Literature Review
All posts tagged with “Hospice Provider News | Operations News | Staffing.”
Labor & employment lawyers, at Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP, file suit against Sutter Visiting Nurse Association and Hospice, for underpayment of employees' wages
02/16/26 at 02:00 AMLabor & employment lawyers, at Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP, file suit against Sutter Visiting Nurse Association and Hospice, for underpayment of employees' wages Benzinga, Sacramento, CA; by PRNewswire; 2/12/26 The Sacramento employment law attorneys, at Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP, filed a class action complaint alleging that Sutter Visiting Nurse Association and Hospice violated the California Labor Code. The Sutter Visiting Nurse Association and Hospice, a class action lawsuit, Case No. 25CV029700, is currently pending in the Sacramento County Superior Court of the State of California. A copy of the Complaint can be read here.
First union contract ratified for UVM hospice workers
02/12/26 at 03:00 AMFirst union contract ratified for UVM hospice workers ABC22/FOX44, Burlington, VT; Press Release; 2/10/26 UVM Home Health and Hospice workers have ratified their first union contract. The vote was 72-1 to ratify the contract, more than six months after employees first voted to form a union in June. They named their union “Hospice United.” ... According to AFT Vermont, which represents 11,000 workers in healthcare and higher education, the agreement will mean a 17% increase in wages over the two and half years of the contract, and also makes accommodations for the rest of UVM Home Health potentially choosing to unionize in the future.
How an ethics course can prep you for med school: It can strengthen communication and empathy and help with complex treatment and research decisions.
02/11/26 at 03:00 AMHow an ethics course can prep you for med school: It can strengthen communication and empathy and help with complex treatment and research decisions. U.S. News & World; by Neha Raju; 2/10/26 Medical school applicants often focus on the most tangible parts of preparation: grades, MCAT scores, clinical hours and research. Ethics courses, when considered at all, are sometimes treated as peripheral or “nice to have” rather than genuinely useful. That view misses how central ethical reasoning has become ...
They balanced life and work. Now more women are quitting. Here's why
02/10/26 at 02:00 AMThey balanced life and work. Now more women are quitting. Here's why USA Today; by Jessica Guynn; 1/29/26 ... [In]2025, more than 455,000 women left the workforce. Now, a national survey casts a light on what drove that decision for many women. Nearly half of the women who voluntarily left said they did so because of their caregiving responsibilities and the high cost and limited availability of child care, according to a survey from women’s advocacy group Catalyst.
Former HR worker wins over $5M in jury award for retaliation
02/05/26 at 03:00 AMFormer HR worker wins over $5M in jury award for retaliation HR Dive; by Emilie Shumway; 2/3/26 A Utah jury awarded a former HR benefits generalist $5 million on Jan. 29, finding that a preponderance of evidence showed her employer, Bristol Hospice, retaliated against her by firing her after she complained about her supervisor’s behavior (Graham v. Bristol Hospice Holdings, Inc.). According to a lawsuit filed in 2021, the plaintiff complained that her supervisor, a payroll director, subjected her to a hostile work environment. The vice president of HR allegedly investigated her complaint and dismissed it, determining the “behavior was a one-time issue, not a general behavioral concern.” But the behavior continued, per legal documents.
Blaming younger doctors for setting boundaries ignores the broken system
02/03/26 at 03:00 AMBlaming younger doctors for setting boundaries ignores the broken system The Podcast by KevinMD; podcast hosted by KevinMD with Christie Mulholland; 1/31/26 Palliative care physician and certified physician development coach Christie Mulholland discusses her article “5 things health care must stop doing to improve physician well-being.” Christie challenges the pervasive narrative that younger physicians lack work ethic and argues that their boundary-setting is a rational response to an untenable system. ... Christie explains the double standard where new technology is an investment but physician wellness is expected to prove immediate financial return.
Cultivating leaders in medicine: We can do better
02/02/26 at 03:00 AMCultivating leaders in medicine: We can do better Medscape; by Aba Black, MD, MHS; 1/29/26 ... there’s no question that medicine as a field has lagged when it comes to propagating tenets of effective leadership. ... [Too] many doctors make it through the endurance run that is medical education without ever being told what makes a good leader. There’s good reason to want more doctors in leadership roles, as healthcare administrators with clinical expertise bring an important skill set to the challenges facing our healthcare system. While hospitals led by economists may fare better financially, physician-led hospitals are associated with lower mortality rates and higher patient satisfaction.
Another strike sends 31,000 Kaiser Permanente health care workers to picket lines
01/30/26 at 03:00 AMAnother strike sends 31,000 Kaiser Permanente health care workers to picket lines AP, U.S. News, Oakland, CA; 1/27/26 An estimated 31,000 registered nurses and other front-line Kaiser Permanente health care workers launched an open-ended strike this week in California and Hawaii to demand better wages and staffing from the health care giant. The picketing that began Monday marked the second major walkout in recent months by employees represented by the United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals. A five-day strike in October ended with negotiations resuming, but talks broke down in December. This week the union accused Kaiser of refusing to return to national bargaining discussions.
Meant to be: Denise's journey into hospice nursing
01/29/26 at 03:00 AMMeant to Be: Denise's journey into hospice nursing The McKenzie, Tennessee Banner; 1/27/26 When Denise lost her husband, Tony, to leukemia at only 39, her world shifted forever. She was 29. ... In her thirties, ... she enrolled in nursing school, determined to rebuild her own story, one chapter at a time. ...Then came a nursing hospice opportunity. ... For Denise, hospice nursing isn't about endings; it's about helping families find peace, honesty, dignity, and hope in the final chapter. She carries the responsibility with deep reverence. "We're the last chapter," she says softly. "And if that chapter ends poorly, a lot of it is on us." ... Denise's journey reminds us that sometimes the hardest heartbreaks lead us to the most meaningful callings. Editor's Note: [Full access to this may require a subscription.] What personal life experiences brought many of your clinicians to end-of-life care? You may be surpised how little you know about them; what brings meaning and purpose for them; how seeing their journeys inspires you in your leadership role.
MedPAC signals need to bolster Medicare physician payments
01/29/26 at 03:00 AMMedPAC signals need to bolster Medicare physician payments AMA - American Medical Association; by Tanya Albert Henry; 1/27/26 Influential body backs added 0.5% Medicare pay update but backtracks on linking doctor payment to practice-cost inflation. ... The influential Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) voted in January to address inadequate payment for Medicare physician services under current law, once again underscoring a longstanding policy failure that is widely recognized but remains unresolved. MedPAC voted to recommend an additional 0.5% update on top of the updates specified in current law—0.25% and 0.75%—and will forward that recommendation to Congress.
Briana Kohlbrenner: End-of-life care is under threat End-of-life care is under threat - as demand for hospice grows, workers say staffing and pay must keep pace
01/28/26 at 03:00 AMBriana Kohlbrenner: End-of-life care is under threat - as demand for hospice grows, workers say staffing and pay must keep paceVTDigger, Vermont; commentary by Briana Kohlbrenner; 1/27/26 As demand for hospice grows, workers say staffing and pay must keep pace. University of Vermont Home Health and Hospice (UVMHHH) is at a crossroads. As Vermont’s population ages, the demand for hospice care is growing. ... We are asking for fair and transparent pay scales, safe staffing and equity within the UVM Health system. Though we wear the same logo on our badges, we are paid less than our counterparts in other parts of the UVM Health system. A new nurse starting at UVM Home Health and Hospice earns $6.72 less per hour than a new nurse at the UVM Medical Center.
Winter weekend storms: Off the grid United States power outage tracker
01/23/26 at 03:00 AMWinter weekend storms: Off the grid United States power outage tracker USAToday.com; real-time data map; updated every 15 minutes USA Today provides a real-time U.S. Power Outage Tracker that aggregates data from more than 1,000 utility companies nationwide. This interactive map updates automatically every 15 minutes, offering near–real-time visibility into outages as severe weather and blizzard conditions unfold. Editor's Note: Share, save, and bookmark this resource. Use it to stay ahead of power disruptions in your service areas. For leaders in affected or high-risk regions, final preparations today can reduce harm this weekend. Assess and review with your leaders and teams (especially newer employees):
Best healthcare jobs in 2026: US News
01/23/26 at 03:00 AMBest healthcare jobs in 2026: US News Becker's Hospital Review; by Kelly Gooch; 1/13/26 For the third consecutive year, nurse practitioner earned the No. 1 spot in U.S. News & World Report‘s annual best jobs rankings. The media company released the rankings Jan. 13, highlighting the best jobs across 17 categories, including healthcare.
Home care crisis drives innovation for aging in place
01/21/26 at 03:00 AMHome care crisis drives innovation for aging in place HousingWire; by Jonathan Delozier; 1/14/26 A growing shortage of home care workers threatens older Americans’ ability to age in place. Low wages, high turnover and limited benefits leave families struggling. Worker-owned co-ops, digital registries and specialized training improve retention, pay and patient outcomes, offering promising solutions amid rapidly rising demand for home health and personal care aides.
7 hospice leaders’ predictions for 2026
01/21/26 at 02:00 AM7 hospice leaders’ predictions for 2026 Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 1/20/26 Hospice News interviewed several industry leaders to identify the most significant market forces and trends expected to shape the sector in 2026. Their insights revealed several shared themes, including growing demand for home-based care, ongoing workforce challenges, continued industry consolidation, heightened technology adoption and heightened regulatory oversight. Participants also emphasized the importance of better integrating hospice into the broader health care continuum.
How hospice social workers create everyday moments that matter
01/21/26 at 02:00 AMHow hospice social workers create everyday moments that matter Severna Park Voice, Severna Park, MD; by Chris Gooding, LCSW-C, social worker Hospice of the Chesapeake; 1/15/26 There are many moving stories about how a hospice social worker helped a patient get married or take that one last trip to the ocean. These are impactful, memory-making moments that go a long way to honor the patient’s final wishes while helping a family heal after they’re gone. But I’m not going to share those kinds of moments. I’m going to share moments like helping the patient make a phone call to an estranged family member - or giving them permission to not make that phone call. Counseling a daughter whose mother no longer knows who she is due to dementia. These are moments that matter, everyday moments, that are nurtured by a hospice social worker.
15,000 NYC nurses strike highlights impact on oncology care
01/20/26 at 03:10 AM15,000 NYC nurses strike highlights impact on oncology care Oncology Nursing News; by Spencer Feldman; 1/16/26 A 5-day NYC nurses strike raises concerns about staffing, patient safety, and the critical role of oncology nurses in cancer care. ...
1 in 3 NPs and PAs switch specialties at least once in career
01/20/26 at 03:00 AM1 in 3 NPs and PAs switch specialties at least once in career AMA; by Kevin B. O'Reilly; 1/12/26 More than one-third of both nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs) said in surveys conducted on behalf of the AMA that they have switched the specialty in which they provide care at some point during their career. While most nurse practitioners and physician assistants are trained to practice primary care, overwhelming majorities said additional formal training to gain the knowledge, acumen and skills needed to help provide care in the new specialty area was rarely pursued.
If you think you don't need a chaplain, reconsider
01/20/26 at 02:00 AMIf you think you don't need a chaplain, reconsider Parkview Health | Family Medicine, Diseases & Disorders, Fort Wayne, IN; by Karen Kosberg, chaplain, Parkview Hospice; 1/18/26"I'm not religious." "I don't need anyone preaching at me.""I don't want a chaplain yet!"These are some of the responses I have heard over the years as a hospice chaplain. These statements are reactions to the offer of a visit. So once and for all, let's answer the question: Why a chaplain? ...Editor's Note: Continue reading this excellent description of our too-often-neglected hospice chaplains. Reach out to learn more about your hospice chaplains. Find meaningful ways to thank and honor them.
Employee experience trends: What the data says about 2026
01/19/26 at 03:00 AMEmployee experience trends: What the data says about 2026 Perceptyx; by Zachary Warman, MS, Oliver Lee Bateman, PhD & Bradley Wilson, PhD; 1/16/26 Perceptyx research across 20 million employee survey responses reveals the largest shift in engagement drivers ever recorded: change management and confidence in senior leadership now rank as top drivers, while belonging and feeling valued dropped from their consistent top-two positions. With 4.6% unemployment and a "low-hire-low-fire" market, stable retention numbers may mask a workforce too paralyzed to pursue growth rather than one that's thriving.
Retirement for Beth Dorsk: Her day is her own
01/16/26 at 03:00 AMRetirement for Beth Dorsk: Her day is her own Jewish News; by Terri Denison; 1/15/26 A Virginia Beach native, Beth Koonan Dorsk retired as a hospice nurse in 2025. She agreed to share with Jewish News some of her reasons for retiring and how it’s working out.
15K Nurses strike, disrupting care at 5 NYC hospitals
01/15/26 at 03:00 AM15K Nurses strike, disrupting care at 5 NYC hospitals Patch, New York City, NY; by Miranda Levingston; 1/12/26 Five private hospitals are without nearly 15,000 nurses, who are striking for higher wages and health care benefits, starting Monday. According to the New York State Nurses Association, the contract for the union expired on Dec. 31, and hospitals had until Jan. 12 to reach an agreement with the union. The nurse union said that, in addition to higher wages and health care benefits, the union is striking for improved pension plans and protection from workplace violence, highlighting the recent active shooter situation at Mount Sinai on East 100th Street in November.
Marion hospice volunteer wins major honor from New England Patriots
01/15/26 at 03:00 AMMarion hospice volunteer wins major honor from New England Patriots SouthCoast Today | The Standard-Times; by Faith Harrington; 1/14/26 Giving back took center stage this season as the New England Patriots Foundation donated $185,000 to 17 local nonprofit organizations in honor of its 2025 Patriots Difference Makers. ... The feel-good initiative wrapped up during the Patriots’ season finale on Jan. 4, where all of the Difference Makers were recognized, including Marion resident Madeline Cooke, who earned the title of 2025 Patriots Difference Maker of the Year. ... As the 2025 Patriots Difference Maker of the Year, Cooke was presented with a $25,000 grant for Community Nurse Inc. ... The foundation called her “a trailblazer, determined to walk alongside patients and their loved ones with dignity, grace, and compassion.”
Top 10 leadership pivots for 2026
01/14/26 at 03:00 AMTop 10 leadership pivots for 2026 Forbes; by Julie Kratz; 1/4/26 ... “Psychological safety is the most powerful differentiator in building high-performing teams. Those who report feeling psychologically safe are 31% more likely than those who don’t to be a high performer,” as stated in a recent Wiley Workplace Intelligence study of high performing teams. When cultural factors like psychological safety are linked to performance, leaders pay attention. Consider these leadership pivots heading into 2026:
New AMA survey spotlights top priorities, challenges in 2026
01/14/26 at 03:00 AMNew AMA survey spotlights top priorities, challenges in 2026 HCN - HealthCare News, Chicago, IL; by HCN Staff; 1/9/26 Physician organizations are preparing for a dynamic state legislative landscape this year with health policy changes poised to reshape coverage, oversight, care delivery, and public health across the health system, according to a new survey released by the American Medical Assoc. (AMA). The AMA’s survey of 64 medical societies, including all 50 state medical societies and the District of Columbia, spotlights the leading healthcare priorities and challenges set to define state-level legislative action in 2026. Top issues include scope of practice, Medicaid policy pressures, and physician workforce challenges.