Leveraging Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning Models to Identify Potential Palliative Care Beneficiaries: A Systematic Review.

Purpose: The current review examined the application of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) techniques in palliative care, specifically focusing on models used to identify potential beneficiaries of palliative services among individuals with chronic and terminal illnesses.

Methods: A systematic review was conducted across four electronic databases. Five studies met inclusion criteria, all of which applied AI/ML models to predict outcomes relevant to palliative care, such as mortality or the need for services.

Timing of Goals of Care Discussions in Nursing Homes: A Systematic Review.

Objectives: Discussions between health professionals and nursing home (NH) residents or their families about the current or future goals of health care may be associated with better outcomes at the end of life (EOL), such as avoidance of unwanted interventions or death in hospital. The timing of these discussions varies, and it is possible that their influence on EOL outcomes depends on their timing. This study synthesized current evidence concerning the timing of goals of care (GOC) discussions in NHs and its impact on EOL outcomes.

Detecting Language Associated With Home Healthcare Patient's Risk for Hospitalization and Emergency Department Visit.

Background: About one in five patients receiving home healthcare (HHC) services are hospitalized or visit an emergency department (ED) during a home care episode. Early identification of at-risk patients can prevent these negative outcomes. However, risk indicators, including language in clinical notes that indicate a concern about a patient, are often hidden in narrative documentation throughout their HHC episode.

Effects of Physical Activity Programs on Health Outcomes of Family Caregivers of Older Adults with Chronic Diseases: A Systematic Review.

This systematic review was conducted to analyze and capture the most recent trends in physical activity interventions for family caregivers of older adults with chronic disease as found in randomized clinical trials over the last 10 years (2010-2020). We used PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, PsycInfo, and the Cochrane Library. We synthesized participants' demographics, physical activity interventions and family caregivers' health outcomes.

A Review of Web-Based COVID-19 Resources for Palliative Care Clinicians, Patients, and Their Caregivers.

Palliative and end-of-life care has been pushed to the forefront of medical care during the pandemic caused by the coronavirus-2019 (COVID-19). Palliative care organizations have responded to the growing demand for the rapid dissemination of research, clinical guidance, and instructions for care to clinicians, patients with COVID-19, and their caregivers by creating COVID-19 resource Web pages. Here, end users can access resources that can be updated in real time.

Are We Getting What We Really Want? A Systematic Review of Concordance Between Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) Documentation and Subsequent Care Delivered at End-of-Life.

Background: Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatments (POLST) is an advance care planning (ACP) tool that is designed to facilitate End-of-Life (EoL) care discussions between a medical provider and a terminally ill patient. It is often used as a tool to translate care wishes into a medical order, which can be honored across healthcare settings. With an increased utilization of the POLST paradigm in various healthcare settings along with continued dissemination across the nation, it is critical to examine whether documented wishes on POLST are concordant with subsequent care delivered.

Impact of the Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) Program Maturity Status on the Nursing Home Resident's Place of Death.

The Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) program was developed to enhance quality of care delivered at End-of-Life (EoL). Although positive impacts of the POLST program have been identified, the association between a program maturity status and nursing home resident's likelihood of dying in their current care settings remain unanswered. This study aims to evaluate the impact of the POLST program maturity status on nursing home residents' place of death.

Palliative care and infection management at end of life in nursing homes: A descriptive survey.

Background: Infections are common occurrences at end of life that are associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality among frail elderly individuals. The problem of infections in nursing homes has led to a subsequent overuse and misuse of antibiotics in this already-frail population. Improving palliative care in nursing homes has been proposed as a key strategy to reduce the use of antibiotics.

Barriers to palliative and hospice care utilization in older adults with cancer: A systematic review.

The number of older adults with cancer and the need for palliative care among this population is increasing in the United States. The objective of this systematic review was to synthesize the evidence on the barriers to palliative and hospice care utilization in older adults with cancer. A systematic literature search was conducted using PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases (from inception to 2018) in accordance to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines.

Informal Caregiver Decision-Making Factors Associated With Technology Adoption and Use in Home Healthcare: A Systematic Scoping Review.

Technology systems to alleviate the burden of caregiving are increasing in use. The home is a unique place where chronic disease management is often performed by informal caregivers, yet how caregivers make decisions about adopting a specific technology has not been thoroughly explored. This systematic scoping review mapped evidence on decision-making factors associated with technology adoption and use by caregivers of patients receiving care at home.

The relationship between pocket hematoma and risk of wound infection among patients with a cardiovascular implantable electronic device: An integrative review.

Background: Pocket hematoma is a common adverse event following the insertion of cardiovascular implantable electronic devices (CIEDs), but the risk of wound infections associated with a pocket hematoma is unclear.

Objectives: This integrative review aims to examine the relationship between pocket hematoma and risk of wound infection in a CIED population.

Methods: A comprehensive literature search for articles assessing the relationship between pocket hematoma and infection in four electronic databases was conducted in October 2018.

The expansion of National Healthcare Safety Network enrollment and reporting in nursing homes: Lessons learned from a national qualitative study.

Background: This study explored nursing home (NH) personnel perceptions of the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN).

Methods: NHs were purposively sampled based on NHSN enrollment and reporting status, and other facility characteristics. We recruited NH personnel knowledgeable about the facility's decision-making processes and infection prevention program.

Variations in Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment Program across the Nation: Environmental Scan.

Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) is an advance care planning tool that is designed to document end-of-life (EoL) care wishes of those living with limited life expectancies. Although positive impacts of POLST program has been studied, variations in state-specific POLST programs across the nation remain unknown. Identify state variations in POLST forms and determine if variations are associated with program maturity status.