life as a Body Removal Attendant appeared first on Life and Death Matters.

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Caregiver Self-Care: How to Release Worries and Stress Less

Sustainable Caregiving

A sign of caregiver stress is not being able to escape the worries. Worries flow through our caregiver river, creating unexpected waterfalls and intense rapids that sweep us away. Caregiving worries keep us up at night, disrupt our day, and wreak havoc with our well-being. The 12th Sustainable Caregiving Strategy that supports caregiver self-care is … Caregiver Self-Care: How to Release Worries and Stress Less Read More » The post Caregiver Self-Care: How to Release Worries and Stress Less

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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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“Make the most of every moment”: Neil’s story

HopeHealth

Neil was an inspiration in his life, and he still guides his family today. By sharing their experience with hospice, his family hopes he can guide others too. The post “Make the most of every moment”: Neil’s story appeared first on HopeHealth.

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Celebrate the value of physical therapy this October

Rehab Realities by Renee Kinder

Every October the industry celebrates National Physical Therapy Month (NPTM) to raise awareness with consumers about the many benefits of physical therapy. This focus allows all of us the opportunity to show appreciation to our PTs, PTAs and students for all they do to transform lives.

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Steward Health Exec to Replace Stephan Rodgers as AccentCare’s CEO

Hospice News

AccentCare CEO Steve Rodgers is stepping down, with Laura Tortorella, COO of Steward Health, lined up to succeed him. Rodgers became AccentCare’s top executive in 2012 after more than three years as the CEO of OptumHealth Collaborative Care. Optum is now a subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH). A major achievement during Rodgers’ tenure at the Dallas-based hospice, home health and palliative care provider was the company’s 2020 merger with Illinois-based Seasons Hospice & Palliative.

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Unravelling the Risk Factors in Alzheimer’s Disease

Life & Death Matters

World Alzheimer’s Month occurs in September – and is a month when people around the world unite to raise awareness about Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects the brain and leads to cognitive decline and memory loss[1]. The number of people living with dementia will likely triple by the year 2050!

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How well do we adult researchers really prepare ourselves to share power and control with children and young people in the context of patient and public involvement?

Evidence-Based Nursing - BMJ blogs

“This week’s blog post is written by Betul BAY, a PhD candidate with expertise in cancer pain management among children and young people at the University of Birmingham’s School of Nursing and Midwifery. Within this blog, she underscores the importance of further research aimed at establishing the most optimal levels of Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) to enhance the empowerment of children and young people (CYP).” @HOPPS_UOB How well do we adult resea

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Support for the dementia journey: 4 programs for patients and caregivers

HopeHealth

“I wish I had done this sooner.” We hear this a lot from dementia caregivers. They say it when they see their loved one’s face light up for a respite visitor. They say it when they learn a new way to soothe challenging behavior. They say it when they discover a community who truly understands Read More The post Support for the dementia journey: 4 programs for patients and caregivers appeared first on HopeHealth.

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Educating About Health Equity

Minority Nurse

Nursing has always held health equity as a critical value in many ways. Nurses strive to deliver the best care to all patients, independent of socioeconomic status, gender, race, or other factors. Health equity arguably gets even more attention than in the past. And that attention also occurs in nursing schools, where nurses are presented with the concept of health equity.

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Time for Geriatric Assessments in Cancer Care: William Dale, Mazie Tsang, and John Simmons

GeriPal

Summary Transcript Summary The comprehensive geriatric assessment is one of the cornerstones of geriatrics. But does the geriatric assessment do anything? Does it improve outcomes that patients, caregivers, and clinicians care about? Evidence has been mounting about the importance of the geriatric assessment for older adults with cancer, the subject of today’s podcast.

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‘Elegant, Expert Care’: The Emergence of Neuropalliative Services

Hospice News

People living with a neurological illness often face a long and painful road. Many neurological illnesses, such as dementia, Parkinson’s and Huntington’s, are progressive illnesses that come with a number of additional symptoms, from pain to depression. In recent years, more neurologists are realizing the need for specialized palliative care for this population.

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5 Ways an End-of-Life Doula Can Help Families Navigate the Journey

Life & Death Matters

Imagine that you have a loved one who is moving closer to death – it could be weeks, days, or hours. You don’t know. You are not certain of what is happening, and how long before the person dies. Or perhaps you are the only family member in town with the loved one, and have […] The post 5 Ways an End-of-Life Doula Can Help Families Navigate the Journey appeared first on Life and Death Matters.

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Evolution of School Nurses

Daily Nurse

It’s back to school time again, which means school nurses are preparing for the year ahead and the challenges and opportunities a new school year will bring. In recent years, the roles and responsibilities of school nurses have evolved. Traditionally, school nurses are tasked with administering first aid and caring for students’ physical health. Still, we are seeing demand for school nurses to manage a broader definition of wellness, including physical and mental health.

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What palliative care means for liver disease

HopeHealth

When you’re living with liver disease, extra support can make all the difference. That’s the idea behind palliative care. It’s an additional layer of care to help you navigate the unique challenges of your diagnosis. “We want to be sure that throughout the course of your illness, your symptoms are well managed and your quality Read More The post What palliative care means for liver disease appeared first on HopeHealth.

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Nursing Education: Pipeline to the Future

Minority Nurse

In the world of nursing, consistent rates of students graduating from nursing programs, becoming licensed, and successfully entering the workforce are critical to the long-term viability of the nursing profession and the healthcare system itself. As the true lifeblood of healthcare delivery, nurses are central to patient care, from long-term and public health to acute care and home health.

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Everything You Need to Know About Atrial Fibrillation (AFib)

Caring Senior Service

One health concern that often arises in seniors is atrial fibrillation, commonly known as AFib. This irregular heart rhythm condition or arrhythmia, can have significant implications for seniors' health and well-being. Let's dive into everything seniors and their families need to know about AFib, from its causes to treatment options.

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Hospices Ramping Up Caregiver Support

Hospice News

Hospice providers have made recent moves to boost family caregiver support as access to respite care and other resources lags. Massachusetts-based NVNA and Hospice is among these providers. The company recently launched a new support group for adult caregivers of oncology patients. The monthly community group is intended to provide resources and assistance for caregivers navigating the emotional impacts of helping a loved one with cancer.

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Why I Struggle with Orange Shirt Day

Life & Death Matters

I fully and wholeheartedly support September 30th – Orange Shirt Day – as the national day dedicated to truth and reconciliation in Canada. It’s an invitation and opportunity for every Canadian to publicly acknowledge and honour the thousands of Indigenous children who were forcibly removed from their families and communities and placed in residential schools. […] The post Why I Struggle with Orange Shirt Day appeared first on Life and Death Matters.

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Celebrating Hispanic Heritage and the Importance of Representation in Nursing

Diversity Nursing

Each year, from September 15th through October 15th, Americans honor and celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month. Hispanic Heritage Month is a month-long celebration where we recognize the histories, cultures, and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Hispanic or Latino Heritage. The celebration begins on September 15th because it marks the anniversary of when Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua gained independence.

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Kimberly McClintick Enhances School Health with Nebraska School Nurse Mentor Program

Daily Nurse

Kimberly McClintick, MSN, RN, the children’s school health coordinator at Children’s Hospital & Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska, embarked on a mission in 2018 to elevate the experience of school nurses across the state. Through surveys and conversations, she discovered a crucial need for mentors, particularly in rural communities, where school nurses often find themselves as the sole healthcare provider for an entire district.

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What Exactly is Workplace Culture Anyway? 

Minority Nurse

Every organization or workplace in healthcare or any other industry has a workplace culture , whether those working there are conscious of it or not. The best workplace cultures are consciously and proactively created by everyone involved, and the worst cultures exist without a shred of intention. But what exactly is workplace culture, and how do you know your organization’s culture?

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The Healing Power of Animals: Reducing Stress in Patients and Nursing Students

AJN Off the Charts

Nursing students are known to have high stress levels during their nursing programs. While many researchers have explored different coping mechanisms to help nursing students cope with their stress and anxiety, not many have looked at animal interventions. I am a huge fan of animal interventions after seeing their positive effects on patients (and staff) while I was working bedside in the hospital.

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How Four Questions Can Reduce Costs, Boost Hospice Utilization

Hospice News

A pilot program by an Accountable Care Organization (ACO) reduced per capita health care expenditures at a rural hospital by 70% and admissions by 98%. A key component of the initiative was a “Four Questions” framework for goals-of-care conversations. The Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation ran the project between 2011 and 2015 at 32 participating hospitals and health systems.

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Unravelling the New Risk Factors for Alzheimer’s Disease

Life & Death Matters

Alzheimer's disease is multi factorial - in that there are many factors that increase the likelihood of developing the disease. Some risk factors cannot be changed, and some can be changed. Let's look at the risk factors for developing Alzheimer's disease so that you can make adjustments to your lifestyle that can reduce your risk. The post Unravelling the New Risk Factors for Alzheimer’s Disease appeared first on Life and Death Matters.

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How to Care for a Dying Loved One | End-of-Life Care

Caring Senior Service

Caring for a dying loved one is undoubtedly one of the most challenging and emotionally charged experiences one can go through. It's a time when compassion, patience, and understanding are paramount. While it can be emotionally taxing, it can also be a deeply meaningful experience for you and your loved one.

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The rise and rise of the nursing apprentices.

Evidence-Based Nursing - BMJ blogs

This blog comes from Alwin Puthenpurakal, an experienced senior lecturer and researcher working at The University of Greenwich. He led University apprenticeship programmes since its inception and highly values the impact it has on widening social mobility and addressing the national workforce challenges. With almost two decades worth of clinical experience, he is an experienced senior nurse with an intensive care background who has worked on workforce transformation projects and has implemented

Nursing 106
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Contributing to the Profession: Why Nursing Education Matters

Minority Nurse

In today’s climate, nursing is everywhere. It’s in the news and social media, but the coverage is rarely positive. Nursing has been America’s most trusted profession for years, but COVID-19 changed the perception of nursing. No longer are nurses viewed as the safe harbor for patients who were battered by the winds and wrath of an industrial health care complex.

Nursing 105
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How the Public’s Perception of Nursing Impacts the Profession

Nurse.com

Nurses are intimately involved in the well-being and health of those in their community. It’s their duty to care for others physically, mentally, and emotionally. Because this care often relies on patient compliance, the public’s perception of nursing has significant impacts on the profession. History of nursing’s perception Stereotypes: Historically, nursing was considered a pink-collar profession — jobs traditionally done by women.

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The Role of Medicare Advantage in Growing Palliative Care Services

Hospice News

For the time being, Medicare Advantage may be providers’ best bet for palliative care reimbursement. The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) also allows Medicare Advantage plans to cover palliative care as a supplemental benefit. In addition, the agency has integrated palliative care components into the Value-Based Insurance Design Model (VBID), often called the Medicare Advantage hospice carve-in.

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Unseen Struggles: When the Pain of Chronic Illness Meets Disbelief

AJN Off the Charts

A friend’s desperation. Photo by Ben Blennerhassett on Unsplash It was early in the morning when I received a call from my best friend, who was crying and distraught. She frantically rattled off her symptoms: “My stomach is on fire, I can’t sleep, nothing is relieving the discomfort, and I’m in excruciating pain.” Although she’d been feeling discomfort for the previous two weeks, at first she’d thought the intensity of her current symptoms might be from food poisoni

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9 Food Safety Tips for Caregivers | Preventing Food-Borne Illness

Caring Senior Service

One important aspect of caring for a senior is ensuring their meals are not only nutritious but also safe to consume. Senior citizens are more vulnerable to food-borne illnesses because of weakened immune systems and underlying health conditions. By following proper food safety guidelines, caregivers can help prevent potential health risks and provide the best care possible.

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Infection Control and Prevention: 7 Dos & Don’ts of Surgical Attire

Daily Nurse

The awareness of medical professionals for infection control is high. But, the pandemic taught us that an even higher level of vigilance is to control and prevent infection, and disinfecting your scrubs is part of the challenge. One of the fronts of the war on infection is the sterile processing of scrub uniforms worn on the job. Surgical attire needs special attention to ensure that medical professionals are part of the solution and not part of the problem !

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SWAT RNs: Supporting Bedside Leaders with Clinical Judgment

Minority Nurse

SWAT RNs serve as expert consultants and mentors to nurses working as bedside leaders in various clinical settings. With clinical practice experience of five or more years in the areas of critical care, emergency nursing, and flight nursing, these nurses enjoy the adrenaline rush that comes with quickly assessing patients at risk for condition deterioration.

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Home Care Pulse Welcomes New CFO and CRO to Executive Leadership Team

Home Care Pulse

Article Contents: – Introduction – About Home Care Pulse Article Contents: About Home Care Pulse Share: We’re Home Care Pulse, a leading provider of experience management & surveys, caregiver/CNA training, and online reputation management. R EXBURG , ID , September 19 , 2023 – Home Care Pulse (HCP) , a leading provider of mission critical applications that support engagement and improve care for long term and post-acute care (LTPAC) organizations, is proud to announce the