Literature Review
Why doctors hesitate to say ‘I'm sorry’ after errors
10/23/25 at 03:00 AMWhy doctors hesitate to say ‘I'm sorry’ after errorsMedscape; by Paolo Spriano; 10/17/25Apologies are commonly defined as “a regretful acknowledgment of an offense or failure; a formal, public statement of regret.” In healthcare, apologies offered with honesty and transparency are an essential part of addressing medical errors. An effective apology acknowledges what happened, accepts responsibility, and expresses sincere regret for the patient’s suffering. When done properly, an apology can have profound healing effects for everyone involved. For clinicians, it can help ease feelings of guilt and shame; for patients, it can foster forgiveness and form the basis for reconciliation.
Hospital - and private equity – affiliated specialty physicians negotiate higher prices than independent physicians
10/23/25 at 03:00 AMHospital - and private equity – affiliated specialty physicians negotiate higher prices than independent physiciansHealth Affairs; by Alexander P. Philips, Nandita Radhakrishnan, Christopher M. Whaley, Yashaswini Singh; 10/25Hospital and private equity (PE) consolidation in health care is altering the physician practice landscape, with more than three-quarters of physicians employed by these corporate entities as of 2023. We examined practice affiliation patterns for specialist physicians and those patterns’ association with commercial prices for cardiology and gastroenterology services... Hospital-affiliated specialists negotiated prices that were 16.3 percent higher for cardiology procedures and 20.7 percent higher for gastroenterology procedures compared with specialists in independent practices. PE-affiliated specialists negotiated prices that were 6.0 percent higher for cardiology and 10.0 percent higher for gastroenterology procedures.
55% of healthcare executives plan to change roles within 3 years: Survey
10/23/25 at 03:00 AM55% of healthcare executives plan to change roles within 3 years: SurveyBecker's Hospital Review; by Kristin Kuchno; 10/17/25More than half of healthcare executives plan to leave their roles within the next three years, according to a report from LHH, an executive search firm. Here are six more things to know from two 2025 surveys...
Why the infusion market is shifting to at-home care
10/22/25 at 03:10 AMWhy the infusion market is shifting to at-home care Modern Healthcare; by Diane Eastabrook; 10/21/25Key Takeaways
Lancaster woman sentenced to home detention for role in hospice fraud
10/22/25 at 03:00 AMLancaster woman sentenced to home detention for role in hospice fraud MSN, Lancaster, CA; 10/16/25 A Lancaster woman was ordered Wednesday [10/15] to serve 12 months of home detention and pay a $100,000 fine for her role in a hospice fraud scheme that netted more than $3.2 million from Medicare. Callie Jean Black, 66, was convicted in March at the conclusion of a four-day bench trial in Los Angeles federal court of four counts of soliciting and receiving remunerations for patient referrals, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Patients with advanced cancer often receive treatments that conflict with their goals
10/22/25 at 03:00 AMPatients with advanced cancer often receive treatments that conflict with their goals Healio; by Josh Friedman; 10/20/25 Many patients with advanced cancer who prefer treatment that prioritizes quality of life receive therapies focused on preserving it. A retrospective analysis showed nearly 40% of individuals with advanced cancer who preferred treatment that improved their comfort felt clinicians gave them therapies meant to increase longevity.
Why caring for a parent is hard for doctors
10/22/25 at 03:00 AMWhy caring for a parent is hard for doctors MedPage Today's KevinMD.com; by Barbara Sparacino, MD; 10/19/25 I can sit with patients and families and talk about hospice, dementia, or end-of-life care without hesitation. Years of training as a physician and geriatric psychiatrist have prepared me for those conversations. But when my own parent needed care, all that training suddenly felt useless. Medical knowledge didn’t shield me from fear or guilt. It didn’t stop the second-guessing that came with every decision. It didn’t help me navigate the family disagreements about “what Mom would have wanted.” In that moment, I wasn’t the physician. I was the daughter, and that was far more complicated. Why caring for our parents feels different ...
Should an AI copy of you help decide if you live or die? Doctors share top concerns of AI surrogates aiding life-or-death decisions.
10/22/25 at 03:00 AMShould an AI copy of you help decide if you live or die? Doctors share top concerns of AI surrogates aiding life-or-death decisions. Ars Technica; by Ashley Belanger; 10/20/25 For more than a decade, researchers have wondered whether artificial intelligence could help predict what incapacitated patients might want when doctors must make life-or-death decisions on their behalf. It remains one of the most high-stakes questions in health care AI today. But as AI improves, some experts increasingly see it as inevitable that digital “clones” of patients could one day aid family members, doctors, and ethics boards in making end-of-life decisions that are aligned with a patient’s values and goals.
GeriPal Live! at NPCRC Foley Retreat: Dio Kavalieratos, Prasanna Ananth, Alexi Wright
10/22/25 at 03:00 AMGeriPal Live! at NPCRC Foley Retreat: Dio Kavalieratos, Prasanna Ananth, Alexi WrightGeriPal podcast; by Eric Widera, Alex Smith, Dio Kavalieratos, Prasanna Ananth, Alexi Wright; 10/16/25Today we join you from beautiful Banff, Alberta, Canada at the National Palliative Care Research Center (NPCRC) annual Kathleen Foley retreat... On today’s podcast, we invited Dio Kavalieratos, Prasanna Ananth, and Alexi Wright to join us to talk about three articles that spoke to them. Prasanna chose an article by Abby Rosenberg about being fired in palliative care... Dio chose an article about the economic benefits of palliative care internationally, a call to action... Alexi chose an article about cancer care in prison.
Wrinkles should merely indicate ...
10/22/25 at 03:00 AMWrinkles should merely indicate where smiles have been. ~ Mark Twain
An age-old fear grows more common: ‘I’m going to die alone’
10/22/25 at 03:00 AMAn age-old fear grows more common: ‘I’m going to die alone’ Miami Herald; by Judith Graham, Kaiser Health News; 10/17/25 This summer, at dinner with her best friend, Jacki Barden raised an uncomfortable topic: the possibility that she might die alone. “I have no children, no husband, no siblings,” Barden remembered saying. “Who’s going to hold my hand while I die?” ... It’s something that many older adults who live alone — a growing population, more than 16 million strong in 2023 — wonder about. ... More than 15 million people 55 or older don’t have a spouse or biological children; nearly 2 million have no family members at all.
How to talk to your loved ones about end of life wishes
10/22/25 at 03:00 AMHow to talk to your loved ones about end of life wishes Those Nerdy Girls; by Rebecca Raskin-Wish; 10/17/25 It’s important to have discussions about what you want the end of your time on earth to look like and have a healthcare proxy and an advance directive in place. When my sister and I were teenagers, my mom sat us down, and in a potentially more dramatic fashion than the moment called for, she said, “Girls, my death could happen any moment, and we need to talk about it.” ...
The power of music, art, and pet therapy in hospice care
10/22/25 at 03:00 AMThe power of music, art, and pet therapy in hospice care 607NewsNow, Ithaca, NY; by Maddie Cavataio; 10/10/25 Hospice care isn’t only about easing physical pain, it’s also about nurturing the mind and spirit. Creative and alternative therapies like music, art, and pet therapy are helping patients find comfort, connection, and moments of joy during one of life’s most challenging times. Music therapy can have a profound effect on mood, memory, and relaxation. ... Art therapy provides another outlet for self-expression. ... Pet therapy adds yet another dimension of comfort. ... Many patients light up when a friendly animal visits, offering unconditional love and a welcome distraction from medical routines. ... These holistic therapies remind us that hospice care is about living fully, right up to the end.
Study: Nearly two-thirds of nursing home residents were exposed to med combos linked to potential drug-drug interactions
10/22/25 at 03:00 AMStudy: Nearly two-thirds of nursing home residents were exposed to med combos linked to potential drug-drug interactions McKnights Long-Term Care News; by Foster Stubbs; 10/17/25 About 62% of nursing home residents experienced one or more drug-drug interactions (DDI) between 2018 and 2020, according to an October study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. Researchers examined 485,251 Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries 66 years or older living in nursing homes with observable Medicare Part D prescription drug data. Data were drawn from Medicare claims linked to Minimum Data Set 3.0 clinical assessments.
Teaching end-of-life care: Q&A with professor of medicine
10/22/25 at 03:00 AMTeaching end-of-life care: Q&A with professor of medicine Medical Xpress; by Mahima Samraik, Yale University, edited by Sadie Harley; 10/20/25 Every year, thousands of families sit in hospital rooms hearing words no one wants to hear: "We have done everything we can." What happens next, whether doctors stay engaged or step away, can transform one of life's most difficult moments for patients and their families. Unfortunately, for too many patients, the shift from curative care to end-of-life care leaves them feeling stranded. ... "But it doesn't have to be this way," says Matthew Ellman, MD, professor of medicine (general medicine) at Yale School of Medicine (YSM) and director of Medical Student Palliative and End-of-Life Care Education. Ellman has spent decades at patients' bedsides and now teaches medical students about death and dying. In his recent essay in Academic Medicine, he draws from his personal experiences as a physician and encourages fellow doctors to embrace difficult conversations around end-of-life care.
How leaders can learn to listen: Emotional intelligence and aligned purpose can transform the way teams communicate and get results
10/21/25 at 03:00 AMHow leaders can learn to listen: Emotional intelligence and aligned purpose can transform the way teams communicate and get results Comstock's Magazine; by Laurie Lauletta-Boshart; 10/20/25 ... Jessica Kriegel, who has a Ph.D. in human resources development and educational leadership and management, ... worked with Joshua’s House Hospice, a Sacramento nonprofit organization that provides hospice care to terminally ill homeless men and women, to determine the best way to hire employees who would stay long term. “They were looking to attract the right talent, but also wanted to retain that talent and make sure they were motivated and fulfilled in their work,” says Kriegel. Instead of a culture fit, Kriegel and her team advanced a purpose fit, where the organization’s purpose and the personal purpose of those they hired were aligned.
Don't count the days ...
10/21/25 at 03:00 AMDon't count the day; make the days count. ~ Muhammad Ali
The results are in: Palliative care professionals share how they’re doing in 2025
10/21/25 at 03:00 AMThe results are in: Palliative care professionals share how they’re doing in 2025CAPC blog; by Rachael Heitner; 10/8/25CAPC’s second annual Palliative Pulse survey offers insight on how palliative care professionals across the country are feeling this year and what they’re focused on—see how they responded... This year, 854 palliative care professionals participated in the Palliative Pulse survey... Top concerns for the coming year:
HCA rebrands 35-plus sites in South Carolina
10/21/25 at 03:00 AMHCA rebrands 35-plus sites in South Carolina Becker's Health IT; by Giles Bruce; 10/16/25 Over 35 sites of care in South Carolina have rebranded under the HCA Healthcare name. The Nashville, Tenn.-based health system said the new names will make it easier for patients to understand that the facilities, which have been part of HCA for decades, are connected. “By consolidating under the HCA Healthcare name, we’re reinforcing our collective commitment to the communities we serve,” said Hugh Tappan, president of HCA Healthcare’s Charleston, S.C.-based South Atlantic Division, in an Oct. 14 news release. ... The new hospital names include: ...
Driving sales and admissions success in hospice care
10/21/25 at 03:00 AMDriving sales and admissions success in hospice careTranscend Strategy Group; 10/13/25Behind every referral, every admission and every family supported by hospice care is a story. It is the story of providers working against the clock, of families making overwhelming choices, and of staff navigating the delicate balance between operational realities and the urgent need for compassionate care. Hospice admissions and sales are not merely about numbers or processes – they represent moments when trust, urgency and compassion converge.
How pop culture influences choices around death, dying
10/21/25 at 03:00 AMHow pop culture influences choices around death, dying Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 10/20/25 The popular media that people consume, including television shows, can influence their end-of-life decision making. This is according to new research from End Well, a nonprofit dedicated to the belief that all people should experience the end of life in a way that matches their values and goals. The study examines whether pop culture storylines that involve death and dying influence viewers’ behavior when it comes to advance care planning.
Should doctors show more empathy?
10/21/25 at 03:00 AMShould doctors show more empathy?Pain News Network; by Carol Levy; 10/6/25So many of us have complained, rightly so, about doctors not listening to us. They often ignore our words... Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, a teaching hospital in Boston, has taken steps to incorporate empathy into the doctor-patient experience. The hospital’s patient intake forms have two questions designed to build empathy. The first is “How would you like to be addressed?”... The second question is “What is your main concern for this visit?"
How to support a loved one through cancer treatment
10/21/25 at 03:00 AMHow to support a loved one through cancer treatmentNPR; by Marielle Segarra; 10/7/25I finished treatment for cancer a little over a year ago. Around that time, I was finally feeling well enough to take a trip and I went to Arizona for a few days to be in nature, see some cactuses. My friend, Zoe Saunders, texted me while I was there. She knew someone else whose friend had the same kind of cancer that I did. So Zoe asked me what advice did I have. As someone who just finished treatment, what was helpful and what wasn't? I sent her this voice memo...
Health Data Analytics Institute (HDAI) deploys innovative use of LLMs for summarizing and supporting patient preferences at a leading cancer center
10/21/25 at 03:00 AMHealth Data Analytics Institute (HDAI) deploys innovative use of LLMs for summarizing and supporting patient preferences at a leading cancer center Bluegrass Live; by PR Newswire, Boston, MA; 10/20/25 An innovative new protocol called Better Real-time Information on Documentation of Goals of care for Engagement in Serious Illness Communication (BRIDGE-SIC) is being launched today at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. BRIDGE-SIC uses Health Data Analytics Institute (HDAI) large language models (LLMs) to extract and summarize patients' goals of care conversations and their risk stratification tools for patient selection. The AI summaries identify and summarize prior goals of care conversations documented in patients' medical records and share them with inpatient and outpatient clinicians when patients with cancer are admitted to the hospital.