Literature Review
In-flight emergencies: Practical medicine and ethical considerations
11/26/25 at 03:00 AMIn-flight emergencies: Practical medicine and ethical considerations Medscape; by Stephen Powell, MD, Bret A. Nicks, MD, MHA, Michael W. Supples, MD, MPH; 11/3/25As a medical professional, are you prepared to respond to an in-flight medical emergency as a passenger on a commercial aircraft? Key questions are addressed about the scope of care, available equipment, decision-making regarding diversions, and liability concerns. Editor's Note: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) "expects the 2025 Thanksgiving travel period to be the busiest in 15 years." Please read and share.
Give thanks and pass the stuffing: Maryland is grateful for much this year
11/26/25 at 03:00 AMGive thanks and pass the stuffing: Maryland is grateful for much this year The Baltimore Sun; by Jean Marbella; 11/25/25 In a turmoil-filled world, gratitude might seem elusive. But then, there’s that newborn infant or a son in med school, the simple gift of the snooze button and the big thrill of a walk-off homer, a homicide rate going down and a school redistricting plan finally ending. ... We could go on, and Maryland’s elected officials, athletes, artists, personalities and at least one rascal did, telling The Baltimore Sun what makes their Thanksgiving tick this year. ... Political scientist Mileah Kromer, director of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County Institute of Politics: “I’m thankful for the nurses, doctors, and clergy who work in hospice care. I lost my mom to ALS this past April, and her end-of-life experience left me with a deep sense of gratitude for the people who care for patients and their families during one of the most profoundly difficult times in their lives.
Rainbow 35th anniversary cookbook available
11/26/25 at 03:00 AMRainbow 35th anniversary cookbook available Watertown Daily Times, Jefferson, WI; by Kenyon Kemnitz, Rainbow Community Care; 11/22/25 Rainbow Community Care, a trusted independent healthcare provider serving Jefferson, Dodge, and surrounding counties, is excited to announce that its commemorative 35th Anniversary Cookbook, “Nourishing Body & Soul” is officially available for purchase. This community-sourced cookbook features over 300 recipes. It is a beautiful, heartfelt keepsake filled with the best-kept family secrets and cherished stories from the very people who built Rainbow: volunteers, local families, dedicated healthcare workers, and community supporters. All have been part of Rainbow’s 35-year journey of providing compassionate care to rural South Central Wisconsin. “This is more than just a cookbook,” said Rainbow Community Care Clinical Liaison Dana Traynere. “Every recipe tells a story of connection and community, ...Editor's Note: Yes, this creative fundraiser is "more than just a cookbook" with its family recipes filled with memories and relationships from the past for the present and family meals ahead. What favorite family recipes--filled with stories of loved ones who have died--will grace your Thanksgiving table tomorrow?
Vohra Wound Physicians and its owner agree to pay $45M to settle fraud allegations of overbilling for wound care services
11/26/25 at 03:00 AMVohra Wound Physicians and its owner agree to pay $45M to settle fraud allegations of overbilling for wound care servicesDepartment of Justice press release; 11/21/25Dr. Ameet Vohra and his companies, including Vohra Wound Physicians Management LLC (Vohra), have agreed to pay $45 million to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by knowingly causing the submission of claims to Medicare for medically unnecessary surgical procedures, for more lucrative surgical procedures when only routine non-surgical wound management had been done, and for evaluation and management services that were not billable under Medicare coverage and coding rules... “Billing Medicare for medically unnecessary procedures and manipulating documentation to maximize profits not only defrauds taxpayers — it puts vulnerable patients at risk,” said Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Christian J. Schrank at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG).Publisher's note: While these allegations specifically occurred in nursing homes and skilled nursing facilities, similar practices have occurred in hospice.
General Catalyst CEO Hemant Taneja on aligning profit with purpose
11/26/25 at 03:00 AMGeneral Catalyst CEO Hemant Taneja on aligning profit with purposeDNYUZ; 11/23/25 Hemant Taneja, who leads one of the world’s largest venture firms, believes doing good isn’t just the right thing to do. It’s good business. At a moment of technologically driven upheaval, the General Catalyst CEO says leaders must bake positive social impact into a business’s soul from the start. Though Taneja and his wife are signatories of the Giving Pledge, he argues philanthropy is no longer enough. “In times like this, think deeply about your values because that’s going to be your guiding light in how you make difficult decisions,” he tells TIME.
Optum Health names CEO
11/26/25 at 03:00 AMOptum Health names CEO Becker's Payer Issues; by Jakob Emerson; 11/14/25 Optum Health, the care delivery arm of UnitedHealth Group, has named Krista Nelson as its new CEO. ... She was previously named COO at Optum Health earlier this year after serving as CEO of UnitedHealthcare’s Medicaid business since 2024 . She has been with the company since 2009. Patrick Conway, MD, CEO of Optum, had been serving as CEO of Optum Health since June, when then-CEO Amar Desai, MD, was named president of Optum integrated care. ... For 2026, Optum said it will work with fewer providers and plans to switch to a direct physician employment model.Editor's Note: See "UnitedHealth Group names Patrick Conway CEO of Optum Health," posted 6/27/25
Ethics: Electronic Health Record (EHR) evolution
11/26/25 at 03:00 AMEthics: Electronic Health Record (EHR) evolution AMA Journal of Ethics; Nov 2025 issue ... This theme issue investigates which kinds of work EHRs should do—and for whom—and whose interests EHRs should serve when information is entered, organized, reviewed, responded to, extracted, or amended. This issue also investigates which values should inform EHR stewardship and innovation decisions and from whose perspectives the stakes of those decisions should be framed. [Articles include:
Rediscovering purpose in the hardest moments of cancer care
11/26/25 at 03:00 AMRediscovering purpose in the hardest moments of cancer care Medscape; by Mark A. Lewis, MD; 11/7/25 ... I'm a GI oncologist, and about a quarter of my patients have metastatic pancreatic cancer. Treat that awful disease often enough and, believe me, you start to doubt your own abilities as a supposed healer. I mean, talk about overpromising and underdelivering. ... When you judge your worth by your outcomes, especially longevity, imposter syndrome sets in like dry rot, and feelings of ineffectiveness lead to therapeutic nihilism in the very caregiver that patients look to for hope. It turns out, though, the best antidote to self-pity is right in front of me every day: my patients. ...
Not what we say about our blessings, but ...
11/26/25 at 03:00 AMNot what we say about our blessings, but how we use them, is the true measure of our thanksgiving. ~ W. T. Pukiser
Thanksgiving revisited: 2024 and 2025
11/26/25 at 03:00 AMThanksgiving revisited: 2024 and 2025 I-70 West and Beyond - Travels Through Life; blog by Laurie Sunderland; Thanksgiving 2024 and 2025
AMA launches Center for Digital Health and AI to put physicians at the heart of health care innovation
11/26/25 at 03:00 AMAMA launches Center for Digital Health and AI to put physicians at the heart of health care innovation American Medical Association (AMA), Chicago, IL; by American Medical Association; 10/20/25The American Medical Association (AMA) today announced the launch of its Center for Digital Health and AI, a new endeavor created to put physicians at the center of shaping, guiding, and implementing technologies transforming medicine. ... The new Center will tap the full potential of AI and digital health by embedding physicians throughout the lifecycle of technology development and deployment to ensure it fits into clinical workflow and physicians know how to utilize it. ... The Center for Digital Health and AI will focus on:
Everheart Hospice CEO shares how care, compassion and community support patients and families
11/26/25 at 02:00 AMEverheart Hospice CEO shares how care, compassion and community support patients and families WCSM Radio; by Kristi Strawser; 11/25/25 Everheart Hospice CEO Kristi Strawser recently joined Spectrum, WCSM’s daily public affairs program, to talk about how hospice and palliative care have changed, what families can expect, and why local support is so important to their mission. Strawser has spent her entire career in hospice and palliative care. ... As the holidays approach, Strawser says her work is a daily reminder not to take time for granted. Watching many individuals reach the final stages of life, especially this time of year, reinforces the importance of appreciating each day. She hopes that message reaches listeners as they gather with their own families: every birthday matters, every holiday matters, and every extra day is a gift.
Letters without limits: Jesse Tetterton
11/25/25 at 03:10 AMLetters without limits: Jesse Tetterton The Johns Hopkins News-Letter; by Omkar Katkade; 11/22/25 Letters Without Limits, founded by students at Johns Hopkins and Brown University, connects volunteers with palliative care and hospice patients to co-create “Legacy Letters.” These letters capture memories, values and lessons that patients wish to share, preserving stories that might otherwise be lost. By honoring these voices and preserving legacies, Letters Without Limits hopes to affirm the central role of humanism in medicine, reminding us that every patient is more than their illness and that their voices deserve to be heard.
Shifting to online and telephone bereavement support provision during the COVID-19 pandemic: A mixed methods study of bereavement service provider perspectives and lessons learnt for current practice
11/25/25 at 03:00 AMShifting to online and telephone bereavement support provision during the COVID-19 pandemic: A mixed methods study of bereavement service provider perspectives and lessons learnt for current practice Palliative Medicine; by Lucy E Selman, Jenny Birchall, Eileen J Sutton, Tracey Stone, Renata Medeiros Mirra, Emma Gilbert, Mirella Longo, Kathy Seddon, Anne M Finucane, Alison Penny, Anthony Byrne, Emily Harrop; 11/24/25, online ahead of print Background: Provision of remote (online/telephone) bereavement support accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the extent and impact of this change and lessons learnt are unknown. ...Conclusions: Remote delivery of bereavement support increased support capacity and can potentially reduce inequities in access. However, it needs to be carefully tailored, and is not appropriate for everyone. Staff and volunteers providing remote services require training and support.
Hospice gets free solar power as firms chip in
11/25/25 at 03:00 AMHospice gets free solar power as firms chip in BBC News, Luton, England; by Louise Parry; 11/22/25 A solar company said it had seen "amazing generosity" from local and international firms who pulled together to provide a hospice with free renewable power. Keech Hospice in Luton has received an array of 504 photovoltaic panels, which would usually cost about £200,000 to install. "We're calling it a solar legacy project, not just a one-off donation, as it will save the hospice £50,000 a year," said project manager Eddie Doherty. Liz Searle, chief executive of Keech said: "This gift doesn't just power our building — it powers hope, care, and community for years to come."
Major hospice company that operates in 15 states says patient data stolen by hackers
11/25/25 at 03:00 AMMajor hospice company that operates in 15 states says patient data stolen by hackers NJ.com; by Jackie Roman; 11/24/25 The personal information of current and former hospice patients may have been exposed in a cyberattack targeting VITAS Healthcare, one of the largest hospice companies in the United States. VITAS discovered on Oct. 24 that an unauthorized party had gained access to certain network systems through a compromised vendor account, according to a company statement about the data breach. ... Patrick Hale, executive vice president and chief information officer, in a statement sent to NJ Advance Media ... [said, "We] are acting swiftly to ensure transparency, accountability, and enhanced security moving forward. Our top priority remains the patients and families we are privileged to serve."
Geisinger medical students accompany Scranton, Wilkes-Barre Allied hospice patients with No One Dies Alone program
11/25/25 at 03:00 AMGeisinger medical students accompany Scranton, Wilkes-Barre Allied hospice patients with No One Dies Alone program WWIA/PBS/NPR; by Lydia McFarlane; 11/23/25 Tommy Ahlin was very close with his grandfather. He looked up to the man he called “Pap-Pap” for his military service, wisdom and family values. He spent the last few months of his life in a nursing home under hospice care, where he died at age 97. “Unfortunately, on the day he passed, he did pass by himself and was alone for a couple of hours before anyone got to him," Ahlin said. ... Ahlin, a second-year student at Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine, or GCSOM, is now a representative for the No One Dies Alone program, which partners the medical school with Allied Services Hospice. Program volunteers vigil sit, which means to provide company to hospice patients whose loved ones can't be with them.
Calendar Year (CY) 2026 End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Prospective Payment System Final Rule
11/25/25 at 03:00 AMCalendar Year (CY) 2026 End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Prospective Payment System Final Rule CMS Newsroom - Fact Sheets; by CMS; 11/20/25 Key points:
We must find the time to stop and thank the ...
11/25/25 at 03:00 AMWe must find the time to stop and thank the people who make a difference in our lives. ~ John F. KennedyEditor's Note: Whatever our differences--political, religious, cultural, more--may we heed these words, reflecting on but one of too many lives cut short. Today marks the 62nd anniversary of John Kennedy's state funeral, impacting our world-views and of sharing real-time, collective grief through television. YouTube - State Funeral of President John F. Kennedy, November 25, 1963
CMS' TEAM model leaves hospitals scrambling before 2026 launch
11/25/25 at 03:00 AMCMS' TEAM model leaves hospitals scrambling before 2026 launch Modern Healthcare; by Bridget Early; 11/21/25 On January 1, 2026, Medicare will launch the Medicare Transforming Episode Accountability Model (TEAM), a mandatory fee-for-service model with bundled payments for five common procedures. ... More than 700 hospitals are required to participate and develop partnerships for post-acute care. Detailed information on the model and a list of participating hospitals can be found here.
Executive Roundtable: Change is a powerful source of communication’s strategic value
11/25/25 at 02:00 AMExecutive Roundtable: Change is a powerful source of communication’s strategic value PR Daily News - Internal Communications; by Mike Prokopeak; 11/24/25 To paraphrase the uncle of a certain web-slinging Marvel superhero, with great change comes great responsibility. And so it is that communicators find themselves at a pivotal point in organizational development. They are tasked with driving business outcomes, coaching leaders and guiding employees through transformation, all while navigating a rising wave of change fatigue. How communicators effectively drive change at this pivot point has the potential to be a source of enduring business value.
Hospice board members file suit against Baxter Health over alleged bylaw violations
11/25/25 at 02:00 AMHospice board members file suit against Baxter Health over alleged bylaw violations KTLO.com; by Philip Lanius; 11/24/25 A lawsuit was filed Friday [11/21] by members of the Board of Directors of Hospice of the Ozarks against Baxter Health (referred to in the suit as Baxter County Regional Hospital). ... The lawsuit alleges the action to appoint the new board members taken recently by the hospital was fraudulent and done to “seize control and power from the current 11-member Hospice board.” ... The hospital took the action, the lawsuit charges, so it “could seize and control assets” belonging to Hospice.
Kirk Greene: Why every family needs an estate planning ‘lifeboat drill’
11/25/25 at 02:00 AMKirk Greene: Why every family needs an estate planning ‘lifeboat drill’ Noozhawk, Santa Barbara County, CA; by Kirk Greene; 11/21/25 Over many years, my financial services firm conducted “lifeboat drills” with our clients. Some of the drills were focused on trying to help clients understand how much market volatility they could really handle. But we also ran “lifeboat drills” about estate planning. We would typically meet with a married couple and pretend that one of the spouses (often the husband) had just died or become incapacitated. The unfortunate spouse was encouraged to just listen as we worked through what his or her spouse would have to deal with.
Shepherd’s Cove Hospice: Children’s Activity Garden
11/25/25 at 01:00 AMShepherd’s Cove Hospice: Children’s Activity Garden Sand Mountain Reporter, Albertville, AL; by Mary Bailey; 11/22/25 Shepherd’s Cove Hospice in Albertville lives by the words of community, compassion and connection. On Tuesday morning they opened the doors of the community room for a free breakfast and then held a ribbon cutting for their new “Children’s Activity Garden” located at their facility. With one in nine children in Alabama experiencing a loss of a parent or sibling by age 18, Shepherd’s Cove Hospice saw a need and wanted to help. The Children’s Activity Garden is space where children and teenagers can come to deal with their emotions but also have the freedom and space to still be a child and play.