Literature Review
Northern Counties Health delivers care, access over 50 years
03/31/26 at 03:00 AMNorthern Counties Health delivers care, access over 50 years Caledoninan Record, Vermont; 3/27/26 Northern Counties Health Care, Inc. is marking a golden milestone this year, celebrating five decades of providing primary care, dental care, and home health and hospice services across Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom. The nonprofit traces its roots to a citizen-led effort to improve access to care and now operates a regional network designed around local needs. The organization’s origins date to 1976, when community leaders formed a board to continue the work of the Northern Counties Comprehensive Health Planning Council and established what became Vermont’s first federally qualified health center. ... The network today includes seven community health centers, two walk‑in primary care locations under the Northern Express Care banner, three dental centers, and a certified home health and hospice division.
The demoralization of America's doctors
03/31/26 at 03:00 AMThe demoralization of America's doctors Straight Arrow News; by Jess Craig; 3/30/26 Key takeaways:
What caring for elderly parents really feels like and what people don’t talk about
03/31/26 at 03:00 AMWhat caring for elderly parents really feels like and what people don’t talk about Sassy Sister Stuff; by Victoria Cornell; 3/29/26 A simple Reddit prompt, “What’s something people don’t realize about taking care of elderly parents?”, turned into a raw, candid conversation in r/AskReddit. ... Readers shared specific, sometimes heartbreaking stories and blunt advice, and the result is a clear picture of how caregiving is far messier than the Hallmark version we imagine.
Lost in transmission: Changes in organ donor status can fall through cracks in the system
03/31/26 at 03:00 AMLost in transmission: Changes in organ donor status can fall through cracks in the system KFF Health News, Akron News Reporter; by Céline Gounder; 3/29/26 When Raven Kinser walked into a Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles office two summers ago, she completed a driver's license application that included the option to register as an organ donor. The form provides a checkbox to opt in, but not one to opt out. Kinser left the donor registration box unchecked, reflecting her decision to reverse an earlier donor registration. Six months later, after she was declared dead at Riverside Regional Medical Center in Newport News, Virginia, her parents say, they learned that her decision did not prevent organ procurement. Raven's case reveals a little-known gap in the U.S. donation system: There is no clear, nationally binding way to opt out or to ensure a later "no" overrides an earlier "yes" in a different state.
CMS Hospice Wage Index Panel: Key insights for access, staffing, and care delivery
03/31/26 at 03:00 AMCMS Hospice Wage Index Panel: Key insights for access, staffing, and care delivery Abt Global | Centers for Medicare & Medicaid; by Michael Plotzke, T.J. Christian, Matt Knowles, and Anne St. George; meeting held on 9/10/25, report published 11/24/25The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released both a summary and technical report from its September 2025 Technical Expert Panel on the hospice wage index—offering a closer look at how geographic wage adjustments may evolve. Beyond methodology, the reports carry meaningful clinical and operational implications. Refinements to the wage index influence how resources are distributed across regions, shaping workforce capacity, interdisciplinary team stability, and ultimately patient access to timely, high-quality hospice care. For leaders, these findings underscore the connection between payment policy and bedside realities—particularly in rural and underserved areas where recruitment, retention, and care continuity remain fragile.
Special Report - Untapped potential: The power of peer support programs in prisons
03/31/26 at 03:00 AMSpecial Report - Untapped potential: The power of peer support programs in prisons John Howard Association of Illinois; project led by Kate Eves; March 2026 issue At the time this report was drafted, there were more than 70 Peer Support Programs (PSP) in U.S. carceral facilities identified in operation with a focus on improving health outcomes for incarcerated people with more new programs regularly coming to our attention, in addition to international programs. This project focused on 15 programs across 12 jurisdictions addressing a range of health and well-being areas including mental health, substance abuse and palliative care. [Use Ctrl+F and type "hospice" to find this report's 28 references to hospice.]
Generations: Women’s History Month helps us remember women in our own history
03/31/26 at 03:00 AMGenerations: Women’s History Month helps us remember women in our own history The Bemidji Pioneer; by Sue Bruns; 3/28/26 Whether you’re a history buff or not, I encourage you to take the last few days of March to reflect on some of the women you know or have known who are worthy of your admiration and reflection. ... I did a little online exploration and read about a few women I don’t recall my history classes mentioning. I encourage readers to go online and search sites like www.history.com and www.nationalwomenshistoryalliance.org. ... I have been blessed with truly amazing, strong, industrious, intelligent and compassionate women. Starting with my own mother.
Mercer professors awarded grant to explore how to better support dying patients
03/31/26 at 03:00 AMMercer professors awarded grant to explore how to better support dying patients The Den; by Katerine Lybarger; 3/26/26 Mercer University professors Caroline Anglim, Ph.D., and Paul Lewis, Ph.D., M.Div., have received a $60,000 Faith and Health Campus Grant from Interfaith America to expand both academic and public understanding of how faith, spirituality and health intersect. The initiative will aim to advance the concept of religion as a social determinant of dying well in the American health care system and include several components including curricular development, community partnerships and research.
It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade. ~ Charles Dickens, Great Expectations
03/31/26 at 03:00 AMIt was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade. ~ Charles Dickens, Great ExpectationsGoodbye to 2026 March days when weather felt like April Fools' jokes.
Expanded palliative care program in Dubuque addresses a 'significant need'
03/31/26 at 03:00 AMExpanded palliative care program in Dubuque addresses a 'significant need' Telegraph Herald; by Grace Burwell; 3/28/26 A “meant to be” collaboration between two Dubuque providers is offering the local aging population expanded palliative support. UnityPoint Health-Finley Hospital and Hospice of Dubuque recently launched an expanded palliative care program, bringing three nurse practitioners to the Dubuque hospital. Lavonne Noel, executive director of Hospice of Dubuque, said the new resource sprung out of “more need than ever before. It’s more important than ever that we work together in the health care environment right now, so we’re excited to join forces and collaborate on this."
New program and book examine best practices around end-of-life care for people living with Alzheimer’s Disease and related dementias (ADRD)
03/31/26 at 02:00 AMNew program and book examine best practices around end-of-life care for people living with Alzheimer’s Disease and related dementias (ADRD) Hospice Foundation of America, Washington, DC; by Lisa Veglahn;3/25/26 Hospice Foundation of America (HFA) will present its 33rd annual Living with Grief® educational program, Best Practices in Hospice Care for Advanced Dementia, addressing optimal care for the fastest growing segment of the hospice population. The program will be held live via Zoom on April 14, 2026, from noon—2 pm ET. According to the National Institutes of Health, researchers estimate that 42% of Americans over the age of 55 will at some point develop a form of dementia, all of which are terminal illnesses. ... In addition to the upcoming program, HFA has published a new volume of scholarly and personal work, Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia: A Guide for Hospice Clinicians, edited by Kenneth J. Doka and Amy S. Tucci. The book offers valuable insights and practical approaches to delivering compassionate, person-centered end-of-life care to individuals with dementia and their loved ones. Editor's Note: Hospice Foundation of America has long defined standards for hospice education, and once again leads at a pivotal moment as dementia impacts Baby Boomers' end-of-life care. From their early satellite broadcasts that convened clinicians nationwide to today’s expansive reach, HFA has consistently translated complexity into practical, practice-changing insight. This work challenges us not only to learn, but to lead—bringing greater clarity, skill, and compassion to those living with dementia and those who walk beside them.
Mike Schramm: 'The Pitt' and the doctrine of double effect
03/31/26 at 02:00 AMMike Schramm: 'The Pitt' and the doctrine of double effect 1819 News, Birmingham, AL; by Mike Schramm; 3/27/26 ... In season two [of The Pitt], episode eight, Drs. “Robby” and McKay begin a conversation about a patient with terminal cancer in agonizing pain who is nearing death. “Where are we with the morphine?” Robby asks, suggesting they raise the dosage. After being told (surely for the viewers) “she could stop breathing,” he gestures and asks, “Are you familiar with the doctrine of double effect?” ... “We treat pain,” Robby explains. “And if, in doing so, there’s a negative side effect, we accept it.” “Even if the negative side effect is death?” McKay asks. While this might seem intuitive to some, its history and reasonability cannot be taken for granted. This doctrine of double-effect basically affirms that a good or neutral action may be morally undertaken in good conscience, even if one knows that a secondary bad result will occur from that action.
The clinical dilemma of withholding futile treatment
03/30/26 at 03:00 AMThe clinical dilemma of withholding futile treatment Medscape; by Brenda Sandburg; 3/27/26 During hospital rounds, Kenneth Covinsky, MD, MPH, a professor of medicine and clinician researcher in the Division of Geriatrics at the University of California San Francisco, sometimes meets families at a wrenching crossroads: a loved one with advanced dementia is no longer eating, slowly losing weight because they no longer are hungry. They ask the question almost every time — can’t something be done? ...
Hospice of Wichita Falls celebrates donors and volunteers
03/30/26 at 03:00 AMHospice of Wichita Falls celebrates donors and volunteers KFDX/KJTL, Wichita Falls, TX; Press Release; 3/27/26 An evening of gratitude took stage as Hospice of Wichita Falls celebrated the people who make its mission possible. The organization hosted its annual Maverick Appreciation Dinner at the MPEC on Thursday, March 26, bringing together donors, volunteers, staff, media and community partners for a night focused on recognition and connection.
New L+M hospice unit seeks to provide peace, comfort for patients and families
03/30/26 at 03:00 AMNew L+M hospice unit seeks to provide peace, comfort for patients and families The Day, New London, CT; by John Penney; 3/27/26 Down a long sixth-floor corridor that passes through Lawrence + Memorial Hospital’s oncology unit are three rooms that for its patients are the last they’ll ever enter. Those recently refurbished patient rooms, along with a renovated family room, comprise the hospital’s new dedicated hospice space where those at the end of their lives — along with their loved ones — are made comfortable by a team of nurses and other caregivers. ... The creation of the new unit began in the fall and included transforming an office into a family room located just steps from the patient spaces.
HHS and CMS announce Healthcare Advisory Committee members to improve patient care and modernize the U.S. healthcare system
03/30/26 at 03:00 AMHHS and CMS announce Healthcare Advisory Committee members to improve patient care and modernize the U.S. healthcare system CMS Newsroom; Press Release; 3/26/26 The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the members of the Healthcare Advisory Committee, a new federal advisory body comprised of leaders from across the healthcare system to provide expert advice on improving, strengthening and modernizing U.S. healthcare. The Committee will advise HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz on ways to improve how care is financed and delivered across Medicare, Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, and the Health Insurance Marketplace. [Access the list]
Palladium acquires DME Express from WayPoint
03/30/26 at 03:00 AMPalladium acquires DME Express from WayPoint Private Equity Professional; by John McNulty; 3/26/26 Palladium Equity Partners has agreed to acquire a majority equity interest in DME Express, a provider of durable medical equipment, from WayPoint Capital Partners. ... Palladium’s investment in DME is its second in the hospice industry and the second platform investment for its sixth fund, which has not yet announced a final close and is reportedly targeting $1.5 billion in capital.
Getting it out there: Reflections on the process and impact of public engagement activities in a study on end-of-life care planning with people with intellectual disabilities
03/30/26 at 03:00 AMGetting it out there: Reflections on the process and impact of public engagement activities in a study on end-of-life care planning with people with intellectual disabilities Health Expectations; by Andrea Bruun, Amanda Cresswell, David Jeffrey, Leon Jordan, Richard Keagan-Bull, Jo Giles, Sarah Swindells, Meg Wilding, Nicola Payne, Gemma Allen, Rhidian Hughes, Elizabeth Tilley, Sarah L. Gibson, Rebecca Anderson-Kittow, Irene Tuffrey-Wijne; 3/26/26 ... Conclusions: Public engagement is a complex, uncertain and non-linear undertaking, requiring continual reflection and refinement in response to changing circumstances within and beyond the research. ... Our engagement recommendations are: (1) Involve people with lived experience; (2) Plan and allocate time; (3) Include social media and/or marketing roles in research; (4) Tailor to the audience and platform; (5) Make it engaging and fun; (6) Learn how to make videos; (7) Keep presenting your work; and (8) Make time for stakeholder consultations.
‘No silver bullet’: The iterative staffing strategies home-based care providers need
03/30/26 at 03:00 AM‘No silver bullet’: The iterative staffing strategies home-based care providers need Home Health Care News; by Morgan Gonzales; 3/26/26 The home-based care staffing landscape is undergoing a shift, as worker demographics, desires and motivations evolve. ... [There] there is no single technique that serves as a panacea, and providers must continually iterate their strategies, according to Kerin Zuger, the chief operating officer at Caretech. “There is no silver bullet,” Zuger said on a recent Home Health Care News webinar. “What do we need to do with our recruiting and onboarding strategy so that we can hire more caregivers and get them to stay? The answer is, everything. The answer is, try it all and then try it again.
If you really look closely, most overnight successes ...
03/30/26 at 03:00 AMIf you really look closely, most overnight successes took a long time. ~ Steve JobsHere's to this week's tasks for wrapping up 2026's Quarter 1 and moving into Quarter 2.
Part of the ‘nephrology toolbox’: ASN releases conservative kidney management guidance
03/30/26 at 03:00 AMPart of the ‘nephrology toolbox’: ASN releases conservative kidney management guidance Healio; by Lucas Laboy, Susan P. Y. Wong, MD, MS, Jane O. Schell, MD, MHS; 3/27/26 The American Society of Nephrology issued new kidney health guidance on conservative management as a practical treatment option for patients with kidney failure. Key Takeaways:
New hospice leaders emerge
03/30/26 at 02:30 AMNew hospice leaders emerge Hospice News; by Holly Vossel; 3/27/26 A host of new hospice executives have recently taken the helm at organizations across the country.
Documented California hospice fraud prompts broad ranging inquiry from national oversight and accountability organization
03/30/26 at 02:00 AMDocumented California hospice fraud prompts broad ranging inquiry from national oversight and accountability organization Empower Oversight - Whistleblowers & Research, Washington, DC; 3/26/26 Empower Oversight today pressed for comprehensive records from the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) related to hospice fraud and oversight failures across California — with a particular focus on Los Angeles County. The records request targets widespread regulatory failures in the county. The letter request spans five broad categories asking for: