Literature Review
Sunday newsletters
08/23/26 at 03:00 AMSunday newsletters focus on headlines and top read stories of the last week (in order) - enjoy!
The greatest danger for most of us...
08/23/26 at 03:00 AMThe greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it. ~Michelangelo
Anonymous donor helps Grace House buy Highland Square’s Leonora Hall
08/23/26 at 03:00 AMAnonymous donor helps Grace House buy Highland Square’s Leonora Hall Signal Akron; Akron, OH; by Shams Mustafa; 8/17/26 A new chapter is beginning for Highland Square’s Leonora Hall after a nonprofit organization, Grace House Akron, purchased the property with the unexpected help of an anonymous donor. ... The acquisition means the property has a new owner following the closure of the Francesca Residence and the displacement of its mostly elderly residents. In a statement, Grace House representative Jen Boroff said that the nonprofit, which provides end-of-life care and housing for people who are indigent, unsheltered or abandoned, sees potential for the site to strengthen its mission and serve the broader community but that the organization has not yet decided how it will use the property.
Neighborhood poverty and end-of-life care among adolescents and young adults with cancer
08/22/26 at 03:40 AMEmpowering elderly Chinese Americans: Advance care planning educational workshop
08/22/26 at 03:35 AMEmpowering elderly Chinese Americans: Advance care planning educational workshopGeriatric Nursing; by Mengyao Zhao, Tammy Tyree; 7/26Advance care planning (ACP) is important to ensure an individual's values and preferences are followed at the end-of-life (EOL). However, elderly Chinese Americans have a much lower advance directive (AD) completion rate than the national average. This quality improvement project aimed to improve ACP engagement and AD completion rates among elderly Chinese Americans at a local senior center in Arizona. Three monthly culturally tailored educational workshops were conducted, and ... data analysis showed a significant increase in ACP engagement scores over time ... Additionally, AD completion rates rose by 220% after the intervention. These findings indicate that culturally tailored educational workshops can effectively improve ACP engagement and AD completion rates in elderly Chinese Americans.
Advance care planning in sickle cell disease: A scoping review
08/22/26 at 03:30 AMAdvance care planning in sickle cell disease: A scoping reviewJournal of Palliative Medicine; by Megan R Marshall, Miranda Ravicz Adelmann, Miriam A Osei, Sharl S Azar, Stephanie Kiser, Richard Newcomb; 7/26Sickle cell disease (SCD) is an inherited hemoglobinopathy characterized by abnormal red blood cell sickling, leading to pain, organ dysfunction, and early mortality. Its severe, unpredictable course and the emergence of complex decisions surrounding transformative therapies have prompted recommendations to integrate palliative care (PC) to support patients and families. The limited available evidence suggests that patients are open to ACP discussions with trusted clinicians, but few patients had participated in formal or informal ACP. Personal and environmental factors may influence ACP engagement, including patient-clinician trust, patient and clinician understanding of ACP in SCD, timing of ACP conversations, and previous experiences with critical illness or end-of-life care. Proposed steps for advancing ACP in SCD include education, early PC integration, and strengthened patient-clinician communication and relationships.
A brief advance care planning education intervention for socioeconomically disadvantaged dementia caregivers: A single-group pretest–posttest study
08/22/26 at 03:25 AMAdvanced medical care at home among patients with acute heart failure
08/22/26 at 03:20 AMGoal-concordant care for older adults with advanced heart failure: A retrospective cohort study
08/22/26 at 03:15 AMGoal-concordant care for older adults with advanced heart failure: A retrospective cohort studyPalliative Medicine; by Sarah Godfrey, Maryjane Farr; 7/26Older adults with advanced heart failure experience significant morbidity and mortality and face higher complication rates from advanced therapies. Of 212 patients, 91 (42.9%) underwent evaluation for advanced therapies, though few received a heart transplant (16, 7.5%) or left ventricular assist device (32, 15.1%). Most (148, 69.8%) had only one palliative physician visit. One hundred thirty-nine (65.6%) died, often in the hospital (55, 40%) and with life-sustaining therapy in the last 24 h (73, 52.5%). Most (167, 78.8%) received goal-concordant care, with the main reasons for discordance being the desire for advanced therapy (33, 15.6%) and complications post-implantation affecting quality of life (9, 4.2%). Conclusions: Few older adults received advanced therapies, and palliative care was underutilized, with many patients seeing palliative care only once. Most received goal-concordant care, but decisions were often made late, highlighting the need for earlier, longitudinal palliative care for these vulnerable patients.
Palliative care physicians' perceptions about using artificial intelligence for prognostication
08/22/26 at 03:10 AMPalliative care physicians' perceptions about using artificial intelligence for prognosticationJournal of Pain & Symptom Management; by Stacy M Fischer, Regina M Fink, Ahmed Y Alasmar, Eric G Campbell, Matthew DeCamp; 7/26Statistical and artificial intelligence (AI)-based methods have informed clinical prognostication for decades, evolving into machine learning models integrated into electronic health records. We conducted a national survey of n=2,500 Hospice and Palliative Medicine physicians in the United States (January 2024-March 2025) to assess current prognostic practices, AI knowledge, and perceived benefits and risks of AI-based prognostication. Conclusions: Palliative care physicians report limited current use of AI-based prognostic tools but generally favorable attitudes toward potential benefits, especially among current AI tool users.
Hospice family caregivers’ preparedness to provide care during the death vigil
08/22/26 at 03:05 AM[Israel] Existential suffering at the end of life in long-term care: A critical essay on recognition, dignity, and witness
08/22/26 at 03:05 AM[Israel] Existential suffering at the end of life in long-term care: A critical essay on recognition, dignity, and witnessPalliative Care & Social Practice; by Anat Romem, Rachel Bardach; 7/26Existential suffering is widely acknowledged in palliative care, but it remains inconsistently recognized and unevenly addressed in long-term care. This critical essay argues that the gap is not caused by clinician indifference, but by a persistent mismatch between whole-person ideals and care systems organized around measurable symptoms, risk management, task completion, and professional uncertainty. [This] ... essay identifies three interrelated shortcomings: the reduction of suffering to medically actionable symptoms; the depersonalizing effects of institutional routines on frail older adults; and the absence of shared existential literacy across interdisciplinary teams. The essay also cautions against romanticizing suffering or treating meaning-making as a clinical expectation. It proposes a practical framework of recognition, dignity, and witness: recognizing biography and identity as clinically relevant; protecting dignity in the ordinary details of care; and enacting witness ... Long-term care cannot resolve every existential wound, but it can reduce existential neglect by treating personhood as a core quality indicator of palliative care.
Saturday newsletters
08/22/26 at 03:00 AMSaturday newsletters focus on headlines and research - enjoy!
SOS: What does Google and ChatGPT say about SSVI and quality?
08/22/26 at 03:00 AMSOS: What does Google and ChatGPT say about SSVI and quality?Substack; by Joan Teno; 8/26Medicare recently finalized a new hospice scorecard called the Service and Spending Variation Index (SSVI). It gives each Medicare-certified hospice a number from 0 to 16, built from nine billing-based measures, where a higher score flags a hospice whose spending and service patterns look unusual compared with its peers. A high score is not proof of bad care or fraud — it mainly signals to Medicare which hospices may be worth a closer look. In this post I asked Google Gemini and ChatGPT to interpret a sample hospice’s score, and I compare how well each explained what the number does, and does not, mean for a family choosing a hospice.Publisher's note: Even though Substack is a blog site rather than a journal, Joan's content is outstanding and also fits here on a Saturday research issue!
One must pay dearly for immortality...
08/22/26 at 03:00 AMOne must pay dearly for immortality; one has to die several times while still alive. ~Friedrich Nietzsche
Nurses, consider these documentaries
08/21/26 at 03:00 AMNurses, consider these documentaries Healthcare NOW Radio; by Zelda Meeker; 8/5/26 Tired of scrolling to find something to watch? We’ve got a list of excellent healthcare-related documentaries that will grab and keep your attention. Healthcare documentaries offer a window into the complexities of this world and show the daily struggles and triumphs of nurses, patients, and other healthcare providers. Over the past few years, several films have stood out for addressing critical and often controversial healthcare topics and offering insight into the realities of the healthcare system. Below are 12 such documentaries impossible for any nurse to ignore — films that are sure to stir emotions and provide perspectives on your career. ...
Palliative care for Alzheimer’s: what families should understand
08/21/26 at 03:00 AMPalliative care for Alzheimer’s: what families should understand WNY News Now; by News Staff; 8/19/26 Alzheimer’s disease gradually affects memory, judgment, communication, mobility, and personal care. As abilities change, families face decisions about symptom relief, treatment limits, safety, and emotional well-being. Palliative care addresses those needs while respecting the person’s values and previously expressed wishes. Assistance can begin at any stage of disease, especially when discomfort, behavioral changes, or caregiver strain become difficult to manage without clinical guidance. What details should families check for? ...
NPHI enters new phase of high growth as national community continues to expand
08/21/26 at 03:00 AMNPHI enters new phase of high growth as national community continues to expand National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation (NPHI), Washington, DC; Press Release; 8/18/26 The National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation (NPHI) is experiencing a period of significant growth, welcoming a growing number of mission-driven, community-based organizations from across the country since its 2026 Summit. ... This continued expansion brings new expertise, perspectives and community connections into NPHI’s national network, strengthening a community united by a commitment to high-quality, compassionate, people-first care. ... In recent weeks, NPHI has welcomed:
In a recent study, most oncologists chose not to assist patients in dying
08/21/26 at 03:00 AMIn a recent study, most oncologists chose not to assist patients in dying Cancer Therapy Advisor; by Jason L. Harris; 8/19/26 Most oncologists asked to consult with a terminally ill patient seeking medical aid in dying (MAID) choose to opt out, according to research published in JAMA Network Open. In a California-based study, researchers found high rates of oncologists opting out, forcing many patients to pursue MAID with physicians they did not know. Further, a small number of physicians were responsible for most MAID-related prescriptions. “Our dataset likely underestimates these challenges, as it only includes patients who successfully found an attending physician and does not capture instances when opt-out was not documented,” the researchers added.
The new health system CEO job description, per 23 leaders
08/21/26 at 03:00 AMThe new health system CEO job description, per 23 leaders Becker's Hospital Review; by Alan Condon, Kelly Gooch, and Kristin Kuchno; 8/20/26 The health system CEO job description is getting longer, and increasingly filled with responsibilities that barely registered five years ago. Today’s CEOs are expected to steer AI strategy, prepare for cyberattacks, shape culture, advocate in statehouses and on Capitol Hill, protect employees from workplace violence, address affordability and serve as trusted voices in their communities. That shift is playing out at some of the nation’s largest and most prominent health systems.
How Andrew Bird wrote Louie’s farewell ballad for ‘The Pitt’: ‘What’s more fundamental than the fear of dying alone?’
08/21/26 at 03:00 AMHow Andrew Bird wrote Louie’s farewell ballad for ‘The Pitt’: ‘What’s more fundamental than the fear of dying alone?’ Gold Derby; by Lyndsey Parker; 8/19/26... Andrew Bird wasn't even familiar with The Pitt when he was cold-called by the show's composer, Gavin Brivik, with an invitation to collaborate on a song for one of the series' most heartbreaking and gut-punching moments. [It was for] that scene, ... in which fan-favorite character Louie Cloverfield, the lovable alcoholic with a heart of gold, dies with only the Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center staff by his side — the lyrics for "Need Someone" came quickly. There's a small but especially tearjerking detail when Emma grabs Louie's hand, right as Dr. Robby is telling them about how Louie had lost his eight-months-pregnant wife and their unborn child in a car accident years ago. Apparently hospitals leave a deceased patient's hand out from under the blanket so that a loved one at the bedside can hold it, but Louie only has the hospital staff, who've sort of become his honorary family, with him when dies. This goes perfectly with your lyric about how "you need someone who is gonna cry for you." ... Bird was partially inspired by the 2020 pandemic — not just society's shared post-COVID trauma, but the lack of appreciation of healthcare workers ...
Hospice of Orange & Sullivan Counties’ 19th Annual Golf Classic raises almost $75,000 for patient care
08/21/26 at 03:00 AMHospice of Orange & Sullivan Counties’ 19th Annual Golf Classic raises almost $75,000 for patient care FocusMedia, Newburgh, NY; Press Release; 8/19/26 Hospice of Orange & Sullivan Counties held its 19th Annual Golf Classic at Osiris Country Club in Walden, N.Y., on Aug. 10, drawing a sold-out field of 100 golfers for the organization’s best golf fundraising event in recent years. The tournament raised close to $75,000 to support Hospice services throughout Orange and Sullivan Counties. ... “Today’s outing is about more than just golf,” Eric Gastik, President and CEO of Hospice of Orange & Sullivan Counties, told the golfers, sponsors and other attendees. “It’s about coming together as a community to support patients and families during one of the most difficult times in their lives. Every golfer, every sponsor, every raffle ticket purchased and every volunteer contributes to that mission."
Getting accurate AI insights securely with a certified HIPAA data access layer
08/21/26 at 03:00 AMGetting accurate AI insights securely with a certified HIPAA data access layer CDATA; by Mohammed Mohsin Turki; 8/18/26 If your organization creates, receives, maintains, or transmits protected health information (PHI), it inherits HIPAA’s compliance obligations. That’s true the moment PHI flows to an AI system or agent instead of the staff who used to handle it, whether that AI is a pilot, a proof of concept, or a model that’s “just reading” records. Most healthcare AI projects stall at the same point. The data still lives in systems that were never built with AI access in mind. A HIPAA-compliant AI data access layer fixes that before the model ever sees ePHI. This blog covers how to choose a HIPAA-compliant AI data access layer that keeps insights accurate, plus the new risks AI adds that older security programs miss.
READOUT: FinCEN holds engagement to eliminate hospice fraud in California
08/21/26 at 03:00 AMREADOUT: FinCEN holds engagement to eliminate hospice fraud in CaliforniaU.S. Treasure Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, Los Angeles, CA; 8/19/26 On August 17, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) convened law enforcement and financial institutions for an engagement on health care benefits fraud, including the exploitation of hospice care services. Participants discussed new and emerging health care fraud schemes targeting federal and state health insurance programs, associated financial typologies and red flag indicators, and opportunities to boost awareness around hospice care fraud. Additionally, FinCEN held a training session for law enforcement on August 18 on how to use Bank Secrecy Act data to combat fraud. These engagements build on FinCEN’s work to counter fraud in partnership with the White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud.