Literature Review

Top 5 leadership shifts to watch after the summer break Hunt Scanlon Media; by Scott A. Scanlon and Dale M. Zupsansky; 8/4/25 ... Drawing on insights from its global network, the International Executive Search Federation (IESF) has identified five key leadership transitions that are gaining momentum. These changes promise to redefine how executives think, adapt, and drive impact as organizations head into the latter half of 2025 and beyond. ...

Enhabit CEO Barb Jacobsmeyer announces departure Hospice News; by Holly Vossel; 8/7/25 Enhabit Inc. (NYSE: EHAB) President and CEO Barb Jacobsmeyer is stepping down after four years at the company’s helm. Jacobsmeyer will continue to serve in her current role and as a board member until July 2026, or upon the appointment of her successor. She previously served as president of inpatient hospitals at Encompass Health (NYSE: EHC). Jacobsmeyer transitioned to CEO of home health and hospice in 2021, shortly before Encompass spun off those business lines in 2022 to form Enhabit.

Enhabit Home Health & Hospice announces CEO transition plan Business Wire, Dallas, TX; 8/6/25 Enhabit, Inc. (NYSE: EHAB), a leading home health and hospice provider, today announced that Barb Jacobsmeyer, president and CEO, and a member of the board of directors, intends to step down from these roles in July 2026, or upon the appointment of a successor. The company has initiated a leadership succession plan with Jacobsmeyer’s full support to ensure a smooth transition. The board has retained Russell Reynolds Associates, a leading executive search firm, to assist in a comprehensive search process to identify the company’s next CEO.

The 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. 

Laying the foundation for health IT innovation: 5 essential cornerstones Becker's Health IT; by Pally Parrent; 8/1/25 ... A recent survey by Modern Healthcare and Nordic reveals both industry progress and opportunity across critical IT foundations like governance, infrastructure, data, and training. Investing in these foundations is important but success also requires five reinforcing cornerstones that support foundational efforts for enterprise-wide impact: strategy, cybersecurity, integration and interoperability, cultural commitment, and change management. ...

The complexity of multi-service organizations Teleios Collaborative Network (TCN); podcast by Christ Comeaux with Rebecca Ramsy and Mark Jarman-Howe; 7/30/25 Rebecca Ramsay and Mark Jarman-Howe, two dynamic leaders who are navigating the evolving world of hospice and multi-service healthcare with vision and heart,  share their experiences in managing diverse service lines, emphasizing the importance of culture, workforce resilience, and community engagement. Rebecca and Mark discuss the challenges of balancing mission and margin while fostering innovation and collaboration. The conversation underscores the importance of strategic planning, mentorship, and understanding regulatory frameworks to navigate the healthcare landscape effectively.  

VITAS® Healthcare announces CEO transition and appointment of new Chief Executive OfficerGlobeNewswire, Miramar, FL; Press Release; 7/30/25

The hidden leadership threat draining workplace productivity Forbes; by Julian Hayes II; 7/27/25 If speed is a premium currency in modern business, friction is the hidden tax. It doesn't appear on your balance sheet or get highlighted on the org chart. Yet, it compounds daily through missed deadlines, disengaged employees, decision bottlenecks, various leadership issues, and a tech stack that overwhelms more than it empowers. ... Perhaps the most revealing (and to some surprising) insight: executives reported the highest levels of friction. The very individuals tasked with solving complexity are often the most affected by it. This discovery underscores a deeper truth: friction isn't merely an operational issue. It's also a leadership issue. ... [The] following four categories of friction offer a diagnostic window into the health of an organization's leadership infrastructure. ...

Your secret weapon: How simple recognition fuels success HR Daily Advisor; by HR Daily Advisor Staff; 7/23/25 In today’s fast-moving work world, the key to winning isn’t just about cool tech or smart processes. It’s about truly putting people first. Dr. Meisha-Ann Martin, VP of People Research at Workhuman and speaker at SHRM 25, recently showed us just how powerful this can be. She highlighted that when done right, recognition isn’t just a nice gesture – it’s a game-changer for your entire company.

Executive Personnel Changes - 7/16/25 

Hospice & Palliative Care of Martha’s Vineyard announces leadership change MVTimes.com, Martha's Vineyard, MA; by The Martha's Vineyard Times; 7/16/25 After a productive five years at the helm of Hospice & Palliative Care of Martha’s Vineyard (HPCMV), Executive Director Cathy Wozniak, MPH, MBA, announced that she will retire on Dec. 31, 2025, ending her 40-plus years serving hospices and healthcare across the country. “My proudest moments were making sure HPCMV obtained Medicare certification, allowing it to better serve more people on this Island,” Cathy said, “and helping our talented staff create long-term strategy and a succession plan.” The board has unanimously selected Chantale Patterson, RN, BSN, as HPCMV’s next executive director. Chantale, who has served as the organization’s clinical director for the past eight years, said she is “grateful for this opportunity to lead HPCMV’s next chapter of service to Martha’s Vineyard patients and their families, increasing Islanders’ understanding of Hospice’s services and achieving sustainable growth.”

Medicare fraud has gone global. It’ll take a nationwide effort to stop itLos Angeles Times; by Mehmet Oz, Kim Brandt; 7/15/25Federal law enforcement recently announced a $14-billion fraud takedown — the largest healthcare fraud action in U.S. history, involving many crimes orchestrated by foreign nationals. Every American taxpayer should be alarmed not just because of the dollars at stake, but also because it reveals how vulnerable Medicare and Medicaid have become to large-scale, international exploitation... Fraud is a national problem, but it starts locally. Drive around certain neighborhoods in Los Angeles and you’ll pass what appear to be empty office buildings, which unbeknownst to neighbors could serve as hubs of criminal activity. There are more than 1,000 potentially fraudulent hospice operations identified in Los Angeles.Publisher's note: Medicare fraud is tragic - and that hospice is the highighted provider in this story is also tragic. This article includes steps that can be taken to stop this fraud. Also, thanks to Sheila Clark, President-CEO of the California Hospice & Palliative Care Association (CHAPCA) for forwarding this article.

Connecticut 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.