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Amedisys recognized as top investment pick by Fortune magazine

Amedisys, Inc., one of America's leading home health nursing companies, today announced that Fortune magazine named Amedisys on its list of the 10 Best Stocks for 2010 in its issue dated December 21, 2009.

22 Dec 2009

Spiritual care can improve outcomes in terminally ill cancer patients

In a new study of terminally ill cancer patients, researchers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute found support of patients' spiritual needs by the medical team is associated with greater use of hospice, less aggressive care, and greater quality of life near death. The

16 Dec 2009

MedPAC home care cuts can harm home health agencies and impact senior Americans, says NAHC

The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) once again has used a flawed data analysis to recommend cuts that would severely damage the ability of thousands of home health care agencies to provide valuable services to the most vulnerable of Americans, the National Association for Home Care and Hospice (NAHC) said today.

11 Dec 2009

ACP pleased with affordable coverage for all Americans, expresses concern regarding several provisions

The American College of Physicians (ACP) today sent a letter to Senate leaders sharing the College's views on key issues in H.R. 3590, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

5 Dec 2009

New tool may allow doctors to predict long-term survival rates of dialysis patients

A new model can help physicians determine if a kidney disease patient on dialysis is likely to die within the next few months, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Clinical Journal of the American Society Nephrology (CJASN).

4 Dec 2009

Videos can help overcome communication barriers and influence patients' choices for medical care

Patients with terminal brain cancer who watched a brief video illustrating options for end-of-life care were significantly more likely to indicate a preference for comfort measures only than were patients who listened to a verbal description of treatment choices.

3 Dec 2009

Universal Access and Human Rights: A central theme for World AIDS Day 2009

More than 33.4 million people are living with HIV/AIDS in the world today with 2.7 million new infections occurring each year. FHSSA reports, Sub-Saharan Africa is unequally impacted by HIV/AIDS, with 71% of new infections each year.

2 Dec 2009

Music therapy can reduce pain and anxiety in hospice pateints

Add guitars and other musical instruments to the tools caregivers can use to help patients in hospice care. That's what University of Alabama senior Sarah Pitts found when she brought her music therapy skills to patients in Hospice of West Alabama.

1 Dec 2009

Geisinger Health System is one among six healthcare organizations in U.S. invited to join Med-IC

Geisinger Health System is one of only six healthcare organizations in the United States invited by the Mount Sinai School of Medicine and Johns Hopkins University to participate in a new pilot program, Medicare Innovations Collaborative (Med-IC). Med-IC is a national effort to change healthcare policy and improve healthcare for older adults by putting the leading models of geriatric best practices to work in hospital settings.

24 Nov 2009

The Community Hospice sets up social community site to raise awareness on hospice care

The Community Hospice, one of the largest and most established hospice organizations in the nation, will premiere its online "Quality of Life, Not End of Life" program on December 10 at Noon ET. The goal is to raise awareness of the many benefits of hospice care for both patients and their family members.

19 Nov 2009

Homecare, an important part of the solution to nation's healthcare crisis

During November -- National Homecare Month -- the American Association for Homecare celebrates the thousands of dedicated professionals who provide cost-effective and consumer-preferred homecare.

18 Nov 2009

End of life research focuses to improve psychological outlook of severely ill patients

Hospice workers have watched patients emerge from comas and cling to life long enough to tell someone they love or forgive them.

18 Nov 2009

HealthTrans Access sponsors 50 disadvantaged families to free healthcare support

HealthTrans Access, a comprehensive discount healthcare provider, has arranged for 50 disadvantaged families from the Greater Denver and Boulder areas to receive one year of membership in the HealthTrans Access discount healthcare program at no cost. In partnership with Denver Human Services and several of their community organizations, HealthTrans Access is providing families with its Premium discount program, which provides deep discounts for healthcare services for the entire family.

17 Nov 2009

GE Capital's Healthcare Financial Services business offers five-year term loan to Ensign

The Ensign Group, Inc., the parent company of the Ensign(TM) group of skilled nursing, rehabilitative care services, hospice care and assisted living companies, announced that a group of its real estate holding subsidiaries has placed mortgages on six of the Company's 27 unencumbered properties to secure a $40 million five-year term loan from GE Capital's Healthcare Financial Services business.

16 Nov 2009

New survey illustrates confused state of people about how they will pay for long-term care services

Even as the average annual cost of a home health aide now tops more than $40,000 and private nursing home care is approaching an average cost of $75,000 a year, a new survey by the nonprofit LIFE Foundation finds nine out of 10 Americans do not have a realistic plan to pay for these expenses. Nearly one in four say they will rely on family and friends, while others mistakenly believe their health insurance coverage or government programs such as Medicare will help pay their long-term care costs.

13 Nov 2009

University of Leeds and Martin House collaborate to study children’s’ palliative care data

A partnership between researchers at the University of Leeds and Martin House Children's Hospice has resulted in the world's first comprehensive study of palliative care received by children and young people.

13 Nov 2009

Kaiser NW to pay $1.83M for settling False Claims Act liability

Kaiser Foundation Hospitals - Kaiser Sunnyside Medical Center, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Northwest and Northwest Permanente P.C., Physicians & Surgeons (collectively, Kaiser NW) has agreed to pay the United States $1,830,322.41 to settle False Claims Act liability, the Justice Department announced today.

13 Nov 2009

Making end-of-life wishes known is rare; more hospice care could save Medicare money

Because Medicare beneficiaries account "for the vast majority of U.S. deaths" the treatment people receive "in the last year of life accounts for roughly a quarter of Medicare's budget." Dr. Joel Policzer, a medical director for a hospice, says that often "a dying elderly patient may have wanted less invasive care. But it doesn't happen.

12 Nov 2009

UMass Memorial Health Care renews its supply chain relationship with Broadlane

Broadlane, the leading cost-management company for healthcare providers, announced today that UMass Memorial Health Care, the largest healthcare system in Central and Western Massachusetts, has renewed its supply chain relationship with Broadlane for another three years.

12 Nov 2009

Public forum on 'Ethics and Healthcare Reform' to be hosted

To focus a much-needed, objective light on the ethical concerns regarding the national debate on healthcare reform, the LIFE Institute of Rainbow Hospice and Palliative Care will be hosting a public forum on "Ethics and Healthcare Reform" on Tuesday, November 17th at 7 p.m. at Edison Park Lutheran Church, 6626 N. Oliphant Ave., Chicago.

4 Nov 2009

Hospice News and Research

Amedisys recognized as top investment pick by Fortune magazine

Spiritual care can improve outcomes in terminally ill cancer patients

MedPAC home care cuts can harm home health agencies and impact senior Americans, says NAHC

ACP pleased with affordable coverage for all Americans, expresses concern regarding several provisions

New tool may allow doctors to predict long-term survival rates of dialysis patients

Videos can help overcome communication barriers and influence patients' choices for medical care

Universal Access and Human Rights: A central theme for World AIDS Day 2009

Music therapy can reduce pain and anxiety in hospice pateints

Geisinger Health System is one among six healthcare organizations in U.S. invited to join Med-IC

The Community Hospice sets up social community site to raise awareness on hospice care

Homecare, an important part of the solution to nation's healthcare crisis

End of life research focuses to improve psychological outlook of severely ill patients

HealthTrans Access sponsors 50 disadvantaged families to free healthcare support

GE Capital's Healthcare Financial Services business offers five-year term loan to Ensign

New survey illustrates confused state of people about how they will pay for long-term care services

University of Leeds and Martin House collaborate to study children’s’ palliative care data

Kaiser NW to pay $1.83M for settling False Claims Act liability

Making end-of-life wishes known is rare; more hospice care could save Medicare money

UMass Memorial Health Care renews its supply chain relationship with Broadlane

Public forum on 'Ethics and Healthcare Reform' to be hosted

Achieving and maintaining ISO 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

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