Literature Review

Primary mental health competencies for hospice and palliative medicine physicians: A Delphi studyJournal of Pain and Symptom Management; by Lisa Podgurski, Danielle Chammas, Keri O Brenner, Leah B Rosenberg, Neha G Goyal, Maria I Lapid, Sue E Morris, William F Pirl, Bridget Sumser, Benjamin W Thompson, Lindsey Wright, and Daniel Shalev; 5/20/25  Objectives: To establish and prioritize 'primary mental health competencies' for specialist hospice and palliative medicine physicians using expert consensus methods. Results: The expert panel proposed 68 competencies divided into: (A) psychological foundations of serious illness care, (B) diagnosis and management of mental health disorders in serious illness, and (C) systems-based practice. After first-round voting, 23 competencies were recirculated for a second vote. Following second-round voting, 32 competencies were included in the final list: 7 from part A, 20 from part B, and 5 from part C.

Johnson champions Eddie's Law to bring dignity to end-of-life-care in Illinois Public, Springfield, IL; News Release; 5/22/25 After an incarcerated man named Eddie Thomas died alone in a prison infirmary without receiving any end-of-life care, State Senator Adriane Johnson is championing legislation to bring dignity, compassion, and transparency to hospice and palliative care services in Illinois correctional facilities. "This bill is about basic human dignity," said Johnson (D-Buffalo Grove). "No one should die in pain, in isolation or without the comfort of care - no matter who they are or where they live. House Bill 2397 brings transparency to a system that too often leaves people to suffer silently." ... House Bill 2397 would require the Illinois Department of Corrections to prepare and publish an annual report detailing its hospice and palliative care programs. The bill aims to provide lawmakers with data that can guide future policy decisions on compassionate and medically appropriate end-of-life care for people incarcerated in Illinois. 

When patients die: A myeloma specialist grieves Medscape; by Manni Mohyuddin, MD; 5/28/25 ... We form such beautiful bonds with patients as we guide them through the highs and lows of treatment. And that is why I struggled so profoundly with the abrupt separation created by a transition of a patient to hospice. How can it be okay for me to be seeing a patient weekly (and sometimes more often) for such a long time and then suddenly never see them again after they transition to hospice? How can we just disappear from their lives at such a critical juncture? I understand that I may not have more chemotherapy to offer, but I at least can offer emotional support, validation, and my friendship. ...Editor's note: Continue reading this powerful commentary. Taking this further, do you have HIPAA compliant systems in place to notify the patient's oncologist or pre-hospice primary physician of the death? 

What it’s like to be…a hospice nurse Behavioral Scientist; by Dan Heath; 5/22/25 Comforting patients as they prepare to transition, navigating end-of-life regrets and frayed relationships, and providing support and advice for fearful families with Heather Meyerend, a retired hospice nurse. How does she know when the end is imminent? And what has the work taught her about the different ways we deal with death? In each episode of What It’s Like to Be…, bestselling author Dan Heath speaks with someone about what it’s like to walk in their (work) shoes.

Trend Report: Artificial Intelligence In Health CareHealth Affairs; 5/25/25For our first Insider trend report, we explore the ways that artificial intelligence could impact the health care landscape. The report highlights:

"You're next": People are sharing the last words they heard someone say as they were dying, and they're not all inspiring BuzzFeed; by Mike Spohr; 5/21/25There's so much we don't understand about the end of life. Recently, we shared a post where Quora users shared their experiences being present for the final moments of someone's life...and hearing their last words. Well, as it turns out, BuzzFeed's readers wanted to share their experiences hearing someone's last words too, so we rounded them up here:

Veterans honored ahead of Memorial Day with picnic hosted by Hospice of Texarkana KSLA-TV 12, Shreveport, LA; by Fred Gamble; 5/17/25 Hospice of Texarkana held its third annual Veterans Appreciation Picnic Friday (May 16) honoring the service and sacrifice of area military veterans and their families. Organizers said with Memorial Day just around the corner, the event gave attendees a time to relax and connect with each other. 

Memorial Day: 3:00 pm National Moment of RemembranceUSMilitary.com - A non-government, privately sponsored website; retrieved from the internet 5/22/25The day is not just about looking back but also about engaging with the present and future. It provides an opportunity for communities and individuals across the nation to come together in a shared spirit of remembrance. ... This year, as we commemorate Memorial Day, we invite you to join us in honoring the legacy of our heroes through active participation and thoughtful reflection. ... At 3:00 PM local time on Memorial Day, Americans are encouraged to pause for a moment of silence to remember and honor the fallen. The National Moment of Remembrance is a collective act of unity, acknowledging the sacrifices made for our country. Whether you are at home, at a parade, or spending time with family, take a moment to reflect on the true meaning of the day. This simple yet profound gesture serves as a nationwide expression of gratitude and respect.

'Dancing With Our Stars' marks 10 years of hospice fundraising in Marquette County My UP News, Marquette, MI; by Schyler Perkins; 5/22/25 Thursday night marked the grand finale of the tenth annual Dancing with Our Stars - Marquette County Style contest. ... "Tonight, people can expect nothing short of epic performances," said event organizer Lindsay Hemmila. The competition, which began in 2012 to raise funds for UP Health & Hospice, has become a cornerstone fundraising event in Marquette County. ... "When we first started off, I remember thinking like, my gosh, if I could raise like $40,000, which is quite huge. And now we're, you know, doubling or in some years tripling that number," Hemmila said. ... One of the most impactful programs funded through the event is the "Make a Memory" program, where hospice staff meet with patients to help fulfill wishes before they pass away. 

Experts discuss what hospice and palliative care are and how they can help ideastream public media; by Leigh Barr; 5/21/25Contemplating a life-limiting or life-changing illness or even death can be difficult topics for Americans.  Last year, USA Today conducted a survey which found about 30% of Americans surveyed found it difficult to talk about or even contemplate their own mortality. When it comes to managing serious illness or the final phase of life, surveys show that a majority of Americans say they have at least heard of hospice or palliative care but most admit they may not know a lot about either topic. We're going to talk about both to begin Wednesdays “Sound of Ideas” and try to dispel some of the myths that may surround hospice and palliative care. 

"Taps" Bugle Call: USMC Drum & Bugle Corps [YouTube]YouTube, filmed at the National Mall, Washington DC, retrieved from the internet 5/22/25Editor's note: We invite you to start this Memorial Day with this reflective playing of "Taps," with backdrops of the Washington Memorial, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the Korean War Veterans Memorial, and more. Ongoing, we share with you these resources below for the veterans and their families whom you serve.

ACC issues new tool to provide guidance on using Apple Watch for heart health monitoring American College of Cardiology; ACC News Story; 5/20/25 The ACC has issued a new "Leveraging Apple Watch for Cardiovascular Care" tool, designed to provide guidance for clinicians and patients using health data collected while wearing an Apple Watch to effectively track and manage cardiovascular health. Through the tool, clinicians can establish best practices for incorporating Apple Watch data relevant to a patient's care plan, create an implementation plan for collecting and responding to data, and develop processes for working with patients to ensure they are using the watch correctly and seeking care where appropriate. The tool also advises when an Apple Watch should not be used, including clinically indicated rhythm monitoring where immediate alerts to a clinician are needed. 

What is at-home hospice care and how it works near NYC Medical Device News Magazine; 5/19/25