Literature Review

Pallitus Health Partners receives CHAP Accreditation for Adult Palliative Care and Pediatric Care Certification for Kourageous Kids Pallitus Health Partners, Louisville, KY; Press Release; 7/8/25 Community Health Accreditation Partner, Inc. (CHAP) has awarded Care Guide Partners, Inc. (dba Pallitus Health Partners) CHAP Accreditation under the CHAP Palliative Care Standards of Excellence. The nonprofit also received certification for its Kourageous Kids (KKids) palliative care program. CHAP Accreditation demonstrates that Pallitus Health Partners meets the industry’s highest nationally recognized standards. The rigorous evaluation by CHAP focuses on structure and function, quality of services and products, human and financial resources, and long-term viability. Simply stated, adherence to CHAP’s standards leads to better quality care. ... Pallitus Health Partners, an affiliate of Hosparus Health, offers comprehensive palliative care for serious illnesses in Kentucky and Indiana. Editor's Note: Congratulations to Pallitus Health Partners and Hosparus Health! This accreditation marks yet another milestone of excellence this organization—originally founded as Hospice of Louisville—which pioneered one of the nation’s first pediatric hospice teams in 1980. I had the privilege of serving on the Pediatric Team of Hospice & Palliative Care of Louisville from 1997 to 2001. Profound experiences with these children, their parents, siblings, grandparents, our dedicated team members, and community partners are forever embedded in me. They continue to shape my perspective and purpose in my role as editor in chief of this newsletter.

Health care attorneys: Hospice investigations coming from all sides Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 7/8/25 Hospices are subject to a rising number of investigations and audits from Medicare contractors, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General and, in some cases, the U.S. Justice Department, among others. Hospices need to understand the various types of investigations they may encounter and how to respond to them. Key factors are completely and accurately documenting the medical necessity of the care they receive. Hospice News sat down with Guillermo Beades and Todd Brower, partners with the law firm Frier Levitt to discuss the ins-and-outs of hospice investigations and how providers should respond.

Leaders leading leaders: 7 essentials for healthcare execs to future-proof talent Becker's Hospital Review; by Wendy Horton; 7/8/25 ... The best leaders develop other leaders. ... Future-proofing leadership requires a deliberate approach to change management — and strategic prioritization. Healthcare leaders can’t wait to react; they must create the roadmap, set the tone, establish the pace and prepare for what’s coming. Throughout my leadership journey at UVA Health University Medical Center, as well as at organizations like The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and UW Health, I’ve observed consistent themes in what it takes to lead effectively in the present while also preparing strategically for the future.

Humana agrees to purchase bankrupt Florida provider The Villages Health for $50m Healthcare Dive; by Rebecca Pifer; 7/8/25 The insurer’s bid is preliminary and kicks off an auction for the debt-laden provider, which decided to undergo bankruptcy after discovering it owed Medicare hundreds of millions of dollars.

How to Integrate Medical Humanities into Your Palliative Care PracticeCAPC blog; by Ian B. Kwok, J. Redwing Keyssar, Gayle Kojimoto, Michael W. Rabow; 7/8/25Medical humanities is an interdisciplinary field that examines the human experience of health, illness, healing, and care through the lenses of the humanities, arts, and social science. This approach represents the convergence of anthropology and many interdisciplinary fields of expression (including visual art, narrative writing and poetry, music, and performance arts). Medical humanities are inextricably intertwined in all facets of clinical practice and education, especially in the care of people with serious illness.

The 8 virtues of great leaders Forbes; by Eli Amdur; 6/27/25 ... I write on leadership (and a few other topics) because I’m supposed to be an “expert.” Well, let me set the record straight. That word – expert – makes me nervous. ... But I’ve learned along the way since my career began 57 years ago, and leadership is one area in which I can share some value ... [Leadership theory] should support the axiom that it is not skills alone that will determine leadership in the 21st century and beyond. It’s the humanity of the leader that will do it every time. ... So, as I rest my case about leadership virtues being the differentiators, here’s what I’ve learned along the way: The Eight Virtues of Great Leaders.

Sutter’s CEO outlines its billion-dollar expansion and what’s next Becker's Hospital Review; by Kelly Gooch 7/2/225 Sutter Health is doubling down on its growth strategy, with a focus on expanding access and attracting more physicians to California. Headquartered in Northern California, with executive offices in Sacramento and Emeryville, the health system‘s 57,000 staff and clinicians and 12,000 affiliated physicians provide care to more than 3.5 million Californians. Now, the organization counts San Francisco’s East Bay region among its opportunities for growth, President and CEO Warner Thomas told Becker’s.

‘Family’s Voice Diary’ improved support for caregivers of patients at the end of life Oncology Nurse; by Ryner Lai; 7/1/25 The authors of this study sought to understand the challenges that caregivers face when a patient is approaching end of life. For this study, they worked with bereaved relatives, members of the public, healthcare professionals, and policymakers to develop the Family’s Voice Diary (FVD), an initiative that allowed participants to freely express their thoughts regarding end-of-life care and the role of caregivers. ... These interviews illuminated some of the challenges that were faced when providing end-of-life care. For example, families expressed a lack of knowledge regarding what “normal” dying looks like and they wanted more support from healthcare staff, but were reluctant to ask or didn’t know how to approach the subject. Healthcare professionals themselves appeared to be reluctant to discuss matters associated with death. 

Mayo Clinic gets $50M gift to boost innovation Becker's Health IT; by Naomi Diaz; 6/30/25 Rochester, Minn.-based Mayo Clinic has received a $50 million donation from Florida philanthropists Gilchrist and Amy Berg — a gift dedicated to the health system’s innovation efforts. The money will support Mayo’s Innovation Exchange, a program that helps healthcare startups and entrepreneurs bring new technologies to patients. In recognition of the donation, the program will be renamed the Mayo Clinic Berg Innovation Exchange, according to a June 30 news release. The Innovation Exchange serves as a hub for global collaboration, bringing together experts in AI, digital health, product design and more. It has a footprint on six continents and supports startups working on tools in diagnostics, therapeutics and medical devices, according to Mayo Clinic.

Joint Commission cuts standards by 50% in sweeping overhaul Becker's Clinical Leadership; by Paige Twenter; 6/30/25 The Joint Commission is transforming its accreditation process by reducing the number of requirements by 50% — from 1,551 to 774 standards — in its most significant rewrite since Medicare was established in 1965. The overhaul, first shared with Becker’s, underscores the organization’s effort to reduce the regulatory burden on hospitals and healthcare organizations, uphold public trust and help organizations achieve the highest level of safety and quality, according to Jonathan Perlin, MD, PhD, president and CEO of The Joint Commission Enterprise. ... The redesign, called Accreditation 360: The New Standard, features an updated manual with clearer definitions of CMS conditions of participation and the Joint Commission’s national performance goals, now distilled into 14 critical categories.

How to give physicians autonomy—and protect them from burnout American Medical Association (AMA); by Georgia Garvey; 7/1/25 Almost everyone appreciates having autonomy at work. But when physicians spend more than a decade in high-stakes and grueling medical training, only to enter practice with virtually no control over their work environment, schedule or day, it can lead to the kind of spiraling frustration that often turns into burnout or leaving the profession entirely. “It’s one of those things where the more you try to micromanage a physician’s schedule, the more a feeling of distrust you give to the physicians ...” said Jill Jin, MD, MPH, an internist and senior physician adviser for the AMA, one of the authors of the AMA STEPS Forward® “Value of Feeling Valued Playbook.” ... Though the percentages of those experiencing burnout have declined from the peak during the COVID-19 public health emergency, 43.2% of physicians still say they have at least one symptom of burnout.  ... When physicians feel valued—... as competent professionals who have devoted immense time and energy to becoming experts at their jobs—it is proven to be positively associated with lower levels of burnout.

Support for serious illness: Palliative care is here to helpNIH News in Health; 7/7/25Being diagnosed with a serious illness is life-changing. Many decisions must be made, with many unknowns. But there are experts who can help you navigate the complicated landscape of a long-term, serious illness. Palliative care specialists focus on comfort care and improving your quality of life during a serious illness. “Palliative care is a holistic approach to medicine and caregiving,” explains Dr. Matthew DeCamp, a physician at University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus. “It places the patient’s quality of life and needs and values front and center.”Publisher's note: Interesting this story appeared in NIH News in Health and it might be helpful to promote your palliative care programs...