Literature Review

* CEO, Hildegard House, nonprofit, Louisville, KY

AI and healthcare: Bob WachterGeriPAL podcast; Alex Smith, Eric Widera, Bob Wachter; 2/5/26Today we interviewed Bob Wachter about his book, “A Giant Leap: How AI Is Transforming Healthcare and What That Means for Our Future.” You may recall we interviewed Bob in April 2024 about AI, and at that time he was on the fence about AI – more promise or more peril for healthcare? As his book’s title suggests, he’s come down firmly on the promise side of the equation.

Happy St. Patrick's Day! New word for the day: Sláinte (pronounced slawn-cha) to a team that makes excellence look easy.

Mom of Frosty-loving daughter on hospice shouts out Wendy’s staff for ‘lovely gesture’ NBC Today Show; by Heather Marin, RD; 3/13/26 ... [Mary Adams] wanted to give a shoutout to a Wendy’s drive-thru employee in Palm Desert, California, who made her feel seen on a weekly Frosty run that’s deeply bittersweet. ... Purdie’s sister, Gretchen, was diagnosed with glioblastoma in 2023 [... and chose hospice care in January 2025]. Her appetite is limited these days. “Every week,” Purdie explains. “Someone from our family, usually my mom, goes to Wendy’s and gets six chocolate Frostys.” ... When Adams arrived at her local Wendy’s to pick up the weekly supply recently, a staff member recognized her. “Hey, you’re late!” said the team member, handing over the drink tray, “No spoons, right?” “Many days, there are very few reasons to smile while being a caregiver for her terminally ill daughter, but that interaction was a bright spot,” says Purdie. The whole family was touched that someone noticed the routine that is for them both life-sustaining and painful.

How closed-ended survey questions and narrative comments interact in characterizing caregivers’ overall assessment of hospice care Rand.org, published in American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine; by Denise D. Quigley, Anagha Alka Tolpadi, Danielle Schlang, Joshua Wolf, Rebecca Anhang Price, Melissa A. Bradley; April 2026 online ahead of  print Introduction: Responses to open-ended questions on experience surveys provide rich information and are useful for quality improvement (QI). We examine the usefulness of the Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) Hospice Survey comments for informing hospice QI.Conclusion: Closed-ended questions on the CAHPS Hospice Survey elicit comprehensive insights on hospice care experiences. While many caregivers elected to provide open-ended feedback, a minority of these comments were actionable for QI, and comments did not provide substantial, unique information. CAHPS Hospice Survey measures are sufficient, without open-ended comments, to guide QI, prioritize actions, benchmark performance and assist caregivers in hospice selection.

The non-professional virtues of the hospice volunteer Journal of Applied Philosophy; by Michael B. Gill; 3/12/26 Volunteers have long played a significant role in hospice care. Much of the care volunteers provide consists of weekly hour-long in-home visits. Home-visiting hospice volunteers are not professionals, nor are they strangers or intimates. Hospice volunteers will not typically face moral dilemmas, nor be called upon to make dramatic decisions. Nonetheless, hospice volunteering can exemplify a neglected area of in-between ethics – a subset of what Brownlee has called the ‘ethics of interacting’ – that can redound to the wellbeing of all concerned. This article explores the in-between ethics of hospice volunteering and the opportunities it affords to cultivate virtues of attention and gratitude.

AI in hospice: What every leader needs to know | part one Teleios Collaborative Network (TCN); podcast hosted by Chris Comeaux with Ernesto Lopez; 3/11/26 Artificial intelligence is rapidly entering healthcare, but what does it really mean for Hospice leaders?  In this episode of TCN Talks/Anatomy of Leadership, host Chris Comeaux sits down with Ernesto Lopez—founder and CEO of 1520 AI and a longtime Hospice executive—to unpack the opportunities, risks, and realities of AI in Hospice. Drawing on his background as a registered nurse, healthcare executive, and Harvard Business School–trained data analyst, Ernesto explains how artificial intelligence is evolving and why Hospice organizations must approach it with both curiosity and caution. 

Avow Hospice fights new rival in Naples Naples Today | Health; 3/5/26 Avow Hospice, a long-standing hospice provider in Naples, Florida, is objecting to the state's preliminary approval of a new hospice entity, Preferred Care Hospice, that Avow says would be detrimental to its operations of over 40 years in the community. Avow has filed a petition for an administrative hearing to try to overturn the state's approval of the new hospice. ... The battle between Avow Hospice and the new Preferred Care Hospice highlights the competitive nature of the hospice industry, especially in growing markets like Naples. 

Palliative care for multiple sclerosis: Managing progressive disease with compassion Ashland localtownpages, Aubrey, TX; by Press Services; 3/5/26 Multiple sclerosis presents unique challenges that require specialized support throughout the disease journey. Patients experience unpredictable symptoms including fatigue, pain, mobility issues, and cognitive changes. These symptoms shift and intensify over time, affecting daily life for both patients and their families. Sovereign Hospice addresses these complex needs through palliative care and hospice at home service across the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.

Christina McNally appointed President & CEO of Carolina Caring Carolina Caring, Newton, NC; Press Release; 2/9/26 Effective immediately, Christina McNally, MPH has been appointed President & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Carolina Caring. Prior to this appointment, McNally served Carolina Caring in key leadership roles, including Executive Director of the Carolina Caring Foundation, Chief Strategy Officer, and Interim Chief Executive Officer. ... As CEO, McNally will oversee all of Carolina Caring’s clinical programs and support services, which are provided to more than 11,000 patients each year. 

Cambia Health Foundation releases comprehensive evaluation of Sojourns Scholar Leadership Program Business Wire, Portland, OR; Press Release; 3/3/26 Cambia Health Foundation today released the results of a comprehensive evaluation of its Sojourns Scholar Leadership Program, demonstrating the significant impact of a 10-year, $25 million investment in developing the next generation of palliative care leaders.  ... The program’s goals were measured against more than 175 sources, as well as 18 individual interviews, 5 focus groups and a comprehensive written survey completed by 117 individuals, including program participants and industry experts. Notable findings include:

Love hurts: Leadership, quality, and the future of hospice & palliative care | part one Teleios Collaborative Network (TCN Talks); podcast by Chris Comeaux with Dr. Alex Smith and Dr. Eric Widera; 3/4/26 TCNtalks / Anatomy of Leadership host Chris Comeaux and co-host Cordt Kassner join forces with Dr. Eric Widera and Dr. Alex Smith of the GeriPal Podcast, leaders in Palliative Care and Hospice innovation discuss emerging quality measures, data-driven hospice analytics, research challenges, and the leadership needed to guide healthcare organizations through change. For professionals working in healthcare leadership and serious illness care, the conversation offers valuable insight into the policies, research, and innovations shaping the future of Hospice and Palliative Medicine.

Oregon legislature passes bill Stop Bad Actors from Taking Advantage of Hospice Patients OregonLegislature.gov, Salem, OR; Press Release, Office of Senator Deb Patterson; 3/4/26 Hospice began as a movement to provide end-of-life care for terminally ill patients. However, corporate investors have started buying up hospice agencies and reducing services as they try to maximize profits. In some states, this has led to patterns of fraud, abuse, and neglect. Today, the Oregon Legislature passed the Protecting the Dying Act (SB 1575), which enhances state oversight of hospice agencies. ... Senator Patterson began work on this issue after it was brought to her by a local hospice provider in her community. Iria Nishimura, CEO of Willamette Vital Health in Salem, said, “Hospice serves patients and families during the most vulnerable time of life. The state has a responsibility to ensure that providers entering this field are qualified, ethical, and capable of deliver high-quality care.”