Patients with life-limiting illnesses could be better managed in post-acute care facilities, such as nursing homes and long-term-care centers, with access to specialists through telemedicine, said Dr. Christopher Comfort, medical director of Calvary Hospital in New York City. With telemedicine, patients can be treated according to their specific care plans and avoid rehospitalization, Comfort said.

The Respecting Choices Person-Centered Care Model at NYU Langone Health supports shared decision-making by patients, families and their care teams. The initiative started with education for the care team, a machine-learning model predicts short-term mortality, and interventions promote appropriate care for patients with limited life expectancy.

The FDA has assigned breakthrough therapy status to Finch Therapeutics' CP101, which is in a midstage study for the treatment of patients with recurrent Clostridium difficile infection.

Generosity of spirit is fundamental to nursing, according to Christie Watson, and her book "The Language of Kindness: A Nurse's Story" shows how she used her compassion and kindness throughout her nursing career, writes Theresa Brown. The book is a reminder that the goal of nursing is to "treat the whole patient, and the family," and Watson says "kindness, empathy, compassion and providing dignity. This is what makes a good nurse." American Journal of Nursing (2/2019)

Work-life balance need not be a zero-sum equation. "If your understanding of work-life balance is 50% of what I do is work and 50% is personal, that becomes really difficult," LinkedIn Asia-Pacific Managing Director Olivier Legrand says. "Balance means equality on both sides. Harmony means you are happy with the amount [of time] you invest in both parts of the equation."

American Nurses Association Vice President of Innovation Bonnie Clipper said nurses are all innovators but often do not see themselves that way, so it is very powerful for her to help them understand that innovation is "doing things differently and bringing value." The University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing has created innovation priorities and has named Marion Leary as the first director of innovation.

Burnout, workplace safety, nursing shortages, increased workload and time spent on paperwork are among the biggest issues nurses face today. Nursing shortages affect nurse-patient ratios and have led to increasing workloads over the past two years.

The CMS is taking steps to reduce health care costs for Medicare beneficiaries by launching programs designed to address poverty and other social determinants of health among the elderly, CMS officials Cara James and Tim Engelhardt wrote in a blog post. Some of the agency's initiatives include the Accountable Health Communities Model, which helps community organizations connect beneficiaries with services that address social determinants, and the Medicare Savings Programs and Extra Help, which offer premium and cost-sharing assistance to low-income Medicare beneficiaries.

A report from the White House's Council of Economic Advisers argued that the changes introduced by the Trump administration to the Affordable Care Act, namely the elimination of the individual mandate penalty and expansion of access to short-term and association health plans, could save consumers $450 billion over the next 10 years. But critics said the policies the report touts could result in higher premiums and more people without insurance.

Improving Access to and Equity of Care for People with Serious Illness: A Workshop: This one-day workshop on April 4, 2019, 8 a.m. Eastern Time will feature invited presentations and panel discussions from national healthcare leaders, including members of the National Coalition for Hospice and Palliative Care, of which HPNA is a founding member. Joanne Reifsnyder, Ph.D., RN, FAAN, represented HPNA on the planning committee.

HPNA's Employer Partner Program supports nurses through professional development and certification. The program offers volume discounts to employers on HPNA education, HPCC certification, and job postings. Business development staff provides personal support and custom packages to employer clients wishing to validate the competence and knowledge of their palliative nursing staff.