Literature Review

Losing a close person to death in ICU: A thematic analysis of bereaved family members' experiences of end-of-life careIntensive and Critical Care Nursing; by Lena Palmryd, Anette Alvariza, Asa Rejno, Tove Godskesen; 6/26This study aims to describe bereaved family members experiences of end-of-life care following the death of a close person in ICU... In ICUs, family members are in great need of compassionate support, characterized by the presence of ICU nurses and their emotionally attuned communication. This support helps family members navigate the complexity in care, fostering trust, meaning-making, and a sense of dignity.

Nursing home ratings and characteristics predict hospice use among decedents with serious illnessesJournal of the American Medical Directors Association; by Ellis C Dillon, Chae Man Lee, Wenqi Gan, Doreek Charles, Germine Soliman, Julie Robison; 4/26Approximately one-third of older Americans experience a nursing home (NH) stay within 3 months of death, but it is unclear how NH characteristics influence end-of-life care.  Short-term (vs long-term) NH stays were associated with increased odds of hospice use and short hospice use. Individuals with long-term stays had lower odds of hospice use with stays at NHs with the highest (vs lowest) CMS ratings for quality measures and staffing ... Those with short-term stays had lower odds of hospice use with stays at NHs with the highest CMS Health Inspection ratings. People with long-term stays at NHs that were part of a chain, had Alzheimer's care units, or had more beds had increased odds of hospice care. Conclusions and implications: Among Connecticut Medicaid-insured decedents with NH stays, people with long-term stays and stays in NHs with better CMS ratings had lower odds of hospice use. Assistant Editor's note: This summary article highlights an important issue and an excellent opportunity for future analysis in a broader context. Intuitively, we'd like to see highly rated NHs have higher hospice utilization. 

Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all. ~ Helen Keller

You were born an original. Don't die a copy. ~ John Mason

Why artificial intelligence displacement threatens medical specialties MedPageToday's KevinMD.com; by H. Michael Boulton, MD; 5/3/26 Diagnostic radiology, as a physician-staffed specialty, will not exist in its current form within 20 years. Neither will diagnostic pathology. Neither, in all likelihood, will the outpatient model of endocrinology or general internal medicine as we currently understand it. These are not fringe predictions from technologists who have never set foot in a hospital; they are the logical endpoint of capability curves that are already clearly in motion, ... I know that will make a lot of my colleagues uncomfortable. I get it. But I would argue the real problem is not the prediction; it is that we keep avoiding the conversation.

A guide to visiting a nursing home: tips for meaningful connection U.S. News & World Report | Health; by Claire Wolters and Rachael Hood; 5/6/26 If you have a loved one in a nursing home, frequent visits can help them feel loved and fight loneliness. Here's how to make the most of your visit. ...

Revisiting stories about mothersHospice & Palliative Care Today; compilation by Joy Berger, Editor in Chief; 5/6/26As we move into this Mother's Day weekend, we revisit memorable stories from our newsletter about mothers. Relationships can be unconditional love, broken, and every nuance in between. May these be a catalyst inspirations for your own relationships with the women in your lives - mothers, grandmothers, wives, daughters, aunts, grands, sisters, in-laws, "steps," and more. 

My mother left me a garage full of mysterious ingredients—and so much more Vogue; by John Mok; 5/6/26 Late in the summer of 2024, my mother was moved into hospice after a brief hospitalization. ... I promptly returned home to Los Angeles from New York and steeled myself for her passing. The trip lasted five months. ... Over the years, I had tried to meet her in the kitchen, to learn through her homestyle dishes, to unlock some part of her Chinese heritage, even with her American adaptations. But there was never enough time. During those five months we did get a little more time—one more round of holidays and one more memorable moment, when she passed peacefully passed. ... What my mother left behind was an invitation. Our garage remains an apothecary of TCM, dried herbs, and dried seafood—all stored in repurposed mayonnaise jars and Costco biscotti containers, their labels scribbled over with her Chinese script. ...

The power of a visiting nurse: from Marian Watts to Nona’s visiting nurse to Katina Zaninovich Noozhawk, Santa Barbara, CA; by VNA Health; 5/5/26 “My experience caring for my Nona at home and watching the visiting nurse greatly impacted my decision for home care,” shares Katina Zaninovich, RN. ... The history of visiting nurses dates back to the 19th century, when rapid urbanization and widespread poverty created a need for healthcare services beyond hospitals. In 1908, a visiting nurse, Marian Watts, founded the Visiting Nurses Association of Santa Barbara, California’s third oldest VNA. In that first month, one visiting nurse made 140 visits. Today, ...

NPHI concludes record-setting 2026 Summit “Quality in Action” in Chicago National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation (NPHI), Chicago, IL; Press Release; 5/2/26 The National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation (NPHI), the national voice for nonprofit hospice and advanced illness care, has concluded its 2026 Summit, Quality in Action, at the Chicago Marriott Marquis — marking the largest gathering in the organization’s history. Over three days, nonprofit hospice and advanced illness care leaders from across the country came together around a shared commitment to Quality in Action. The Summit created space for candid discussion and practical exchange, with a clear focus on how nonprofit hospice and advanced illness providers will continue to lead in delivering high-quality, community-based care for patients and their families.

Final arrangements | What happens if I can’t afford a funeral? Fox Carolina, Anderson County, SC; by Amanda Shaw; 5/5/26 ... Two hundred and twelve names are on a memorial wall at the Anderson County cemetery. Each one represents a person who died with no one, or no money, to bury them. This year, Anderson County is on track to add more names than ever before. “Every one of these people on this wall gave something here,” McCown said. “They gave something to our society. They gave something to somebody else.” At the center of the wall is a plaque for the names no one will ever know. McCown said the life stories of those memorialized would surprise people. ... On average, Anderson County handles between 28 and 35 indigent burials a year. This year, they are on track to shatter that record, with 26 indigent cremations already reported.

How do physicians perceive and manage the influence of their personal end-of-life preferences on clinical practice and end-of-life decision-making with patients? An international qualitative study  Health and Medicine Daily | Palliative Care and Social Practice; research portion by Sarah Mroz, Frederick Daenen, and Kenneth Chambaere; 5/5/26 ... Physicians acknowledge the impact of their personal end-of-life preferences on their clinical practice and emphasize the importance of maintaining objectivity and centering decision-making on patient preferences. Physicians adopt strategies to mitigate potential biases. There is a divergence of opinion about whether it is appropriate to share when asked what they would do in the position of their patients. Most believe focusing on patients' values and priorities is essential and others feel sharing is crucial to maintain trust. Physicians struggle with ethical tensions and moral discomfort, particularly when patients' requests conflict with their beliefs. ...