Literature Review

Palliative care integration in oncology: A review and updateJournal of Hospice & Palliative Care; by Claire Wang, Thomas W LeBlanc; 12/25Palliative care (PC) is increasingly recognized as an essential component of high-quality cancer care, with evidence from randomized trials and meta-analyses demonstrating that it improves quality of life, mood, and goal-concordant end-of-life care. Despite these benefits, PC integration has been inconsistent, with many patients still receiving PC later in their disease course. Current models of integration include outpatient co-located PC clinics, inpatient consultation services, community- and home-based programs, and more recent innovations, such as telehealth and stepped approaches. Symptom control, coping support, longitudinal communication, and existential or spiritual interventions are among the active ingredients that are most consistently associated with improvements in patient outcomes. Implementation of precision PC requires embedding validated patient-reported outcomes and structured referral algorithms into oncology workflows, enabling real-time triage of targeted interventions.

[Taiwan] Effects of administering essential oil blends on depressive mood and sleep quality in elderly residents with dementia in long-term care facilitiesChinese Journal of Nursing; by An-En Lin, Wan-Ching Shen, Yueh-Yuan Chang, Mei-Hsiu Shen, Jing-Jy Wang; 12/25Depression and poor sleep quality are common symptoms among people with dementia. Inhalation-based aromatherapy, a non-pharmacological intervention known to help alleviate these symptoms, may be used therapeutically in long-term care facilities, especially those facing staff shortages. After pre-test data collection, the participants received a twice-daily aromatherapy intervention five days per week for two weeks. Improvements in overall depression, behavioral disturbances, physical symptoms, and emotion-related symptoms were found between pre- and post-test measurements. Also, positive effects on overall sleep quality, sleep disturbances, and daytime dysfunction were recorded.

[UK] "The system doesn't really cater for the trauma that Black people have experienced" - Experiences of grief and bereavement in Black British and Black Caribbean heritage communities in England: A qualitative studyDeath Studies; by Lucy E Selman, Oliver Clabburn, Yansie Rolston, Karl Murray, Tracey Stone, Lesel Dawson, Michelle Farr, Sabi Redwood, Debi Lewinson-Roberts; 12/25People from Black and other minoritized ethnic communities are known to experience health and social care inequities, including barriers to accessing bereavement support. This qualitative, co-produced study aimed to explore experiences of grief and bereavement among people of Black British and Black Caribbean heritage in England. Through community conversations and interviews with 35 participants, the study illuminates how structural inequities, cultural norms, and systemic racism intersect to shape grief experiences. Participants highlighted the importance of extended family and community in grief, which often clashed with the individualistic norms of white British society. Cultural customs that discouraged emotional expression made grieving harder, while rituals like Nine-Night and storytelling provided crucial communal support. 

Together we remember: Using topic modeling and semantic networks to study obituaries and collective memories of contemporary United States Omega - Journal of Death and Dying; Haojian Li, Chengfang Wang, and Ping Hu; 12/6/25 Obituaries have long served as an important source in recording memories and social values in the United States. However, prior research has focused primarily on celebrities or specific groups, often overlooking the narratives of ordinary citizens and neglecting broader discussions of their collective memories. This study addresses these gaps by applying large-scale data analysis and computational methods. ... Overall, this study contributes new insights to obituary research and introduces a novel framework for examining collective memory through large-scale commemorative texts.

Senior living executive forecast 2026: ‘Step up or get stepped on’ Senior Housing News; by Austin Montgomery; 1/7/26 ... Today, senior living providers are focused on precision in operations, able to define value to customers, maintain attractive price points and manage rates that can strategically improve margin while not forcing out residents. ... Today, senior living providers are focused on precision in operations, able to define value to customers, maintain attractive price points and manage rates that can strategically improve margin while not forcing out residents.

St. Croix Hospice expands care across five new locations Investors Hangout; by Addison Perry; updated 1/6/26 St. Croix Hospice has taken a significant step forward in enhancing their hospice care services by opening five new branches. These locations are vital in expanding patient access to high-quality end-of-life care in different regions. ... The newly opened locations are:

Novel AI tool offers prognosis for patients with head and neck cancerDana-Farber Cancer Institute; 12/23/25A team led by investigators at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Mass General Brigham has developed and validated an artificial intelligence (AI)–based noninvasive tool that can predict the likelihood that a patient's oropharyngeal cancer—a type of head and neck cancer that develops in the throat—will spread, thereby signaling which patients should receive aggressive treatment. The research is published in Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Spotlight on 2026 Medicare policy changes American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC); by Renee Dustman; 1/6/26 A new year always means policy changes in healthcare. In 2026, as in past years, there are changes to medical coding, payer policies, fee schedules, federal regulations, and just about everything else. Here are highlights of several pertinent changes that will affect Medicare-enrolled providers this year.

“Can We Talk?” A community-based training to improve serious illness communication Home Healthcare Now; by Ashley Kaminski Petkis, DNP, APRN, AGACNP-BC and Eric Hackenson, DPT; Jan/Feb 2026 Serious illness conversations (SICs) are often delayed or avoided in community-based healthcare due to clinician discomfort and lack of training. Given that many patients wish to die at home, yet often do not, there is a need for structured communication training in home care and hospice settings to ensure the care we provide aligns with patient and family preferences. ...  By embedding SIC training within a community-based organization, this work demonstrated how modest interventions can catalyze a change in practice, reinforcing the idea that SICs are a standard of quality care rather than an optional enhancement.

NPHI organizes listening tour on hospice program integrity with CMS leaders Dr. Oz and Kim BrandtNational Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation (NPHI); Press Release; 1/8/26On Thursday [1/9], Dr. Mehmet Oz, Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), and Kim Brandt, CMS Chief Operating Officer ... are visiting Nathan Adelson Hospice in Las Vegas as part of a listening session and on-site tour. On Friday, the tour continues in California, where NPHI is supporting discussions with federal leaders and providers in the state focused on fraud and abuse challenges impacting hospice care. These conversations are intended to help federal leaders better understand what providers are seeing on the ground and explore how CMS and the provider community can work together to strengthen program integrity while protecting access to high-quality, mission-driven care.

Why great leaders focus on the details Harvard Business Review (HBR) Executive - HBR IdeaCast; podcast with Scott Cook; 12/16/25 Senior executives are often told to focus on big-picture strategy while delegating the specifics of execution. But, according to Scott Cook, cofounder and former CEO of Intuit, smart leaders also spend time on the details of how the organization gets work done at every level, including the front lines. Working with Harvard Business School professor Nitin Nohria, he studied companies from Toyota to Amazon to better understand why hands-on leadership, from the CEO down, works and how to do it without micromanaging. They are coauthors of the HBR article “The Surprising Success of Hands-On Leaders.”