Literature Review

[Israel] Hadassah Hospice: bringing meaning it life Hadassay.org | Medicine & Research, Jerusalem, Israel; Press Release; 8/26/26 "Outside, there may be conflicts and wars, but inside these walls is a small microcosm, disconnected from the outer world, that concentrates on humanity." This is how Dr. Daniel Azoulay described the Inna and Jack Kay Hospice at Hadassah Hospital Mount Scopus. ... This October, the hospice is marking 40 years since its founding by Dr. Reuven Fink and nurse Ruth Shahal-Gassner. In the quiet place Dr. Azoulay describes, the staff provides end-of-life palliative care to some 220 patients every year. "There's a closeness here among Jews and Muslims, religious and secular people. At the end of life, everyone is the same — everybody asks that their suffering be alleviated and battles the same anxieties and fears," said Dr. Azoulay, who is head of palliative service and responsible for the Hospice Department.Editor's Note: May we listen and learn. In the midst of our deluge of political wars each way we turn, may we find ways to "concentrate on humanity." Read again: "There's a closeness here among Jews and Muslims, religious and secular people. At the end of life, everyone is the same — everybody asks that their suffering be alleviated and battles the same anxieties and fears."

Hospice nurses at Minnesota-based Allina Health vote to authorize 7-day unfair labor practice strike CBS News Minnesota; by Nicholas Lentz; 8/24/26 Hospice nurses who work for Minnesota-based Allina Health have voted to authorize a seven-day unfair labor practice strike, the union representing them said on Monday. According to Service Employees International Union Healthcare Minnesota and Iowa, all workers who cast a ballot on Friday voted in favor of the strike. The authorization comes amid negotiations to reach a first contract that have been happening for more than a year, SEIU said. Members allege Allina Health is opposed to "creating a fair compensation system that would give nurses extra pay for extra work"  and refuses to pay salaried registered nurses a holiday premium when they are required to work on holidays. The union added that the company also doesn't allow hospice nurses to flex their schedules.

Hospice Wage Index, the Final Rule, and the signals CMS is sending | part one Teleios Collaborative Network (TCN); pocast hosted by Chris Comeaux with Annette Kiser and Judi Lund Person The 2027 Hospice Final Rule is more than a reimbursement update—it’s a window into where Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) believes hospice care needs to go next. In Part One, host Chris Comeaux sits down with hospice regulatory experts Annette Kiser and Judi Lund Person to look beyond the numbers and “read the tea leaves” in CMS’s latest rule.  They unpack what hospice leaders need to understand about the Hospice Election Statement Addendum, the growing scrutiny of unrelated services and non-hospice Medicare spending, telehealth reporting, and the Service and Spending Variation Index (SSVI).  As Judi explains, CMS’s commentary and responses to industry feedback can reveal as much about the agency’s direction as the regulations themselves.

Hospice Wage Index, the Final Rule, and the signals CMS is sending | part one Teleios Collaborative Network (TCN); pocast hosted by Chris Comeaux with Annette Kiser and Judi Lund Person The 2027 Hospice Final Rule is more than a reimbursement update—it’s a window into where Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) believes hospice care needs to go next. In Part One, host Chris Comeaux sits down with hospice regulatory experts Annette Kiser and Judi Lund Person to look beyond the numbers and “read the tea leaves” in CMS’s latest rule.  They unpack what hospice leaders need to understand about the Hospice Election Statement Addendum, the growing scrutiny of unrelated services and non-hospice Medicare spending, telehealth reporting, and the Service and Spending Variation Index (SSVI).  As Judi explains, CMS’s commentary and responses to industry feedback can reveal as much about the agency’s direction as the regulations themselves.

Strategic leadership and the future of corporate learning an in-depth analysis of modern workforce development trends Recruit-Talent.com | Employee Training & Development; 8/14/26The landscape of corporate learning and development (L&D) is currently undergoing a fundamental transformation, shifting from a traditional "cost-center" model toward a core strategic function essential for organizational survival. In the latest installment of the Chief Learning Officer’s “Learning Insights” series, a high-level examination of this evolution reveals how visionary leaders are navigating the complexities of workforce development in an era defined by rapid technological advancement and shifting employee expectations. ... Essential Qualities of the Modern Learning Leader ... Key leadership traits identified by industry experts include:

Who should palliative care see? Diane Meier, Bob Arnold, and Justin Sanders GeriPal; by Alex Smith; 8/13/26 As Diane Meier remarks to start today’s podcast, palliative care has come a long way from the days when we were the “brink of death” consult. We’re seeing patients earlier and earlier in the course of illness.  In fact, the evidence base for specialist palliative care is arguably stronger in the outpatient setting than the inpatient setting.  In some ways, as Eric remarked, we are a victim of our own success. We’ve pushed on the boundaries of seeing patients earlier in the course of illness, we’ve demonstrated remarkable value to our colleagues and health systems: now they want us to see more and more patients, with conditions we would not have previously considered core to palliative care practice. Our guests modeled respectful disagreement, and we were somewhat surprised that there was more agreement than we expected.  

Revisiting mastering the art of re-entry: the key to a less-stressful return from vacation Teleios Collaborative Network (TCN); by Chris Comeaux; 8/11/26 Now that it is midsummer, have you followed my advice in my previous blog, Work-Life Harmony and taken your vacation? Stephen Covey coined the phrase, “Sharpening the saw,” many years ago and that age-old wisdom applies even more today than when he first wrote about it over thirty years ago. Taking time off is essential to live a high-performance life. But I have noticed a disturbing trend amongst my peers and team members. They are taking time off, but about a week into their return, they comment, “that is so far in the rearview mirror because I am so far behind that I am working twice as hard to catch up.” ... It's time to break free from this vicious cycle by incorporating a crucial new competency: planning your re-entry.Editor's Note: Translate this to your interdisciplinary team professionals for whom--during their vacations--patients have died, their family conflicts have escalated, and newly admitted patients have been added to their caseloads. What systems do you have for smooth, supportive transitions for IDG members when handing off caseloads when leaving, and picking them up on return?

The leadership pendulum and the paradox of choice: how leaders balance purpose, power and performance Chief Learning Officer; by Wesley Payne McClendon; 8/6/2026 Institutions drift not when leaders hesitate, but when they overcorrect, substitute force for judgment or confuse visible action with disciplined leadership. The real leadership challenge is to keep purpose, power and performance in proportion so the organization can move forward with legitimacy, clarity and endurance. ... The leadership challenge is to remain anchored in purpose and governance, apply the right amount of force, hold the necessary tension, stay close enough to lived reality to remain relevant and resist swings that create more disruption than progress. Viewed in this way, leadership is not judged only by visible action, but by the mechanics that produce drift, overreach, correction and return.Examine McClendon's teaching graphic for "The Leadership Pendulum"

Executive Personnel Changes - 8/7/26

The key is not to prioitize what's on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities. ~ Stephen Covey

Great leadership in 2026 comes down to 4 human behaviors: technology may be changing how work gets done, but the fundamentals of leading people have not changed.Inc.; by Marcel Schwantes; 8/4/26For years, I’ve asked CEOs, executives, coaches, researchers, and managers a simple question: “What makes someone a great leader?” The answers rarely begin with strategy, technical expertise, or operational efficiency. They begin with trust.Great leaders know how to listen. They understand what people need to perform at their best. They use technology (now AI) without allowing it to weaken human connection. And they create workplaces where people feel both supported and accountable.These qualities have traditionally been called “soft skills.” In 2026, that description feels outdated. ... These are operating skills. ...

Hospice and Palliative Medicine Advisory Committee Meeting Summary | Spring 2026American Board of Internal Medicince | ABIM Blog, Philadelphia, PA; by ABIM; 7/31/26 The Hospice and Palliative Medicine Advisory Committee held its spring meeting on April 28, 2026. Representatives from the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM) and guests from the University of Colorado joined for a portion of the meeting. ... The following is a summary of the spring meeting. ... Furman S. McDonald, MD, MPH, President and CEO of ABIM and the ABIM Foundation, discussed progress on ABIM’s strategic initiatives, including:

Companies are tapping retired CEOs. Could health systems follow suit?Companies are tapping retired CEOs. Becker's Hospital Review; by Kristin Kuchno; 7/28/26 U.S. companies across industries are turning to retired CEOs to lead turnarounds, The Wall Street Journal reported July 28. Will health systems take a page out of their book? To an extent, they already have — though the practice looks different in healthcare than it does in corporate America. Most recently, Cracker Barrel appointed 69-year-old David Deno as its new CEO. Mr. Deno served as CEO of Outback Steakhouse’s parent, Bloomin’ Brands, from 2019 to 2024. The move followed similar appointments by Boeing and Verizon Communications in recent years, the Journal reported. ...