Literature Review



A woman died in hospice at a Gilbert memory care facility. Her husband was arrested after staff say they found 'suspicious bruising and markings.'

06/17/25 at 03:00 AM

A woman died in hospice at a Gilbert memory care facility. Her husband was arrested after staff say they found 'suspicious bruising and markings.' NBC News 12, Gilbert, AZ; Kyra O'Connor; 6/14/25 A man was arrested after staff at a memory care facility in Gilbert reported his wife had "suspicious bruising and markings" on her body, the city's police department said. The woman, who was not identified, passed away in hospice care. Gilbert police officers responded to a memory care facility around 9 a.m. on June 11. Staff at the memory care facility contacted police after noticing "suspicious bruising and markings" on a 58-year-old woman in hospice care who had passed away earlier in the day, at approximately 3 a.m. The woman's husband, 46-year-old Justin Davidson, was in the room at the time of her death, staff told police. ... Davidson was arrested and faces a first-degree murder charge, police said. The investigation is ongoing. Police did not give any further details. Police did not name the memory care facility where the deceased lived. 

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'Walk for Hospice' raises $160K for patient programs

06/17/25 at 03:00 AM

'Walk for Hospice' raises $160K for patient programsCBS News 6 WRGB, Albany, NY; by Stephanie Ryan; 6/14/25Grey skies couldn't keep walkers away from a good cause Saturday. An estimated 1,000 people turned out for the 25th Annual “Walk for Hospice” held at Siena College. Walkers of all ages participated in the fundraiser in honor or in memory of loved ones. There was food, fun, facepainting, and music from The Refrigerators. The event raised an incredible $160,000 for patient programs, like music and massage therapies to comfort patients, a special Wish Fund, and Camp Erin – a bereavement camp for children and teens who have lost a significant person in their lives.

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Nurse practitioners step in as geriatrician ranks shrink

06/17/25 at 03:00 AM

Nurse practitioners step in as geriatrician ranks shrink The Washington Post; by Jariel Arvin; 6/15/25 On Fridays, Stephanie Johnson has a busy schedule, driving her navy-blue Jeep from one patient’s home to the next, seeing eight people in all. Pregnant with her second child, she schleps a backpack instead of a traditional black bag to carry a laptop and essential medical supplies ... “Our patient isn’t just the older adult,” Johnson said. “It’s also often the family member or the person helping to manage them.” Johnson isn’t alone. Today, nurse practitioners are increasingly filling a gap that is expected to widen as the senior population explodes and the number of geriatricians declines. The Health Resources and Services Administration projects a 50 percent increas in demand for geriatricians from 2018 to 2030, when the entire baby boom generation will be older than 65. ...

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Coastal Hospice announces leadership appointment: Ann Lovely to lead as President & CEO

06/17/25 at 03:00 AM

Coastal Hospice announces leadership appointment: Ann Lovely to lead as President & CEO SBY Business Journal, Salisbury, MD; Press Release; 6/16/25 The Coastal Hospice Board of Directors is proud to announce the appointment of Ann Lovely, RN, BSN, CHPN, as President & Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. Lovely has served as Interim President & CEO since June 2024, guiding the organization with strength and compassion through a period of transition. A steadfast leader and one of Coastal Hospice’s longest-tenured team members, Ann brings more than 25 years of dedication, experience, and deep knowledge of hospice and palliative care to her new role. Her appointment is a reflection of her exceptional leadership and unwavering commitment to the patients, families, and communities served by Coastal Hospice.

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Tricentis’ Adam Rosenbaum discusses key factors on Electronic Health Record modernization

06/17/25 at 03:00 AM

Tricentis’ Adam Rosenbaum discusses key factors on Electronic Health Record modernization ExecutiveBiz - Healthcare IT News; by Miles Jamison; 6/13/25 Modernizing electronic health records is a complex, high-stakes initiative for any healthcare organization, according to Adam Rosenbaum, director of public sector at Tricentis. In a column published Monday on Future Healthcare Today, Rosenbaum likened EHR transformation to a grand symphony, where “technical mastery and flawless coordination” are necessary for its success. ... Rosenbaum stressed the significance of risk management, thorough testing, change management strategies, and proper coordination among teams for an EHR modernization project to succeed. 

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Trump administration shared Medicaid data with immigration officials: Report

06/17/25 at 02:00 AM

Trump administration shared Medicaid data with immigration officials: Report Straight Arrow News; by Kalé Carey; 6/13/25 A newly obtained government memo reveals that immigration officials received access to Medicaid data to assist in deportation efforts. ... The Associated Press reported that emails and a memo show the Department of Health and Human Services ordered staff at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to release data, including immigration status, on millions of federal program enrollees. The Department of Homeland Security was reportedly given the information, according to the Associated Press. Advisers to HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. gave CMS staff 54 minutes to hand over the data. CMS staff objected to the request, citing legal and ethical concerns over the type of data being shared. ... 

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The shrinking physician leadership pipeline

06/16/25 at 03:10 AM

The shrinking physician leadership pipeline Becker's Clinical Leadership; by Mariah Taylor; 6/6/25 Leaders across the nation are noticing a new trend — physicians seem less willing and interested in taking on roles beyond their clinical work. Traditionally, physicians have balanced full-time clinical loads with extra responsibility as a leader or educator. “But as people and the workforce have evolved, there’s a growing understanding: if you’re going to commit to something and do it well, you need dedicated time to focus on it,” Michael White, MD, executive vice president and chief clinical officer at Valleywise Health in Phoenix, told Becker’s. ... The increased interest in work-life balance for medical professionals has also contributed to younger physicians declining extra responsibilities. 

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Inspiration for nursing home leaders: Finding empathy, expertise on the ground and in the air

06/16/25 at 03:00 AM

Inspiration for nursing home leaders: Finding empathy, expertise on the ground and in the airMcKnights Long-Term Care News; by Kimberly Marselas; 6/11/25 In the search for creative strategies, nursing home leaders can’t look just to their own peers. Inspiration is everywhere, as several executives recently told McKnight’s Long-Term Care News. Rhonda Dempsey RN, senior vice president and chief nursing officer at Trilogy Health Services, serves in a clinically oriented role, but she says when she wants to better understand the hospitality side of the business, she looks to emulate Marriott, owner of the world’s most hotel beds. “I’m inspired by leaders who prioritize empathy and create cultures that value employees as much as customers,” she told McKnight’s. “Those who focus on purpose-driven leadership and foster environments of inclusion and continuous learning stand out."Editor's Note: The words "hospice" and "hotel" share the same root words "hospes" and "hospitium," meaning "hospitality, host, guest, restful lodging for travelers.

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Medicare Home Health Care is the ideal platform for home-based palliative care at the end of life

06/16/25 at 03:00 AM

Medicare Home Health Care is the ideal platform for home-based palliative care at the end of lifeJournal of Palliative Medicine; by Tessa Jones and Sean Morrison, with Guest Editor note by Ira Byock, MD; 6/10/25Recognizing the central role of HH as a de facto means of providing home-based palliative care—and strategizing how to integrate palliative care principles and education into it—holds the potential to expand access to palliative care services and improve the quality of end of life for older Americans. The authors identify four main barriers to successfully integrating HH into the suite of palliative care delivery models. First, the HH workforce lacks training in fundamental palliative care. Second, the current lack of ongoing physician involvement in the HH setting. Third, reimbursement. Palliative care services are often excluded from traditional payment models, particularly in the HH setting. Lastly, financialization of the HH sector. They say that integration of palliative care within for-profit HH agencies may require a strategic emphasis on financial incentives.Guest Editor Note, Ira Byock, MD: This academic oped extends the drumbeat toward alternatives to hospice care. Overcoming barriers to home-based palliative care requires steps that are strikingly similar to those needed to make hospice programs successful. The authors repeatedly refer to HH interdisciplinary teams. In fact, home health is a multidisciplinary model of service delivery that lacks the clinical synergy of high-functioning interdisciplinary hospice teams.

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Chapter 6: Medicare’s measurement of rural provider quality

06/16/25 at 03:00 AM

Chapter 6: Medicare’s measurement of rural provider quality MedPAC; 6/12/25 ... Because of low patient volumes in many rural health care settings, there are practical challenges in measuring some individual rural providers’ quality of care and in holding these providers accountable in quality reporting programs. ... The Commission acknowledged these difficulties when it established specific principles to guide expectations about quality in rural areas. These principles were developed with hospitals in mind but could be applied to other providers. ... [On page 4 of 40] Rural skilled nursing facilities and dialysis facilities had lower shares of providers with publicly reported quality results compared with their urban counterparts; in contrast, rural home health agencies and hospices had higher shares of providers with publicly reported quality results compared with their urban counterparts.Editor's Note: For ranking of hospices by quality scores, examine the National Hospice Locator, provided to the public by Hospice Analytics (a sponsor of this newsletter). 

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Serious illness has mental health implications — palliative care can help

06/16/25 at 03:00 AM

Serious illness has mental health implications — palliative care can help Becker's Behavioral Health; by Dr. Simeon Kwan and Dr. Rowland Pearsall; 6/12/25 ... As health plans and providers strive to deliver whole-person, value-based care, we must recognize that treating the body is only part of the equation. Mental and emotional well-being are critical dimensions of serious illness, and they demand more focused attention. Fortunately, we have a powerful but often underutilized ally: palliative care. ... According to multiple studies, up to 40% of patients with advanced cancer experience clinical depression. Anxiety and spiritual distress are also common, particularly when facing the unknown or confronting the loss of autonomy. For those managing progressive illnesses over time, mental health concerns can erode treatment adherence, accelerate physical decline, and strain family caregivers.

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Choices Healthcare President and CEO to retire

06/16/25 at 03:00 AM

Choices Healthcare President and CEO to retire Central Penn Business Journal; by Rochelle Shenk; 6/12/25 Steve Knaub, president and CEO of Choices Healthcare, will retire December 31, according to a media release. Choices Healthcare is the parent organization of Hospice & Community Care and Hospice of Central PA. The media release said Knaub has been a “driving force behind the organization’s growth, steering it through significant achievements and fostering strong relationships with healthcare partners and the community”. “Serving this organization and our community has been one of the greatest honors of my life,” Knaub said in the release, “When I first joined—then Hospice of Lancaster County (in 1998)– we were caring for 140 patients a day. Today, we serve more than 1,000. That growth reflects not only the increasing need for compassionate end-of-life care, but also our unwavering commitment to meeting people where they are, with the support they deserve.”

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Hospice a saving grace during our hardest time

06/16/25 at 03:00 AM

Hospice a saving grace during our hardest time Pikes Peak Courier; by Mary Lovato; 6/11/25 ... I recently lost the two most important men in my life. My husband passed away from bladder cancer and within 6 months, my brother passed away from COPD. The individuals who worked for Hospice and helped us deal with the end of life of each of these loved ones were amazing. It wasn’t just the medical personnel, it was also the person who came to the house to set up the required equipment, it was the person who bathed the patient, it was the social worker, it was the person who offered spiritual guidance, it was even the person who in an emergency, delivered medicine in the middle of the night.

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Nancy Streber Memorial Golf Classic continues record-breaking fundraising for McLaren Hospice

06/16/25 at 03:00 AM

Nancy Streber Memorial Golf Classic continues record-breaking fundraising for McLaren Hospice myfenton.com, Fenton, MI; Press Release; 6/13/25 The 28th Annual Memorial Golf Classic, held on May 10 at Heather Hills Golf Course in Romeo, Michigan, raised more than $15,000 in support of McLaren Hospice’s end-of-life care services—surpassing its previous fundraising record set in 2024. Founded by Dave Streber and his family, the event honors the memory of his mother, Nancy, and the compassionate care her father received as a McLaren patient. This year’s outing welcomed 144 participants, making it one of the largest and most successful events in the tournament’s history.

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Georgia hospice provider reaches $9.2M settlement with DOJ over kickback allegations

06/16/25 at 03:00 AM

Georgia hospice provider reaches $9.2M settlement with DOJ over kickback allegations McKnights Home Care; by Adam Healy; 6/13/25 Georgia-based Creative Hospice Care Inc paid the Department of Justice $9.2 million to settle claims that it entered kickback arrangements with medical professionals in exchange for patient referrals, the DOJ disclosed Wednesday. “Decisions regarding end-of-life care are incredibly difficult and personal, and families must be able to trust the intentions of their chosen providers,” Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr said in a statement. “Those who instead take advantage of the system for their own personal gain will be held accountable.”

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Death, taxes, and talking to your parents: Why the conversation you’re avoiding might save your family

06/16/25 at 03:00 AM

Death, Taxes, and Talking to Your Parents: Why the conversation you’re avoiding might save your familyPsychology Today; by Nancy J. Kislin, LCSW, MFT; 6/11/25Key points:

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Today's Encouragement: You manage things. You lead ...

06/16/25 at 03:00 AM

You manage things. You lead people. ~ Grace Murray Hopper

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Welcome Ira Byock, MD, Guest Editor

06/16/25 at 03:00 AM

Hospice & Palliative Care Today welcomes our new Guest Editor, Ira Byock, MD, a palliative care physician and emeritus professor of medicine and community & family medicine at Dartmouth's Geisel School of Medicine. Throughout his career he has written about the ethics and practice of caring for seriously ill and dying patients for medical journals. Since the early 1990s, he has contributed op-eds to national newspapers and gradually began writing story-driven books for the general public. His books include Dying Well (1997), The Four Things That Matter Most (2004), and The Best Care Possible (2012).  More information is available at IraByock.org. 

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How thanatology is driving hospice care innovation

06/16/25 at 03:00 AM

How thanatology is driving hospice care innovation Hospice News; by Holly Vossel; 6/13/25 Thanatologists examining dying and grief practices have uncovered significant trends shaping hospice and bereavement care models in recent years. Thanatology is derived from the Greek word for death, “thanatos.” It is commonly described as the study or description of death, dying and loss and the psychological, social, cultural, biological and spiritual aspects of these processes. Editor's Note: Unfortunately, this article failed to identify the first and leading thanatology organization for end-of-life care professionals, ADEC, the Association for Death Education and Counseling: the thanatology association, at www.adec.org, celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2026. Though this article says "several studies have examined ...," ADEC's 50 years of leaders and members have included countless groundbreaking, prolific researchers, authors, academicians, and clinicians throughout our hospice field: William Worden (a founding member), Robert Neimeyer, Ken Doka, and so many more. When you see the "FT" or "CT" credential, you can know that this person has earned the professional credential "Fellow in Thanatology" or "Certified in Thanatology."

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Nursing home is pressuring my mother-in-law to enter hospice

06/16/25 at 03:00 AM

Nursing home is pressuring my mother-in-law to enter hospiceAging Care - Caregiver Forum - End of Life - Questions; question posed by "concerned8"; 6/12/25 I am her Health Care Surrogate but as they won't declare her incompetent it has not come into effect. I believe the home's intent is to prevent me from making the decision regarding hospice and instead to pressure her to enter it in various ways. ... I am not anti-hospice and expect her to enter it in the near future, but want that to be my decision, not the home's (even if it's portrayed as hers).  ... [An answer from another reader" Our family has only had bad experiences with three different hospice companies. Contrary to what most people believe, many patients are placed on hospice for free equipment and free services. I was told this by more than one hospice worker.Editor's Note: This post raises numerous troubling perceptions, with descriptions of poor hospice experiences. 

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Worthington man carves wooden hearts for hospice patients

06/16/25 at 02:00 AM

Worthington man carves wooden hearts for hospice patients KELO Sioux Falls, Sioux Falls, SD; by Tom Hanson; 6/12/25 In a world often defined by fast-paced living, some people choose a slower, more meaningful path—quietly making a difference. Inside his garage, Joel Krekelberg is hard at work. He is making small wooden hearts. He gives them to people hoping to give them comfort, or inspiration, or just a warm feeling. For Krekelberg, the process of making the hearts is special. For him, with the headphones and a mask, it’s peaceful.

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Providence announces 'difficult but necessary' restructure cutting 600 positions

06/16/25 at 02:00 AM

Providence announces 'difficult but necessary' restructure cutting 600 positions Fierce Healthcare; by Dave Muoio; 6/13/25 Providence said it launched a restructuring this week that will bring a reduction of 600 full-time-equivalent positions. The major nonprofit, which employs 125,000 people across seven Western states, said it will be shifting those affecting into other open positions “where possible.” There are more than 5,000 open roles across the system, it said. Affected roles are “primarily in non-clinical, administrative functions, though some patient-care roles are also impacted,” Providence said in its Thursday announcement. Transitional resources are being provided to impacted employees, it said. 

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[Wales] 'Breaking point' as people in last 12 months of life occupy 'almost a fifth of Welsh hospital beds'

06/15/25 at 03:55 AM

[Wales] 'Breaking point' as people in last 12 months of life occupy 'almost a fifth of Welsh hospital beds' Sky News; 6/3/25 People in the last 12 months of their life occupy "almost a fifth of Welsh hospital beds", according to a end of life care charity. Marie Curie Cymru says end of life care in Wales is "at breaking point" and is calling on the next Welsh government to ensure high-quality care. The charity says that, for many, support could be better provided at home or close to home, as it launched its manifesto for next year's Senedd election at Cardiff Bay's Norwegian Church on Tuesday. Gareth Miles died at home in Llanddarog, Carmarthenshire, in September 2023. Mr. Miles, who had Parkinson's disease, had spent 10 weeks in hospital before his last week.

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Caring for Gladine: A Las Cruces man's account of caregiving for his wife with dementia

06/15/25 at 03:50 AM

Caring for Gladine: A Las Cruces man's account of caregiving for his wife with dementia Las Cruces Sun News; by Leah Romero; 6/10/25 When Gladine Lindly was diagnosed with dementia in 2018, she and her husband Steve Gaskell decided to manage at home. But as Lindly’s dementia progressed, Gaskell quickly realized he needed help taking care of her. ... “She said, ‘I want you to be my caregiver. ... I don’t want to go into a home or facility,’” Glaskell recalled. “I proceeded to walk into the doors of Home Instead to apply for a job because I wanted to learn how to be a caregiver. Never done anything like that before.” ...  By September 2024, Lindly ... was placed on hospice care. By December, the hospice nurse told Gaskell it was time for family and friends to start saying their goodbyes.  ... [Gaskell described her death,] "And it was as peaceful as you can imagine. And that was…this sounds crazy to say, but that was probably the easiest part of the whole process.” Lindly passed on Jan. 7, 2025 at the age of 77. [Go to the source article for more of this inspiring story about caregiving through dementia.]

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Revolutionizing health in South Florida: The benefits of IV therapy and inclusive hospice care

06/15/25 at 03:45 AM

Revolutionizing health in South Florida: The benefits of IV therapy and inclusive hospice care South Florida Reporter; by southfloridareporter.com; 6/8/25 ... South Florida is known for its multicultural population, making the expansion of hospice care to diverse groups particularly significant. Traditionally, certain cultural or community groups may have had hesitations or lacked access to hospice care due to language barriers, cultural misunderstandings, or lack of awareness. Increasingly, hospice organizations are focusing on outreach and education within these communities, breaking down barriers and encouraging patients and families to consider hospice as a valuable option for quality end-of-life care. 

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