Literature Review

Hospice was meant to offer dignity in death — but it fails the most marginalized. We need hospice programs that go to the streets, into shelters, behind barsSTAT; by Christopher M. Smith; 8/26/25I’ve spent more than a decade in hospice care, sitting at the bedsides of people facing the final days of their lives. I’ve held hands in hospital rooms, in tents, in prison cells, and in homes that barely qualify as such. And over time, I’ve come to see that dying in America is not just a medical event — it’s a mirror. It reflects everything we’ve failed to do for the living. Hospice was created to bring dignity to the dying — to manage pain, provide emotional and spiritual support, and ease the final passage for people with terminal illness. But the systems surrounding hospice care are riddled with inequity. The very people most in need of compassion — the unhoused, the incarcerated, people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, and people with disabilities — are systematically excluded, underserved, or erased. Access to a good death is too often reserved for the privileged, while everyone else is left to navigate a system that wasn’t built for them — or worse, actively works against them... The truth is, hospice care cannot achieve its mission unless it actively addresses the inequities built into the structures around it. We need hospice programs that go to the streets, into shelters, behind bars. We need training rooted in cultural humility, in antiracism, in trauma-informed care. We need to reimagine what it means to offer dignity to someone whose life has been defined by abandonment... Because dying is universal. But justice, even at the end of life, is still not.Publisher's note: STAT also references Dr. Ira Byock's article "The hospice industry needs major reforms. It should start with apologies, 8/22/23".

Redefining hospice: Living life to the fullest is not about giving upForbes; by Wes Kilgore; 8/25/25Discussions about end-of-life care in America are often met with silence, confusion or fear. Yet millions of families face it every year, often without the support, clarity, or resources they need. Tom Koutsoumpas, CEO and founder of the National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation (NPHI), argues that it’s time we redefine hospice not as a last resort, but as a profound opportunity for quality, dignified living until the end. [Discussion includes:]

RN median hourly pay, by stateBecker's Hospital Review; by Kelly Gooch; 8/19/25Median hourly base pay for registered nurses varies across states, with RNs in California earning the most, according to SullivanCotter’s “2025 Health Care Staff Compensation Survey Report.” The survey, released in July, covers nearly 2.5 million healthcare employees across over 2,660 participating organizations, including more than 800,000 individual RNs, licensed practical nurses and nursing managers. Here is the median per-hour base pay for RNs, by state, according to survey data shared with Becker’s [see article for all states]:

Lessons from U.S. Army Special Ops on becoming a leaderHarvard Business Review; by Angus Fletcher; 8/19/25In today’s volatile and uncertain world, leadership skills have become more crucial than ever, yet many organizations struggle to train their managers to lead effectively. But experiential learning and failure-based training, as practiced by U.S. Army Special Operations, can transform managers into leaders who excel in high-pressure situations. By focusing on initiative, emotional confidence, imagination, and strategic vision, the Special Ops curriculum offers a unique and effective approach to leadership development that can be adapted to various industries and organizational contexts. This method has shown remarkable success in both military and business settings, making it a valuable resource for companies looking to cultivate strong leaders in times of uncertainty.

States with the most, fewest licensed nursesBecker's Clinical Leadership; by Mariah Taylor; 8/13/25The National Council of State Boards of Nursing found Washington, D.C., has the most licensed nurses per capita, while Utah is the state with the fewest... The data found Wyoming and Vermont had the fewest licensed nurses in their states overall, at 9,440 and 12,957, respectively. Meanwhile, California and Texas had the most licensed nurses at 578,043 and 526,812, respectively. Becker’s used 2024 Census data to calculate how many nurses are in each state per 100,000 population. Here are [states] with the most and fewest nurses:Most [licensed RNs per 100,000 population]

PEOPLE's 100 Companies that Care in 2025 People; by Brendan Le; 8/20/25 In collaboration with Great Place to Work, a global authority on workplace culture, PEOPLE surveyed companies across the U.S. to find the businesses that best demonstrate outstanding respect, care and concern for their employees, communities and the environment. The ninth annual list is based on 1.3 million responses and data from companies representing over 8.4 million employees. 

How to choose the right assisted living facility for your aging loved one Mediafeed.org; by Rebecca Schier-Akamelu; 8/19/25 When you tour assisted living facilities, you’ll have the opportunity to speak directly with staff members and, when appropriate, even residents. Asking questions about pricing, amenities, caregivers, the types of care provided, and community culture will help you and your loved one compare when it’s time to choose the best facility. Key questions to find the right fit: ... 

By the Bay Health launches new scholarship in memoriam of Marin County healthcare visionary Pat KendallBy the Bay Health press release; by Caroline Kawashima; 8/21/25By the Bay Health, the largest independent nonprofit hospice, palliative care, and home health provider in Northern California, today announced a new scholarship in memoriam of Marin County healthcare advocate and visionary Pat Kendall. The By the Bay Health Pat Kendall Memorial Nursing Scholarship provides financial assistance to Bachelor of Science Nursing students who demonstrate financial need and have an interest in pursuing a career in home-based care in the Bay Area... Through the generosity of By the Bay Health donors, a $50,000 scholarship will be awarded this year to two Dominican University of California students in the B.S. Nursing program enrolled in the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 academic years. Each scholarship awardee will receive $12,500 per year for the 3rd and 4th years of the B.S. in Nursing program and an exclusive recruitment opportunity with By the Bay Health in the Spring semester of their fourth year. [Press release here.]

How Ochsner Health integrated palliative care training into its medical school curriculumCAPC blog; by Thomas Morel, Susan Nelson, Elizabeth Monies, Sarah Jin Lee; 8/14/25Making the case for palliative care in undergraduate medical education—and practical advice for getting started. We always begin our palliative care lecture for fourth-year medical students with a loss exercise... "This experience underscores the reality that anyone can become seriously ill, and everyone deserves access to the benefits of palliative care." Medical schools have a unique opportunity—and responsibility—to teach foundational palliative care principles. The need is clear: research shows increasing demand for quality palliative care education. Yet in the U.S, medical schools vary widely in how—or whether—they include it in their curricula.

American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine Announces Pierre M. Désy, MPH, CAE, as New Chief Executive OfficerIn late July, Pierre Désy, MPH, CAE became the new CEO of the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine. Désy recently served as CEO of the Society of Gynecologic Oncology (SGO) and the Foundation for Women's Cancer (FWC), where he led the development and implementation of strategic plans, revised bylaws, improved governance models, and advanced diversity and inclusion initiatives. Désy previously held executive leadership roles with the International Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (IAOMS) and the Emergency Nurses Association (ENA). He has also served as a management consultant and coach, supporting healthcare associations and professionals in improving performance and achieving excellence. Désy said, "I am particularly energized to be part of an organization where I can bring together my public health background and decades of association management experience, and work alongside a team that shares my passion for building partnerships, advancing health equity, and supporting interdisciplinary collaboration to expand access to quality care. I am impressed by the work that has been accomplished by the Academy and look forward to working together to further its mission."Guest Editor Note, Ira Byock, MD: Mr. Désy’s public health background and substantial experience in executive roles of national specialty groups positions him well to lead AAHPM during this turbulent period in American healthcare. Hopefully, with his guidance the Academy will find ways to respond to the variability in access to and quality of hospice and palliative services and the widespread persistence of unmet needs among seriously ill and dying Americans.

Why more doctors can't make ends meetAxios; by Tina Reed; 8/12/25America's doctors are working harder and getting paid less. And that could soon translate into less access for some patients. The big picture: A new report from consultancy Kaufman Hall shows primary care physicians and specialists are delivering more services since the pandemic. But they're not making more money because of stagnant reimbursements from public and private insurers and inflation. The data helps explain why medical practice bankruptcies hit a six-year high last year — and why some providers are shifting to pricey procedures for cash-paying customers to boost their bottom lines.

Switching your mentality from "why is this happening to me?" to "what is this trying to teach me?" is a game changer. ~Tips that change your life