Literature Review

How clinicians prenatally discuss management options and outcomes for congenital heart disease Journal of Pain and Symptom Management; by Samantha Syme, Kelsey Schweiberger, Judy C Chang, Ann Kavanaugh-McHugh, Nadine A Kasparian, Robert M Arnold, Kelly W Harris; 11/27/25 Online ahead of printA prenatal diagnosis of complex congenital heart disease (cCHD) introduces significant emotional, social, and financial stress for families. ... Fetal cardiology consultations offer an important opportunity to support families navigating uncertainty following a prenatal diagnosis of CHD. Clinicians approached these conversations with empathy and a focus on long-term outcomes, though discussions about management options varied. There is an opportunity for increased presentation and integration of palliative care consultants as a longitudinal, family-centered resource, regardless of mortality risk, which may enhance supports available to families during this highly emotional period.

Bipartisan senators: Keep hospice out of Medicare Advantage Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 11/21/25 Two U.S. Senators have penned a letter to congressional leadership urging them to oppose any measures to bring hospice reimbursement into Medicare Advantage. Sens. Dr. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) circulated the letter on Thursday, addressed to Senate leaders from both major political parties, as well as the chair and ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee. 

New Jersey organ procurement organization under congressional investigation after ‘alarming’ whistleblower claimsCNN; by Jen Christensen; Story by Jen Christensen, 11/24/25 The US House Ways and Means Committee said Wednesday that it is investigating the organ procurement organization for the New Jersey region for what it called “extreme abuse of public trust” and possible illegal activity, including trying to procure organs from people who didn’t volunteer to be donors and, in at least one case, trying to continue with the organ recovery process in a patient who had “reanimated.”

Awards and Recognitions: November 2025

'It has made my life a lot easier': New Ohio program pays people to care for their loved ones at homeWTOL-11, Columbus, OH; by Kevin Landers; 11/24/25 Mark Straub, of Delaware County, started caring for his 93-year-old mother about two years ago. As much as he loves to have his mother at home instead of a nursing home, caring for a loved one 24/7 brings with it stress, both emotional and financial. ... The average cost of in-home care in Ohio is $60,238, according to CareScout. The average cost of nursing home care is $108,500 a year, or about $9,000 per month. Thanks to a new program in Ohio, those who care for a loved one at home are about to get financially easier. It’s called Structured Family Caregiving, or SFC. Currently, at least 11 states have formal Medicaid SFC programs that pay family members. “I didn’t believe it at first, until I got that first paycheck and I really wanted to cry, “ said Tsavaris.

Countryside Memory Center and St. Benedict’s House marks 45 years of service Capital Journal, South Dakota; by Iain Woessner; 11/29/25 Countryside Memory Center and St. Benedict’s House is celebrating its 45th anniversary this year, marking more than four decades of support for patients, families and caregivers in the Pierre community. The organization, established in 1980 and incorporated two years later, originally operated as a hospice program. While hospice care eventually transitioned to St. Mary’s Hospital in 2003, Countryside expanded its mission, launching several new services that continue to shape its identity today.

[United Kingdom] Hospice to close dementia support service BBC News, East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, UK; by Emma Petrie; 11/30/25 A hospice in Lincoln has announced the closure of a dementia support service because they say it is no longer financially viable. The Admiral Nurse Service, funded by St Barnabas Hospice, will close from March 2026. Admiral nurses are specialist dementia nurses who work across the UK to provide free advice and support to families and individuals living with dementia.

[United Kingdom] Warning issued as palliative care in England is ‘failing to meet people’s needs’ Independent; by Ella Pickover; 11/27/59 Palliative care services in England are "failing to meet people’s needs", a new parliamentary report has warned. Commissioned by MPs on the House of Commons Health and Social Care Committee, the findings attribute these shortcomings primarily to "insufficient funds" for services providing end-of-life and life-limiting condition care. The report highlighted that bereavement support for loved ones, while "valuable", is "frequently inaccessible". It also noted that palliative care patients and their families are "too rarely given the opportunity to plan effectively for the future". Painting a picture of services under "significant strain", the document cautions that health and care provisions are "ill-equipped" to address end-of-life needs, citing "insufficient" education and training.Editor's Note: Our ongoing distribution of posts from the United Kingdom report financial cuts from the UK government, resulting in insufficient funds to provide adequate staffing, facilities, supplies, and more. Want to learn more? Subscribers can login to your account and use the "Search Articles" field to find other posts, based on keywords you enter.

National Alliance for Care at Home: CMS modifies Final Payment Rule based on stakeholder feedback, but 1.3% cut still undermines access National Alliance for Care at Home, Alexandria, VA and Washington, DC; Press Release; 11/28/25 The National Alliance for Care at Home (the Alliance) today acknowledged that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) made significant adjustments in the Home Health Perspective Payment System (HH PPS) Final Rule for CY 2026 in response to community concerns regarding patient access and data integrity. However, the Alliance remains concerned that any payment cut for home health providers will continue to compromise access for the millions of Medicare beneficiaries who rely on these services to age and recover from illness or injury safely at home. 

In-flight emergencies: Practical medicine and ethical considerations Medscape; by Stephen Powell, MD, Bret A. Nicks, MD, MHA, Michael W. Supples, MD, MPH; 11/3/25As a medical professional, are you prepared to respond to an in-flight medical emergency as a passenger on a commercial aircraft? Key questions are addressed about the scope of care, available equipment, decision-making regarding diversions, and liability concerns. Editor's Note: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) "expects the 2025 Thanksgiving travel period to be the busiest in 15 years." Please read and share.

Rowan and Bayada Home Health Care to strengthen nursing workforce with innovative partnership Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ; Press Release; 11/18/25 “More. Great. Nurses”: That was the chant echoing through the room as BAYADA founder and chairman of the board Mark Baiada energized the crowd during a ceremonial signing event on Nov. 17 at Rowan University. The celebration launched a new agreement between Rowan and BAYADA Home Health Care, the nation’s largest independent nonprofit home health care provider. The partnership creates a debt-free pathway for aspiring nurses and expands access to high-quality home health care in the region.

“I was horrified”: 34 surgeons and doctors recall their worst mistakes BoredPanda; by Justin Sandberg; 11/19/25 Someone asked “Medical professionals, what mistake have you made in your medical career that, because of the outcome, you've never forgotten?” and people shared their stories from fortunately comical to downright grim. ...#4.  I work in palliative care, ... I knew he wanted to be a DNR (do not resuscitate). I wrote it on my note. But I didn't re-fill out the hospital paperwork. The next day, I got to work to discover he'd been coded and was on a ventilator in the ICU. Instead of passing peacefully, his wife had to make the decision to turn off life support.  ...Editor's Note: Entry #20 comes from a hospice nurse describing a patient with severe bone pain started on morphine—then an out-of-town daughter arrived, shocked to see “Daddy on morphine.” What unfolded was realistic and tragic. This story highlights two timely essentials: