Literature Review

What's keeping CFOs up at night? Becker's Hospital CFO Report; by Alan Condon; 2/14/25 As health system CFOs chart their course for 2025, they face an increasingly complex financial landscape marked by mounting labor costs, tightening margins, shifting payer dynamics and an evolving regulatory environment. ... [Several] CFOs recently joined the “Becker's CFO and Revenue Cycle Podcast” to discuss the trends they're watching most closely — and the strategies they're deploying to stay ahead. [Key items include the following: labor shortages (key theme); major investments in ambulatory care facilities; AI to support operations and service; physician partnerships; shift from fee for service to value-based care; clinical labor; malpractice litigation; growth of Medicare Advantage programs; staffing shortages; inflation; reimbursements; providing care to undersinsured patients; Medicaid supplemental funding programs; "disruptors' by private equity and "other nontraditional players"; uncertainty of federal and state regulation changes.]

Hospice leaders applaud CMS’s decision to reevaluate Special Focus Program, call for meaningful reforms National Alliance for Care at Home, Washington, DC and Alexandria, VA; Press Release; 2/14/25 Effective February 14, 2025, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has ceased the implementation of the Hospice Special Focus Program (SFP) so that CMS may further evaluate the program. This decision is a positive move acknowledging that the current approach is not working as intended. The hospice community has long advocated for strong oversight and patient protections, but the SFP, as implemented, was deeply flawed, unlawful, and harmful to the very patients it was meant to protect. A multi-state coalition of hospices and hospice associations took legal action in January to challenge the program, citing its misrepresentation of hospice compliance records, misleading data, and jeopardized access to high-quality end-of-life care. The flawed algorithm behind the SFP failed to distinguish fraudulent providers from reputable ones, disproportionately penalized well-established hospices, and ignored repeated warnings from congressional leaders and industry stakeholders. ... Now that CMS is reassessing its approach, there is an opportunity to ensure that oversight efforts truly enhance patient protections without restricting access to trusted hospice providers. The National Alliance for Care at Home (the Alliance) and the National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation (NPHI) remain committed to protecting access to high-quality hospice care and ensuring that regulatory oversight is fair, transparent, and aligned with congressional intent. ... [Click on the title's link to continue reading.] 

Avow completes $35,000 training grant provided by FutureMakers Coalition Florida Weekly - Fort Myers Edition, Fort Myers, FL; 2/12/25 Avow recently completed the Healthcare Leadership course as part of a $35,000 grant awarded by FutureMakers Coalition at Collaboratory. Made possible by nearly $23 million in federal funding from the Economic Development Administration’s Good Jobs Challenge, FutureMakers Coalition connects those who need to reskill and/or upskill any, including underemployed and unemployed, Southwest Florida residents with training for industry-recognized credentials and, ultimately, careers with local employers committed to this partnership.

At-home care providers focus on unlocking worker potential, learn from failed initiatives Home Health Care News; by Audrie Martin; 2/11/25 With ongoing caregiver staffing and retention challenges, at-home care organizations are looking to leverage the employees already on the payroll, maximizing their potential in order to benefit from the full range of their skills. ... “At the end of the pandemic, we were experiencing high levels of burnout,” John Gochnour, president and COO of Pennant, said ... “We asked employees what we needed to focus on as an organization, and our focus became how we develop C-suite level leaders. We started the tagline 100 CEOs. We’ve expanded that now to include chief clinical officers (CCO) and chief business development officers.” ... “We looked at our clinical workforce,” he said. “It’s filled with people who go out every day and change the lives of their patients. And the question we asked was, how do you ensure those people are led by leaders who inspire them, motivate them and help them live up to their potential?” ...

Meet Karen Rubel, president and CEO of Nathan Adelson Las Vegas Business Press; 2/11/25Karen Rubel is the president and CEO of Nathan Adelson Hospice. She joined the organization in 2007 as the vice president of development. She has extensive experience in operations, administration, major gifts fundraising and building development programs, as well as strong leadership skills and strategic planning abilities. ...Q: Let’s talk about professional goals for the hospice in 2025. A: Nathan Adelson Hospice is really in a transition for 2025. We are affiliated with the country’s largest nonprofit hospice company, Chapters Health System. We have created, with three other hospice entities, Chapters Health West.Q: Let’s talk about your professional goals in 2025.A: I will be transitioning out of my role as the president and CEO for Nathan Adelson and heading the Chapters Health West region. I am excited about this new opportunity.

Seasons Hospice executive director appointed to lead statewide agency Owatonna People's Press; 2/10/25 Seasons Hospice is proud to announce that Kristina Wright-Peterson, current Executive Director, has been selected as the next Executive Director of the Minnesota Network of Hospice and Palliative Care (MNHPC), effective June 1, 2025. MNHPC serves as the leading voice for hospice and palliative care providers across Minnesota, advocating for high-quality, compassionate end-of-life care. Notably, Ms. Wright-Peterson will be the first MNHPC Executive Director with direct experience as a hospice provider—a milestone that underscores the importance of practitioner-led leadership in shaping the future of hospice care. “Seasons Hospice will always hold a special place in my heart,” said Ms. Wright-Peterson. “Even more importantly, it will serve as the benchmark for the high-quality end-of-life care that should be accessible to everyone in our great state.”

After Eaton fire response, a search and rescue team gears up for a future of wildfire DirectRelief; by Talya Meyers; 2/10/25 Like many California volunteer rescuers, Sierra Madre Search and Rescue Team members got their start doing wilderness missions. Now, they’re preparing for a bigger role in an era of more frequent, severe wildfires. When the volunteers on the Sierra Madre Search and Rescue Team look back on the first night’s response to the Eaton Fire, what they remember most is problem-solving, and quickly. ...  “We were building an airplane while we were flying it,” is how operations leader Carolyn Grumm described it. ... For [Rob Klusman, senior paramedic team member], the vast and urgent need came into focus early that evening, when his team went to check on a medically complex patient receiving end-of-life care. ... [Immediately after countless evacuations,] he and his teammates moved into their second, grimmer assignment: Moving through devastated, burned-out neighborhoods, ... to find human remains. ... [Now, on] a larger scale, Klusamn explained, California search and rescue teams are thinking about the escalating severity and frequency of wildfires — and how they can be there to respond.

Chapters Health system names new Executive Director and Chief Development Officer of the Foundation for Chapters Health Foundation Cision PR Web, Temple Terrace, FL; by Chapters Health System; 2/6/25 Chapters Health System ... announced the appointment of Franklin Guerrero as the new Executive Director and Chief Development Officer of the Chapters Health Foundation. Guerrero, accomplished fundraising executive with more than 20 years of experience in developing successful fundraising strategies, previously served as the Vice President of Major and Planned Gifts at Capital Caring Health, a Chapters Health affiliate organization. He also partnered with leadership at organizations such as AARP Foundation, Hispanic Scholarship Fund, Project HOPE, USA for UNHCR and Children International.

Chapters Health System names new Executive Director and Chief Development Officer of the Foundation for Chapters Health Foundation Cision, Temple Terrace, FL; PR Newswire; 2/6/25 Chapters Health System ... announced the appointment of Franklin Guerrero as the new Executive Director and Chief Development Officer of the Chapters Health Foundation. Guerrero, accomplished fundraising executive with more than 20 years of experience in developing successful fundraising strategies, previously served as the Vice President of Major and Planned Gifts at Capital Caring Health, a Chapters Health affiliate organization. He also partnered with leadership at organizations such as AARP Foundation, Hispanic Scholarship Fund, Project HOPE, USA for UNHCR and Children International. "We're thrilled to have Franklin's leadership at the Chapters Health Foundation to help expand our culture of philanthropy," said Rhonda White, president of hospice and PACE, Chapters Health System.

4 phrases successful leaders intentionally use to motivate their teams Forbes; by Dr. Cheryl Robinson; 2/1/25 ... Great leaders understand that their words can shape company culture, influence behavior and impact employee engagement; it’s about delivering messages with clarity and intent. The tone, phrasing and timing of communication can energize a team or deflate morale. A well-placed word of encouragement can spark motivation, while careless criticism can hinder progress. Whether providing constructive feedback or navigating tough conversations, leaders who speak with intention create a culture where employees feel valued and driven to contribute their best. ... 4 Phrases Successful Leaders Use:

Carlos T. Graveran to Lead Bridginglife as Assistant Vice President of Hospice and Palliative Care ServicesNewswise press release; by LifeBridge Health; 2/3/25[Maryland] BridgingLife, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing high-quality palliative and hospice services, today announced that Carlos T. Graveran will join the organization as assistant vice president of Hospice and Palliative Care Services, effective February 10. Previously known as Carroll Hospice, BridgingLife is a nationally recognized hospice program that has been providing end-of-life and palliative care services for nearly 40 years.

Francis formally appointed Community Hospice CEO Oakdale Leader, Oakdale, CA; Press Release; 2/5/25 Community Hospice and Health Services (CHHS) Board of Directors recently announced the appointment of Mathew Francis as President/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) effective Feb. 1, 2025. Francis assumed the Interim CEO role in October 2024. As President/CEO, Francis is responsible for the overall and day to day operations of all aspects of Community Hospice and Health Services, and its affiliate organizations, Community Hospice and Health Services Foundation, and CHI Management, Inc. ... Community Hospice and Health Services (CHHS) is a nonprofit, community-based agency, serving the greater Central Valley since 1979.

'It's not about technology or dashboards': What health systems need from IT execs next Becker's Health IT; by Laura Dyrda; 2/4/25 Health system IT leaders are entering a new era of leadership amid transformational technology platform purchases, artificial intelligence integration and cybersecurity advancements. But being the most technically proficient no longer guarantees leaders the top role. ... Healthcare IT leaders can become distracted by the bells and whistles of new technology and move forward without considering the patient experience. ... Staying close to the health system's mission is critical for IT leaders, and [Christopher Hutchins, senior vice president and chief data and analytics officer at Lifepoint Health] ties the technology back to patient care. He prioritizes his teammates and colleagues, listening carefully to what they need. Notable mentions: James Forrester, Chief Technology Officer at University of Rochester (NY) Medical Center; Donna Roach, CIO of University of Utah Health; and Christopher Hutchins, senior vice president and chief data and analytics officer at Lifepoint Health