Literature Review

State of the nursing workforce: 14 trends to know Becker's Clinical Leadership; by Mariah Taylor; 5/14/25 In 2025, the nursing workforce has stabilized compared to prepandemic numbers and is expected to grow. However, there are still several nursing challenges systems are facing. Here are 14 trends to know about the nursing workforce in 2025:

 Forever is composed of Nows. ~ Emily Dickinson

From an old ambulance, they help the growing homeless population CT Mirror; by Ginny Monk; 5/25/25 The needs of the unhoused are becoming more complex, and the fight for state support is fierce. ... Launched in 2021, the [Neighborhood Health workers] team drives a refurbished ambulance to shelters or encampments, then provides health care on-site for people experiencing homelessness. They’re out nearly every day. In recent months, as more people, particularly seniors, have lost their housing, health workers are finding that the cases they handle are more complicated. People often have multiple diagnoses, and with older age groups, there are often health complications that make the illnesses or injuries harder to treat. Sometimes, conversations are veering to end-of-life care. These conversations between health care professionals and patients are poignant as state lawmakers debate funding for the systems that offer shelter and other services for the unhoused population. ...

Primary mental health competencies for hospice and palliative medicine physicians: A Delphi studyJournal of Pain and Symptom Management; by Lisa Podgurski, Danielle Chammas, Keri O Brenner, Leah B Rosenberg, Neha G Goyal, Maria I Lapid, Sue E Morris, William F Pirl, Bridget Sumser, Benjamin W Thompson, Lindsey Wright, and Daniel Shalev; 5/20/25  Objectives: To establish and prioritize 'primary mental health competencies' for specialist hospice and palliative medicine physicians using expert consensus methods. Results: The expert panel proposed 68 competencies divided into: (A) psychological foundations of serious illness care, (B) diagnosis and management of mental health disorders in serious illness, and (C) systems-based practice. After first-round voting, 23 competencies were recirculated for a second vote. Following second-round voting, 32 competencies were included in the final list: 7 from part A, 20 from part B, and 5 from part C.

Dover Hospice celebrates ribbon-cutting ceremony  The Edwardsville Intelligencer, Glen Carbon, IL; by Karla Vasquesz Mejia; 5/25/25Dover Hospice in Glen Carbon had its ribbon-cutting ceremony on the afternoon of May 19. Employees of the new center at 2 Ginger Creek Village Drive in Glen Carbon were accompanied by the EdGlen Chamber of Commerce and family members of the employees. Executive Director Page Belongy said Dover Hospice, began in St. Louis two years ago after branching out from Cedarhurst Assisted Living. 

BrightSpring Health Services (NASDAQ:BTSG) Q1 earnings: Leading the senior health, home health & hospice pack StockStory; by Jabin Bastian; 5/22/25 The end of an earnings season can be a great time to discover new stocks and assess how companies are handling the current business environment. Let’s take a look at how BrightSpring Health Services (NASDAQ:BTSG) and the rest of the senior health, home health & hospice stocks fared in Q1. ... The 7 senior health, home health & hospice stocks we track reported a strong Q1. As a group, revenues beat analysts’ consensus estimates by 2.3%. ... 

When patients die: A myeloma specialist grieves Medscape; by Manni Mohyuddin, MD; 5/28/25 ... We form such beautiful bonds with patients as we guide them through the highs and lows of treatment. And that is why I struggled so profoundly with the abrupt separation created by a transition of a patient to hospice. How can it be okay for me to be seeing a patient weekly (and sometimes more often) for such a long time and then suddenly never see them again after they transition to hospice? How can we just disappear from their lives at such a critical juncture? I understand that I may not have more chemotherapy to offer, but I at least can offer emotional support, validation, and my friendship. ...Editor's note: Continue reading this powerful commentary. Taking this further, do you have HIPAA compliant systems in place to notify the patient's oncologist or pre-hospice primary physician of the death? 

[United Kingdom] Hospice cuts staff and beds to secure its future BBC News, Yorkshire, UK; by Alex Moss; 5/23/25A hospice in Huddersfield has announced it has made 19 staff redundant and reduced the number of inpatient beds in order to save its future. The Kirkwood provides end-of-life care to about 2,000 patients each year but its chief executive Michael Crowther said it had faced a "perfect storm" of rising operational costs over the past few years. ... He said: "This has been the single hardest decision we have ever had to make." Another nine staff members have agreed to cut their hours and several others have decided to retire to help reduce the annual costs by £1.7m, the hospice added. ..."As you can imagine, this has been one of the most difficult periods in The Kirkwood's history. ..."Editor's note: Read more--directly from The Kirkwood--at "Securing Our Future Together: A New Way Forward." 

CMS rolls out aggressive strategy to enhance and accelerate Medicare Advantage audits CMS Newsroom; Press RElease; 5/21/25 Agency Will Begin Auditing All Eligible Medicare Advantage Contracts Each Payment Year and Add Resources to Expedite Completion of 2018 to 2024 AuditsToday, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a significant expansion of its auditing efforts for Medicare Advantage (MA) plans. Beginning immediately, CMS will audit all eligible MA contracts for each payment year in all newly initiated audits and invest additional resources to expedite the completion of audits for payment years 2018 through 2024.

Mom takes first picture with new baby, not knowing in weeks he'll be gone Newsweek; by Daniella  Gray; 5/24/25 A grieving mom has shared the first picture of herself with her newborn baby, not knowing she'd lose him just weeks later. Wunmi Babalola from the West Midlands in the UK, shared photos on TikTok looking at her baby in his hospital crib. In the same carousel on TikTok, Babalola also included the last photo the two of them would have together, just six and a half weeks later. ...  

Disproportionate impact: Supreme Court narrows disproportionate share hospital reimbursement to Supplemental Security Income cash recipients The National Law Review; by Vinay Kohli, Matthew J. Westbrook, D. Austin Rettew; 5/23/25 The U.S. Supreme Court has issued a significant ruling affecting hospitals that serve low-income Medicare beneficiaries, narrowing the interpretation of the Disproportionate Share Hospital (“DSH”) payment formula. In Advocate Christ Medical Center v. Kennedy, the Court determined that only Medicare patients who were eligible to receive a cash Supplemental Security Income (“SSI”) payment during the month of their hospitalization may be included in the calculation for additional DSH reimbursement. This decision represents a setback for more than 200 hospitals that had advocated for a broader, more inclusive definition of SSI entitlement, potentially reducing the financial support available for treating Medicare’s poorest patients. 

Memorial Day: 3:00 pm National Moment of RemembranceUSMilitary.com - A non-government, privately sponsored website; retrieved from the internet 5/22/25The day is not just about looking back but also about engaging with the present and future. It provides an opportunity for communities and individuals across the nation to come together in a shared spirit of remembrance. ... This year, as we commemorate Memorial Day, we invite you to join us in honoring the legacy of our heroes through active participation and thoughtful reflection. ... At 3:00 PM local time on Memorial Day, Americans are encouraged to pause for a moment of silence to remember and honor the fallen. The National Moment of Remembrance is a collective act of unity, acknowledging the sacrifices made for our country. Whether you are at home, at a parade, or spending time with family, take a moment to reflect on the true meaning of the day. This simple yet profound gesture serves as a nationwide expression of gratitude and respect.

"Taps" Bugle Call: USMC Drum & Bugle Corps [YouTube]YouTube, filmed at the National Mall, Washington DC, retrieved from the internet 5/22/25Editor's note: We invite you to start this Memorial Day with this reflective playing of "Taps," with backdrops of the Washington Memorial, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the Korean War Veterans Memorial, and more. Ongoing, we share with you these resources below for the veterans and their families whom you serve.