Literature Review

10 big themes for AI in healthcare heading into 2026 Becker's Health IT; by Laura Dyrda; 11/18/25 Artificial intelligence has evolved from experimental pilots to a foundational part of healthcare strategy. Across eight sessions at the Becker’s CEO + CFO Roundtable AI Summit, hospital and health system leaders described how they are moving beyond hype to build governance, data discipline, and measurable impact. Ten key themes emerged that define where AI in healthcare stands today — and where it’s headed next. ...

Combating durable medical equipment fraudOIG video; 11/25/25Durable Medical Equipment (DME) refers to medical devices prescribed by a health care provider to help patients manage health conditions and is essential for millions of people. DME includes medical devices like wheelchairs, oxygen tanks, and glucose monitors. Unfortunately, DME is a frequent target for fraud – costing taxpayers billions of dollars and putting patients at risk. [Click above to view a three-minute video on this topic.]

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.”

Honoring the lives and legacies of hospice leaders - November 2025

"Being ill defines your daily life": Social wellbeing of patients residing at home facing an incurable illness and their primary family caregivers BMC Palliative Care; by Trudy Schutter, Ian Koper, Marieke Groot, Kris Vissers, Jeroen Hasselaar; 11/28/25 Online ahead of print This study demonstrates that meaningful relationships, acknowledgement of one's situation and the ability to determine one's own level of involvement in society are essential for the social wellbeing of patients and family caregivers confronted with incurable illness. ... Furthermore, the quality of communication and relationships with healthcare providers, employers, and institutions, along with the prevailing societal attitudes towards incurable illness, caregiving, death, and dying, is of considerable significance and should be given careful attention.

Holidays can be celebrated even during illness SNJ Today, Cumberland County, NJ; 11/30/25 The holidays often bring warmth, tradition, and togetherness, but when a loved one is facing a terminal diagnosis, the season can also bring intense emotion, uncertainty, and sadness. The joyful anticipation of the season may now feel solemn and bittersweet. Yet, according to NJ Health Hospice and Palliative Care, observing the holidays, gently and intentionally, can foster comfort, connection, and cherished memories.

Not just a ‘soft skill’: How academic hospitals are embedding professionalism into strategy Becker's Hospital Review; by Kelly Gooch; 11/18/25 Hospitals and health systems are formalizing leadership roles focused on clinical excellence and professionalism — particularly at academic medical centers. Leaders say their institutions see the value in this approach to improve patient safety, strengthen workplace culture and support clinician well-being. ... Becker’s connected with these leaders to discuss the drivers that led their organizations to elevate this focus, how they link it to strategic goals, and examples of meaningful success. 

December: A month of lights, snow, coziness, and feasts; time to make amends and tie up loose ends; finish what you started and make your wishes come true.

Memorial bricks at William Childs Hospice House pave way for comfort, community and healing Space Coast Daily, Palm Bay, FL; by Space Coast Daily; 11/29/25 Under a beautiful November sky, more than 200 family members and friends gathered on a recent Saturday morning in front of the Butterfly Garden, nestled on the grounds of the William Childs Hospice House. Attendees joined the Health First Foundation’s annual Brick Paver Dedication Ceremony, a heartfelt tradition held each November during National Hospice and Palliative Care Month. ... One such brick was in honor of Arthur “Lou” Larmay, 94, who passed in July while in Hospice care. During his final weeks, Lou was commended by Hospice with a ceremony honoring his military service – and his days as a jazz musician. Gathering in the garden after his passing was just what his mourning loved ones needed.

20 areas to not overlook when assessing business risk Forbes; by Expert Panel; 11/25/25 ... As business leaders themselves, the members of Forbes Business Council are familiar with the challenges companies are facing as the business landscape grows increasingly complex. Here, 20 of them discuss areas they believe C-suite leaders may be underestimating when it comes to risk.

Local hospice offers support for grieving families on Thanksgiving ABC News 7, Amarillo, TX; by Aby Molina; 11/27/25 As families gather for Thanksgiving, the holiday can be particularly painful for those who have lost a loved one. BSA Hospice of the Southwest is offering a place for empathy and a Thanksgiving gathering to support those in mourning. ... BSA Hospice has hosted this event for several years, providing extra support during this time of year. Lindsey Wyatt, bereavement coordinator at BSA Hospice, expressed excitement about hosting the event. "We're just really excited to host, to provide an opportunity and a warm, safe place for people to fellowship and come together who have experienced that loss. ... "

New from MedPAC: 2025 Payment Basics series MedPAC - Medicare Payment Advisory Commission; 11/24/25 MedPAC announces the release of the updated 2025 Medicare Payment Basics series. MedPAC's mission is to advise the Congress on Medicare issues, and part of that mission is providing clear and accessible information about how Medicare works. Payment Basics is a series of explainers on how Medicare's payment systems function. These "basics" are typically no more than 5 pages long and feature handy diagrams that visually depict how the payment systems calculate providers' payments. MedPAC produces "basics" for the major payment systems (20 in all), and updates the series once a year in the fall. The updated versions are now available here.

He built a nursing home empire despite state investigations. Now, lawsuits are piling upCalMatters; by Jocelyn Wiener; 11/20/25California nursing homes affiliated with Shlomo Rechnitz are facing lawsuits alleging that patients were raped, ignored and unnecessarily exposed to COVID-19. His companies deny the allegations. In February 2024, a Los Angeles County jury awarded $2.34 million to an 84-year-old nursing home resident named Betsy Jentz, finding that the facility had violated her rights on 132 occasions, at times leading to serious injuries. [Three more equally offensive cases.] All of these facilities have one thing in common: state records list Shlomo Rechnitz as an owner. Court documents show Rechnitz and his companies have denied all allegations in all of the cases.