Literature Review

A qualitative study with patients, care-partners, clinicians, and bioethicists to identify ethical considerations of artificial intelligence tools in palliative carePalliative Medicine; by John Y. Rhee, Paul Miller, Zachary Tentor, Amanda Reich, Alexi A. Wright, Charlotta Lindvall; 1/26The use of artificial intelligence (AI) in medicine has surged. Given the sensitive nature of palliative care, it is crucial to apply AI tools in a patient-centered and ethical manner. From the interviews we extracted five main themes: (1) Primacy of the doctor-patient relationship over AI performance; (2) Humans have intuition and nuance that AI lacks; (3) Agreement about the importance of oversight of AI tools; (4) New AI technologies should include a process for patient education; and (5) AI increases efficiency, scalability, and a more unified approach to serious illness. When building and implementing AI-based tools, we recommend: establishing oversight committees; reflecting on the unique contributions of humans to care; proactively educating patients and contextualizing the tools; and ensuring data use is restricted to clinical care.

The thing about Black history is that the truth is so much more complex than anything you could make up. ~ Henry Louis Gates

Relearning the world through grief-informed case formulation: A critique of prolonged grief disorder Journal of Humanistic Psychology; by Eleonora Ramsby Herrera, PhD; 1/31/26 Drawing on existential and humanistic frameworks, this review article critically examines the diagnosis of prolonged grief disorder and questions the usefulness of reducing grieving to a fixed set of symptoms and timelines. ... Rather than viewing grief as a disorder to be treated, the article advocates for understanding it as a natural and potentially transformative human response and argues for integrating grief into the bereaved person’s life story as a way to relearn the world.

The end of an era: LHC Group’s journey as a public company concludes NewsCase.com | Financial Intelligence; by Angelina; 2/21/26 A significant chapter in the healthcare market has closed. LHC Group, a specialist in home health and hospice care, is no longer traded as an independent public entity. Its acquisition by Optum, a subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group, was finalized three years ago, marking the complete integration of the company into the larger corporate structure. This move prompts a broader look at the implications for the home care industry’s future.

James Van Der Beek, Eric Dane, and when celebrity deaths trigger health anxiety USA Today; by Rachel Hale; 2/23/26 Many TV fans are reeling from the shock of two celebrity deaths back to back. Within days, fans said goodbye to "Dawson's Creek" star James Van Der Beek and Eric Dane, of "Grey's Anatomy.” What's more, both stars died before ever seeing the age of 55 and after battling devastating illnesses. ... Celebrity deaths can feel personal, even if you never met the person. And while grief is different for everyone, experts say collective grief can intensify when a public figure is mourned widely. When a death is tied to a serious illness, there’s also often another layer: heightened health anxiety. Watching a beloved public figure decline slowly can magnify existing worries about one’s own health.

Medicare, Medicaid, and Children's Health Insurance Programs: Nationwide Temporary Moratoria on enrollment of durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS) supplier medical supply companies Federal Register; by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services; 2/27/26 Summary: This notice announces the imposition of a 6-month nationwide moratorium on the Medicare enrollment of DMEPOS supplier medical supply companies. Background: ... Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Pub. L. 111-148), as amended by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (Pub. L. 111-152) (collectively known as the Affordable Care Act), Congress provided the Secretary with new tools and resources to combat fraud, waste, and abuse in Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP).

What my sister Ellen taught me about dignity and the importance of being seen: A powerful reflection on person-centered care, bias, and the true meaning of human dignity in medicine Good Men Project; by Harvey Max Chochinov; 2/23/26 Several years before her death at the age of 55 years due to complications of cerebral palsy, my sister Ellen was again in hospital, this time in intensive care and on the brink of respiratory collapse.  ... I’ve spent my entire career as a psychiatrist working in palliative care. This has included leading a large program of research, examining most aspects of end-of-life experience for patients nearing death. Recently I have recast the Golden Rule for healthcare professionals, reminding them they must aspire to a higher standard. I have coined this The Platinum Rule: do unto others as they would want done unto themselves. This means that healthcare professionals can’t presume to know what is in the patient’s best interest based on what they themselves would want in those circumstances; in other words, they need to take the time to consider the patient’s goals, hopes and wishes.

Forbes: 2026 America's best large employers and America's best midsize employers Forbes; by Rachel Rabkin Peachman; 2/10/26 ... The annual rankings were based primarily on survey responses from more than 217,000 employees working at companies within the U.S. that employ more than 1,000 people. ... As with all Forbes lists, companies pay no fee to participate or be selected. ... [Healthcare organizations listed in the top 50 organizations include the following, with rankings among all industries: ...]

Bridging the differences in care for grieving people: Worden’s differentiation between grief counseling and grief therapy Death Studies; by Mark D. de St. Aubin and William G. Hoy; 2/14/26 Worden’s (Citation1982, Citation2018) landmark textbook on caring for bereaved individuals differentiated grief counseling from grief therapy, defining the former as the efforts of both professional and lay caregivers to support bereaved people in normal grief. Grief therapy, he posited, is the more structured intervention offered by credentialed caregivers to support individuals coping with a more complicated experience of mourning. In this article, the authors explain Worden’s perspective, describe his types of complicated mourning for which grief therapy might be warranted, and offer clinical application to the approaches Worden takes.

Physicians slightly more likely to die at home or hospice Chronic Disease, Public Health; by Adrian Wong and Michaela Dowling; 2/23/26 1. In this cross-sectional study, physicians were slightly more likely to die at home or in hospice than both the general population and individuals in other professions.2. The largest absolute differences between physicians and other professional groups were observed when Alzheimer disease or stroke was the underlying cause of death.

New nonprofit helps Summit families facing terminal illnesses Summit Daily; by Summit Daily Staff; 2/24/26 The newly launched nonprofit Lean on Us aims to provide support services for individuals and families in Summit County dealing with terminal illness. A news release from the nonprofit stated it will provide physical, social, emotional and financial support, complementing the work of existing nonprofits, healthcare providers and caregivers in the county. Lean on Us’ nonmedical assistance will include companionship, caregiver respite, transportation, meal support, emergency financial assistance, accommodations, resource coordination and help with day-to-day tasks.