A study in Canada examines palliative care use among adolescents and young adults with cancer in Ontario found specialist palliative care was associated with less aggressive end-of-life care. The rates of admission were higher with palliative care, while the rates of mechanical ventilation and hospital deaths were lower, researchers reported in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.

EHR alerts for malignancy, heart failure, opioid prescription or dementia can be set up to trigger initiation of advance care planning, according to a study in BMJ Open. Clinicians "can use the triggers identified in the EHR in an automated computer search to prioritise patients for [advance care planning]," researchers wrote.

Franklin County Big Bend Hospice in Apalachicola, Fla., has placed three Trees of Remembrance to honor loved ones who have died. People can donate or buy an ornament to place on the trees, which are located at the county courthouse and two health care facilities.

A study found that nearly one-third of families with children diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia experience significant financial hardship during standard chemotherapy. The study, presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology, found that 30% of families reported material hardship and 31.5% reported income loss of 25% or more during two years of treatment.