NEW TOOL HELPS TRAIN DOCTORS ON END-OF-LIFE CONVERSATIONS University of Rochester researchers unveil SOPHIE, a virtual patient who could help train doctors in better explaining end-of-life options. SOPHIE is not a real patient, but a computer-generated avatar produced through the collaboration of computer scientists, palliative care specialists, and practicing oncologists. Their goal was to […]
PALLIATIVE CARE PAYMENT MODEL COMING SOON? “Palliative care payment model is on the not-so-distant horizon, advocates believe,” appears in McKnight’s Senior Living. NHPCO’s president and CEO, Edo Banach, told McKnight’s Home Care Daily that NHPCO “ began talks about a demonstration project in early 2020 with CMMI under the Trump administration, and those talks […]
CONSUMERS SAY HOSPICE COMMUNICATION WITH PATIENTS AND FAMILIES NEEDS IMPROVEMENT A recent survey of 300 family caregivers of hospice patients revealed that hospice communications are not meeting the needs of many caregivers. Only 43% of the family caregivers reported that they were “very satisfied” with the hospice providers in the areas of: “(1) communication […]
STUDY REVEALS BEREAVED FAMILIES ARE MORE LIKELY TO SAY LOVED ONES RECEIVED “TOO LITTLE” CARE RATHER THAN “TOO MUCH” CARE AT LIFE’S END There are sometimes concerns about patients receiving too much aggressive medical care as they are dying. A study in Journal of Palliative Care focused on examining next-of-kin perceptions about the medical […]
HOSPICE AND PALLIATIVE NURSES ASSOCIATION ISSUES POSITION STATEMENT ON MEDICAL CANNBIS Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association (HPNA), issued a new position statement on medical cannabis. The statement says “that palliative nurses should be familiar with the current literature about medical cannabis to facilitate effective communication about medical cannabis with patients and families.” This includes […]
THE TOLL OF CAREGIVING—AND LESSONS LEARNED– THROUGH THE EYES OF A GERITRICIAN Geriatrician Dr. Rebecca Elon, familiar with issues impacting aging people, has experienced a year like no other Her sister died, her husband died, and she took in her elderly mother who has dementia. This year has taken her, she says from talking about […]
NHPCO SURVEY FINDS HOSPICE PROVIDERS INTERESTED IN SUPPORTING NHPCO’S EFFORTS TO PROVIDE NEW RESOURCES NHPCO recently completed a survey focused on understand “how many of its members have already developed, or are interested in developing, medical group practices.” When hospices want to participate in new care models, says NHPCO, those who have a medical […]
ARTICLE EXPLORES FRAUD AND KICKBACKS IN CALIFORNIA HOSPICES Reform proposals are emerging in California that are focused on addressing “widespread fraud, kickbacks and other abuse in an industry meant to provide comforting care for the dying. . .” A bill being considered in the state Senate, if approved, would create a one-year moratorium on […]
ARTICLE EXAMINES THE PUSH TO EXPAND PALLIATIVE CARE A STATELINE article from Pew Charitable Trusts examines the push to expand the use of palliative care. “Long-Haul COVID Renews Push to Expand Palliative Care” explores the efforts of providers of palliative care, as well as medical organizations, in pushing for expansion of palliative care to […]
FEDERAL REGISTER PUBLISHES CMS PROPOSED RULE ON HOSPICE CMS published in Federal Register the proposed rule “Medicare Program; FY 2022 Hospice Wage Index and Payment Rate Update, Hospice Conditions of Participation Updates, Hospice and Home Health Quality Reporting Program Requirements.” The proposed rule addresses updates to hospice’s wage index, makes clarifications to the 2020 […]
RESEARCHERS EXAMINE THE ROLE OF SELF-COMPASSION IN CAREGIVERS AND PATIENTS For those working in and/or being served by hospice and palliative care, suffering is inevitable. Having the ability to offer compassion towards oneself is a resource, and helps to be certain “that needs are not neglected particularly during times of suffering. Self-compassion in hospice […]
WASHINGTON STATE SEEKING BEST PATHS FOR DEATH WITH DIGNITY ACT TO EVOLVE In 2008, when 30 of 39 Washington counties voted to approve the Death With Dignity Act, assisted dying became legal in the state. The last year for which data is available for utilization of the law is 2018. The data indicates that […]
MEDPAC RELEASES MARCH 2021 REPORT TO CONGRESS ON MEDICARE PAYMENT ISSUES On March 15, MedPAC released its annual March report to Congress. Overall, the report calls for increases for two provider systems — hospitals and long-term care hospitals. The report calls for zero payment increases for physicians, ambulatory surgical centers, outpatient dialysis providers, skilled […]
COVID-19 RELIEF BILL MAKES IMPORTANT PROVISIONS FOR SERIOUSLY ILL PATIENTS The Coalition to Transform Advanced Care (CTAC) posted “Congress Passes COVID-19 Relief with Important Serious Illness Provisions.” The article reviews the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, “the latest round of COVID-19 relief legislation which includes several key provisions affecting people with serious illness […]
DEATH DOULAS AND HOSPICES CAN SERVE PATIENTS SIMULTANEOUSLY “Meeting People at the End: Embracing the role of the death doula for your hospice patients” appears in the March issues of HomeCare. The author describes the role of a death doula, elaborates on the services a doula provides—to patient and family, and explores why hospice […]
EXPLORING ATTITUDES ABOUT DEATH AND END-OF-LIFE EXPERIENCES Several recent articles explore the nature of death, how it is viewed and experienced, and how our attitudes about death and near-death experiences impact us. Each article addresses death from a different perspective and each brings issues and ideas for consideration. Next Avenue recently published “How […]
REVIEWING THE STATE OF HOSPICE AND PALLIATIVE CARE: NHPCO’S STUDY OUTCOMES & DR. DIANE MEIER’S PERSPECTIVE NHPCO Newsline’s Winter Issue examines the state of palliative care offerings of hospice providers. The article, written by Lori Bishop, shares findings of NHPCO’s 2020 survey, and action ideas for moving forward. The survey found that 69% of […]
WITH DYING PATIENTS, FOCUS ON PATIENTS’ GOALS IN CARE, BEING HONEST AND BEING GENTLE -– NOT SPECIFIC MEDICAL INTERVENTIONS: ENCOURAGE HOSPICE AND PALLIATIVE CARE In “The Magic Words: Turning Despair Into Hope,” physician Ian Jenkins begins his thoughts on “how doctors should talk about the end of life” with their patients. In this article […]
LEADINGAGE, VNAA, AND ELEVATINGHOME FORM PARTNERSHIP LeadingAge has more “than 5,000 nonprofit aging services providers and other mission-minded organizations” that work together “to make America a better place to grow old. VNAA, also a nonprofit organization, works to advance “quality, value and innovation in home-based care.” ElevatingHOME is “an offshoot” of VNAA. A year […]
ABIDE BY END-OF-LIFE ORDERS OR FACE LAW SUITS Especially since the beginning of the pandemic, more Americans are taking seriously the need and desire to specify their end-of-life medical care wishes. But, asks an article in New York Times, “are medical providers listening?” The author is Paula Span, columnist for New York Times’ series, […]