2024

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Dialysis vs Conservative Management for Older Adults: Manju Kurella Tamura, Susan Wong, & Maria Montez-Rath

GeriPal

Summary Transcript CME Summary We recently published a podcast on palliative care for kidney failure, focusing on conservative kidney management. Today we’re going to focus upstream on the decision to initiate dialysis vs conservative kidney management. As background, we discuss Manju Kurella Tamura’s landmark NEJM paper that found, contrary to expectations, that function declines precipitously for nursing home residents who initiate dialysis.

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Can You Travel and Work as a Caregiver?

Caregiver Support Services

Love working as a caregiver because you get to help people with your skills? Want to travel, but don’t want to give up the work you enjoy? You might be wondering whether you can combine the two and have a fulfilling career while seeing more of the world. Well, the short answer is, yes, it’s totally possible. Here’s how: Choose Your Destination Wisely Not all destinations are created equal when it comes to balancing caregiving and travel.

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Fueling Mind and Body: Nutritional Tips for Nurses to Maintain Peak Performance

Daily Nurse

Nurses are the backbone of healthcare, working tirelessly to provide the best care for their patients. However, the demands of long shifts, high-stress environments, and constant vigilance can take a toll on their physical and mental well-being. The American Nurses Association and McKinsey & Company surveyed nurses’ health and well-being, and the results indicated that much work remains to support nurses wholly. 56% of nurses surveyed indicated they were experiencing burnout symptoms l

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Is It Time to Quit Your Nursing Job? 

Minority Nurse

There comes a time in every nurse’s career when it may be time to quit a nursing job. It’s rarely a fun decision, but we all must go through it, even when it’s uncomfortable or scary. Uncertainty can throw us off balance, personally or professionally, and life can feel a little less safe when we lose that sense of security. It’s often said that the devil you know is better than the devil you don’t, but then again, there are times when you know it’s time to go,

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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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Seasonal Wellness: Boosting Immunity for Seniors

Community Home Health Care

As the seasons shift and temperatures drop, it’s time to focus on boosting immunity for seniors. This time of year comes with a higher risk of illness, particularly colds, flu, and other respiratory infections that can be more dangerous for older adults. For seniors, whose immune systems naturally weaken with age , maintaining good health during these months becomes even more critical.

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Regulators Extend Some Telemedicine Flexibilities, Gauge Telehealth’s ‘New Path Forward’ in Hospice

Hospice News

Regulators recently extended certain temporary telemedicine waivers granted during the pandemic, with some flexibilities now sunsetting in 2025 rather than the end of this year. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) have announced the extension of telemedicine flexibilities for the prescribing of controlled medications until Dec. 31, 2025.

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Dying on the Street – Reflections of a Street Nurse, written by Shelley Tysick

Life & Death Matters

In the quiet moments between life and death, I’ve witnessed the raw essence of humanity. It’s not just about symptom management and care planning; it’s about holding space for souls who have lived experience with trauma, substance use disorders, and homelessness—the marginalized, the racialized, the invisible. It is meeting them where they are at and […] The post Dying on the Street – Reflections of a Street Nurse, written by Shelley Tysick appeared first on Life and Death Matters.

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Seven Signs That an Aging Parent Needs Help

Aging Life Care Association

Does your aging parent need help? As an Aging Life Care™ advisor, I know how fiercely older adults cling to their independence. Many feel that their adult children don’t understand them or are making something out of nothing — a fall, a burnt pot, a call from the police station. They make promises to ask for … Continue reading Seven Signs That an Aging Parent Needs Help → The post Seven Signs That an Aging Parent Needs Help appeared first on Aging Life Care Association.

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5 stages of dementia: What to expect & how to connect

HopeHealth

If your loved one has dementia, here’s what to keep in mind at each stage — and how to create moments of connection along the way. The post 5 stages of dementia: What to expect & how to connect appeared first on HopeHealth.

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When caregivers lose patience: how not to feel like a loser!

Caregiver Warrior

All caregivers lose patience. How we treat ourselves when patience wears thin defines how quickly we can find it again. The post When caregivers lose patience: how not to feel like a loser! appeared first on Caregiver Warrior.

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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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Stump the VitalTalk Communication Experts: Gordon Wood, Holly Yang, Elise Carey

GeriPal

Summary Transcript CME Summary Serious illness communication is hard. We must often deliver complex medical information that carries heavy emotional weight in pressured settings to individuals with varying cultural backgrounds, values, and beliefs. That’s a hard enough task, given that most of us have never had any communication skills training. It feels nearly impossible if you add another degree of difficulty, whether it be a crying interpreter or a grandchild from another state who shows up a

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3 Quality Keys Driving Hospice Staff, Family Caregiver Satisfaction

Hospice News

Research has uncovered common threads of quality impacts among the largest hospices nationwide as providers employ a range of initiatives to uproot the underlying causes of staff and family caregiver dissatisfaction. Strong communication, streamlined operational processes and an encouraging organizational culture are three significant drivers of positive end-of-life experiences for families and staff alike, according to Diana Franchitto, president and CEO of HopeHealth.

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Dr. Steven Landers: Hospice SFP Could Spread Misinformation About Quality

Hospice News

The soon-to-be-implemented hospice Special Focus Program (SFP) from the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) could produce misinformation that could interfere with access to care. The program, set to begin Jan. 1, 2025, could potentially lead patients away from quality providers and into the arms of bad actors in the space, according to Dr.

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Greater Education Needed to Bring Palliative Care to Cancer Patients

Hospice News

Cancer patients generally need palliative care, but widespread misperceptions often stand in their way, both among the public and many clinicians themselves. This is according to Nadine Barrett, president of the Association of Cancer Care Centers (ACCC). The organization has been holding a series of webinars designed to better educate the oncology community about palliative care.

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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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Dole Act Could Give Veterans Greater Access to Hospice, Palliative Care

Hospice News

The Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act, currently winding its way through Congress, would likely increase access to hospice and palliative care for veterans, if enacted. The omnibus veterans’ benefits reform bill contains two provisions in particular that could influence hospice and palliative care utilization.

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Hospice Researchers Seek to Untangle Possible Relationships Between Tax Status and Outcomes

Hospice News

Stakeholders and policymakers who shape the hospice industry are making connections between a provider’s tax status and quality indicators. Their perceptions could have significant repercussions on the outlook of hospice investments. More private equity (PE) investors have stepped into the hospice and home health space in recent years. This trend extends across the broader health care continuum, as certain types of owners — notably private equity entities — have come under scrutiny from lawmaker

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House Passes Gerald’s Law to Establish Burial Benefits for Veterans in Hospice

Hospice News

Congress has passed Gerald’s Law, which would close a hospice-related loophole in veterans’ benefits. When eligible veterans die, many of their families are entitled to a financial benefit from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to defray some of the costs of funerals and cremation or burial. However, when a veteran transitions from a VA facility to hospice, they lose access to that benefit.

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AHA: Palliative Care Should Be Fully Integrated into Stroke Care

Hospice News

The health care community should integrate palliative care into all aspects of post-stroke treatments, according to a new scientific statement from the American Heart Association (AHA). This should include interventions to address psychosocial health, navigating the health care system and preparation for end-of-life care when necessary, the statement indicated.

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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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Bloom Healthcare CEO: Integrating Palliative Care Into Every Decision

Hospice News

The house call provider Bloom Healthcare has leveraged its integrated palliative-primary care model to achieve substantial reductions in hospitalizations and health care costs. The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services recently recognized Bloom as a top performing High-Needs Accountable Care Organization under the agency’s Realizing Equity, Access and Community Health (ACO REACH) model.

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Palliative Care Providers Build Stronger Referral Relationships to Improve Breast Cancer Patient Outcomes

Hospice News

Reaching breast cancer patients with varying needs can be a challenging feat for palliative care providers. Their referral strategies often hinge on how palliative services can help improve outcomes. Palliative care providers help address patients’ various nonmedical, emotional, caregiver and social determinants of health needs, a key point to highlight when seeking to build stronger referral relationships and expand the reach of their services, according to Dr.

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YoloCares Set to Open Joshua’s House to Serve Terminally Ill Homeless Populations

Hospice News

The California-based hospice provider YoloCares has recently received nearly $1.14 million in funding to launch a new residential hospice shelter for homeless populations. Branded as Joshua’s House, the funds were approved by local board officials in Sacramento County, California, and will support the site’s construction. The location is set to open in April 2025 and will feature six three-bedroom homes for terminally ill homeless individuals in need of food, clothing, shelter and end-of-life ca

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California Physician Sentenced to 24 Months for $3.2M Hospice Fraud

Hospice News

A Ventura County, California, physician has been sentenced to 24 months in federal prison for Medicare fraud for medically unnecessary hospice services. Dr. Victor Contreras worked for two hospices in Pasadena California Arcadia Hospice Provider Inc., and Saint Mariam Hospice Inc. The owner of those companies, Jaunita Antenor, is a co-defendant in the case.

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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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Palliative Care in the ED Reduces Costs, Improves Patient Outcomes

Hospice News

The presence of an embedded palliative care practitioner in the emergency department can significantly improve patient outcomes and reduce costs. A pilot program at the Michigan-based Corewell Health system in which a palliative physician was embedded in the ED effectively reduced inpatient mortality, readmissions, intensive care unit utilization and the total cost of care, while also boosting staff satisfaction, Lisa VanderWel, senior director for Corewell Health Hospice and Palliative Care, sa

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New Day Secures $125M Investment Seed to Fuel Hospice, Home Health Growth

Hospice News

New Day Healthcare LLC recently secured a $125 million senior credit facility with First Citizens Bank. That capital access will support the company’s acquisition pipeline in home health, hospice and personal care. Part of the funds will be utilized to complete the acquisition of four facilities, as well as several other transactions under consideration, according to CEO and Founder G.

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How Today’s Hospice Fraud Could Warp Tomorrow’s Reimbursement Outlook

Hospice News

Hospices have grown increasingly frustrated by fraudulent operators in the space and how their activities affect legitimate operators’ financial health. This is the second of a two-part Hospice News series that explores how fraud, waste and abuse in the hospice space could create headwinds for the industry at large. Fraudsters misspend millions of Medicare dollars annually, though the actual hospice-specific amounts are difficult to determine, regulators previously told Hospice News.

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Hospice of the Chesapeake Launches New Dementia Program Amid ‘Urgent, Significant’ Need

Hospice News

Hospice of the Chesapeake has unfurled a new dementia care program aimed at providing improved emotional, educational and practical support for patients and their caregivers as their conditions progress. Demographic trends were among the key factors that drove the program forward, said Monica Escalante, chief strategy and information officer at Hospice of the Chesapeake.

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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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CMS Names First Hospice Special Focus Program Cohort, Delays List of Future Candidates

Hospice News

The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has made public its first cohort for the hospice Special Focus Program (SFP). Finalized in the 2024 home health payment rule, the program is designed to identify poor performing hospices, mandate quality improvement and in some cases impose additional penalties. However, stakeholders in the hospice space have contended that the agencys methodology for selecting hospices for the program is deeply flawed.

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CMS Ramps Up Efforts to Root Out ‘Door Knocker’ Hospice Schemes

Hospice News

The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently elaborated on its plans to expand public education campaigns designed to help protect hospice beneficiaries from fraudulent actors in the space. Program integrity concerns have heated up in the hospice industry. Swarms of new hospices have emerged in certain regions in recent years, with some unscrupulous operators receiving federal funding through illegitimate business practices.

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Hospices’ Mythbusting Strategies: ‘It’s Not Brink-of-Death Care’

Hospice News

Hospices’ public outreach efforts have evolved in recent years, with providers finding new strategies to dispel myths that have long impeded access to care. Nearly half, or 49.1%, of all Medicare decedents utilized hospice services in 2022, reported the National Alliance for Care at Home. National hospice utilization rates have hovered around this vicinity for the past decade, with 44% of decedents receiving these services in 2010, the Alliance report found.

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Hospice Oversight: 2024’s Most Impactful Regulatory Actions

Hospice News

The past year has seen a slew of regulatory developments aimed at improving quality and combatting fraud in the hospice industry. The drive by regulators and members of Congress to strengthen oversight is fueled by two main factors. The first was two July 2019 reports on hospice quality from the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

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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.