Palliative telehealth is an effective tool for improving patients’ quality of life, new research has found. Phone-based telehealth led to consistent improvements in patients’ depression, anxiety and other symptoms for people with serious illness, according to a study by University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus researchers, published in JAMA. The study also found that these […]

More hospitalized patients can receive earlier palliative care if a provider programs automated orders into the electronic medical record (EMR). By using this process, researchers at Penn Medicine increased palliative care consultation rates in the hospital to 43.9%, up from 16.6%, according to a study published today in JAMA. This method also reduced the time […]

Recent research has found that integration of palliative care can help improve access and outcomes among LGBTQ+ patients with serious and chronic illnesses. LGBTQ+ individuals represent underserved populations across the care continuum. These communities have often reported a history of discrimination and bias as leading barriers to both utilization and high-quality care. A recent survey […]

New Jersey-based Valley Health System is partnering with Family of Caring Healthcare to offer palliative services to their patients. Family of Caring Healthcare System includes 10 health and rehabilitation centers that provide subacute care and rehabilitative services, assisted living and long-term care. With this agreement, patients at Family of Caring’s Park Ridge, New Jersey, campus […]

Palliative care physicians at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center in Oregon have voted to unionize, reflecting a growing trend. Labor pressures have haunted hospice and palliative care providers nationwide for several years running, only to be exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. But these pressures also put strains on employees trying to keep up with demand. […]

An increasingly diverse base of health care providers have taken an interest in the palliative care space, a trend that could be indicative of how strategic growth is taking shape in the field. As they build out their palliative care programs, many of these organizations are pursuing partnerships to foster coordination and growth. A range […]

Lawmakers recently introduced the Value in Health Care Act, which, if enacted, could create inroads toward improved palliative care reimbursement. A new version of the Value in Health Care Act includes updates to program parameters of Alternative Payment Models (APMs) to incentivize participation in Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs). These changes are designed to increase participation […]

When pondering palliative care, most people likely envision older patients dealing with advanced or chronic illnesses, requiring additional support. Seldom do they imagine a scenario involving an otherwise healthy 25-year-old who, after a severe accident on the way to work, finds himself in a trauma ICU. “There’s no preparation time for patients or families, there’s […]

Fragmented health care has significant ties to adverse outcomes in patients with chronic or serious illnesses. Palliative care providers’ ability to navigate the health care system, coordinate the delivery of care, interact regularly with patients and facilitate communication between providers can reduce this fragmentation. This type of coordination can improve outcomes, decrease costs and offer […]

Puerto Rico-based Brisas Health has launched a new supportive care service in conjunction with the 20th anniversary of the organization’s founding. The program, branded as Brisas Supportive, will provide palliative care services for patients suffering from chronic illnesses, including services that are not universally covered by health insurance plans. “During this commemorative year of 20 […]