Literature Review
Let's face (to face) it: Important changes to hospice face-to-face attestation requirements and other tidbits from the 2026 Hospice Final Rule
09/26/25 at 03:00 AMLet's face (to face) it: Important changes to hospice face-to-face attestation requirements and other tidbits from the 2026 Hospice Final Rule Husch Blackwell; podcast by Meg Pekarske; 9/24/25 ... All in all, the news is positive: while there is a new requirement for the F2F attestation to be signed and dated, the signed and dated F2F clinical note on its own can now serve as the F2F attestation. In this episode, Husch Blackwell attorneys Meg Pekarske and Andrew Brenton share their thoughts on what the updated F2F attestation rules mean for hospice operators and weigh in on other components of the final rule, including CMS’s attempt at housekeeping by clarifying the types of hospice physicians who can certify patients.
Executive Personnel Changes - 9/26/25
09/26/25 at 03:00 AMExecutive Personnel Changes - 9/26/25
Cancer patients are living longer than ever. Pain drugmakers haven’t kept up.
09/26/25 at 03:00 AMCancer patients are living longer than ever. Pain drugmakers haven’t kept up. Biopharma Dive; by Jacob Bell; 9/25/25 Decades of slow-moving research, along with broader failures of the healthcare system, have left millions of people in daily pain. Doctors fear that’s bound to continue. ... More than 2 million people in the U.S. alone are diagnosed with cancer each year. Conservative estimates hold that between 20% and 50% experience related pain, though that figure can climb as high as 80% for patients with advanced disease. Despite the large number of patients and the need for more therapies, drugmakers have mostly shied away from pain altogether, fearing that its complicated biology makes for too risky a research investment. ... Opioids remain the core of many treatment regimens. This lack of drug choices is aggravated by much broader failures of the healthcare system.
A hospice intervention for caregivers: Improving home hospice management of end-of-life symptoms (I-HoME) pilot study
09/26/25 at 03:00 AMA hospice intervention for caregivers: Improving home hospice management of end-of-life symptoms (I-HoME) pilot study Journal of the American Geriatrics Society; by Veerawat Phongtankuel, Sara J. Czaja, Taeyoung Park, Jerad Moxley, Ronald D. Adelman, Ritchell Dignam, Dulce M. Cruz-Oliver, Micah Denzel Toliver, M. C. Reid; 9/24/25 Background: While home-based hospice care seeks to reduce suffering at the end of life (EoL), patients continue to experience a high symptom burden. High symptom burden contributes to adverse outcomes, including patient suffering, burdensome care transitions, and caregiver burden. Yet, most caregivers lack formal education in patient symptom management despite providing up to 65 h of care per week. ... Conclusion: The I-HoME intervention was feasible to implement in the home hospice setting and acceptable to caregivers and hospice staff. Future efficacy trials are needed to determine whether this caregiver-focused intervention ... can measurably improve patient and caregiver outcomes in the home hospice setting.
Hospice of Amador and Calaveras raises over $66,000 at 26th annual “Celebrate Life” Art Auction on the Lawn
09/26/25 at 03:00 AMHospice of Amador and Calaveras raises over $66,000 at 26th annual “Celebrate Life” Art Auction on the Lawn Ledger.news, Jackson, CA; Press Release; 9/25/25 Hospice of Amador and Calaveras proudly announces the success of its 26th annual “Celebrate Life” Art Auction on the Lawn, which brought together community members, artists, donors, and supporters for an evening of generosity and celebration. Thanks to the incredible support of the community, the event raised over $66,000 to help provide compassionate, quality end-of-life care to patients and families in Amador and Calaveras Counties. “This event is a beautiful reminder of what can be accomplished when a community comes together for a cause,” said Samantha Lukow, Executive Director of Hospice of Amador and Calaveras.
Job Board 9/26/25
09/26/25 at 03:00 AMCOUNTDOWN: 4 Days Until HOPE Tool Starts, October 1, 2025
Avow recognizes World Hospice and Palliative Care Day
09/26/25 at 02:00 AMAvow recognizes World Hospice and Palliative Care Day Priority Marketing; Press Release; 9/25/25 Avow joins organizations around the globe in observing World Hospice and Palliative Care Day on Saturday, Oct. 11, a day dedicated to raising awareness of the critical role hospice and palliative care play in supporting patients and families facing serious illness. Editor's Note: For information to honor hits at your organization, visit our 7/15/25 post, World Hospice & Palliative Care Day 2025 - Achieving the Promise: Universal access to palliative care
Job Board 9/25/25
09/25/25 at 03:00 AMCOUNTDOWN: 5 Days Until HOPE Tool Starts, October 1, 2025
Hundreds of veterans to be honored at Summit Park during welcome home celebration
09/25/25 at 03:00 AMHundreds of veterans to be honored at Summit Park during welcome home celebration ABC WCPO-9, Blue Ash, OH; by Taylor Woods; 9/24/25Hospice of Cincinnati is hosting its fourth annual welcome home celebration for veterans at Summit Park, honoring their service and sacrifice with special tributes. Meet Karl Matson, a retired Air Force veteran who now enjoys taking long walks at the park. ... "It's incredibly powerful to see the country honoring veterans today, especially for the Vietnam War veterans, they came back in during a tough time," Matson said. He is a hospice volunteer. According to Hospice of Cincinnati, one out of four hospice patients are veterans. Matson said it's important to recognize their sacrifices. Tributes will be given to veterans of each era, honoring those who are still around and those who are no longer with us.
Nurse practitioner, RN shortage to hit 362,000 by 2032
09/25/25 at 03:00 AMNurse practitioner, RN shortage to hit 362,000 by 2032 Becker's Clinical Leadership; by Paige Twenter; 9/17/25 More than 1 million U.S. nurses are expected to retire by 2030 — far outpacing the projected number of new nurse graduates, according to research published Sept. 16. A study at the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce, based in Washington, D.C., investigated the growing skills shortage across 561 occupations. ... Between 2024 and 2032, an estimated 18.4 million workers with postsecondary education are expected to retire, according to the report. Only 13.8 million workers will enter the labor market with equivalent education and training ... The researchers predict a shortfall of 328,100 registered nurses, 42,100 licensed practical nurses and 33,800 nurse practitioners through 2032.
Exploring the opportunities and mitigating the challenges of Artificial Intelligence in nursing education
09/25/25 at 03:00 AMExploring the opportunities and mitigating the challenges of Artificial Intelligence in nursing education Delaware Nurses Association; by Kristine Gawrych, Ed.D., RN; 9/22/25 The recent and rapid advances in artificial intelligence (AI) have generated both excitement and concern in higher education. Opportunities for AI in nursing education can be transformative, including simulation, accessibility, and personalized learning. Just as the opportunities can be transformative, concerns such as bias, privacy, security, and ethics must be given due consideration. Nurse educators must understand enough about AI to effectively maximize its benefits and mitigate the challenges when preparing future nurses. ... Nurse educators must educate themselves on this ever-evolving technology to be able to develop strategies to mitigate the challenges of AI.
Emotional analytics in HRtech: Measuring mood, motivation, and morale
09/25/25 at 03:00 AMEmotional analytics in HRtech: Measuring mood, motivation, and morale HRTechSeries; by HRTech Staff Writer; 9/22/25 Organizations have used the same set of HR metrics for decades to keep track of the health of their employees: turnover rates, absenteeism, performance scores, and time-to-hire. These benchmarks are useful, but they don’t tell the whole story about what really makes an organization successful. They keep track of what employees do, but not how they feel. That gap is no longer acceptable in today’s fast-paced workplace, where employee experience is becoming more and more important for engagement and retention.
Reimbursement changes and home health outlook
09/25/25 at 03:00 AMReimbursement changes and home health outlook Levin Associates; by Dylan Sammut; 9/22/25 Over the summer, the home health industry was hit with some new potential headwinds. On June 30, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued its calendar year (CY) 2026 proposed rule for the home health prospective payment system, which proposes significant rate adjustments. In this article, we’re going to explore what the most significant changes are and how they will impact the home health market. ...
Living with dementia: To improve lives, we need to change how we think and talk about this experience in aging societies
09/25/25 at 03:00 AMLiving with dementia: To improve lives, we need to change how we think and talk about this experience in aging societies EurekAlert! - AAAS (American Association for the Advancement of Science); peer reviewed publication by The Hastings Center; 9/24/25 To experience or even contemplate dementia raises some of the most profound questions: What does it mean to be a person? How does someone find meaning in life while facing progressive neurological deterioration? ... To improve the lives of our fellow citizens who are living with dementia or providing dementia care, all of us need to pay attention to how we imagine and talk about these interwoven and increasingly common experiences, concludes Living with Dementia: Learning from Cultural Narratives in Aging Societies, a special report published by The Hastings Center for Bioethics. This report responds to calls from health care and social service practitioners for new ways to depict and talk about dementia, a collective term for Alzheimer disease and related dementias. Editor's Note: Click here for free access to multiple articles in this crucial report, such as
Your leadership sets the emotional ...
09/25/25 at 03:00 AMYour leadership sets the emotional tone for your team. ~ Allison Dunn
Carolina Caring Foundation helps hospice patient fulfill dream at North Carolina Zoo
09/25/25 at 03:00 AMCarolina Caring Foundation helps hospice patient fulfill dream at North Carolina Zoo Carolina Caring, Newton, NC; Press Release; 9/23/25 A hospice patient fulfilled her lifelong dream of meeting and feeding a giraffe thanks to the Life Enrichment Fund through the Carolina Caring Foundation. Deborah, a patient at Carolina Caring, has always been fascinated by the wildlife of Africa, the work of Jane Goodall, and the unique beauty of giraffes. ... Deborah has always had an adventurous spirit. In the past, she tried many new experiences—including a fun helicopter ride with her family during a beach trip—but one thing she always yearned to do was meet a giraffe. Her Carolina Caring social worker, Carley, recognized this dream and soon created a pathway for this wish to come true. . ... Carolina Caring gave this family more than just a trip to the zoo. They provided a celebration and memory-making that the family will now forever carry in their hearts and minds.
Delaware Hospice names McDonough next chief executive officer
09/25/25 at 03:00 AMDelaware Hospice names McDonough next chief executive officer Coastal Point; Press Release; 9/23/25 The Board of Trustees of Delaware hospice has appointed Charles McDonough, MHA, as the organization’s next chief executive officer, succeeding Susan D. Lloyd, RN, MSN, who has served in the position for more than 38 years. “On behalf of the Board, I am honored to welcome Charles McDonough as the next CEO of Delaware Hospice,” said Board Chair Dan McCarthy. “Charles is a proven healthcare leader with deep expertise in hospice, palliative care and home health services. His career reflects a remarkable record of operational excellence, growth leadership and the development of compassionate care platforms. We are confident he will build upon Susan’s extraordinary legacy and guide Delaware Hospice into its next chapter of service and innovation.” ... McDonough will join Delaware Hospice on Sept. 29.
Conquering imposter syndrome with Maureen Zappala
09/25/25 at 03:00 AMConquering imposter syndrome with Maureen Zappala Teleios Collaborative Network (TCN); pod/videocast hosted by Chris Comeaux with Maureen Zappala; 9/24/25 Ever feel one mistake away from being “found out”? You’re not alone. Former NASA propulsion engineer Maureen Zappala shares how imposter syndrome secretly affects high performers and provides practical strategies to overcome self-doubt that holds us back from our full potential. Maureen shares her journey from melting equipment at NASA’s jet engine test facility to becoming the first female and youngest manager of its Propulsion Systems Lab. Despite her impressive credentials, she constantly questioned her worth, even believing she was hired only because she was a woman. What makes this episode particularly valuable is Maureen's practical framework for tackling imposter syndrome. She outlines five powerful strategies that begin with recognizing the symptoms and culminate in connecting with your deeper purpose.
Building blocks of hospice family caregiver support
09/25/25 at 02:00 AMBuilding blocks of hospice family caregiver support Hospice News; by Holly Vossel; 9/24/25 Untapped reimbursement opportunities exist when it comes to developing a sustainable family caregiving infrastructure in the face of rising demand for home-based hospice care. ... Among the payment avenues with potential to improve support for caregivers is the Medicaid-funded Structured Family Caregiving (SFC) program. SFC coverage includes a modest financial stipend to health care providers that offer home- and community-based services for caregivers. ... Roughly 63 million Americans are family caregivers, an increase of nearly 50% since 2015, according to a report from the National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP. About one-in-every-four adults is a caregiver to a family member, with 40% of these individuals providing high-intensity care, the report found. About half of the nation’s caregivers reported negative financial impacts, with one-in-five unable to afford basic needs such as food and 25% taking on debt. Additionally, one-in-five caregivers have poor health outcomes, the report found.Editor's Note: Are you aware that the 2008 CMS Hospice Conditions of Participation identify the "family" 423 times? (Yes, I've searched, counted, and categorized.) Click here for AARP's 2025 edition of Caregiving in the US.
Hospital staffing and patient outcomes after private equity acquisition
09/25/25 at 02:00 AMHospital staffing and patient outcomes after private equity acquisition Annals of Internal Medicine; by Sneha Kannan, MD, MS, Joseph Dov Bruch, PhD, José R. Zubizarreta, PhD, Jennifer Stevens, MD, MS, and Zirui Song, MD, PhD; 9/23/25 Conclusion: After private equity acquisition, hospitals on average reduced salaries and staffing relative to nonacquired hospitals, notably in the EDs and ICUs, which are higher-acuity and staffing-sensitive areas. This decreased capacity to deliver care may explain the increased patient transfers to other hospitals, shortened ICU lengths of stay, and increased ED mortality.
Study provides new insight into loneliness among home care recipients
09/24/25 at 03:00 AMStudy provides new insight into loneliness among home care recipients McKnights Home Care; by Paul Katz, MD and Barbara Resnick, PhD; 9/22/25 ... A team of international Investigators, led by researchers at the University of Waterloo, recently reported on the link between loneliness and mortality among home care recipients in Canada, Finland and New Zealand. The study can be found in the July issue of the Journal of the American Medical Directors Association (Vol 26 (7) 105687 July 2025). ... Home care recipients may be more prone to loneliness, given mobility and sensory problems that limit engagement in the community. ... Interestingly, investigators noted that individuals with less informal care had the highest rates of loneliness. An explanation may be that those with less complex health needs requiring less support from family members may lead to more social isolation.
AI's disruptive impact on youth employment: Emerging evidence and organizational responses
09/24/25 at 03:00 AMAI's disruptive impact on youth employment: Emerging evidence and organizational responses Forbes, by Jonathan H. Westover, PhD; 9/23/25 ... The AI-Employment Shift: What We KnowThe stats are in—and they're sobering. New research analyzing high-frequency payroll data shows early-career workers (ages 22-25) in AI-exposed occupations have experienced a 13% relative employment decline since generative AI's widespread adoption. Meanwhile, more experienced workers in those same roles have remained largely unaffected. In my consulting work with Fortune 500 companies, I've witnessed this firsthand. ...
Job Board 9/24/25
09/24/25 at 03:00 AMCOUNTDOWN: 6 Days Until HOPE Tool Starts, October 1, 2025
Hospice home for veterans named after philanthropist in Nevada
09/24/25 at 03:00 AMHospice home for veterans named after philanthropist in Nevada Audacy.com - Connecting Vets; by Julia DeDoux; 9/22/25 A Reno, Nevada-based nonprofit dedicated to ensuring veterans have access to the medical care they need has named its newly opened hospice home in honor of a philanthropist whose gifts have been critical to its efforts. Veterans Guest House said the facility, which opened in June, will be known as the Cynthia Lake House. Lake has been instrumental in expanding access to both medical and end-of-life care for veterans across northern Nevada. In 2022, she founded Veterans Guest House’s Patient Advocacy Program, which connects veterans with transportation, post-operative care, and personal support. The impact of the program inspired Lake to scale the vision to 24/7 personalized care, making the hospice house possible.
Valley Regional Medical Center launches new palliative care program
09/24/25 at 03:00 AMValley Regional Medical Center launches new palliative care program Valley Central.com, NBC-23 and CBS-4, Brownsville, TX; by Jesse Mendez; 9/22/25 Valley Regional Medical Center has launched comprehensive palliative care services through its hospitalist group, HNI Healthcare, to support patients and families facing serious illness. The new palliative care services at Valley Regional Medical Center aim to provide compassionate, patient-centered care, focusing on symptom management and emotional support, as well as goals-of-care discussions to align treatment with patients’ values and preferences.