Literature Review
Flight of the Dove celebrates 20 years of riding with purpose
08/08/25 at 03:00 AMFlight of the Dove celebrates 20 years of riding with purpose Laurens County Buzz, Laurens County, SC; 8/6/25 Not even the rain could dampen the spirit of this year’s Flight of the Dove, as 255 cyclists from South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia took to the roads on Saturday, August 2, raising an impressive $52,415 for VIA Health Partners – Laurens County [South Carolina]. ... Tom Atwood, Vice President of Philanthropy said, “The cause is worth every mile, and we’re incredibly grateful to everyone who braved the rain to make the 20th anniversary ride a success.” ... Riders were offered multiple route options—14, 30, 50, and 62 miles—as well as a 50-mile “challenge” course with added elevation.
Attorney General Bonta launches public awareness campaign to protect Californians and prevent abuse within hospice care system – says, “Our message is simple: hospice care should be about compassion, not corruption”
08/08/25 at 03:00 AMAttorney General Bonta launches public awareness campaign to protect Californians and prevent abuse within hospice care system – says, “Our message is simple: hospice care should be about compassion, not corruption” Sierra Sun Times, Oakland, CA; 8/6/25 California Attorney General Rob Bonta today announced the launch of a new initiative aimed at educating the public and providing vital reporting resources to individuals and families who may have been impacted by hospice fraud. This initiative includes a comprehensive suite of resources to empower individuals and families with the knowledge and support they need to protect themselves from hospice fraud. Its goal is to ensure that individuals and families understand their rights, recognize red flags in hospice care, and know where and how to report if they suspect fraudulent activity.
Today's Encouragement: Go slow and ...
08/08/25 at 03:00 AMGo slow and you'll get there fast. ~ Unknown
Hospice volunteers recognize local floral donors
08/08/25 at 03:00 AMHospice volunteers recognize local floral donors Uvalde Leader News, Uvalde, TX; 7/27/25 Uvalde Memorial Hospital hospice volunteers recently recognized the Flower Patch and Uvalde H-E-B for their weekly donations of fresh flowers for hospice patients. Hospice volunteers deliver the gifts, valued at approximately $1,950 annually from each business, to patients, brightening their homes and hospital rooms while providing emotional comfort during difficult times.
Enloe Health picks Butte Home Health and Hospice for post-hospital care in Chico
08/08/25 at 03:00 AMEnloe Health picks Butte Home Health and Hospice for post-hospital care in Chico Action News Now, Chico, CA; by Will Anderson; 8/6/25 Enloe Health has announced a new partnership with Butte Home Health and Hospice to enhance care for patients moving from hospital to home. Officials say this change comes as Enloe Health plans to close its own Home Health and Hospice programs by Oct. 31, 2025. Butte Home Health and Hospice, based in Chico, will now be the preferred provider for skilled nursing, rehabilitative care, and hospice services for Enloe Health patients.
Study: Most Medicare seniors with advanced cancer still do not receive palliative care
08/08/25 at 03:00 AMStudy: Most Medicare seniors with advanced cancer still do not receive palliative care McKnights Long-Term Care News; by Donna Shryer; 8/6/25 A large national study of Medicare beneficiaries who died from advanced cancers found that although use of specialty palliative care has increased in recent years, most older adults still don’t receive this kind of care before death. The findings were published July 24, 2025, in JAMA Network Open and based on an analysis of 1.5 million Medicare fee-for-service enrollees who died between 2018 and 2023. In this study, researchers focused on palliative care delivered outside of hospice settings.
Lorazepam reduced restlessness, agitation in cancer patients with delirium
08/08/25 at 03:00 AMLorazepam reduced restlessness, agitation in cancer patients with delirium: Patients were also less likely to require any rescue medications MedPage Today; by Mike Bassett; 8/5/25Use of lorazepam-based regimens reduced persistent restlessness and agitation associated with end-of-life delirium in cancer patients, a randomized study showed.Key Takeaways:
[Updated] DOJ files proposed final judgment on Amedisys, UnitedHealth Merger
08/08/25 at 03:00 AM[Updated] DOJ files proposed final judgment on Amedisys, UnitedHealth Merger Home Health Care News; by Morgan Gonzales; 8/7/25 On Thursday, Amedisys (Nasdaq: AMED) announced that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and Attorneys General of Maryland, Illinois, New Jersey and New York filed a proposed final judgment regarding the UnitedHealth Group’s (NYSE: UNH) planned acquisition of Amedisys. UnitedHealth and Amedisys agreed to the proposed final judgment, which, if approved, would resolve the DOJ’s and states’ opposition to the merger. The proposed judgment would require UnitedHealth and Amedisys to divest at least 164 home health and hospice facilities, including one affiliated palliative care facility, across 19 states, worth approximately $528 million in annual revenue. It would also impose a $1.1 million civil penalty on Amedisys for falsely certifying that it had provided “true, correct and complete” responses under the Hart-Scott-Rodino (HSR) Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, according to a DOJ announcement.
CIOs’ top 16 emerging technologies
08/08/25 at 03:00 AMCIOs’ top 16 emerging technologies Becker's Health IT; by Giles Bruce; 8/4/25 Emerging technologies such as AI continue to command CIOs’ attention. Here is the emerging tech prioritized by IT chiefs, according to a global survey of more than 200 CIOs by market researcher Futurum published July 28:
Hospitals accused of hiding deaths, storing bodies for months, and not telling families
08/07/25 at 03:00 AMHospitals accused of hiding deaths, storing bodies for months, and not telling families Nurse.org; by Brandy Pinkerton, RN; 7/25/25 Families in the Sacramento area say they spent months, and in some cases years, desperately searching for loved ones who had vanished—only to discover that their remains had been left to decompose, unidentified and forgotten, in an off-site morgue operated by Dignity Health hospitals. Now, a series of lawsuits and regulatory audits allege that one of California’s largest healthcare systems demonstrated “callous, reckless, and outrageous failure” by neglecting to notify families of patient deaths, withholding death certificates, and consigning bodies to languish in storage, compounding the anguish of those left behind.
Insurance companies’ Medicare pullback is here: Insurers are planning to scale back benefits, trim plans and exit from markets. Investors are cheering
08/07/25 at 03:00 AMInsurance companies’ Medicare pullback is here: Insurers are planning to scale back benefits, trim plans and exit from markets. Investors are cheering The Wall Street Journal; by David Wainer; 8/5/25 Many seniors enjoy the perks that come with Medicare Advantage. But those extras—like dental coverage and free gym memberships—are being scaled back. Insurers are cutting benefits and exiting from unprofitable markets, and Wall Street is cheering them on. Once rewarded by investors for rapid expansion in the lucrative privatized Medicare program, companies are now being applauded for showing restraint amid rising medical costs and lower government payments.
Glendale woman sentenced to 9 years in federal prison for $10.6 million hospice fraud scheme involving kickbacks for patients
08/07/25 at 03:00 AMGlendale woman sentenced to 9 years in federal prison for $10.6 million hospice fraud scheme involving kickbacks for patients United States Attorney's Office - Central District of California, Los Angeles, CA; Press Release; 8/5/25 A Glendale woman was sentenced today to 108 months in federal prison for participating in a scheme in which hundreds of thousands of dollars in illegal kickbacks were paid and received for patient referrals that resulted in the submission of approximately $10.6 million in fraudulent claims to Medicare for purported hospice care. Nita Almuete Paddit Palma, 75, of Glendale, was sentenced by United States District Judge Dolly M. Gee, who also ordered her to pay $8,270,032 in restitution.
A WNC assisted living facility stopped paying its staff. Two remained to save 27 residents
08/07/25 at 03:00 AMA WNC assisted living facility stopped paying its staff. Two remained to save 27 residents BlueRidgeNow Times-News; by Will Hofmann; 8/6/25By the time the sun rose on Aug. 2, Macie Vance knew nobody was coming to replace her. Vance had just finished the night shift at The Heritage of Sugar Mountain, a 40-bed assisted living facility in her hometown of Newland, where she worked as a resident care aide. The 20-year-old was at the "bottom of the food chain" in terms of office hierarchy, she said, but after weeks of staff resignations, Vance was one of just two remaining employees caring for Heritage’s 27 residents, some of whom were in hospice.
Arkansas Hospice to rebrand as LifeTouch Health
08/07/25 at 03:00 AMArkansas Hospice to rebrand as LifeTouch Health Hospice News; by Holly Vossel; 8/5/25 Arkansas Hospice Family of Care will soon rebrand as LifeTouch Health to better reflect its evolving mix of services. The nonprofit’s rebranding will take effect in October. The move marks a period of revitalization for the hospice provider, according to its recently named President and CEO Brian Bell.
Why AI isn't your advantage — your people are
08/07/25 at 03:00 AMWhy AI isn't your advantage — your people are Entrepreneur; by Bidhan Baruah; 8/6/25 ... AI can indeed be beneficial, but only if you have the right people who can guide it thoughtfully and strategically. Key Takeaways:
[United Kingdom] Hospice staff learn life-saving skills
08/07/25 at 03:00 AM[United Kingdom] Hospice staff learn life-saving skillsehospice, UK Edition, Derbyshire, UK; 7/26/25 Treetops Hospice is upskilling all its staff, from nurses to fundraisers, with essential life-saving skills, including CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) and defibrillator use, through Basic Life Saving (BLS) training. The hospice, based in Risley, Derbyshire, welcomes hundreds of people through its doors every year. The rollout of the vital BLS training programme reflects the simple truth that anyone, anywhere, can face a medical emergency. ... Phil Shreeve, Director of Clinical Services, explained, “Just because we provide end-of-life care doesn’t mean we ignore medical emergencies. We have a lot of people on site, including patients, families and carers, staff and volunteers, and even the general public who can walk around our grounds.
The path to the future may be the un-obvious: Top news stories, July 2025
08/07/25 at 03:00 AMThe path to the future may be the un-obvious: Top news stories, July 2025 Teleios Collaborative Network (TCN); podcast by Chris Comeaux with Cordt Kassner; 8/6/25 The future of hospice care hangs in the balance as providers navigate a perfect storm of challenges and opportunities. From financial pressures closing hospice houses to unprecedented Medicare fraud schemes, from technological disruption to changing consumer expectations – the hospice field stands at a critical inflection point that demands both reflection and action. Join hosts Chris Comeaux and Cordt Kassner as they delve into the latest trends and challenges in Hospice and Palliative Care, discussing key trends, challenges, and innovations shaping the field. This episode covers a wide range of topics, including the impact of healthcare layoffs, disruptive innovations, and the importance of disaster preparedness.
How one man’s dying wish was denied by the health care system
08/07/25 at 03:00 AMHow one man’s dying wish was denied by the health care system Synopsi, from MedPage Today; by Caitlin E. Morh, MD; 8/5/25 “This is Dr. Mohr.” I answered a number I didn’t recognize. “It’s Irving,” said the frantic voice. “He collapsed. The paramedics are working on him now.” “They’re doing compressions? Stop! Put the paramedic on the phone!” My father-in-law, Irving, the stoic Danish-American Navy veteran, had been on hospice for 3 months. His POST (physician order for life sustaining treatment) form was on file with the hospice agency and his custodial care facility: DNR/DNI, comfort measures only. ... “I’m Irv’s daughter-in-law. I’m a physician. He’s a DNR, he’s on hospice. Stop doing compressions.” 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 ... I listened to the ACLS algorithm unfold in the background. ...
Today's Encouragement: Difficult roads often lead to ...
08/07/25 at 03:00 AMDifficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations. ~ Zig Ziglar
Demystifying dying in end-of-life-care: A phenomenological perspective
08/07/25 at 03:00 AMDemystifying dying in end-of-life-care: A phenomenological perspective Death Studies; by Elisabet Sernbo, Magnus Weber, Charlotta Öhrling, Stina Nyblom; 8/26/25 This article focuses on experiences of the process of dying. The empirical material consists of interviews with patients in palliative care and their significant others. The analysis draws attention to the lived experiences of the participants - embedded in time, identities, social relations, and everyday lives - and to how the possibility of sense-making is conditioned by the lifeworld. ... [This] needs to be understood as reorienting work: supporting people when their lines become disrupted or need to be altered. This requires a display of radical empathy ...
Gilchrist and Inova partner to bring expert hospice care to Northern Virginia
08/07/25 at 02:00 AMGilchrist and Inova partner to bring expert hospice care to Northern Virginia Inova Newsroom, Fairfax, VA; 8/6/25 Northern Virginia’s premier nonprofit healthcare system, and Gilchrist, Maryland’s leading nonprofit provider of geriatric, palliative, and hospice care, today announced a strategic joint venture to expand compassionate, integrated hospice care into Northern Virginia. Patient care through the Inova-Gilchrist collaboration is expected to begin in early 2026.
Swimmers raise $37,000 for Hospice of St. Lawrence Valley
08/06/25 at 03:00 AMSwimmers raise $37,000 for Hospice of St. Lawrence Valley North Country Now, Norwood, NY; 8/5/25 A total of 42 swimmers took to the water Saturday, and raised over $37,000 for Hospice of St. Lawrence Valley. They were participating in the 15th Annual Swim A Mile for Hospice at Norwood Beach August 2. The fundraiser gave options of 1 mile and 1/2 mile courses. The top individual fundraiser was first-time participant Fonda Adderly, of Potsdam, who raised about $6,000 for Hospice.
Today's Encouragement: We are what we ...
08/06/25 at 03:00 AMWe are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit. ~ Aristotle
Hospice of Marion County holds monthly Memory Cafes
08/06/25 at 03:00 AMHospice of Marion County holds monthly Memory Cafes Marion Citizen; by Diane Renyhart; 7/30/25 ... It is estimated that 15,000 Marion County residents are struggling with some form of dementia. There are over 600 Memory Cafes around the country, and we are fortunate to have one here in Ocala as part of the Dementia Education Program at Hospice of Marion County. The Memory Cafes are held the second Friday of each month at the Empath Health Hospice Elliot Center and feature special themes. The meeting room is decorated and the tables have centerpieces that often include balloons. ... Every meeting features special activities each month. The local Memory Café has partnered with Arts and Health Ocala Metro.