Literature Review

Technology Documentation Automation a Priority in Hospice AI Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 12/15/25 Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly proliferating throughout health care and beyond. Among its many applications, streamlining documentation is among the most prevalent for hospices. Hospices leverage documentation software for a wide array of functions, including visit scheduling, care plan updates, interdisciplinary team notes, medication management and bereavement services, as well as billing, compliance tracking and family communication, among other functions.

[United Kingdom] Children's hospice to shut days before Christmas BBC News, London, England; by Amy Clarke; 12/12/25 A children's hospice that has supported children living with complex life-limiting conditions for 25 years is due to close just days before Christmas. Richard House in Newham, east London, provides specialist care to more than 300 families - offering services such as residential care, transition from hospital to home, bereavement support and end-of-life care. 

Volunteers woven into the fabric of Horizon Hospice and Palliative Care The Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA; by Cindy Hval; 12/11/25 Ruth Wagley believes home is a profound place. The volunteer coordinator for Horizon Hospice and Palliative Care said her life experience has come full circle. “I had home births. I home-schooled my kids. Now, I work in a place where we value home death,” she said. “The heart of hospice is that no one dies alone, or in pain, and everyone can die at home.” Although she had managed volunteers throughout her career, she had never worked for a company where that type of service was essential to the funding and operation of the business. Medicare/Medicaid mandates that hospices provide at least 5% of patient care hours through volunteers. “Volunteers are woven into the fabric of Horizon Hospice,” she said.Editor's Note: Do you think of your hospice volunteers as being "woven into the fabric" of the services you provide, or as an add-on, an afterthought, just another regulatory requirement? Especially at the holidays, be sure to thank your volunteers in ways that are meaningful to them.

VITAS Hospice Services faces serious data breach investigation Investors Hangout; by Evelyn Baker; 12/9/25 ... In a significant turn of events, VITAS Hospice Services, LLC, the largest for-profit hospice chain in the United States, is facing scrutiny due to a massive data breach. Recent investigations revealed that sensitive information of 319,177 patients was compromised, raising concerns over data security and patient privacy. As investigations continue, more details about the breach are emerging, prompting calls for accountability from the company.

Q&A: What is the relationship between AI and clinical informatics? CDW Healthcare; by Jordan Scott; 12/8/25 ... Health systems are seeking ways to address workflow inefficiencies with artificial intelligence, but if those tools aren’t implemented with a deep understanding of existing workflows and IT environments, then they aren’t likely to succeed. Clinical informaticists are well versed in health IT implementation and the change management required to ensure buy-in and adoption. HealthTech spoke with Murielle Beene, senior vice president and chief health informatics officer at Trinity Health — a large, not-for-profit health system with 92 hospitals across 25 states — about how AI is changing the field of clinical informatics. 

Inside TRU Thrift’s Giving Room: How Boulder donations reach neighbors in need The Gazette, Boulder, CO; by Tricia Stortz; 12/6/25 In the back of TRU Community Care’s Thrift Shop in Boulder, past racks of winter coats and holiday decor, there’s a doorway most shoppers never notice. Step through it, and you enter the Giving Room, a bustling, volunteer-run operation where nearly nothing goes to waste and where unsold items find new purpose across Boulder County. The space is compact, but the impact is wide. More than 30 local partner organizations – from homeless outreach teams to youth programs, animal shelters, mobility-assistance nonprofits and more – rely on the items flowing through this little room. Editor's Note: Calling all hospice organizations that have a thrift shop, read on!

CHAP celebrates 60 years in home-based care Community Health Accreditation Partner (CHAP); email and website; 12/5/25 This year, CHAP marked a milestone that speaks volumes about our legacy and our future: our Diamond Jubilee. Sixty years of progress, partnership, and innovation came to life as our incredible team gathered to celebrate not just an anniversary, but the people who make our mission possible every day. It was a moment to honor the tradition that began in 1965 and continues to shape home-based care across the nation; a tradition built on excellence, compassion, and a shared commitment to the providers we serve. As we reflected on six decades of impact, the celebration reminded us of something even more powerful: the strength of our present and the promise of what’s next.Editor's Note: Hospice & Palliative Care Today celebrates CHAP immeasureable contributions to improving patient / caregiver / family care, staff education and standards, organizational systems, and more!

Hospice SLO County announces move to new location Paso Robles Daily News, Paso Robles, CA; by News Staff; 12/3/25 Hospice of San Luis Obispo County says its new location improves visibility and long-term stability. The new, smaller facility will continue to be known as the Dorothy D. Rupe Center. The name honors the Arthur N. Rupe Foundation and the legacy that helped establish the organization’s first permanent home in 2001. Hospice of San Luis Obispo County said the move reflects a step toward sustainability by providing a more visible and efficient space while maintaining its existing environment.

Hope Hospice Center completes, exceeds $15M capital campaign Times-Leader, Fairfield, MT; by Keila Szpaller; 12/1/25 Before the Hope Hospice Center opened in Missoula in July, people working on the project toured different facilities in the country looking for ideas. ... They learned that families are as integral to the mission as their loved ones, even that it’s advisable to have multiple USB ports in a room and couches that convert into beds. ... Now, four months after opening its doors to families across Montana, the Hope Hospice Center has served more than 100 patients and their families, exceeded a $15 million capital campaign by $200,000 ... 

The tech-enabled evolution of home-based care: How technology is shifting care from hospital to home THL - Thomas H. Lee Partners, Boston, MA; posted on "Insight & Analysis | Healthcare"; 12/1/25 Key Takeaways:

[United Kingdom] Warning issued as palliative care in England is ‘failing to meet people’s needs’ Independent; by Ella Pickover; 11/27/59 Palliative care services in England are "failing to meet people’s needs", a new parliamentary report has warned. Commissioned by MPs on the House of Commons Health and Social Care Committee, the findings attribute these shortcomings primarily to "insufficient funds" for services providing end-of-life and life-limiting condition care. The report highlighted that bereavement support for loved ones, while "valuable", is "frequently inaccessible". It also noted that palliative care patients and their families are "too rarely given the opportunity to plan effectively for the future". Painting a picture of services under "significant strain", the document cautions that health and care provisions are "ill-equipped" to address end-of-life needs, citing "insufficient" education and training.Editor's Note: Our ongoing distribution of posts from the United Kingdom report financial cuts from the UK government, resulting in insufficient funds to provide adequate staffing, facilities, supplies, and more. Want to learn more? Subscribers can login to your account and use the "Search Articles" field to find other posts, based on keywords you enter.

Agentic AI in digital transformation: Why autonomy won’t fix the people and process problems Forbes; by Nono Bokete; 11/25/25 Agentic AI, the buzzy term for autonomous systems that can plan, act and adapt with minimal human input, is being marketed as the holy grail of digital transformation. And don't get me wrong: It's powerful. ... The potential is incredible. But potential means nothing without the people and process infrastructure to sustain it. ... The Common Pitfalls (Why 40% Will Fail): ...