Sat.Jun 24, 2023 - Fri.Jun 30, 2023

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6 Ways EHR systems impact home care agencies 

AlayaCare

Tech advancements continue to revolutionize how client data is stored, accessed, and utilized in the home care industry. Electronic Health Records (EHR) have emerged as a game-changer, streamlining operations and improving client outcomes. In this blog, we explore how EHR systems can empower home care agencies, unleashing a wave of operational efficiency and enhancing the quality of care provided to clients in the comfort of their homes. 1.

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How Can I Assist An Elderly Person with Maintaining a Social Life and Participating in Community Activities?

Seasons Hospice

As our loved ones age, it’s important to recognize the impact that social interaction and community activities can have on their overall well-being. Maintaining a social life and participating in community activities can help seniors stay mentally, emotionally, and physically active. In this blog post, we will explore various ways you can assist an elderly person in maintaining a vibrant social life and actively participating in community activities.

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CMMI Analysis: Palliative Care Reduces Medicare Costs, Improve Patient Satisfaction

Hospice News

When deployed at scale, palliative care can help achieve many of the health care systems current goals, including reduced costs, improved patient satisfaction and quality of life. Despite this potential, existing programs hit barriers created by misconceptions about palliative care among referring physicians, as well as health equity concerns, among others, according to an analysts of four payment model demonstrations carried out by the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation.

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Big data: How does it affect my home care agency?

AlayaCare

Technology is continuously evolving, and new tools are presented to help advance various industries and improve processes. One of the most used technology buzzword affecting the healthcare industry today is “Big Data.” Big data is being talked about more and is all the rage in the technology world, but what does it mean for home healthcare? Healthcare providers are adapting to new technologies such as electronic health records (EHRs), which allow them to gather these “extremely large data sets”

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The Evolution of Communication in Healthcare Settings

Healthcare communication has evolved from handwritten notes and paper charts to digital tools like EHRs, telemedicine, and AI-powered platforms. This blog explores how these advancements improve patient outcomes, streamline care delivery, and enhance provider collaboration. Learn about the role of mobile health (mHealth) apps, secure messaging, and social media in bridging communication gaps.

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How Gender-Affirming Care Bans Could Impact Hospice Access, Utilization

Hospice News

Hospice providers are growing increasingly concerned about how state laws related to transgender rights may impede access to their services among LGBTQ+ communities. A rash of states have recently passed legislation to ban the delivery of gender-affirming health care, including Idaho, Indiana, Mississippi and Tennessee, among others. What’s happening in these states has caused mounting concern around access to quality hospice care for LGBTQ+ individuals, according to Kimberly Acquaviva, social w

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How Is Dignity Maintained In End-Of-Life Care?

Seasons Hospice

Dignity Is Everything In end-of-life care, maintaining dignity is of utmost importance. It involves honoring individuals’ inherent worth and value, even during their final stages of life. In end-of-life care, preserving dignity is incredibly important. The end-of-life phase is a delicate and sensitive time for individuals, and ensuring that their dignity is maintained becomes paramount.

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Communicating with Seniors who Have Dementia

Caring Senior Service

Effective communication is essential in maintaining meaningful relationships with seniors living with Alzheimer's or related dementias. As your loved one's cognitive abilities decline, connecting with them can become increasingly challenging. However, by employing the right strategies and approaches, you can create an atmosphere of understanding, support, and connection.

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Certificate of Need Laws May Influence Hospice Quality Outcomes

Hospice News

Links exist between state certificate of need (CON) laws and hospice quality outcomes, researchers recently found. Roughly 86% of all hospices nationwide provide services in states that do not have certificate of need (CON) regulations in place, according to research from the American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine. The remaining 14% of hospices in states with a CON provision in place had a higher unadjusted mean Hospice Item Set (HIS) quality score for all measures than those that d

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Lack of Staff, Guidelines Build Hurdles for Hospice Bereavement Care Programs

Hospice News

Hospices often lack the financial and staffing resources needed to fully support bereaved families. As with nursing, the industry-wide labor shortage has impacted bereavement care, which is an underfunded service, according to Dr. Dawn Gross, palliative care physician at University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) Health. Gross is also a medical director at ANX Hospice Care.

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Hospice in Prison Part 2: An interview with the Pastoral Care Workers

GeriPal

Summary Transcript Summary I don’t know ’bout religion I only know what I see And in the end when I hold their hand It’s both of us set free These are the ending lyrics to Bonnie Raitt’s song “Down the Hall”, an ode to the Pastoral Care Workers who care for their fellow inmates in the hospice unit at the California Medical Facility in Vacaville, California.

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3 Reasons to Retire Pagers from Healthcare Settings

Let's discuss the trusty pager—an old favorite that’s losing its shine in hospitals and clinics. While once a staple in hospitals and clinics, pagers now present significant limitations that hinder rather than facilitate communication among healthcare professionals. Healthcare professionals are constantly on the move, and they need communication tools that can keep up with their fast-paced lives.

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Keeping Older Adults Safe in the Heat

Aging Life Care Association

Summer is in full swing in the Northern Hemisphere. Weather extremes are increasing, with hotter temps a concern for large swathes of the U.S. At the same time, the U.S. population is older than ever before and there are safety measures to keep in mind when we venture outdoors. It’s important to take precautions when … Continue reading Keeping Older Adults Safe in the Heat → The post Keeping Older Adults Safe in the Heat appeared first on Aging Life Care Association.

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Caregiver Employee Empowerment

Sustainable Caregiving

Are you an employee who feels unsupported in the workplace as a caregiver? Are you an employer who would like to support the caregivers on your team? You may be wondering why caregiver empowerment is essential. Family caregiving responsibilities can be demanding and time-consuming. Supporting family caregivers in the workplace can positively impact their overall … Caregiver Employee Empowerment Read More » The post Caregiver Employee Empowerment appeared first on Sustainable Caregiving™.

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How Nonprofit Palliative Care Providers Are Raising Philanthropic Dollars

Hospice News

Raising philanthropic funding is often vital to nonprofit palliative care providers. But to attract donors, operators must be prepared to communicate their value proposition, according to Steve Cone, chief communications officer at Capital Caring Health. “It’s key to point out that palliative care is better for everybody, the patient, the family and payers,” Cone told Hospice News.

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Healthy Work Environments Are Essential

Daily Nurse

It is well known that many U.S. healthcare organizations face a significant nurse staffing challenge, and as leaders and administrators seek solutions, we must emphasize an essential element of nurse recruitment and retention — establishing and sustaining healthy work environments (HWEs). The most recent “ National Nurse Work Environments” study , conducted in 2021 by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN), shows that the health of nurse work environments across the country has

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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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Heat Safety Tips for Families Affected by Dementia

Today's Caregiver

With heat indexes well over 100 degrees creating dangerous conditions for millions of Americans during a prolonged heat wave, AFA is providing important tips to help caregivers keep their loved ones living with dementia

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Meet Our Newest Freedom Employees

Freedom Home Care and Medical Staffing

Meet Lisa Shenkman Human Resources – Recruiting/On Boarding Specialist Please join us in welcoming Lisa Shenkman to the Freedom Home Care team! Before joining Freedom Home Care, Lisa worked in the industry as a Private Duty Staffing Coordinator for 15 years. Prior to this, she was in healthcare administration for over 20 years, wearing many different hats having started her career as a certified nursing assistant.

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A Palliative Care CMMI Demo Could Ignite Competition for Hospices

Hospice News

New legislation is leading some hospices to consider what a potential community-based palliative care payment demo would mean for them — as well as what it would look like. Four U.S. senators recently introduced a bipartisan bill that, if enacted, would steer the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) to develop a palliative care-specific payment model demonstration.

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Meet Diane Keinanen, Registered Nurse and Transgender Woman

Daily Nurse

Diane Keinanen , a registered nurse of 32 years in Duluth, Minnesota, is a transgender woman who started her transition journey four years ago. Since then, she’s proudly expressed her identity and life post-transition through motivational photos and videos on her social media on her challenges and moments of joy through bike rides, confessions about her family, and what brings her inspiration today.

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The Role of Technology in Remote Patient Monitoring

Remote patient monitoring (RPM) is transforming healthcare by enabling providers to track patient health outside traditional clinical settings. This blog explores the role of technology in RPM, including wearable devices, mobile apps, and connected medical tools that collect and share real-time data. Discover how RPM expands care access, improves outcomes, enhances patient engagement, and reduces costs by shifting from reactive to proactive care.

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28 Years and Counting…

Today's Caregiver

Twenty-eight years ago, next week (or, if you'd rather, 245,472 hours, 14,728,320 minutes or 883,699,200 seconds ago) on a rainy Fourth of July, I drove a rental truck to a local magazine printer's warehouse to pick up copies of the first issue.

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Take Our Survey and Tell About Your Nursing Experiences

Minority Nurse

With all the talk about a nursing shortage, nurse satisfaction is a key priority in healthcare, and uncovering and addressing issues for nurses is more critical than ever. Minority Nurse recently launched a Nursing Satisfaction Survey to learn more about nursing education and career topics beneficial to our readers and help boost talent retention and create a more productive workforce.

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[UPDATED] Optum Swoops in to Buy Amedisys in $3.3 Billion Transaction

Hospice News

The UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) subsidiary Optum has penned a deal to acquire Amedisys (NASDAQ: AMED) in an all-cash transaction of $101 per share, or about $3.3 billion. The pending transaction followings a previous offer to aquire Amedisys by the home infusion company Option Care Health (NASDAQ: OPCH) for $3.6 billion. “The combination of Amedisys with Optum unites two organizations dedicated to providing compassionate, value-based comprehensive care to patients and their families,” Amedisy

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Improving Care and Access to Nurses (ICAN) Act: Legislators Want to Hear from Nurses 

Daily Nurse

American Association of Nurse Practitioners ( AANP ) and more than 235 organizations sent a letter to the leaders of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Ways and Means and the Committee on Energy and Commerce illustrating strong support for H.R. 2713, the Improving Care and Access to Nurses (ICAN) Act. This bipartisan legislation, which was introduced in April in the House of Representatives, would authorize nurse practitioners (NPs) to order cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation, cert

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Real-Life Examples of HIPAA Violations and How to Avoid Them

Speaker: Jack Clough, Chief Growth Officer

Download our 30-minute webinar where we delve into real-life examples of HIPAA violations and preventative measures every organization should know! You will learn: The critical factors that lead to HIPAA violations and how to identify them. Three compelling real-life cases of organizations that faced severe HIPAA penalties. Proven strategies to safeguard YOUR organization against HIPAA violations.

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Staying Hydrated

AT Home Care & Hospice

Hydration Motivation: The Importance of Staying Hydrated We don’t often think about the importance of staying hydrated. We may go for hours and hours without a sip. We may wait until we’re thirsty to get a drink. Generally, you should drink ⅓ of your weight (in pounds) in ounces of water daily. For example, if The post Staying Hydrated appeared first on AT Home Care & Hospice.

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Nursing Job Interviews: A Two-Way Street

Minority Nurse

If you’re a nurse in the job market, resumes and cover letters are a central part of your search strategy, but it doesn’t end there — job interviews are something you need to contend with, too. And no matter how anxious you may be about the interview process, there’s one thing you want to bear in mind: nursing job interviews are a two-way street (or at least they should be).

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Medical Director Dr. Lauren Templeton: How Engaged Hospice Physicians Can Drive Quality, Compliance

Hospice News

Dr. Lauren Templeton began her medical career in a surgical internship before transitioning to internal medicine. But in time, her drive to improve patients’ quality of life led her to the hospice and palliative care fields. Templeton now is a hospice physician consultant at Weatherbee Resources as well as medical director for Texas-based Hendrick Hospice Care.

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Nurse Mary Ann West Helped Deliver Son’s Wife 22 Years Ago

Daily Nurse

Nurse Mary Ann West didn’t know it then, but in June 2001, she would help deliver her future daughter-in-law. West, a labor and delivery nurse at Lakeview Hospital in Bountiful, Utah , was the first to welcome Kelsey into the world, weighing in at 6 lbs. 6 oz. Then, she handed the beautiful newborn to her mother, Stacy Poll. Little did she know that her son, Tyler, and Kelsey would begin dating in 2021, get engaged in February 2023, and get married on May 25.

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Best Practices for Sharing Protected Health Information (PHI)

Explore essential topics in this ebook, including what constitutes PHI and how to identify it using 18 indicators. Gain insights into the importance of safeguarding PHI to protect patient privacy and learn about the severe consequences of HIPAA violations. Discover practical strategies for securely exchanging PHI within your healthcare organization, including assessing risks and implementing effective safeguards.

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In AJN’s July Issue, a Guest Editorial by Angelina Jolie and Other Essential Reading

AJN Off the Charts

The July issue of AJN is now live. Among the highlights is a guest editorial by Angelina Jolie, “ Addressing Health Inequities in Survivors of Domestic Violence ,” which explains the importance of bruise detection technologies for patients with varying skin tones. Referencing her daughter, who is from Ethiopia, she writes: “Even as my family has access to high-quality medical care, simple diagnoses are missed because of race and continued prioritization of white skin in medic

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5 great books for seniors to enjoy this summer

Living Assistance Services

Summer is officially here and if you’re anything like us, you’re ready to enjoy it. And while this may involve cottage visits, family.

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New CMOs for Hospice of the Chesapeake, Care Synergy; HopeWest Taps New VP

Hospice News

Hospice of the Chesapeake Appoints New CMO Maryland-based Hospice of the Chesapeake recently named Dr. Marny Fetzer as its new chief medical officer. Fetzer is currently system medical director for palliative care and hospice services at Illinois-based Ascension Health. She will step into the role at Hospice of the Chesapeake in July, alongside seeking a master of business administration from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

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Take Our Survey and Tell About Your Nursing Experiences

Daily Nurse

With all the talk about a nursing shortage, nurse satisfaction is a key priority in healthcare, and uncovering and addressing issues for nurses is more critical than ever. Daily Nurse recently launched a Nursing Satisfaction Survey to learn more about nursing education and career topics beneficial to our readers and help boost talent retention and create a more productive workforce.

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The Essential Guide to HIPAA-Compliant Messaging for Home Care Teams

Explore the risks posed by non-compliant consumer apps like Instagram and WhatsApp in healthcare settings. Learn about potential HIPAA penalties and use a self-evaluation flowchart to determine your organization's need for HIPAA-compliant messaging. Discover straightforward steps to implement secure communication solutions efficiently, ensuring compliance and protecting patient data effectively.