Literature Review

National policy framework for Pediatric Palliative Care Homes National Center for Pediatric Palliative Care Homes; email and webpage; 2/3/26The NCPPCH recently formally released its National Policy Framework for Pediatric Palliative Care Homes, and has begun early engagement with key national partners. This framework is intended to help policymakers at the state and federal level better understand the structural, licensing, and reimbursement pathways needed to support Pediatric Palliative Care Centers nationwide. Review the Policy Framework and Executive Summary here: https://www.ncppch.org/national-policy-framework.

Struggling rural Nebraska hospitals find 'lifeline' in emergency model Lincoln Journal Star, Lincoln, NE; by Julie Anderson; 1/31/26 ... In Garden County, which spans 2,000 square miles in Nebraska's eastern Panhandle and numbers about 2,000 residents, the stream of patients coming into the hospital side of Garden County Health Services in Oshkosh had dwindled to a trickle in recent years. According to a recent count, inpatient admissions at the hospital averaged .07 per day and daily swing bed admissions averaged .05. "They can be few and far between," said Sam Pennington, Garden County's CEO. ... Pennington said hospice care was another concern of residents, so he also plans to try to arrange that under some available options. 

Stop losing customers: Why your retention strategy needs AI nowBusinessWorld; by Sheila Salamanca; 1/6/26Here’s a question that keeps executives up at night: Why are customers leaving, and what can we do about it? If you’re watching customers slip away despite your best efforts, you’re not alone. In subscription-based businesses — think streaming services, software, telecom — losing just 5% more customers can slash profits by 25% or more. The math is brutal. But the solution isn’t acquiring more customers. It’s keeping the ones you have. This isn’t just common sense; it’s now backed by AI... Companies like Verizon and Vodafone have already figured this out. They’re using neural networks, sophisticated AI systems inspired by how our brains work, to predict which customers are about to leave, and how to intervene before it’s too late.Publisher's note: This interesting article recently came across my desk. Hospice's focus retention strategies on staff, not patients. This article might help with both.

Galactic Symphony thrills young hospice patient Lovin' Life; by Lin Sue Flood; 2/1/26 A quiet backyard suddenly burst into song with the stirring brass of John Williams Star Wars theme recently, transforming a regular afternoon into a Galactic Symphony. For 26-year-old Anthony Castle, a lifelong Star Wars superfan, it was like watching the magic of the big screen come to life. Through a unique partnership between Hospice of the Valley and the Phoenix Symphony, six professional musicians arrived at Anthonys home to perform a private medley. To the delight of Anthony who proudly wore his Baby Yoda T-shirt several of the performers arrived in character, dressed as Princess Leia and Luke Skywalker.

“Existential risk” – Why scientists are racing to define consciousness WDC TV News; by WDC TV News Staff; 2/1/26 As artificial intelligence continues to advance and ethical concerns grow alongside it, scientists say the need to understand consciousness has reached a critical point. In a new review published in Frontiers in Science, researchers warn that progress in AI and neurotechnology is moving faster than scientific understanding of consciousness. This gap, they argue, could lead to serious ethical problems if it is not addressed. The authors say explaining how consciousness emerges is now an urgent scientific and moral priority. A clearer understanding could eventually make it possible to develop scientific methods for detecting consciousness. That breakthrough would have far-reaching consequences ...

The Parmenter Foundation expands compassionate care, bereavement community with 2026 grants Transcendental Meditation News Today, Wayland, MA; Press Release; 2/3/26 ... The Parmenter Foundation, based in Wayland, Mass., will provide $400,000 to nearly two dozen innovative and compassionate programs in four areas of support: children’s bereavement, caregiver support, family bereavement, and hospice care. “We are honored to provide funding to such deserving organizations in 2026,” said Executive Director Angela Crocker. ... Among this year’s grantees is long-term partner Good Shepherd Community Care’s Miriam Boyd Parlin Hospice Residence, ... and Empower Grieving Children, ... [Click here for the full list.]

HopeWest holds 30th annual gala to support new dementia program KJCT 8 News - ABC, Grand Junction, CO; by Robbie Patla; 2/1/26 HopeWest held its 30th annual gala on January 31, bringing community members and partners together to support its new Dementia Support Program, which launched in July 2025. ... "This program really supports the caregiver’s journey and provides them with resources so that they are knowledgeable and have the tools to take care of their loved one,” said Breeana Gumpert, Chief Development Officer for HopeWest. ... Over 520 Grand Valley residents attended the sold-out event, which featured a “Romantic Renaissance” theme and raised funds for the program through ticket sales, a silent auction, and donations.

How to responsibly use AI in palliative care and hematologic malignancies CancerNetwork; podcast by Ram Prakash Thirugnanasambandam, MBBS; 2/2/26 In a conversation with CancerNetwork®, Ram Prakash Thirugnanasambandam, MBBS, discussed the evolving roles that artificial intelligence (AI)–based tools may play in palliative care and the management of different hematologic malignancies. ... According to Thirugnanasambandam, implementing AI into one’s workflow may help accurately predict disease subtypes and burdens among patients with leukemia, lymphoma, or multiple myeloma. ... Thirugnanasambandam also discussed some of the ethical considerations surrounding the growth of AI-based tools, highlighting information privacy concerns and potentially biased datasets as notable issues with these platforms. Although AI may assist with decision-making, Thirugnanasambandam stated that it ultimately cannot replace a human’s nuanced clinical judgment and empathy.

[Worldwide] End-of-life care statistics by care, conditions and illness (2026) Market.us Media; by Samruddhi Yardi; 2/2/26 Each year, an estimated 56.8 million people, including 25.7 million in the last year of life, are in need of palliative care. Worldwide, only about 14% of people who need palliative care currently receive it. ... As society continues to grapple with evolving views on life and death, the commitment to compassionate, personalized, and respectful end-of-life care remains paramount. Embracing this philosophy ensures that every individual is allowed a dignified and meaningful conclusion to their life’s journey.

Blaming younger doctors for setting boundaries ignores the broken system The Podcast by KevinMD; podcast hosted by KevinMD with Christie Mulholland; 1/31/26 Palliative care physician and certified physician development coach Christie Mulholland discusses her article “5 things health care must stop doing to improve physician well-being.” Christie challenges the pervasive narrative that younger physicians lack work ethic and argues that their boundary-setting is a rational response to an untenable system. ... Christie explains the double standard where new technology is an investment but physician wellness is expected to prove immediate financial return. 

Brookdale Senior Living continues downsizing with focus on owning communities McKnights Senior Living; by Lois A. Bowers; 2/2/26The future, including the future size, of the country’s largest senior living company was brought into sharper focus Friday during Brookdale Senior Living’s Investor Day. In the near term, that future appears to include a more aggressive portfolio pruning than previously announced. In the long term, CEO Nick Stengle didn’t rule out a potential return to the home health and hospice care space, although he said the company has no current plans to do so.

From new division to new leadership: White House appoints national “Fraud Czar” Benesch; by Robert J. Kolansky, Pilar G. Mendez, Briana Cowman; 1/30/26  The White House has announced the creation of a new senior enforcement role focused on identifying, coordinating and advancing large-scale fraud matters across federal programs and the private sector, signaling a renewed emphasis on centralized fraud enforcement strategy rather than a shift in underlying legal standards. According to recent reporting, the Administration has appointed a seasoned investigator and prosecutor, Colin McDonald to serve in this newly created role, informally described as a national “fraud czar.” 

Awards and Recognitions: January 2026