Literature Review

HealthView CEO Steven Gonzalez announces Inc. articles on why presence beats certainty — and why it matters even more in the age of AI Associated Press, Cerritos, CA; 5/19/26 Steven Gonzalez, President & CEO of HealthView Home Health, Hospice & Palliative Care, announces the publication of his latest Inc. article, “Certainty Is Overrated. Presence Is Underrated,” now live on Inc.com. ... In the published article, Gonzalez challenges a long-held leadership myth: that strong leaders must always project confidence, clarity, and absolute answers. Instead, he makes the case that presence, consistency, and authenticity matter more than false certainty in times of rapid change. When leaders remain visible, grounded, and human, they build the trust and stability that carry teams forward — even in the middle of ambiguity.

The trouble with most of us is that we would rather be ruined by praised than saved by criticism. ~ Norman Vincent Peale

Readers write: When CIOs need to be in the room with patient engagement technology in new construction projects HIStalk - Healthcare IT News & Opinion; by Brad Storm; 5/18/26 Installing equipment may seem like the end goal at the start of a new construction project. But there’s so much more involved, especially when it comes to patient engagement technology for your new facility. As an IT professional, you need to be in the room during four key steps of the process.

Calvert youth generosity celebrated at annual ‘Boots & Bling’ event Maryland BayNet, Prince Frederick, MD; by Hospice of the Chesapeaker; 5/19/26The can-do spirit of Calvert County’s 4-H youth helped make “Boots & Bling: A Culinary Experience” a fundraising success for Hospice of the Chesapeake. ... One of the evening’s featured moments focused on the story of the Hospice Hog, shared by T.J. Ireland. In 2019, Ireland and his brother, Colby Ireland, donated proceeds from the sale of one of their 4-H market hogs to honor their grandmother and support Hospice of the Chesapeake. Their first hog, Harry, raised $7,000 at the Calvert County Fair. After the Ireland brothers aged out of 4-H, the Said family continued the tradition. Together, the families have raised more than $150,000 through the sale of home-raised hogs. ... Ireland said the Said family plans to continue the tradition until Lena turns 19.Editor's Note: Do you need some inspiration? Read this. For context, revisit the 2026 "Boots & Bling" story we posted on 5/18/26 and celebrate this behind-the-scenes story of family tribute to a beloved grandmother. 

Paul Ledford: Program integrity should strengthen — not undermine — access to hospice care in Florida Florida Politics; by guest author Paul Ledford, president and CEO of the Florida Hospice & Palliative Care Association; 5/18/26 Few places in America are as closely tied to retirement and aging as Florida. [Background information on the recent CMS Hospice and Home Health Moratorium] ... CMS has previously acknowledged that targeted, geographically focused enforcement is the most effective way to combat localized fraud. A nationwide moratorium contradicts that approach. Rather than protecting patients, it risks cutting off access for the very people hospice is designed to serve. The right solution is targeted enforcement — cracking down on criminal networks in the specific communities where abuse is documented, without penalizing high-performing states and the families who rely on their care.

A husband’s story of end-of-life care at home MedPage Today's KevinMD.com; by Ron Louie, MD; 11/27/25... When my wife died at home, it wasn’t really a surprise. ... Over the previous few weeks, we had notified her primary care physician’s office of the need for a home hospice referral, but because of some snafu, the correct wording wasn’t used, and the paperwork stalled. ... Years before, we had already obtained a POLST (Portable Order for Life-Sustaining Treatment, our state’s “green form”), signed by a doctor, that made clear my physician wife’s choices in advanced directives: no CPR, tube feedings, or IV treatments. ... Since we didn’t have an active home hospice referral, I knew that firefighters could pronounce her death; my own license had lapsed in retirement. ... The firefighters left, but the police stayed quite awhile until they were cleared by the Medical Examiner’s office. ...Editor's Note: This caregiver story powerfully tells challenges experienced by a retired oncologist/spouse. Calling all leaders who are part of referral and admissions processes, pay attention to the problems caused by delays: firemen, police, and (not named) lack of bereavement care.

Landmarks and legacies: 50 years of heart and home health at Clarion Forest VNA exploreClarion, Clarion, PA; by Brock Jordan; 5/18/26 Long before GPS guided nurses down rural backroads, the caregivers of Clarion Forest VNA relied on landmarks, handwritten directions, and the kindness of neighbors to find the homes of patients scattered across Clarion and Forest counties.“Turn left at the red barn.”“Go past the old church.”“Look for the mailbox with the flowers.”The memories still make them laugh. For retired nurses Deb Wilson Kelly, Jan Lander, and Jill Over, those winding roads became part of a lifelong journey through one of the region’s most enduring healthcare organizations. And for current CEO Lisa Steiner, the stories and values built by those before her continue to shape the organization today.

Dale Clift named new Enhabit CEO post-Kinderhook transactionHospice News; by Jim Parker; 5/18/26Enhabit Inc. has named Dale Clift as its new CEO, succeeding Barbara Jacobsmeyer. The announcement follows closure on Friday of Enhabit’s $1.1 billion acquisition by the private equity firm Kinderhook. The deal took Enhabit off of the New York Stock Exchange as a publicly traded company. Clift brings decades of home health and hospice experience to Enhabit. He previously served as CEO of Trilogy Home Healthcare. He is also the former CEO of Nurse on Call.

The woman painting lost loved ones for free BBC News; by Tom Atkinson and Elliot Ball; 5/18/26 A Herefordshire artist has pledged to paint people's loved ones who have passed away for free, following the death of her own granddaughter.Judy Young, from Bromyard, has been creating posthumous portraits since 2017, and only requests a donation to St Michael's Hospice in return. ... Discussing her artwork, Young said: "It's very moving, it's always moving painting a portrait, and I have painted still born babies right up to people in their 80s and 90s." She continued: "What's so moving to me is because I want to hear about the person and learn about them, I don't just have a photo, I have an idea of their character and their essence."

[New Zealand] Hospices turning away dying patients as funding shortfall bites Europe Says | New Zealand; 5/16/26 Hospices across New Zealand are being forced to turn away dying patients as they struggle to cope with rising costs and insufficient government funding. There are 32 hospices nationwide providing palliative care, but the sector says it needs an additional $80 million to $100 million a year from the Government to remain financially sustainable. 

Michael Jordan shares emotional FaceTime moment with former teacher in hospice: "They laughed, reminisced, picked at each other" Basketball Network; by Bjorn Del B. Deade; 5/17/26 Nowadays, Michael Jordan only makes headlines because of the success of his NASCAR Cup Series team ... However, the news cycle recently took a refreshing turn after Jordan’s kind gesture toward one of his former teachers at Emsley A. Laney High School in Wilmington, North Carolina. The teacher, Ms. Etta, is currently a patient at Lower Cape Fear LifeCar, which is located in his hometown. And as she recounts her tales about Laney High School, she has repeatedly said she wanted to reconnect with the Chicago Bulls legend. So, Jordan did what he could to make it happen. The non-profit hospice shared its unforgettable interaction on its social media.

Butterfly Garden of Remembrance 2026 YubaNet.com, Nevada County, CA; by Foothills Compassionate Care; 5/15/26 Driving along the freeway between Grass Valley and Nevada City, passengers might notice three large butterfly statues in the nearby distance. The statues mark the annual Butterfly Garden of Remembrance, hosted by Foothills Compassionate Care [formerly known as Hospice of the Foothills]. ... In a community where neighbors care deeply for one another, few traditions capture that spirit more beautifully.  For more than 25 years, the Butterfly Garden has offered a sacred space for grief, healing and remembrance.

In HelloNation, hospice care expert Cindy Mensik of Texas City, TX, highlights the differences between hospice & home health care PR Newswire, Texas City, TX; by HelloNation; 5/18/26 What are the key differences between hospice care and home health care, and how can families choose the right option? That question is explored in a HelloNation article featuring insights from Cindy Mensik of Better Care Matters. The article helps families in the Clear Lake and League City, TX, areas understand the goals of care behind each service, and how those goals shape both timing and outcomes.