Hospice News and Research

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Hospice services improve quality of care and support for dementia patients

Hospice services substantially improved the provision of care and support for nursing home patients dying of dementia and their families, according to an analysis of survey responses from hundreds of bereaved family members.

29 Jul 2011

The evolution of hospice from its charitable roots to big business

As hospice care has evolved from its charitable roots into a $14 billion business run mostly for profit, patients ... and their families have paid a steep price, according to lawsuits and federal investigations.

26 Jul 2011

First Edition: July 21, 2011

Today's headlines include reports about some of the specific cuts included in the "Gang of Six" deficit-reduction plan.

21 Jul 2011

Ensign acquires nine skilled nursing, assisted living facilities from Careage Management

The Ensign Group, Inc. announced today that Ensign operating subsidiaries have acquired nine skilled nursing and assisted living facilities from Sioux City, Iowa-based Careage Management, LLC.

20 Jul 2011

HFA develops free online webinar, 'Addressing Cultural Diversity in Hospice Care'

The Hospice Foundation of America has developed "Addressing Cultural Diversity in Hospice Care," a free online webinar that looks at how, and why, different cultures may, or may not, utilize hospice.

15 Jul 2011

Viewpoints: Teaching hospital cuts; Medicare & debt deal politics; end-of-life care

Teaching hospitals educate the next generation of physicians—who are clearly essential for our future. But the importance of academic medical centers and teaching hospitals goes far beyond delivering care.

15 Jul 2011

Study: 82% of Georgia hospitals do not offer palliative care services

Hospitals across the nation are increasingly implementing palliative care programs to help patients manage the physical and emotional burdens of serious illnesses, but a new University of Georgia study finds that 82 percent of the state's hospitals do not offer palliative care services.

12 Jul 2011

State roundup: Recurring SustiNet rumors in Conn.

The tentative concession deal negotiated between Gov. Dannel P. Malloy's administration and state employee unions is dead. But suspicions it was linked the SustiNet plan to create state-run insurance live on, complicating chances of striking a new deal to avert up to 6,500 layoffs. ... One simple, incontrovertible fact is that there is no SustiNet coverage plan into which state employees can be enticed or forced. But from there, the picture gets fuzzy.

11 Jul 2011

First Edition: July 11, 2011

In today's health policy headlines, more reports on the challenges President Barack Obama and congressional leaders are facing in the ongoing debt reduction negotiations.

11 Jul 2011

Co-pay on home health care would limit patient access to clinically beneficial and cost-effective care

America's home health care community is calling attention to a newly released analysis by Avalere Health, LLC that underscores the significant impact cost sharing for Medicare home health services could have on low-income and clinically-disadvantaged seniors.

8 Jul 2011

Roundup: Ineffective malpractice suits; Medicare hospital funding error; D.C. abortion report

A study published today in the journal Health Affairs looked at the outcomes of 3,695 malpractice claims filed in Massachusetts courts against hospitals, doctors, and other medical providers between 2006 and 2010.

8 Jul 2011

HEI names CPMC as 2011 leader in LGBT healthcare equality

California Pacific Medical Center - part of the Sutter Health network - achieved a perfect score for its non-discrimination policies in creating a welcoming environment for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender patients.

2 Jul 2011

First Edition: June 28, 2011

Today's headlines include reports from the states about action on public employee benefit reforms and Planned Parenthood funding.

28 Jun 2011

Twelve institutions receive NPCRC and American Cancer Society grants for palliative care research

The American Cancer Society and the National Palliative Care Research Center (NPCRC) are awarding $2 million in research grants to researchers at 12 institutions for studies aimed at reducing suffering for seriously ill patients and their family caregivers.

22 Jun 2011

Hospice of the Red River Valley selects CellTrak mobile point-of-care application

Hospice of the Red River Valley, an independent, nonprofit hospice organization serving 29 counties across North Dakota and Minnesota, provides care to more than 250 patients each day. Based in Fargo, N.D., Hospice of the Red River Valley has successfully implemented the CellTrak mobile point-of-care application to improve the ability of its Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) to deliver more focused and dedicated care.

22 Jun 2011

News highlights: Report urges smoke-free laws; N.J. state workers rally against pension and health care changes

A million people would quit smoking, nearly 400,000 teenagers would never start, and more than 700,000 lives would be saved if the 27 U.S. states that don't have good antismoking laws would adopt them, the American Cancer Society projected on Wednesday.

18 Jun 2011

State roundup: N.J. plan would cut Medicaid by $500 million

States and territories are eligible for up to $40 million to strengthen and coordinate efforts to prevent chronic disease, the Health and Human Services Department announced Tuesday. The initiative is funded by the healthcare reform law and targets the nation's five leading chronic diseases: heart disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes and arthritis.

9 Jun 2011

Amedisys acquires Beacon Hospice

Amedisys, Inc., one of America's leading home health and hospice companies, today announced that on June 7, 2011, it closed the acquisition of Beacon Hospice, Inc.

8 Jun 2011

Viewpoints: Reps. on Medicare politics, policies, community pharmacies; Reflections on AIDS

The [Ryan] privatization proposal overlooks the fact that when it comes to rising health costs, Medicare is part of the solution, not the problem. ... Together with health care reform, Medicare can be the driver of innovation due to its sheer market share.

6 Jun 2011

Ten changes medical oncologists can do to flatten costs, improve care

The cost of cancer care is threatening to bankrupt our healthcare system. New drugs are prolonging life, but at staggering costs. This coupled with aging baby boomers and an increasing population mean the U.S. will spend $173 billion annually on cancer care by the year 2020. This trend is not sustainable; however, there are evidence-based ways to maintain or improve the quality of care while saving money for the new therapies being discovered every day.

27 May 2011