Literature Review

Weaving a unified fabric of care will heal the patient-provider relationship MedCity News; by Sachin K. Gupta; 2/20/26 Healthcare can transform only when strategy, workflow, data, and human connection operate together with a single purpose: strengthen the relationship at the center of care. The healthcare industry is under strain. ... At the core of these problems is the strained patient-clinician relationship. Healthcare is losing the very relationship it was built on. This is one of the prime problems that we need to solve to build a stronger healthcare industry, and AI is the instrument. ... Healthcare can transform only when strategy, workflow, data, and human connection operate together with a single purpose: strengthen the relationship at the center of care.

Physician Associates [PAs] in hospice and palliative medicine: Insights from a national needs assessment American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine; by Ryan Baldeo, MPAS, MSPC, PA-C, FAAHPM; 2/3/26Results: Respondents were primarily female (89.8%) and hospital-based (57.1%), with 73.5% less than or equal to 10 years of experience in the specialty. While 55.1% had specialized training, only 16.3% were specialty certified. Qualitative analysis identified five challenges: regulatory and policy hurdles, workforce disparities compared to other APPs, misconceptions about the PA role, education gaps, and emotional strain.Conclusion: These preliminary findings suggest a need for targeted organizational support in advocacy, particularly regarding legislative efforts for hospice inclusive, and professional development to bridge the certification gap.

Sabbaticals provide a critical lifeline for sustainable medical careers [podcast] MedPage Today's KevinMD.com; podcast by KevinMD; 2/14/26 Palliative care physician and certified physician development coach Christie Mulholland discusses her article “Why every physician needs a sabbatical (and how to take one).” Christie reveals the harsh reality that while sabbaticals exist on paper, unwritten rules often prevent doctors from accessing this critical recovery tool until it is too late. She shares her personal journey of taking an unsanctioned, unpaid break to combat burnout and how that decision allowed her to return to medicine with renewed purpose. 

How 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 ...

Blaming 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. 

Defining palliative care quality in a tight reimbursement environment Hospice News; by Holly Vossel; 1/27/26 Palliative care delivery is undergoing an evolutionary period of change. These services are offered in several different ways across the country, which brings both benefits and challenges when it comes to defining quality in the space. Today’s palliative care providers are shaping the outlook of the field, but through diversified approaches, according to Brynn Bowman, CEO of Center to Advance Palliative Care (CAPC). The field is reaching a pivotal stage when it comes to supply and demand or resources, an issue that greater standardization could help to address, she indicated. 

Meant 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.

The malady of delayed palliative care McKnights Long-Term Care News; by Avi Steinberg; 1/21/26 This article asserts that while nursing homes face increasing pressure to deliver value-based, goal-concordant care, palliative care—one of the most effective tools to achieve these aims—remains underused and introduced far too late. The problem is not a lack of evidence, but systemic barriers: delayed identification, misaligned payment models, and workforce shortages. Earlier integration of palliative care can reduce unnecessary hospitalizations, lower costs, and improve resident and family experience. Treating palliative care as a standard of care rather than a last resort is an operational necessity for long-term care.

Home 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.

15,000 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. ...

If 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.

Retirement 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.