Hospice
Don’t Let Me Die in Pain,’ My Patient Pleaded
I still recall the look on my patient’s face and her words 2 years later. “I am done with this life,” she told me. “Don’t let me die in pain,” she added as she folded her hands to physically plead with me. I simply cannot convey in words how painful it was to witness the […]
Read MoreBereavement may increase HF mortality risk
The death of a close family member was associated with increased risk for death among people with HF, with risk highest during the first week after the loss, according to findings from a Swedish register-based study. “The findings of the study may call for increased attention from family members, friends and involved professionals for bereaved HF patients, […]
Read MoreBehavioral therapists teach people how to handle strong emotions so they can function
Intense emotions can be overwhelming when challenging situations occur. Add thoughts about past traumas, and the bad things that could happen in future, and the results can be tragic, even leading to thoughts of suicide. In 2020, Tuscarawas County’s rate of suicide completion rose to 16.6 per 100,000 people, above the state’s rate of 13.8 per 100,000 people, […]
Read More10 Best Mobile Apps for Nurses
Nursing can be a hectic, fast-paced job. That’s why nurses need the right tools at their fingertips. Studies show that nurses can use apps to improve accuracy, increase efficiency, and enhance productivity on the job. Apps can aid in time management, patient monitoring, and evidence-based decision-making. From an ever-growing library in your native app store, here are […]
Read MoreWhat’s Fueling the Hospice JV Furnace
More hospice and palliative care providers are pursuing joint ventures with hospitals and health systems. Joint ventures offer unique advantages compared to traditional referral streams, according to Aaron Stein, COO of Contessa Health, a subsidiary of Amedisys (NASDAQ: AMED). Joint ventures allow providers to develop integrated care models that build improved transitions of care, said […]
Read MoreTech Startup Autumn Launches Death Care Digital Marketplace
Tech startup Autumn has developed a death care digital marketplace to connect bereaved families with services. The company launches today following a $600,000 pre-seed funding round led by the investment firm Bullish Inc. To build its marketplace, Autumn has aggregated more than 500,000 local service providers, the startup reported. These include accountants, appraisers, attorneys, funeral […]
Read MoreSocial Workers Leaving Hospice, Health Care in Record Numbers
Hospice have lost social worker employees at a faster rate than any health care setting in the care continuum. Social workers have left the health care field at record-high rates during the pandemic, according to data from the Peterson-Kaiser Family Foundation Health System Tracker. As of October 2021, attrition rates exceeded pre-pandemic levels by 35%. As far […]
Read MoreReforming Hospice
Some experts want to see more funding for hospice care in the home. Others say the advantages of hospice in a hospital or nursing home have been underrated. Alexis Drutchas, M.D., does not claim to be a health insurance or Medicare payment hospice expert. Her expertise, says the palliative care physician at Massachusetts General Hospital […]
Read MoreWhat matters most to people who are dying?
As a palliative care physician, I ask people every day what matters most to them. Their answers are as individual as they are, but there’s one thing everyone has in common. People who are dying want us to listen – really listen – to what’s most important as they face the end of their life. […]
Read MoreCOVID-19: Impact on Pediatric Palliative Care
Due to pre-existing high clinical support demands and social engagement constraints, children and young people with life-limiting or life-threatening diseases and their families are potentially vulnerable during COVID-19 lockdowns. For a study, researchers sought to investigate the COVID-19 epidemic and lockdowns’ influence on the population. A sub-analysis of a COVID-19-related emerging theme from larger semi-structured […]
Read MoreTriggers for Palliative Care in Advanced Heart Failure
When managing patients with advanced heart failure (HF), a diverse array of factors can indicate it’s time to initiative palliative care, as a new paper highlights. “Currently, patients with heart failure are, unfortunately, either never referred to specialist palliative care or in a delayed manner, resulting in many missed opportunities to address the all-around suffering […]
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