Literature Review

4 phrases successful leaders intentionally use to motivate their teams Forbes; by Dr. Cheryl Robinson; 2/1/25 ... Great leaders understand that their words can shape company culture, influence behavior and impact employee engagement; it’s about delivering messages with clarity and intent. The tone, phrasing and timing of communication can energize a team or deflate morale. A well-placed word of encouragement can spark motivation, while careless criticism can hinder progress. Whether providing constructive feedback or navigating tough conversations, leaders who speak with intention create a culture where employees feel valued and driven to contribute their best. ... 4 Phrases Successful Leaders Use:

New report details financial, emotional toll of Parkinson’s on family caregivers McKnights Home Care; by Foster Stubbs; 2/4/25 A new report sheds a light on the unique challenges faced by family caregivers who care for loved ones with Parkinson’s disease (PD). The report, Parkinson’s Disease Caregiving in the US, features insights from secondary analysis and supplementary interviews with 10 PD caregivers. These caregivers average 31 hours of unpaid care per week; half of interviewed caregivers exceed 100 hours each week, according to the report. The National Alliance for Caregiving (NAC), with support from The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF) and Arcadia University, released the report.  

Study explores Native Hawaiian end-of-life careNational Indigenous Times; by Joseph Guenzler; 2/4/25A study by the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa's Hā Kūpuna – National Resource Center for Native Hawaiian Elders has examined the end-of-life care preferences of Native Hawaiian kūpuna (Elders). Led by Laguna Pueblo and Quechan woman, Assistant Professor Miquela Ibrao, researchers from UH and ALU LIKE, Inc. identified culturally specific approaches to support kūpuna values in healthcare. "Death is not an end but a transition that honors relationality, ancestors and the land,' Assistant Professor Ibrao said. "Decolonizing end-of-life care means respecting cultural beliefs and embracing Indigenous wisdom about healing and living well." The study, published in the Journal of Palliative Medicine, is based on interviews with 20 kūpuna aged 60 and over from rural areas across Hawaiʻi. It highlights four key themes.

Carlos T. Graveran to Lead Bridginglife as Assistant Vice President of Hospice and Palliative Care ServicesNewswise press release; by LifeBridge Health; 2/3/25[Maryland] BridgingLife, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing high-quality palliative and hospice services, today announced that Carlos T. Graveran will join the organization as assistant vice president of Hospice and Palliative Care Services, effective February 10. Previously known as Carroll Hospice, BridgingLife is a nationally recognized hospice program that has been providing end-of-life and palliative care services for nearly 40 years.

We must always strive for excellence, no matter the circumstances. ~ Dorothy Vaughn, NASA mathematician, whose story was told in Hidden FiguresHonoring Black History Month 2025

Family caregivers who support older relatives are on the rise due to aging-in-place preferences HousingWire; by Chris Clow; 2/5/25 The number of family caregivers who support older relatives in either home-based or residential care settings increased by 32% between 2011 and 2022 ... Researchers also say this could be partially tied to rising preferences for aging in place. This is according to a joint study from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and the University of Michigan’s Institute for Social Research. Additional support came from the National Institute on Aging, a division of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The raw number increase went from 18.2 million in 2011 to 24.1 million in 2022. The study also found that the number of care hours provided by family and other unpaid caregivers increased by 50% during that time. The average number of weekly hours for such care stood at 21.4 in 2011, but it jumped to 31 in 2022, nine hours short of what is widely considered a full-time weekly work schedule.

Immigration policies’ ‘chilling effect’ on the hospice workforce Hospice News; by Holly Vossel; 2/5/24 The White House recently issued several executive orders that have ramped up the nation’s immigration enforcement policies. The health care sector may be facing a host of staffing and operational challenges as the regulatory moves unfold, according to Hannah Liu, manager of immigration advocacy at Asian Americans Advancing Justice (AAJC). A tightening of immigration policies has come with “concern, panic and confusion” across diverse communities nationwide, Liu stated. “As the effects of these hostile immigration policies play out, patients may also face the life-or-death situations that arise from interruptions in care caused by staffing shortages,” Liu told Hospice News in an email. “Immigrants in the health care industry may fear the possibility of arrest and detention, including in workplaces like hospitals, palliative care facilities and clinics.” 

4 critical mistakes to avoid during your workday project Becker's Hospital Review; In collaboration with Healthcare IT Leaders; 2/3/25 The success of a Workday implementation doesn’t just hinge on technology but on people. According to recent research, up to 80% of digital transformation initiatives fail. ... For organizations looking to avoid these pitfalls, here are four critical staffing mistakes to avoid as outlined in our Workday Resource Planning & Staffing Guide:

'It's not about technology or dashboards': What health systems need from IT execs next Becker's Health IT; by Laura Dyrda; 2/4/25 Health system IT leaders are entering a new era of leadership amid transformational technology platform purchases, artificial intelligence integration and cybersecurity advancements. But being the most technically proficient no longer guarantees leaders the top role. ... Healthcare IT leaders can become distracted by the bells and whistles of new technology and move forward without considering the patient experience. ... Staying close to the health system's mission is critical for IT leaders, and [Christopher Hutchins, senior vice president and chief data and analytics officer at Lifepoint Health] ties the technology back to patient care. He prioritizes his teammates and colleagues, listening carefully to what they need. Notable mentions: James Forrester, Chief Technology Officer at University of Rochester (NY) Medical Center; Donna Roach, CIO of University of Utah Health; and Christopher Hutchins, senior vice president and chief data and analytics officer at Lifepoint Health 

US flu cases are peaking for a second time this season. Now you can test for the virus at home CNN; by Neha Mukherjee; 2/5/25 The United States is seeing a second peak in flu cases this season. After doctor’s office visits for flu dipped early this year, they jumped past the previous season peak at the end of last month, with a 30% test positivity rate — and there are still months to go. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that there have been at least 20 million cases and 11,000 deaths from flu so far this season. Hospitalizations are rising too, with an estimated 38,255 hospitalizations from flu last week alone. It’s not the only illness spreading, either ... But there are some new tools to help this respiratory virus season: over-the-counter tests that can identify whether an illness is Covid-19 or influenza. The tests are available for purchase at most pharmacies or online ... The tests won’t check for every respiratory virus, but they mark the first time the public can test for flu at home.  

End-of-life-care option bill in New Hampshire stirs conversation on deathMonadnock Ledger-Transcript, Peterborough, NH; by Sruthi Gopalakrishnan; 2/4/25 At age 75, Rep Bob Lynn says he loves life. But he knows he’s no “spring chicken” and his days are finite. The former chief justice of the state Supreme Court is the prime sponsor of House Bill 254, known as “The New Hampshire End of Life Freedom Act,” which gives terminally ill adults the choice to take control of their final days and end their own life with a dose of lethal medication. ... If the legislation passes, terminally ill individuals aged 18 and over with a prognosis of less than six months to live will be able to receive medications to end their lives on their own terms. It comes with a long list of requirements that two health care providers must verify, including that they have healthy mental capacity, are aware of alternative options and are competent to self-administer the drugs. Opponents warned it could encourage suicide, be misused and send a harmful message that people with disabilities are a burden. ... Michelle Flynn, a retired internal medicine physician from Bedford, said allowing terminally ill patients to end their lives opens the door to death as a treatment option. ... Lisa Beaudoin of Temple, founder of Strategies for Disability Equity, worries it would worsen the discrimination disabled people already face in health care. 

Top news stories of the month January 2025 Teleios Collaborative Network; Chris Comeaux with Cordt Kassner; 2/5/25 In this episode of TCN Talks, Chris Comeaux and Cordt Kassner, PhD, publisher of Hospice & Palliative Care Today and CEO and Founder of Hospice Analytics, begin a new format for the “Top News Stories of the Month.” ... Chris and Cordt explore key trends in Hospice news, challenges in reimbursement, competition, workforce issues, and the impact of technology on the field.  They also touch on demographic trends, regulatory issues, and predictions for the future of Hospice Care. Their dialogue highlights the challenge of filtering vast information and the excellent service provided to Hospice and Palliative Care leaders.  This podcast and Hospice & Palliative Care Today are for the leaders in the Hospice and Palliative Care field.

Hiding in plain sight: The most harmful and costly hospital-acquired infection Infection Control Today; by Dian Baker, PhD, APRN; 2/5/25 Nonventilator hospital-acquired pneumonia (NV-HAP) is among the most deadly, harmful, and costly hospital-acquired infections (HAI). In a 2023 study of 284 US hospitals, NV-HAP was attributed to 1 in 14 hospital deaths with an inpatient mortality of 22.4%. NV-HAP is associated with significant morbidity and mortality, the incidence of sepsis, longer hospital stays, increased discharges to skilled nursing facilities and hospice, costs, and higher intensive care unity (ICU) utilization.