Literature Review

OHSU grapples with falling rank on patient safety measures OPB, Oregon Health & Science University; by Amelia Templeton; 4/27/26 [The context begins with an "abrupt firing" of the CEO for OHSU Health. The excerpt below is further into the article, with relevance for hospice providers and your partnerships with hospitals.] Mortality — the number of observed patient deaths versus the number expected — was the other major contributing factor to OHSU slipping in Vizient’s ranks. Edwards shared several caveats with the board as to why she believes OHSU is performing better than its ranking indicates, particularly on the mortality score. For example, some patient deaths may have been counted differently by Vizient due to the closure of a hospice program. That could account for up to a third of the change in OHSU’s mortality grade, she said. And an internal review of the mortality data suggested that some OHSU patients’ medical charts weren’t accurately capturing how sick or complex they were.

[For the public] How to protect yourself from hospice fraud CalMatters; by Lynn La; 4/29/26 ... What does hospice fraud entail and how can you protect yourself? ... To avoid being scammed:

1520ai and Hospice Analytics announce strategic combination to advance data-driven hospice care and AI innovationHospice Analytics press release; by Cordt Kassner; 4/28/261520ai and Hospice Analytics Announce Strategic Combination to Advance Data-Driven Hospice Care and AI Innovation

Hope, uncertainty, and hard truths: the complexity of goals-of-care discussions in oncology OncLive - Oncology Live; by Maurie Markman, MD; 4/10/26 ... While appreciating considerable variation in how individuals deal with their [cancer] diagnosis, as well as understanding the potential for difficult conversations regarding the specifics of available therapeutic options and anticipated statistically defined survival, it remains essential that such discussions be held. ... What is the most appropriate conclusion regarding a goals-of-care discussion? Should this patient have been offered further testing and therapy, or, based on the facts of this case, was hospice referral perhaps a more reasonable suggestion?

The Alliance and the Research Institute for Home Care Release Inaugural Medicaid Home Care Chartbook National Alliance for Care at Home, Alexandria, VA and Washington, DC; Press Release; 4/27/26 The National Alliance for Care at Home (the Alliance) and the Research Institute for Home Care (the Institute) today released the 2026 Medicaid Home Care Chartbook, the first report of its kind providing a broad overview of the Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) user population, workforce, organizational trends, and economic contributions of Medicaid home care providers across the U.S. 

10 best, worst states for nurses in 2026 Becker's Hospital Review; by Kelly Gooch; 4/28/26 ... To determine the best and worst states for nurses, the personal finance company evaluated all 50 states across two two dimensions: opportunity and competition, and work environment. Those dimensions were evaluated using 20 metrics, ranging from monthly average starting salary for nurses to average commute time. ... Here are the 10 best and worst states for nurses in 2026, per the ranking: Best: 1. Maine; 2. New Hampshire; 3. Washington; 4. Oregon; 5; Arizona; 6. West Virginia; 7. Minnesota; 8. Montana; 9. Connecticut; 10. Florida Worst: 50. Oklahoma; 49. North Dakota; 48. Alabama; 47. Mississippi; 46. South Dakota; 45. Louisiana; 44. Tennessee; 43. Arkansas; 42. Hawaii; 41. Virginia

Small wins in April lead to bigger achievements later.

Health systems add IT leadership roles Becker's Hospital Review; by Naomi Diaz; 4/24/26 Hospitals and health systems are adding new executive positions to address the growing demands of artificial intelligence governance, cybersecurity and data management. Many of the roles being created are inaugural appointments, reflecting a shift in how organizations are structuring technology leadership. From chief digital officers to AI strategy leads, hospitals are redefining their IT structures to enhance cybersecurity, data management and innovation. Here are new IT roles hospitals and health systems have added to their C-suites since March 17: ...

VITAS banks on length of stay, referral mix management Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 4/27/26 VITAS Healthcare has been working to balance admission numbers from different settings and manage length of stay to prevent further payment cap liabilities after a rough go in the last months of 2025. Starting late last year VITAS began emphasizing hospital-based referrals in its admissions processes, which typically result in shorter length-of-stay patients. As of the fourth quarter of 2025, which marked the start of Fiscal Year 2026, the company has virtually eliminated that cap liability in Florida. This trend has continued into 2026, according to VITAS CEO Joel Wherley.

Local boy becomes honorary doctor with Hospice Family Care teamFox 54, Huntsville, AL; by Caleb Aguayo; 4/24/26 A young boy battling what his caretakers call a "likely incurable disease" got to live out a dream Friday when his hospice care team made him an honorary doctor for the day, complete with scrubs, a white coat bearing his name, a name tag and his very own stethoscope. Abobakr Almageleh, who has spent years surrounded by medical equipment, has long shown a fascination with the tools and routines of the health care professionals caring for him, from listening to his own heartbeat to tracking the rhythm of monitors nearby. His caregivers at Hospice Family Care took notice.

Hospice volunteer finds his 'happy place' tending the roses LNP | LancasterOnline; by Karyl Carmignani; 4/24/26 The warmth and colors of springtime prompt many eager gardeners to get their hands back in the soil. Rich Braine, a volunteer with Hospice and Community Care where he tends to the rose gardens on Good Drive, is one of those people. “It is respite for me,” he says. “I love to work in the flower beds.” ... Serving the community is not new to Braine, 76. He volunteered as a firefighter for 27 years, but that’s “a young man’s job” he says. ... Volunteering at Hospice and Community Care is near and dear to his heart, as the organization has taken care of many of his family members, including both of his parents. 

8 years later, Ohio takes another look at ‘medical aid in dying.’ Will this time be different? Cleveland.com, Columbus, OH; by Mary Frances McGown; 4/26/26 Eight years after similar legislation stalled at the Statehouse, Ohio lawmakers are again weighing whether terminally ill residents should be able to determine the timing of their death. Rep. Eric Synenberg this week introduced legislation to legalize “medical aid in dying” in Ohio, allowing mentally competent adults with a terminal diagnosis and six months or less to live to hasten their deaths by taking a lethal dose of medication prescribed by a physician. ... Recent public polling has shown that most Americans are open to medical aid in dying, and advocates say that public education on the subject has improved since the last legislative battle. Yet opposition to such legislation is also strong, particularly among the religious.