Literature Review



The HOPE Assessment Tool Series: Managing special circumstances

04/04/25 at 03:00 AM

The HOPE Assessment Tool Series: Managing special circumstancesCHAP press release; by Jennifer Kennedy; 3/25Welcome to the next installment in the HOPE Assessment Tool Blog Series. We are discussing special situations such as patient transfers and traveling patients which may affect HOPE assessment tool completion.

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4 leadership lessons March Madness teaches us about winning workplaces

04/04/25 at 03:00 AM

4 leadership lessons March Madness teaches us about winning workplaces Forbes; by Julian Hayes II; 3/30/25 Very few things, like sports, unify people across backgrounds, cultures, and ideologies. Sports are the ultimate connectors. One of the best examples of this is the NCAA Tournament. March Madness captivates us for three weeks with buzzer-beaters, heartbreaks, and Cinderella stories that defy expectations. But beyond the spectacle, March Madness also offers beneficial workplace and leadership lessons. ...

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Fraud alert: HHS-OIG telephone numbers used in scam

04/04/25 at 02:00 AM

Fraud alert: HHS-OIG telephone numbers used in scam The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG); 4/3/25 The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) confirmed that official HHS-OIG telephone numbers are being used as part of a spoofing scam targeting individuals throughout the country. These scammers represent themselves as HHS-OIG employees and can alter the appearance of the caller ID to make it seem as if the call is coming from HHS OIG phone numbers found on its public website. The perpetrator may use various tactics to obtain or verify the victim's personal information, which can then be used to steal money from an individual's bank account or for other fraudulent activity. We encourage the public to remain vigilant, protect their personal information, and guard against providing personal information during calls that purport to be from HHS-OIG telephone numbers. We also remind the public that it is still safe to call into the HHS-OIG Hotline to report fraud. We particularly encourage those who believe they may have been a victim of the telephone spoofing scam to report that information to us through the HHS-OIG Hotline 1-800-HHS-TIPS (1-800-447-8477) or online. 

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Shingles vaccine tied to lower dementia risk, study finds

04/04/25 at 02:00 AM

Shingles vaccine tied to lower dementia risk, study finds McKnights Long-Term Care News; by Kristen Fischer; 4/2/25 Older adults who were vaccinated against shingles were 20% less likely to develop dementia over the next seven years compared with people who didn’t receive the shot, a study shows. The report was published Wednesday in Nature. [Continue reading ...] Editor's note: Related articles ...

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1 Red Flag that reveals bad leadership fast: One clear sign can tell you a lot about whether someone is leading well or failing miserably.

04/03/25 at 03:15 AM

1 red flag that reveals bad leadership fast: One clear sign can tell you a lot about whether someone is leading well or failing miserably. Inc., by Marcel Schwantes; 3/28/25 Bad leadership isn’t always obnoxious, toxic, or obvious. Sometimes it shows up in small, everyday moments—how someone talks to their team, how they handle mistakes, or how they treat people when no one’s watching. You don’t need a long list to spot it, either. A few clear signs can tell you a lot about whether someone is leading well … or just holding the title. ... Here is one quick way to recognize bad leadership before it does real damage: a lack of patience ... [Continue reading ...]

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Experiences of family caregivers of children aged 1–23 months who have received pediatric palliative care: A systematic review with qualitative metasynthesis

04/03/25 at 03:00 AM

Experiences of family caregivers of children aged 1–23 months who have received pediatric palliative care: A systematic review with qualitative metasynthesis Sigma Global Nursing Excellence - Journal of Nursing Scholarship; by Juan Manuel Vázquez Sánchez, Manuela Rodríguez Sánchez, Emilio Mota Romero, Ana Alejandra Esteban Burgos, Rafael Montoya Juárez, César Hueso Montoro, Daniel Puente Fernández; 4/1/25 This study underscores the importance of addressing the unique needs of family caregivers of children aged 1–23 months receiving pediatric palliative care (PPC), highlighting their struggles with social isolation, neglected self-care, and disrupted family life. Healthcare providers should prioritize age-specific approaches to PPC, focusing on improving communication, care coordination, and understanding of palliative care principles to better support these caregivers. [Continue reading ...] 

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Today's Encouragement: I don't know what your destiny will be, but one thing I know: ...

04/03/25 at 03:00 AM

I don't know what your destiny will be, but one thing I know: the only ones among you who will be really are those who will have sought and found how to serve. ~ Albert Schweitzer

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Hospices must ‘evolve’ to better support next generation of caregivers

04/03/25 at 03:00 AM

Hospices must ‘evolve’ to better support next generation of caregivers Hospice News; by Holly Vossel; 3/31/25 Individuals in the millennial and generation Z (Gen Z) age groups represent a swelling proportion of today’s family caregivers. They face unique challenges when providing support for hospice patients compared to others, recent research has found. ... Understanding the competing, complex priorities of these generations is pivotal for hospices’ ability to deliver quality care, according to Nicole McCann-Davis, senior client advisor and research director at Transcend Strategy Group. [Continue reading ...]

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Widespread firings start at federal health agencies including many in leadership

04/03/25 at 03:00 AM

Widespread firings start at federal health agencies including many in leadership NPR - All Things Considered; by Rob Stein, Sydney Lupkin, Selena Simmons-Duffin, Joseph Shapiro, Carmel Wroth, and Yuki Noguchi; 4/1/25 The Trump administration began sending notices of termination to thousands of staffers at federal health agencies Tuesday [4/1/25], according to interviews with employees and officials at multiple agencies and e-mails reviewed by NPR. The Department of Health and Human Services last week announced it planned to dismiss 10,000 people. These cuts come on top of around 10,000 people already leaving the agencies under the Trump administration's Fork in the Road offer and early retirement. Termination emails went out Tuesday morning to employees and leadership of agencies within HHS, the Food and Drug Administration, the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as well as several smaller agencies. Many of those workers only found out they had been fired when they tried to badge into the building after waiting in line and couldn't get in, NPR learned from multiple sources at HHS who didn't want to share their names for fear of repercussions.

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How this thrift shop helps Virginia families in their time of need: 'They’re good people here'

04/03/25 at 03:00 AM

How this thrift shop helps Virginia families in their time of need: 'They’re good people here' CBS-6 News - Richmond, Petersburg, VA; by Wayne Covil; 3/31/25 The regulars who frequent Crater Community Hospice Thrift Shops were busy browsing for bargains on Monday. They know that some of the money they spend here goes back into their community. Crater Community Hospice runs the stores as a way for the nonprofit to raise much-needed funding. "The money we bring in to our stores goes directly to caring for our patients," Zach Holt, with Crater Community Hospice, said. "I don’t want to ever say no to a patient. I don’t want to ever say no to a patient’s need." Krystal Mansfield told CBS 6 there was a reason she chose to shop at Crater Community Hospice Thrift Shops. "[It] was a big part of my grandmother's end of time, and they took very good care of her in her last days," Mansfield said. ... Angie Dowdy shared a similar story. ... [Continue reading ...]

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Healthcare data breaches average $11M per incident: Report

04/03/25 at 03:00 AM

Healthcare data breaches average $11M per incident: Report Becker's Health IT; by Naomi Diaz; 3/28/25 Cyberattacks have hit 78% of U.S. healthcare organizations, with the average cost of a breach soaring to $11 million per incident — largely due to ransomware attacks — according to a March 28 report from Black Book Market Research. Black Book Market Research, a technology survey organization, released findings from its first-quarter 2025 Global Healthcare Cybersecurity Survey, which gathered responses from more than 1,200 healthcare administrators worldwide. Participants were sourced through LinkedIn professional groups. The study revealed a sharp rise in cybersecurity threats targeting EHRs and patient data. [Continue reading ...] 

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The most personal column I’ve ever written

04/03/25 at 03:00 AM

The most personal column I’ve ever written The Times, United Kingdom; by Professor Tanya Byron; 3/31/25 ... This column will be more personal than any other I have written in my now 20 years writing for The Times. I write it four days after my sister Katrina and I lost our beloved mum, Elfie, who ... had advanced end-stage dementia. Where do we start when trying to describe the many moments of heartbreak and the challenges that come with the long goodbye we have faced with our parents? Dementia is unpredictable. We say goodbye more than once and so the pain of bereavement does not begin at the time of death. Instead it is a prolonged pain marked by gradual losses. Watching a loved one slowly fade away over months or years brings grief, exhaustion and deep emotional turmoil. Amid all this is the experience of being on a rollercoaster of loss and hope, an experience that creates huge lurches between perceptions and emotions. There are moments of clarity and regression, ... [Continue reading ...]

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‘Unsung backbone of care delivery’: The growing need for hospice aides

04/03/25 at 03:00 AM

‘Unsung backbone of care delivery’: The growing need for hospice aides Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 3/28/25 As workforce shortages persist in health care, some operators are struggling to recruit and retain essential members of their care teams — hospice aides. The demand for hospice aides is expected to grow in the coming years. However, factors such as turnover, retirement, slow wage growth and immigration policy could complicate hospice’s ability to fill those positions. Many companies are focused on bolstering their nursing workforce, who are also in high demand, but providers also need to prioritize hiring a sufficient number of aides, according to Cooper Linton, associate vice president of Duke HomeCare & Hospice. [Continue reading ...] 

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HHS Job Cuts: FDA, CDC, NIH and CMS impacted amidst significant restructurings

04/03/25 at 03:00 AM

HHS Job Cuts: FDA, CDC, NIH and CMS impacted amidst significant restructurings JD Supra; by Cate Baskin, James Kim, Stuart Pape, Angela Powers, Ryan Thurber; 3/31/25 On March 27, 2025, the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced a “dramatic restructuring” that will result in a reduction in agency workforce combined with significant internal restructuring. ... In connection with this restructuring, the Administration announced the following changes:

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Palliative Care ECHO on health system strengthening: Advancing global collaboration and integration

04/03/25 at 03:00 AM

Palliative Care ECHO on health system strengthening: Advancing global collaboration and integration ehospice; by Mark Stoltenberg, Clayton Richards, Chris Piromalli; 3/24/25The World Health Organization (WHO) Working Group on Palliative Care has introduced an innovative digital initiative utilising the ECHO Model to enhance global collaboration in palliative care. Officially launched on March 5, 2025, this programme will facilitate knowledge exchange and promote best practices for the integration of palliative care into health systems worldwide. The ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) Model connects healthcare professionals globally in virtual communities of practice to support contextualised implementation of best-practice care through mentorship and guided practice.  [Continue reading ...]

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Federal legislation would mandate hospice education upon hospital discharge

04/03/25 at 03:00 AM

Federal legislation would mandate hospice education upon hospital discharge McKnights Home Care; by Adam Healy; 4/2/25 A bill under consideration in Congress would require hospitals to educate patients about hospice care options upon discharge. HR 2437, introduced Thursday by Rep. Erin Houchin (R-IN), would amend Medicare policy to mandate that hospitals “provide information on available hospice programs to certain individuals upon discharge,” according to the bill. Although hospitals are not necessarily required to provide patients with information on available hospice programs upon discharge, they are encouraged to do so. [Continue reading ...]

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Moffitt Cancer Center to offer inpatient hospice

04/03/25 at 03:00 AM

Moffitt Cancer Center to offer inpatient hospice Becker's Hospital Review, Tampa, FL; by Elizabeth Gregerson; 3/31/25 Tampa, Fla.-based Moffitt Cancer Center has partnered with Clearwater, Fla.-based Empath Health to offer inpatient hospice services. Moffitt care teams will continue to care for patients while nurses from Suncoast Hospice of Hillsborough in Tampa, part of Empath Health, will ensure inpatient hospice care criteria is met. Moffitt’s palliative medicine team will also “collaborate closely” with the hospice care team ... Moffitt CEO Patrik Hwu, MD, prioritized partnering with a hospice agency two years ago, the release said. “One of the biggest benefits of this partnership is the option for patients and their loved ones to transition from curative treatment to receiving compassionate end-of-life care while they continue maintaining relationships with their care team at Moffitt,” Kerry Hoerner, BSN, RN, senior vice president of Empath Health’s hospice division, said in the release. 

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Voices of Inspiration at the Dignity Health Arena

04/03/25 at 03:00 AM

Voices of Inspiration at the Dignity Health Arena NBC KGET-17, Bakersfield, CA; by Joshua Eyraud; 3/31/25 Hoffmann Hospice is celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2025, and on Thursday night they brought in some star power. Hoffmann held its annual Voices of Inspiration dinner at the convention center in downtown Bakersfield on March 27. It featured a very special guest speaker – Third generation Nascar driver Dale Earnhardt, Jr. who retired in 2017, was the special guest speaker for the evening. ... Beth Hoffmann says it’s easy to see why Earnhardt Jr. was the perfect fit for this event. “We are a Nascar community, so that was kind of easy. I read his book and and that was phenomenal,” said Hoffman. “He’s just a man that perseveres, he’s committed to his goals, his mom had hospice and he was voted like 15 times the favorite of drivers, the most friendly.”

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20 leadership behaviors that undermine trust—and how to restore it

04/03/25 at 03:00 AM

20 leadership behaviors that undermine trust—and how to restore it Forbes; by Expert Panel for Forbes Coaches Council; 3/27/25 Trust is the cornerstone of effective leadership, yet even the most well-intentioned executives can inadvertently weaken it. ... Here, members of Forbes Coaches Council share 20 common ways leaders unintentionally compromise trust with teams, along with strategies to restore it.

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Transforming healthcare: Hospice in the news, March 2025

04/03/25 at 02:00 AM

Transforming healthcare:  Hospice in the news, March 2025  Teleios Collaborative Network (TCN); pod/videocast by Chris Comeaux with Cordt Kassner; 4/2/25 In this episode of TCNtalks, Chris Comeaux and Dr. Cordt Kassner, Publisher of Hospice & Palliative Care Today and CEO and Founder of Hospice Analytics, leverage their data and extensive experience to identify key Hospice headlines, articles, research, and social media posts that are driving change and transforming end-of-life care and healthcare in America. They share personal experiences with hospice care, emphasizing the importance of social work and discussing the challenges of healthcare reimbursement.  The conversation also touches on MedPAC recommendations, new social media trends, and highlights from recent research articles. 

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What is death positivity?

04/02/25 at 03:00 AM

What is death positivity? Healthline; by Sarah Choi, medically reviewed by Joslyn Jelinek, LCSW, ACSW, RDDP; 3/28/25 Death positivity involves acknowledging death as simply the final phase of life. It emphasizes open discussions around death and education on the options, rights, and choices surrounding it. ... The Death Positivity Movement was coined in 2011 by funeral director Caitlin Doughty, but the sentiment existed long before — the movement’s origins date back to the 1970s, drawing on the hospice movement. ... Elements of the Death Positivity Movement:

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Medicare Administrative Contractors [MACs] did not consistently meet Medicare Cost Report Oversight Requirements

04/02/25 at 03:00 AM

Medicare Administrative Contractors [MACs] did not consistently meet Medicare Cost Report Oversight Requirements HHS-OIG; Issued on 3/18/25, posted on 3/19/25 ... What OIG Found: MACs did not consistently meet Medicare cost report oversight requirements.

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Study raises questions about GUIDE model’s helpfulness for caregivers of loved ones with dementia

04/02/25 at 03:00 AM

Study raises questions about GUIDE model’s helpfulness for caregivers of loved ones with dementia McKnights Home Care; by Adam Healy; 4/1/25 The Guiding an Improve Dementia Experience may need to be fine-tuned to better serve caregivers of those living with dementia, according to a new study published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia. The researchers identified 565 older adults and 555 caregivers eligible for GUIDE using data from the 2022 National Health and Aging Trends Study and National Study of Caregiving. They found that approximately half of GUIDE-eligible people with dementia received care from two or more caregivers, and about a third of these caregivers reported experiencing high caregiving strain. [Continue reading ...] 

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Mass layoffs hit workers at HHS; sweeping cuts extend to CDC, NIH, FDA: Recap

04/02/25 at 03:00 AM

Mass layoffs hit workers at HHS; sweeping cuts extend to CDC, NIH, FDA: Recap USA Today; by Sarah D. Wire, Josh Meyer, Bart Jansen, Ken Alltucker, Cybele Mayes-Osterman, Eduardo Cuevas, Sudiksha Kochi, Adrianna Rodriguez and Terry Collins; 4/1/25Mass layoffs began Tuesday at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and at the Food and Drug Administration, the first steps in a plan to cut 10,000 jobs at the Department of Health and Human Services. The department responsible for overseeing protection for Americans' health, food and drug supplies and Medicare and Medicaid is also closing its internal agencies that are focused on older adults and people with disabilities. It's also getting rid of its offices tackling HIV and improving minority health. Staff had to present their badges at the building entrance and those who had been fired were given a ticket and told to return home. More than 100,000 federal workers have already lost their jobs in the last two months as part of President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk's efforts to shrink staffing levels in federal departments and agencies. Tens of thousands more are expected as more agencies implement their reduction in force, or RIF, plans in the coming weeks.

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Health system CFOs fight for Medicaid on Capitol Hill

04/02/25 at 03:00 AM

Health system CFOs fight for Medicaid on Capitol Hill Becker's Hospital Reivew; by Alan Condon; 3/31/25 Multiple health system CFOs recently traveled to Washington, D.C., to meet with lawmakers on Capitol Hill, advocating against proposed Medicaid cuts that could threaten access to care and lead to the closure of essential hospital services. Health system executives participating in these discussions included:

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