Literature Review
All posts tagged with “Hospice Provider News | Operations News | Challenges.”
Systems lean into nurse educator initiatives
07/23/25 at 03:00 AMSystems lean into nurse educator initiatives Becker's Clinical Leadership; by Mariah Taylor; 7/18/25 There is a key driver behind the nationwide shortage of nurses: a severe nurse faculty shortage. To solve both shortages, more systems and nursing programs are creating formal venues to enlarge the nurse educator pipeline. Like the nurse shortage, universities and nursing programs are facing a nurse faculty shortage that has reduced their capacity to accept and train students. Too few nurses are pursuing advanced degrees and becoming educators in the field, according to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing. So systems are developing programs that boost interest and remove barriers for nurses who want to teach. These programs — many of which launched in the last year — range in commitment and scale. Here are a few examples: ...
CIOs’ tech wishlist: What IT leaders would buy with a blank check
07/22/25 at 03:00 AMCIOs’ tech wishlist: What IT leaders would buy with a blank check Becker's Health IT; by Naomi Diaz; 7/14/25 If hospital and health system CIOs had unlimited resources, where would they place their biggest technology bets? Becker’s asked several IT leaders: If you had a blank check to invest in one technology tomorrow, what would it be and why? [Only a few responses are listed here. Go to the source article for the IT leaders' name, organization, role, and answer.]
Rochester hospice provider pulls out of Owatonna project, sunsets community grief services
07/22/25 at 03:00 AMRochester hospice provider pulls out of Owatonna project, sunsets community grief services PostBulletin,com, Rochester, NY; by Dené K. Dryden; 7/17/25 Citing multiple challenges, Rochester's Seasons Hospice will no longer be expanding into Owatonna and will pare back its community services through the Center for Grief Education and Support. In a Friday, July 18, press release to the Post Bulletin, Dawn Beck, president of the nonprofit hospice provider's board of directors, said "we have had to make the extremely difficult decision to restructure our grief services and to cease efforts to reopen the Homestead Hospice House in Owatonna." The Homestead Hospice House, previously operated by Allina Health, has been closed since summer 2023, the Owatonna Peoples Press reported. Since last year, Seasons Hospice had been fundraising to reopen the facility, but Beck said this week that staffing challenges, financial difficulties, issues with licensing and certification, for-profit competition and uncertainty around federal changes contributed to Seasons Hospice withdrawing from the project. ... In Rochester, starting Aug. 1, the Center for Grief Education and Support will no longer provide services to the community at large ...
Carter, Bera introduce bill to strengthen palliative and hospice care workforce
07/21/25 at 03:00 AMCarter, Bera introduce bill to strengthen palliative and hospice care workforce United States Representative Buddy Carter, Washington, DC; Press Release; 7/17/25Reps. Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (R-GA) and Ami Bera, M.D. (D-CA) today introduced the Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act (PCHETA), bipartisan legislation to invest in training, education, and research for the palliative care and hospice workforce, allowing more practitioners to enter these in-demand fields. ... "As a pharmacist, I understand the toll burnout takes on the health care industry, and I am committed to bolstering the workforce so nurses, doctors, and all health care workers can continue to pursue their passion for helping others,” said Rep. Carter. "As a doctor, I know how important it is to provide patients with comfort, clarity, and support when they’re facing serious illness,” said Rep. Bera. “The Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act is a smart, bipartisan step to ensure more health care professionals are trained to deliver this kind of care."Editor's Note: Bravo to this pharmacist and physician bipartisan team for introducing this bill. Go to the article and scroll down to this press release's long list of "Supporting Organizations."
51 healthcare leaders’ takes on doing more with less
07/21/25 at 03:00 AM51 healthcare leaders’ takes on doing more with less Becker's Hospital Review; by Allie Woldenberg, Kelly Gooch, Mariah Taylor, Giles Bruce, Kristin Kuchno, and Andrew Cass; 7/17/25 It’s a directive that hospitals and health systems of every size know well — whether sprawling academic medical centers, multistate nonprofit systems or rural, independent 25-bed hospitals. While the phrase isn’t new, the urgency behind it is intensifying. The nation’s healthcare workforce remains fragile, forcing leaders to distinguish between staffing gaps that are temporary hurdles or structural limitations. Revenue projections for health systems have shifted dramatically ... Against this backdrop, Becker’s set out to understand how health system leaders across the U.S. are interpreting and enacting the mandate to “do more with less” today. From June 9 to July 15, we spoke with executives across the country, in every type of market, hospital, and health system, to hear how they are navigating this evolving landscape. ...Editor's Note: Scan through these with a sharp eye toward improving the quality of patient care while "doing more with less." I applaud many of these leaders for not just focusing on cutting costs, but for using these crucial changes as a vehicle to improve patient care.
Online reputation management crucial for hospices, home-based care providers
07/21/25 at 03:00 AMOnline reputation management crucial for hospices, home-based care providers Hospice News; by Joyce Famakinwa; 7/18/25 Hospice and home-based care providers cannot put online reputation management on the back burner. That’s a key takeaway from a recent report from Transcend Strategy Group. While all businesses should be concerned about maintaining a good online reputation, this is especially important for home-based hospice care providers due to their unique care delivery setting, according to Tony Kudner, chief strategy officer at Transcend. A hospice provider’s digital presence can give patients and their families greater insight when it comes to the quality and depth of their services, Kudner said. “When you are dealing with the intimacy of someone coming into your home, the personalization and how you feel about the agency that you open the door for matters more,” Kudner told Hospice News.
Hospice of the Piedmont CEO: Doubling down on community-based support
07/21/25 at 03:00 AMHospice of the Piedmont CEO: Doubling down on community-based support Hospice News; by Holly Vossel; 7/16/25 Virginia-based Hospice of the Piedmont is sharpening its focus on home-based care services and unfurling several initiatives in this realm. The future of end-of-life care delivery has increasingly shifted into the home, according to Nancy Littlefield, president and CEO at Hospice of the Piedmont. While demand for facility-based hospice care is also rising, sustaining these services has become increasingly difficult, she indicated. Several hospices have shuttered their facility-based programs in recent years, with many citing financial headwinds as a leading reason fueling inpatient center closures. Financial strains were among the challenges that led to the difficult decision to close Hospice of the Piedmont’s Center for Acute Hospice Care, Littlefield said. ... Hospice News recently sat down with Littlefield to learn more about how hospices are sustaining and growing their services in today’s economic and financial climate.
Silver tsunami brings new challenges for end-of-life care
07/18/25 at 03:00 AMSilver tsunami brings new challenges for end-of-life care NPR Network, KANW New Mexico Public Radio; by Jenny Kinsey; 7/16/25 ... Inhora isn’t a hospice but it describes itself as a social model hospice house that provides a place to be. The nonprofit opened in April and contracts with several local hospice providers to provide end of life support. ... Inhora gets its support through donations and volunteer help which enables their guests to stay for free. That’s the idea behind Inhora, said Miles Gloetzner, RN, Inhora’s founder and Executive Director. ... Investigating the idea led him to the Omega Home Network, a national network of comfort care homes, and other communities with the same mission bringing comfort and caring to those at the end of life . That’s when he realized his dream was not his alone. A comfort care home or social model hospice house provides free room and board for patient/guests and a family member or friend while they receive hospice care. ... Comfort homes like Inhora are found across Mountain West states, including Colorado, Nevada, Utah, Idaho, and Wyoming. The idea isn’t new. For instance, the Omega Home Network was founded in 2003 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. It is a national organization of 50 comfort care homes – and growing rapidly with 79 in development.
AI in action: Exploring how AI is helping hospices do things in new ways
07/18/25 at 03:00 AMAI in action: Exploring how AI is helping hospices do things in new ways Husch Blackwell; podcast by Meg S.L. Pekarske with Dina Yankelewitz; 7/16/25 Husch Blackwell’s Meg Pekarske is joined by Dina Yankelewitz, CEO of Vitalis Care, a technology company that is harnessing AI technology to reduce staff burden and allow more time for patient care. Dina shares her vision and passion for the hospice space, discussing how she applied her background in education and learning methods to inform not only what tools to develop but importantly how they work for the end user. Dina and Meg explore what AI is good at as well as its limits and why scheduling optimization, compliance, and reimbursement were the first areas Vitalis tackled.
Agrace opens western Wisconsin office in La Crosse
07/18/25 at 03:00 AMAgrace opens western Wisconsin office in La Crosse WisBusiness, La Crosse, WI; Press Release; 7/16/25 Agrace continues its rapid growth across the state of Wisconsin with the opening of a new office in La Crosse, a western-Wisconsin city of 52,000 located along the Mississippi River. Since its founding in Madison, Wis., in 1978, Agrace has provided exceptional care for the state’s residents who are in the final months of life. The new Agrace location gives residents of La Crosse County greater choice for high-quality, in-home hospice care. County residents can enroll with Wisconsin’s largest nonprofit hospice to receive hospice care that comes to them where they live—in private homes, long-term care facilities or any other place they call home.
Leading after your predecessor fails
07/18/25 at 02:00 AMLeading after your predecessor fails Harvard Business Review; by Jordan Stark and Darcy Eikenberg; 7/16/25 ... Being promoted to lead after your predecessor fails is often anything but a victory lap. In fact, a 10-year longitudinal research project on executive transitions by consulting firm Navalent found that more than 50% of executives who “inherit a mess” fail within their first 18 months on the job. ... Succeeding after your predecessor fails demands an entirely different leadership approach.
With new facility, Mourning Dove Grief Care expands help for survivors of loss
07/17/25 at 03:00 AMWith new facility, Mourning Dove Grief Care expands help for survivors of loss Oil City News, Casper, WY; by Dan Cepe; 7/16/25 Death can be natural, or it can be cruel and unexpected. It is, however, an inevitable part of the human experience that can affect survivors in countless ways possibly for the remainder of their lives. ... Mourning Dove Grief Care, a service by Central Wyoming Hospice & Transitions, aims to provide that help to members of the community. ... The [new] facility will allow anyone in the community suffering from loss to walk in and schedule appointments or join a support group, whether they’ve gone through Hospice or not. The program itself started when Hospice noted the need for grief care in the community, particularly for people suffering from sudden losses. “Interestingly enough, we found that even therapists and counselors were referring to us when they had clients dealing with loss,” she said.
AAPA asks CMS to remove regulatory restrictions on PAs providing hospice care
07/15/25 at 03:00 AMAAPA asks CMS to remove regulatory restrictions on PAs providing hospice care American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA); by Trevor Simon; 7/9/25 In June 2025, AAPA submitted comments to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) regarding the topics of hospice, skilled nursing facilities, inpatient rehabilitation facilities, and inpatient psychiatric facilities. These comments, in response to annually released proposed rules that make adjustments to the hospice wage index and respective fee schedules, responded directly to inquiries made within the rules, as well as identified policy obstacles faced by PAs in these settings. [Continue reading for] a brief summary of the topics AAPA discussed in each, with links to the full letters.
The grave outlook for hospice family caregivers
07/14/25 at 03:00 AMThe grave outlook for hospice family caregivers Hospice News; by Holly Vossel; 7/10/25 The state of family caregiving in the United States has reached a critical tipping point amid rising demand for end-of-life care and insufficient resources. Many family caregivers are ill-equipped to navigate the complexities of supporting a loved one with a terminal illness, according to Dr. Arul Thangavel, CEO of the advance care planning company WiserCare. Thangavel is also an attending physician at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). Among the issues is that conversations about the end of life and goals of care are often brought up far too late in a disease trajectory, Thangavel said. This trend leaves families grappling with uncertainty, moral distress, guilt and compounded grief in the decision-making process, he stated.
Connecticut Hospice back on sound financial footing; many credit local business owner Barbara Pearce for turnaround
07/14/25 at 03:00 AMConnecticut Hospice back on sound financial footing; many credit local business owner Barbara Pearce for turnaround CTPost, Branford, CT; by Mark Zaretsky; 7/12/25 Connecticut Hospice, the nation's first hospice facility, appears to finally be out of the financial woods now — but that wasn't the case a few years ago. And many people outside its inner circle may not know just how precarious its situation was and how a well-known business owner played a key role in the turnaround. Barbara Pearce, CEO of Pearce Real Estate, put her life and her role in the real estate company her late father founded on hold for six years to take over at Hospice and make hard decisions to steer it back to health. Hospice has new leadership now. New President and CEO Sylvia Allais is working to move Connecticut Hospice forward.
Beyond the sandbags: Operational hurricane planning for in-home care
07/11/25 at 03:00 AMBeyond the sandbags: Operational hurricane planning for in-home care HomeCare; by Matthew P. Chaloux; 7/9/25 When hurricanes approach, in-home care organizations face challenges that are vastly different from those of facility-based providers. In addition to safeguarding infrastructure, we must ensure the safety of mobile care teams, maintain critical supply routes and coordinate services for patients whose needs don’t pause for the weather. At Empath Health, we care for more than 75,000 patients annually across 20 Florida counties through hospice, home health, palliative and supportive care programs. Our teams aren’t centralized—they’re on the road, in homes and dispersed across regions that may be affected in very different ways by the same storm. Over the years, we’ve learned that effective hurricane response in home-based care depends on three things: preparation, coordination and flexibility. ...
Health care attorneys: Hospice investigations coming from all sides
07/10/25 at 03:00 AMHealth care attorneys: Hospice investigations coming from all sides Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 7/8/25 Hospices are subject to a rising number of investigations and audits from Medicare contractors, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General and, in some cases, the U.S. Justice Department, among others. Hospices need to understand the various types of investigations they may encounter and how to respond to them. Key factors are completely and accurately documenting the medical necessity of the care they receive. Hospice News sat down with Guillermo Beades and Todd Brower, partners with the law firm Frier Levitt to discuss the ins-and-outs of hospice investigations and how providers should respond.
The leadership norms CEOs are breaking
07/10/25 at 03:00 AMThe leadership norms CEOs are breaking Becker's Hospital Review; by Kristin Kuchno; 7/2/25 From rejecting strict hierarchies to forging unconventional partnerships, hospital and health system CEOs are challenging long-held leadership norms to build stronger, more responsive organizations. ... Here, six healthcare CEOs share the norms they have intentionally moved past — and what their teams have gained in the process.
Reimagining hospice in an AI world: In a digital age, how should technology & humanity coexist?
07/08/25 at 03:00 AMReimagining hospice in an AI world: In a digital age, how should technology & humanity coexist?HomeCare; by Michelle Cone; 6/3/25Technology is transforming home-based care, but not at the expense of the human touch. As the industry embraces tools like telehealth, remote monitoring and artificial intelligence (AI)-powered care planning, the goal isn’t to replace caregivers but to support them. These innovations boost efficiency and communication, but the heart of hospice—real connection, empathy and human presence—still drives care during what is often a deeply emotional time for families.
How AI is redefining the nurse’s day
07/08/25 at 03:00 AMHow AI is redefining the nurse’s day Becker's Health IT; by Naomi Diaz; 7/3/25 As generative AI continues to make its way into healthcare, chief nursing informatics officers say the technology’s influence is expanding beyond documentation and reshaping the way nurses work. [Examples described include the following:]
Hospice programs shutter amid financial strains
07/08/25 at 03:00 AMHospice programs shutter amid financial strains Hospice News; by Holly Vossel; 7/3/25 Financial and staffing headwinds are chipping away at hospices’ sustainability, with some providers recently pausing or closing their programs. Concerns have also mounted amid federal Medicaid cuts.
When less is more: Addressing polypharmacy in high-risk populations
07/08/25 at 03:00 AMWhen less is more: Addressing polypharmacy in high-risk populations Pharmacy Times; by Andrew E. Esch, MD, MBA and Alain Hipensteele; 7/7/25 As digital health tools and artificial intelligence (AI)–powered clinical decision support systems become increasingly embedded in pharmacy workflows, pharmacists are gaining new opportunities to identify and address the risks of polypharmacy—particularly in high-risk populations such as older adults and those receiving palliative care. At the same time, evolving deprescribing guidelines and ongoing drug shortages have underscored the need for coordinated, patient-centered medication management strategies. In this interview with Pharmacy Times®, Andrew E. Esch, MD, MBA, director of the Palliative Care Program Development at the Center to Advance Palliative Care, discusses how pharmacists are using emerging technologies to streamline medication reviews, reduce therapeutic duplication, and engage caregivers in deprescribing conversations.
Reopening of Hospice House stalls after Seasons Hospice exits Steele County
07/08/25 at 03:00 AMReopening of Hospice House stalls after Seasons Hospice exits Steele County Southernminn, Faribault, MN; by Annie Harman; 7/1/25 What has been a continuing journey of peaks and valleys has come upon yet another roadblock as volunteers with the Homestead Hospice House announce the reopening of the residential hospice facility will be put on hold. The news comes after Seasons Hospice, a nonprofit hospice care organization based out of Rochester, has made the decisions to discontinue their home care and hospice services in Steele County. Seasons had initially partnered with the board of the Homestead Hospice House in August 2024 to work toward reopening the facility, raising $850,000 — $350,000 to reopen the facility and cover startup funds for IT and staff, and an additional $500,000 to secure operating funds for the first year.
Essentia Health is putting Duluth Hospice patients in jeopardy, healthcare workers speak out
07/08/25 at 02:00 AMEssentia Health is putting Duluth Hospice patients in jeopardy, healthcare workers speak out Minnesota Nurses Association; Press Release; 7/1/25 In a move hospice nurses are calling “cruel and unnecessary,” Essentia Health has informed staff that it will suspend patient care at Solvay Hospice House beginning July 8, the same day an open-ended unfair labor practice (ULP) strike is set to begin across Duluth hospitals. The Minnesota Nurses Association has proposed seven bargaining dates in the week before the strike, but Essentia Health has not accepted a single date for Solvay Hospice House or its hospitals and clinics. Solvay healthcare workers say these transfers are not being driven by a shortage of caregivers, but by Essentia’s refusal to engage in good faith bargaining with frontline healthcare workers at Solvay and across Duluth facilities. Caregivers at Solvay have been seeking a fair contract for nearly a year.
Natural disasters, climate change, and the impact on hospice and palliative care teams and their patients
07/07/25 at 03:10 AMNatural disasters, climate change, and the impact on hospice and palliative care teams and their patients American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM) Quarterly; by Larry Beresford; Summer 2025 Edition, 7/3/25 Several recent natural disasters, including highly destructive wildfires in Los Angeles and Maui and flooding in the North Carolina hills caused by rains from Hurricane Helene, have provided vivid reminders that disasters can happen anywhere, anytime. Hospice and palliative care providers, responsible for the care of patients with serious illnesses who live in their homes and in long-term care facilities, could be dealing with disruptions in power or phone service, other communication barriers, staffing shortages, impassible roads, even large-scale evacuations of their patients. ... Are agencies doing what they can to plan, prepare, and practice for managing disasters, which could also include human-caused crises or events like earthquakes that are not subject to weather or climate?