Literature Review
An AI-powered lifestyle intervention vs human coaching in the Diabetes Prevention Program: A randomized clinical trial
10/29/25 at 03:00 AMAn AI-powered lifestyle intervention vs human coaching in the Diabetes Prevention Program: A randomized clinical trialJAMA Network; by Nestoras Mathioudakis, Benjamin Lalani, Mohammed S. Abusamaan, Mary Alderfer, Defne Alver, Adrian Dobs, Brian Kane, John McGready, Kristin Riekert, Benjamin Ringham, Aliyah Shehadeh, Eatmata Vandi, Amal A. Wanigatunga, Daniel Zade, Nisa M. Maruthur, for the AI-DPP Study Group; 10/27/25How does referral to a lifestyle intervention exclusively driven by artificial intelligence (AI) compare with referral to a human coach–led Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) lifestyle intervention? Among adults with prediabetes and overweight or obesity, a fully automated AI-led DPP may be a viable alternative to a DPP led by human coaches.Publisher's note: This article caught my attention because I was certain "human coaching" would out-perform the "AI-powered lifestyle intervention". I was wrong - nearly equal percentages of participants achieved the primary weight loss outcome.
Updated opioid prescribing guidelines: Implications for nurse practitioners
10/29/25 at 03:00 AMUpdated opioid prescribing guidelines: Implications for nurse practitioners The Nurse Practitioner / Lippincott; by Rhond Winegar, PhD, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, CCRN, CPN; Tara Martin, MSN, RN, CPN; Zhaoli Liu, PhD, FNP-C, CPPS; November 2025 issue. The opioid epidemic remains a significant public health challenge in the United States. Nurse practitioners (NPs) play a crucial role in addressing this crisis. This article discusses the implications for NPs of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2022 updated clinical practice guideline on opioid prescribing, focusing on four key areas: 1) deciding whether to initiate opioids, 2) determining appropriate opioids and dosages, 3) determining treatment duration and follow-up, and 4) implementing risk assessment and mitigation strategies. Adhering to this guideline enables NPs to optimize opioid prescribing practices and deliver patient-centered care that aligns with public health priorities to combat the opioid crisis.
The emerging role of osteopathic manipulative medicine in enhancing quality of life for palliative and end-of-life patients: A narrative review
10/29/25 at 03:00 AMThe emerging role of osteopathic manipulative medicine in enhancing quality of life for palliative and end-of-life patients: A narrative review Cureus; Ambrose Loc T Ngo, Linda Nguyen, Cynthia Shahbandeh, Jared Nichols; 9/26/25... This narrative review synthesizes current clinical evidence on the application of OMM in palliative and end-of-life care, focusing on its potential to manage multiple distressing symptoms, including pain, respiratory distress, fatigue, gastrointestinal issues, edema, and psychological stress. The review aims to provide an integrative understanding of [osteopathic manipulative medicine] OMM's role in symptom management, identify evidence gaps, and propose directions for future research.
New ACP paper provides ethical guidance amid controversies and changing practices in organ transplantation
10/29/25 at 03:00 AMNew ACP paper provides ethical guidance amid controversies and changing practices in organ transplantation American College of Physicians (ACP), Philadelphia, PA; Press Release; 10/28/25 The American College of Physicians today issued a position paper on ethical considerations surrounding organ transplantation, saying the needs of the donor patient and family must be prioritized and the process should be trustworthy and transparent. “Ethical Issues in Organ Transplantation: A position paper from the American College of Physicians” was published in Annals of Internal Medicine. It clarifies the duties and roles of care teams of prospective donor-patients, recipient-patients, and organ procurement teams, reaffirming that end-of-life decision making for prospective donor-patients must center on their best interests independent of organ donation potential. ... “This guidance is relevant to all involved in organ transplantation and particularly to internal medicine physicians who advise their patients about advance care planning and organ donation, caring for them prior to organ transplantation,” said Jason M. Goldman, MD, MACP, President, ACP.
Where the line is: The ethical limits of physician investing
10/29/25 at 03:00 AMWhere the line is: The ethical limits of physician investingMedscape; by Donavyn Coffey;10/24/25So where is the legal and ethical line? Medscape Medical News spoke with physicians, entrepreneurs, and financial experts to explore how doctors can grow their wealth without putting their patients or their credibility at risk. [The article discusses:]
[United Kingdom] New end-of-life checklist designed to remove stress in time of crisis
10/29/25 at 03:00 AM[United Kingdom] New end-of-life checklist designed to remove stress in time of crisis Independent; by Aine Fox; 10/27/25 Marie Curie has published an end-of-life checklist to encourage the public to think about their end-of-life care. The list, curated by clinicians, covers everything from wills to wakes and what we might want to happen to pets and social media accounts when we die. The document features five categories, including legal and money matters, people, pets and things important to me, an advance care plan, my funeral, a wake or celebration of life, and making and leaving behind memories. Editor's Note: To download USA Advance Directives for each state, visit (1) CaringInfo (set up by NHPCO 15+ years ago), A Program of the National Alliance for Care at Home, or (2) AARP's Find Advance Directives Forms by State (uses CaringInfo's form, but more user-friendly navigation).
EverHeart Hospice to be featured on all access with Andy Garcia
10/29/25 at 03:00 AMEverHeart Hospice to be featured on all access with Andy Garcia Mercer County Outlook, Greenville, OH; 10/27/25 EverHeart Hospice is set to be featured in an upcoming national documentary distributed to public television on “All Access with Andy Garcia.” The segment will provide vital education on the topics of hospice and palliative care, highlighting the compassionate, specialized support EverHeart Hospice provides to its patients and families. ... The feature will be distributed nationally, reaching major markets in all fifty states, with an anticipated availability in early 2026 for circulation. The national emphasis on distribution will help demystify end-of-life care and promote a greater understanding of the benefits of both hospice and palliative services to viewing audiences.
Knowing what must be done does away with ...
10/29/25 at 03:00 AMKnowing what must be done does away with fear. ~ Rosa Parks
Post-biographical dignity in the age of artificial intelligence: Narrative, ePROMs and ethical challenges in end-of-life care
10/29/25 at 02:50 AMPost-biographical dignity in the age of artificial intelligence: Narrative, ePROMs and ethical challenges in end-of-life care Palliative & Supportive Care; by Abel García Abejas, David Geraldes Santos, Helder Mota-Filipe, Àngels Salvador Vergés; 10/27/25 Significance of results: End-of-life care in the age of AI must move beyond autonomy-focused ethics to encompass the narrative, relational, and posthumous dimensions of dignity. A critical, philosophically informed ethics is essential to prevent depersonalisation in digitally mediated care.
New diligence challenge: Uncovering AI risks and opportunities
10/28/25 at 03:00 AMNew diligence challenge: Uncovering AI risks and opportunities Bain & Company; by Benjamin Farmer, Gene Rapoport, Richard Lichtenstein, Emmanuel Coque, Amy Wall, and Parker DeRensis; 10/27/25 At a Glance:
Hospice organizations: 5 tips for building a direct-to-consumer campaign
10/28/25 at 03:00 AMHospice organizations: 5 tips for building a direct-to-consumer campaign McKnights Home Care; by Andrew Robinson; 10/22/25 [... Why] are so many hospice organizations so reliant on waiting for families to find you through referrals? Referrals usually come too late. And families are left scrambling to make sense of their options. This is why direct-to-consumer marketing is not only appropriate, it’s essential. Here are five tips on how to effectively create and execute hospice direct-to-consumer marketing.
When words matter: NFDA releases groundbreaking communication guide for funeral professionals
10/28/25 at 03:00 AMWhen words matter: NFDA releases groundbreaking communication guide for funeral professionals National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA), Brookfield, WI; Press Release; 10/27/25 The National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) has released “When Words Matter: A Funeral Director’s Guide to Clear and Compassionate Communication,” a groundbreaking, research-driven resource designed to bridge the growing language gap between funeral professionals and the families they serve. ... Available now as a free download at NFDA.org/Research, this new guide is grounded in original NFDA research conducted earlier this year with more than 1,100 U.S. consumers across four generations. ... While funeral professionals have long used terms like “funeral,” “memorial service” and “celebration of life,” the new study revealed that families often define – or misunderstand – these terms in radically different ways. Editor's Note: Basic decisions about burial versus cremation usually need to be made before the death. Your interdisciplinary team members need to be up-to-date with this NFDA communication guide, for consistent family information and planning.
Stitched with love: Allied’s memory bears offer comfort to grieving families in Northeast Pennsylvania
10/28/25 at 03:00 AMStitched with love: Allied’s memory bears offer comfort to grieving families in Northeast Pennsylvania WVIA News - PBS/NPR, Scranton, PA; by Lydia McFarlane; 10/27/25 Barbara Rushinski received a bear made of her partner’s pajamas after he passed in hospice care at Allied Services. She was so moved, she put her sewing skills to good use and joined the team of volunteers making the bears for grieving families in Northeast Pennsylvania. ... Allied offers its memory bears to grieving families whose loved ones died in hospice. ... Joyce Wizda started the program at Allied more than six years ago when she joined the healthcare system as a social worker. ... She estimates the volunteers make about 150 bears a year. ... Wizda encourages families to send in clothing items from their loved one’s closet to ease their grieving journey.
Engaging community health workers in Advance Care Planning
10/28/25 at 03:00 AMEngaging community health workers in Advance Care Planning Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 10/24/25 Three organizations have developed an advance care planning training program in Illinois for community health workers that could potentially be adapted for other states. The seeds for the project were planted when the Illinois Public Health Association (IPHA) was awarded a grant by the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA). IPHA proceeded to engage the Illinois Hospice & Palliative Care Organization (IL-HPCO) and the HAP Foundation as subject matter experts to help develop the curriculum, as well as the education company Hospice Media, which filmed and designed the modules and workbooks.
Best of Beth Ashley: After a life well lived, facing the sadness together
10/28/25 at 03:00 AMBest of Beth Ashley: After a life well lived, facing the sadness together Marin Independent Journal; by Beth Ashley, this IJ is reprinting some of the late Beth Ashley’s columns. This is from 2014; 10/27/25 A dear friend is now being cared for by hospice. Like so many others, she has trusted hospice to see her through the last days of her life. Knowing that she may soon die is a blow to the heart. But it’s not as though I haven’t known that for all of us, life ends sometimes. That doesn’t make it any easier. By now, a huge assortment of dear ones have left my here and now. My parents are gone. My beloved second husband. My two sisters. My precious son Jeff. And so many friends I’ve lost count, including my best friend and fellow traveler for years and years, my Stanford classmate Skid. I still talk to them all. My mom has not really left my life; I’m just with her in a different way. ... Whenever these endings come near, it’s important to express our love, and face the final sadness together.
Peaceful acceptance of illness among older adults with advanced cancer
10/28/25 at 03:00 AMPeaceful acceptance of illness among older adults with advanced cancer Journal of Pain and Symptom Management; by Sule Yilmaz, Elizabeth Gilbride, Sofiia Hryniv, William Consagra, Supriya G Mohile, Eva Culakova, Beverly Canin, Arul Malhotra, Rachael Tylock, Judith O Hopkins, Jane Jijun Liu, Jamil Khatri, Marissa LoCastro, Maya Anand, Allison Magnuson, Kah Poh Loh; 10/23/25 Context: Peaceful acceptance of illness is associated with lower psychological distress and increased engagement in advance care planning among adults with advanced cancer. Limited data exist on factors influencing illness acceptance in older adults. ... Conclusion: Patient psychological health, perceived prognosis, and caregiver education were linked to PEACE. Triadic interventions addressing these factors may enhance end-of-life care for older adults with advanced cancer.
Here is what no one tells you about watching your wonderful dad slowly slipping away in front of you
10/28/25 at 03:00 AMHere is what no one tells you about watching your wonderful dad slowly slipping away in front of you HuffPost Personal; by Jill Bodach; 10/25/25 ... When I get the call at 2:30 a.m. from my dad’s nursing home, dread slaps me awake, and I answer in an almost whisper. They say, “Your father is having trouble breathing. We’ve sent him to Bridgeport Hospital.” ... In the emergency department, I am led into a waiting room. ... He is transferred to the ICU, and again I am told to wait. ... When I am finally allowed to see him, family members in other rooms look up when I walk by. Some smile and nod. A knowing. I smile back. We’re all in this together in some weird way the universe has planned. ...
Whenever these endings come near, it’s important to ...
10/28/25 at 03:00 AMWhenever these endings come near, it’s important to express our love, and face the final sadness together. ~ Beth Ashley (from this issue's "Editor Picks")
Hospice market expands at 9.6% CAGR, projected to hit USD 182.1 billion
10/28/25 at 02:00 AMHospice market expands at 9.6% CAGR, projected to hit USD 182.1 billion Market.Us Media; by Trishita Deb; 10/26/25 The Global Hospice Market is projected to reach USD 182.1 billion by 2033, growing from USD 72.8 billion in 2023 at a CAGR of 9.6%. ... Challenges:
Hospice chaplains play key role in addressing emotional pain, VITAS spiritual lead explains
10/28/25 at 02:00 AMHospice chaplains play key role in addressing emotional pain, VITAS spiritual lead explains McKnights Home Care; by Foster Stubbs; 10/26/25 In hospice care, maintaining the comfort and dignity of the patient are top priorities for clinicians. But there are some aspects of the end-of-life experience that they are not equipped to handle. That’s where hospice chaplains like Jason Cooper, national spiritual lead at VITAS Healthcare, come in. ... In hospice care, maintaining the comfort and dignity of the patient are top priorities for clinicians. But there are some aspects of the end-of-life experience that they are not equipped to handle. That’s where hospice chaplains like Jason Cooper, national spiritual lead at VITAS Healthcare, come in. In his role, Cooper supports over 300 chaplains and spiritual caregivers and up to 23,000 patients with terminal diagnoses nationwide.
After her son’s painful death, a Cheshire mother highlights Connecticut’s pediatric hospice gap
10/28/25 at 02:00 AMAfter her son’s painful death, a Cheshire mother highlights Connecticut’s pediatric hospice gap New Haven Register, Norwalk, CT; by Cris Villalonga-Vivoni; 10/26/25 Carolyn Torello believes that no parent should outlive their children, yet that became her reality. ... As his condition worsened, the family faced his impending death without the support of pediatric palliative or hospice care. No provider, she said, seemed to know how to help or where to begin. He died at 15 years old in 2021. ... In 2020, an estimated 7,800 children in Connecticut were living with complex medical conditions that limited their life expectancy and could have benefited from palliative or hospice care, according to data from the National Survey of Children's Health. ... Torello thinks that if Michael had access to hospice care, he could have died with greater dignity, and their family could have focused on simply being together. ... Efforts to create a more formalized pediatric palliative care system have been underway since 2024, led by a state-commissioned working group that will make recommendations to the legislature on potential reforms.
Hospice of the Chesapeake and Partners In Care join to support aging community
10/27/25 at 03:10 AMHospice of the Chesapeake and Partners In Care join to support aging communityHospice of the Chesapeake press release; by Elyzabeth Marcussen; 10/24/25Hospice of the Chesapeake is proud to announce that Partners In Care of Maryland, Inc., has officially joined its family of services under a newly formed umbrella organization, Chesapeake Health Partners... As Maryland’s largest independent nonprofit hospice organization, Hospice of the Chesapeake has been a trusted resource for individuals and families facing serious illness, helping them live each day with intention and peace. Partners In Care, a Maryland-based nonprofit, has built its legacy on helping older adults remain independent and engaged through its signature Service Exchange model where members help one another with transportation, handyman services, social connection and more.Note: This is in addition to Partnership Expands In-Home Palliative Care in Calvert County - Chesapeake Supportive Care (CSC), the palliative care arm of Hospice of the Chesapeake, is excited to announce a new partnership with Southern Maryland House Calls (SMHC), a trusted leader in home-based geriatric care, to enhance access to palliative care services for residents of Calvert County.
Ensuring safe, effective transitions to hospice
10/27/25 at 03:00 AMEnsuring safe, effective transitions to hospice Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 10/22/25 Trust, coordination among staff and speedy processes are essential to hospice referral management. This is according to new research from Transcend Strategy Group. For the consulting firm’s most recent Insights Report it conducted in-depth interviews with hospice admissions and business development professionals to identify recurring themes, barriers and opportunities. ... “We have to remember that for the person calling this is probably one of the worst days of their life — if it’s a family member, or if they’re calling on behalf of themselves — and they need help urgently,” Tony Kudner, chief strategy officer for Transcend Strategy Group, told Hospice News.
Pumping irony: When the hospice is inhospitable
10/27/25 at 03:00 AMPumping irony: When the hospice is inhospitable Experience Life; by Craig Cox; 10/22/25 ... University of Michigan researchers, reviewing the health records of some 139,000 hospice patients diagnosed with dementia, found that nearly half of them were given benzodiazepines, a class of drugs designed to relieve agitation and anxiety. ... The results, in many cases, were deadly. ... “For patients who are not actively dying, patients and families may prioritize preserving cognition, communication, and function — goals that may be compromised by sedating medications,” she writes. “This further underscores the need for dementia-specific hospice interventions to help offer scalable, nonpharmacologic approaches, to equip hospice clinicians with effective alternatives.”