Literature Review
Recruiters say health systems must define the mandate before searching for a chief AI officer
09/28/26 at 03:00 AMRecruiters say health systems must define the mandate before searching for a chief AI officer Complete AI Training; 9/25/26 Only 6 of the top 100 health systems had a dedicated chief AI officer in 2024, though that number is now growing fast as organizations weigh hiring one or folding AI oversight into existing roles. Health systems are formalizing AI leadership as adoption accelerates, with many weighing whether to hire a dedicated chief AI officer or fold the responsibility into existing roles. ... Recruiters say the mandate must be clear before the search begins, because the pool of qualified candidates remains small and the role is still taking shape.
A new way to measure nursing productivity: Total labor cost per admission
09/28/26 at 03:00 AMA new way to measure nursing productivity: Total labor cost per admission HFMA - Health Operations Management; by Sylvain Trepanier, DNP, RN, CENP and Cynthia Salisbury, MSN, RN, NEA-BC; 9/25/26An innovative model for measuring nurse productivity better accounts for patients’ care needs and the team-based nature of nursing care. ... Leaders at Providence [a large regional health system based in Renton, Washington] decided it was important to create space for nurses to define for themselves how to deliver care most effectively in the acute care setting. Nurses were invited to deconstruct their current role and create a new model of care based on the needs of their patients, with an appropriate distribution of patient care across a collaborative team.
NIH grant advances research on palliative care at home
09/28/26 at 03:00 AMNIH grant advances research on palliative care at home Indiana University School of Nursing; by Glenda Shaw; 9/23/26 ... A new research project led by Indiana University School of Nursing assistant professor Lyndsay DeGroot, PhD, RN, aims to bring palliative care directly to patients in their homes through a telephone-based program that could make supportive care more accessible for people living with serious chronic illness. To support this work, DeGroot has received a NIH-National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) five-year K23 Career Development Award totaling $916,000. The award will fund her project, “Implementing Community-Based Palliative Care for Adults with Heart Failure or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.”
Sunday issue
09/28/26 at 03:00 AMWe apologize for a technical error in distributing yesterday's newsletter. You can login to your account and find it here.
4th Annual Walk for Hospice raises over $75,000 for the Aroostook House of Comfort
09/28/26 at 03:00 AM4th Annual Walk for Hospice raises over $75,000 for the Aroostook House of Comfort The County, Caribou, ME; 9/25/26The Aroostook Hospice Foundation held its 4th Annual Walk for Hospice on Saturday, Sept. 19 at the Caribou High School Track & Trails, bringing together over 442 participants and 31 teams and raising more than $75,000 in support of the Aroostook House of Comfort. The annual walk brings the community together to raise funds and awareness while remembering and celebrating the lives of those touched by hospice care. This year marked the largest Walk for Hospice to date.
At the bedside: clinician grief
09/28/26 at 02:00 AMAt the bedside: clinician grief Core IM; podcast by Dr. Margot Hedlin, Dr. Danai Papadatou, Dr. Tamar Schiff and Dr. Jafar Al-Mondhiry; 9/8/26... "I can’t share his name, but I can tell you what he taught me about grief. I met this patient a few months after graduating from medical school, and by that point he was already dying. ... I grieved for this man the way I’ve grieved for many patients: I found a supply closet to cry in for a few minutes before my pager went off. But in the years since, years in which I worked at the epicenter of the COVID pandemic, worked nights at a cancer hospital, and suffered personal loss, I’ve found that grief is too large to be stuffed in a supply closet: when left unaddressed, it keeps coming back, in ways and places that I couldn’t predict."
Hospice industry generates $142 million in economic activity [in Puerto Rico]
09/28/26 at 02:00 AMHospice industry generates $142 million in economic activity [in Puerto Rico] W Journal; by Newsroom; 9/24/26 Puerto Rico’s hospice industry generates an estimated $142 million in economic activity, supports approximately 1,417 jobs and produces nearly $48 million in annual payroll, according to a new study by Estudios Técnicos Inc. (ETI). Commissioned by Grace Health Puerto Rico, the study examines the industry’s economic impact and the potential cost benefits of hospice care compared with more intensive forms of end-of-life treatment. ... “The findings demonstrate that hospice services generate not only economic benefits, but also important social benefits for patients and their families,” said Anitza Cox Marrero, director of ETI’s Social Analysis Division.
Hispanic Heritage Month 2026: resources for hospice and palliative care
09/28/26 at 02:00 AMHispanic Heritage Month 2026: resources for hospice and palliative care
CMS expands the ACCESS Model: new tracks for heart failure, COPD, substance use disorders, tobacco cessation, and extended MSK support
09/27/26 at 03:55 AMCMS expands the ACCESS Model: new tracks for heart failure, COPD, substance use disorders, tobacco cessation, and extended MSK support Foley Hoag; 9/21/26 Key Takeaways:
Valley Oaks Health awarded $828,375 GROW grant to expand rural health access across northwest central Indiana
09/27/26 at 03:50 AMValley Oaks Health awarded $828,375 GROW grant to expand rural health access across northwest central Indiana PR Newswire, Lafayette, IN; 9/17/26 Valley Oaks Health announced today that it has been awarded $828,375 through the Growing Rural Opportunities for Well-being (GROW) Region 3 Grant initiative to strengthen access to integrated healthcare services across rural communities in northwest central Indiana. The funding is part of the Indiana Rural Health Transformation Program (Indiana RHTP), a statewide initiative designed to improve healthcare access, strengthen healthcare infrastructure, promote innovation, and support strategic partnerships that improve the health and well-being of Hoosiers.
Sen. Baldwin demands investigation into veteran care failures at Tomah VA
09/27/26 at 03:45 AMSen. Baldwin demands investigation into veteran care failures at Tomah VAWXOW-19 ABC, Tomah, WI; by Terry Bell; 9/21/26 U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin is calling for an immediate investigation into serious allegations about the failure to care for veterans and unacceptable conditions at the Tomah VA Medical Center. Baldwin is asking Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins to conduct a full review of staffing levels, provider coverage, medication delays, hospice care and patient safety at the Tomah VA Hospital. She's also requesting the VA Office of the Inspector General conduct an independent investigation. Baldwin's office heard from several Tomah VA employees who outlined severe lapses in patient care at the hospital. The allegations include inadequate staffing contributing to falls, injuries, food choking incidents and other adverse patient outcomes. [View recent incident: Former VA nurse charged with intentionally abusing hospice patient]
IBM study finds 60% of employees worry AI is eroding critical thinking skills
09/27/26 at 03:40 AMIBM study finds 60% of employees worry AI is eroding critical thinking skills Complete AI Training; 9/21/26 A new IBM study finds that 60% of employees worry AI is eroding their skills, with critical thinking cited most often as declining. The research, released September 21, 2026, surveyed 1,500 CHROs and 8,800 employees globally, revealing a gap between the skills HR leaders say AI demands and what workers prioritize. While 71% of CHROs identify the ability to supervise, validate and override AI outputs as the workforce's most essential skill, only 29% of employees rank judgment as important. At the same time, CHROs cite critical thinking (57%) and human judgment (48%) as among the most important workforce capabilities.
The role of hospice and palliative care in addressing climate change
09/27/26 at 03:35 AMThe role of hospice and palliative care in addressing climate changeAmerican Journal of Hospice & Palliative Medicine; by Erik S. Carlson, Nisha Shah, Jill Denny, Aldebra Schroll, Daniel Mahoney, Sarah Schear, Kate Jennings, Collins Uzuegbu, David Harris, Bhargavi Chekuri, Cecilia Sorensen, Janet Bull, Chris Jones; 8/26Climate change is a defining global health challenge of our time, acting as a threat multiplier that erodes decades of health gains and worsens social inequities. People living with serious illness, the population served by Hospice and Palliative Care (HaPC) professionals, are particularly vulnerable to these impacts. While leading health organizations have acknowledged the public health implications of climate change, HaPC has remained largely absent from this discourse. This narrative review and framework proposal situates the field’s competencies within the growing climate and health literature and identifies avenues through which HaPC can contribute to addressing climate change. We argue that HaPC professionals — drawing on strengths in serious illness communication, interdisciplinary collaboration, and person-centered care — are uniquely positioned to advance equitable climate adaptation and mitigation at the individual, organizational, and societal levels.
Over 150 advocates convene on Capitol Hill to champion care at home
09/27/26 at 03:30 AMOver 150 advocates convene on Capitol Hill to champion care at home National Alliance for Care at Home, Alexandria, VA and Washington, DC; Press Release; 9/16/26 This week, more than 150 care at home advocates from across the country met with 285 congressional offices to discuss key legislative and regulatory priorities for expanding and protecting access to care at home. The meetings were part of the 2026 National Alliance for Care at Home Advocacy Week, an important opportunity to unite the entire care at home continuum under one voice.
Capstone University offering Clinical Pastoral Education for hospice and palliative care chaplaincy
09/27/26 at 03:25 AMCapstone University offering Clinical Pastoral Education for hospice and palliative care chaplaincy NEWSnet; Press Release; 9/18/26 Capstone University [in University Place, WA] now offers clinical pastoral education (CPE) with a specific focus on hospice and palliative care chaplaincy. This transformative program centers on spiritual caregiving in response to aging, serious illness, dying, and bereavement. It enables chaplains to deepen their ability to provide culturally responsive, patient-led spiritual care to individuals and families throughout the end-of-life experience.
Establishing an AI policy: a comprehensive white paper for life sciences teams
09/27/26 at 03:20 AMEstablishing an AI policy: a comprehensive white paper for life sciences teamsSakara Digital; by Amie Harpe; 9/21/26Artificial intelligence (AI) has rapidly evolved from a niche technology to a foundational element of business operations across all sectors. ... This white paper provides a comprehensive, narrative-driven guide for business and compliance leaders ... Special attention is given to the unique regulatory, ethical, and operational considerations in life sciences and healthcare, with tangible guidance for governance, validation, training, monitoring, and audit strategies.
Labor Day auction raises more than $1 million
09/27/26 at 03:15 AMLabor Day auction raises more than $1 million Hospice & Community Care, Lancaster, PA; online letter to their sponsors, volunteers, and community; retrieved from the internet 9/22/26 Thanks to your incredible generosity, we are proud to share that more than $1 million was raised to support hospice and palliative care, bereavement services, and grief support programs for the thousands of patients and families served by Hospice & Community Care each year. This remarkable achievement reflects the compassion and commitment of our community. Because of you, we can continue our mission of helping patients and families live better with serious illness through end of life. From all of us at Hospice & Community Care, thank you for making a difference.
Taxpayer-funded health care programs hit with $17.5 billion in fraud in one year
09/27/26 at 03:10 AMTaxpayer-funded health care programs hit with $17.5 billion in fraud in one year Before It's News; 9/23/26 Fraud in taxpayer-funded health care programs like Medicare and Medicaid is so pervasive that the government identified a breathtaking $17.5 billion in scams in just one year, according to an analysis conducted by the U.S. Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), ... The crimes occurred in all 50 states, as well as Washington D.C, and U.S. territories including Guam, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. A lengthy report made public this month identifies the largest number of offenders in California (3,141), followed by Florida (1,378), New York (989) and Minnesota (946) with some of the scams involving criminal networks connected to foreign entities.
Ennoble Care expands national reach by entering five new communities
09/27/26 at 03:05 AMEnnoble Care expands national reach by entering five new communities NewsNet, Arlington, VA; by PR Newswire; 9/17/26 Ennoble Care, a leading home-based primary, palliative, and hospice care provider, today announced its expansion into five new communities in Florida, Kentucky, Ohio, Mississippi, and Texas to deliver more care for medically frail and homebound patients. ... At the heart of it, Ennoble Care’s model allows seniors to age at home. Instead of medically frail patients spending their final years cycling in and out of hospitals, they can remain in the comfort of their homes and receive high-touch primary, palliative, and hospice care ... That continuity of care is only possible because of Ennoble Care’s proprietary electronic health records system, ...
Sunday newsletters
09/27/26 at 03:00 AMSunday newsletters focus on headlines and top read stories of the last week (in order) - enjoy!
Camping won't solve all of your problems...
09/27/26 at 03:00 AMCamping won't solve all of your problems, but neither will cleaning the oven. Choose wisely.
Hospice, cancer services gain $730K from Agnesian Charity Open
09/27/26 at 03:00 AMHospice, cancer services gain $730K from Agnesian Charity Open FDL Reporter, Fond du Lac, WI; by Nida Tazeen; 9/16/26 The Agnesian HealthCare Foundation raised about $730,000 during its 38th annual Charity Open, exceeding the previous event's total by more than $200,000 and bringing the fundraiser's cumulative impact to more than $9.4 million since 1989. The event, presented by C.D. Smith Construction, Inc. and Michels Corporation, supports hospice and cancer care services in the Fond du Lac area, according to a community announcement. Funds raised this year will benefit SSM Health Hospice Home of Hope and SSM Health Cancer Care programs, helping provide care to patients regardless of their ability to pay, according to the announcement.
Evaluation of palliative care technical skills in an acute care setting: A simulation-based, qualitative assessment
09/26/26 at 03:35 AMEvaluation of palliative care technical skills in an acute care setting: A simulation-based, qualitative assessmentAmerican Journal of Hospice & Palliative Care; by Daniel Boron-Brenner, Alexzandra Gentsch, Jenna Campolieto, Sepehr Sedigh-Haghighat, John Liantonio; 8/26Emergency physicians frequently encounter patients with serious illness, yet training in palliative care competencies remains inconsistent during emergency medicine (EM) residency. The objective of this study was to qualitatively examine EM residents' perceptions of the intersection between palliative care and emergency medicine following participation in palliative care-focused simulation scenarios. Residents reported uncertainty regarding core palliative care competencies, including interpretation of advance directives, documentation of do-not-resuscitate/do-not-intubate orders, and clinical decision-making during peri-arrest and resuscitation scenarios. Emotional responses included hesitancy and discomfort during high-stakes decision-making, particularly in the setting of limited information. Palliative-focused simulation elicited perceived knowledge gaps and emotional responses relevant to emergency care delivery. Simulation-based education may offer a structured approach to integrating palliative care competencies into EM training.