Literature Review

Visiting Nurses Foundation awards over $23K in scholarships to future health care professionals The Chronicle, Centralia, WA; Press Release; 5/7/25  The Visiting Nurses Foundation will award a total of $23,250 of its annual scholarship awards to support local students pursuing careers in health care. These scholarships are a reflection of the foundation's ongoing mission to fund education and assistance for Home Health and Hospice patients and their families. Each scholarship recipient demonstrated not only academic excellence but a deep sense of purpose, a desire to care for others, strengthen communities and make a lasting impact in the lives of patients and families, according to a Visiting Nurses Foundation news release.

1-on-1 coaching, leadership academies: 5 systems developing the next generation of leaders Becker's Hospital Review; by Kristin Kuchno; 4/30/25 With an aging U.S. population and healthcare workforce, many hospital and health system leaders are focused on building the next generation of leaders to tackle the work ahead. Healthcare executives from across the country recently shared with Becker’s how their systems are developing leadership pipelines.

100 academic medical centers to know | 2025 Becker's Hospital Review; by Anna Falvey; 4/29/25 Academic medical centers combine exceptional patient care with cutting-edge research and groundbreaking medical advancements. The 100 institutions [listed] are renowned for their clinical excellence, innovative programs, research leadership, educational impact and commitment to patient satisfaction. Becker’s Healthcare developed this list based on editorial research. This list is not exhaustive, nor is it an endorsement of included academic medical centers. Organizations cannot pay for inclusion on this list. Organizations are presented in alphabetical order. 

[Canada] Hospice placements provide nursing students new perspectives BarrieToday.com; by Marg Bruineman; 4/26/24 As Georgian College works toward having its first graduating class in its bachelor of science in nursing (BScN) degree program next year, students are moving into practical placements in health care. Among them is a new opportunity to explore opportunities in hospice and end-of-life care – a field that continues to develop to meet the needs of an aging population. ... The response from the hospice community, she says, was encouraging. Georgian now has agreements with all nine hospices in the Simcoe-Muskoka-York area that were approached, including hospices in Vaughan and Richmond Hill. The students work onsite for 72 hours over three weeks allowing them to immerse themselves into the setting.

By the Bay forges educational partnerships to grow hospice, home-based care workforce Hospice News; by Holly Vossel; 4/23/25 By the Bay Health has launched a new career program that aims to build up the next generation of home-based health care professionals amid widespread workforce shortages. The California-based health system unveiled its educational initiative, Pathways to Care Careers, in December 2024 as part of its 50th anniversary commemoration. The program is a collaboration with local schools and community organizations. By the Bay Health recently began a $1 million fundraising campaign to support the expansion of the career initiative. A main goal is to reach an increasingly diverse range of health care workers further upstream in their educational journeys, said Robertina Szolarova, chief administrative officer at By the Bay Health and program lead for its Pathways to Care Careers initiative.

Why leadership training is the next big thing in RN to BSN programs Nevada State University; by RN to BSN; 4/22/25 The role of registered nurses (RNs) has expanded far beyond traditional bedside care. Today’s nurses are expected to navigate complex systems, coordinate interdisciplinary teams, and contribute to decision-making at all levels of care. In response, degree programs like the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) are placing a stronger emphasis on leadership training — equipping nurses with the tools they need to guide teams, manage change, and improve patient outcomes. This shift reflects a growing recognition that leadership is not reserved exclusively for executives or administrators. Nurses at every level are uniquely positioned to influence clinical practice, shape policy, and advocate for their patients.

Hospice of Americus-Sumter County Georgia establishes nursing scholarship at GSW Georgia Southwestern State University, Americus, GA; 4/9/25 The Hospice of Americus-Sumter County Georgia has announced the creation of a new scholarship aimed at supporting students enrolled in Georgia Southwestern State University’s (GSW) Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) program. Designed to foster local talent and address the growing need for qualified healthcare professionals, the scholarship specifically targets non-traditional students with healthcare experience or those who are first responders from Sumter County and the surrounding region. ... By prioritizing individuals already embedded in healthcare and emergency services, the fund supports career advancement and ensures that compassionate, experienced caregivers remain within the community. [Continue reading ...]

Family Hospice partners with Alzheimer’s Association to expand educational outreach EIN Presswire.com, Atlanta, GA; by Brittany Brown; 4/8/25 Family Hospice announces an official partnership with the Alzheimer’s Association, Georgia Chapter, to enhance educational outreach and raise awareness of available resources for individuals facing Alzheimer’s or other dementia.This collaboration will provide families, caregivers, and healthcare professionals with critical information on hospice and Alzheimer’s and dementia-related support. As part of this effort, Family Hospice and the Alzheimer's Association are planning an upcoming statewide initiative in Georgia aimed at expanding awareness and support. Both organizations will share educational materials at community events and through social media to ensure families and caregivers have access to the guidance they need. [Continue reading ...]

Conversations today to empower tomorrow: VITAS Healthcare elevates National Healthcare Decisions Day VITAS Healthcare; Press Release; 4/7/25 Only one in three adults in the United States have a written advance directive, a document critical in providing guidance to medical teams regarding one’s end-of-life wishes. As a pioneer and national leader in hospice and palliative care, VITAS Healthcare advocates for National Healthcare Decisions Day (April 16) and advance care planning––regardless of a person’s age or health status....  On April 16, VITAS will host a free webinar, Advance Directives and Advanced Care Planning, exploring the history, application and types of advance directives. VITAS Regional Medical Director Heather Veeder, MD, will provide practical advice to help healthcare professionals engage in difficult but necessary conversations with patients and families/caregivers. [Continue reading ...]

Hospice Savannah partners with Live Oak Public Libraries for ‘Aging in Place’ series WTOC 11, Savannah, GA; by Simone McKenny; 4/2/25 A year-long series of free seminars will be coming to Live Oak Public Libraries through a partnership with Hospice Savannah to educate the community on aging and hospice care. One of the topics will be virtual reality in healthcare. Part of the seminars will be on the benefits of virtual reality in healthcare and they will be taught by Dr. Kathleen D. Benton, the president and CEO of Hospice Savannah and Healthcare Outreach Educator Kellie Whelchel. They will discuss topics from the book Virtual Reality for Serious Illness which is co-authored by Dr. Benton and Teri Yarbrow, the president and CEO of MagikaVRx. Organizers say the seminars will highlight the way virtual reality engages the brain’s neurological pathways using immersive three-dimensional experiences to reduce anxiety, fear, and chronic pain.Editor's note: Many of my colleagues know that I was born and raised in Savannah, GA. Imagine my delight when clicking on this article and viewing the photo Savannah's downtown library. I have wonderful memories in this building as child and teen. For years, my mom took us every Wednesday, with her guidance to return books and check out new ones. As a teen, I learned to research school papers beyond the encyclopedias our parents kept stocked in our home (pre-internet). Surely, these helped instilled my passion for learning, researching, and disseminating info. Years later, Hospice Savannah has tended many family members and friends. Thank you, Hospice Savannah and Live Oak Public Libraries (formerly Savannah Public Library)!

Study raises questions about GUIDE model’s helpfulness for caregivers of loved ones with dementia McKnights Home Care; by Adam Healy; 4/1/25 The Guiding an Improve Dementia Experience may need to be fine-tuned to better serve caregivers of those living with dementia, according to a new study published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia. The researchers identified 565 older adults and 555 caregivers eligible for GUIDE using data from the 2022 National Health and Aging Trends Study and National Study of Caregiving. They found that approximately half of GUIDE-eligible people with dementia received care from two or more caregivers, and about a third of these caregivers reported experiencing high caregiving strain. [Continue reading ...] 

Y.C. Ho/Helen and Michael Chiang Foundation Fellowship Grant Program now open American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM); Press Release; 3/25/25 We are pleased to announce that the Y.C. Ho/Helen and Michael Chiang Foundation has awarded AAHPM a grant to support fellowship training programs for the 2026-2027 academic year. [This grant] is available to partially support a fellowship training program that operates an adult accredited program offering a pediatric focused hospice and palliative medicine fellowship training program or pediatric hospice and palliative medicine fellowship training program accredited through the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) preparing physicians to practice as a pediatric hospice and palliative medicine (HPM) subspecialist following training. This funding initiative is open to accredited hospice and palliative care fellowship training programs, not to individual applicants. Funding will go to support part of the salary and benefits of a single fellow. The application cycle is open now through Wednesday, April 23 at 5pm CT. Details on funding priorities, eligibility criteria, and the application are available on the AAHPM website. [From the AAHPM site:] One award of $45,000 will be presented for the 2026-2027 academic year with the opportunity to renew for one additional year following an evaluation. [Continue reading ...]

Trellis Supportive Care to host day of support for caregiversThe Chronicle, Winston-Salem, NC; by WS Chronicle; 3/22/25 Trellis Supportive Care is hosting a day of support for caregivers, free of charge and open to the public.  The program, “Caring for You: A Day of Support for Family Caregivers,” is set for Friday, April 4, from 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. at the Intergenerational Center for Arts and Wellness in Winston-Salem. This full-day program is both a retreat and educational day for caregivers. “We understand that caregivers are often unable to attend events such as this, therefore, we are removing that barrier,” shared Jacob Gordon, director of community programming with Trellis Supportive Care. For those responsible for caring for an adult family member, Trellis is arranging respite care in coordination with local partner agencies so that caregivers can attend.   ... “We hope this provides an opportunity for people to regroup, rejuvenate, and leave with valuable tips for moving forward as a caregiver,” shared Gordon.