Literature Review

6 ways to successfully implement clinical communication tools Forbes; by Judit Sharon; 5/19/25 In the high-stakes environment of healthcare, communication breakdowns can have life-or-death consequences. Yet too often, hospitals and healthcare systems assume that simply deploying new clinical communication and collaboration (CC&C) tools will solve the problem. The reality is more complex: Successful implementation depends just as much on operational alignment, cultural change and thoughtful execution as it does on the technology itself. To turn communication tools into real transformation, here are six ways to drive successful CC&C adoption.

The future of dying with Dr. Ira Byock | Pop 1205 Practice of the Practice; podcast by Joe Sanok with Dr. Ira Byock; 5/14/25 How can we embrace conversations about death and dying? What is the healing power of forgiveness and connection in end-of-life care? When we face morality, how can we transform fear into meaningful connections? In this podcast episode, Joe Sanok speaks about the future of dying with Dr. Ira Byock. .. In this podcast: 

Hospice of Midland opens new Community Center to expand local support Midland Reporter-Telegram, Midland, TX; by B. Kay Richter; 5/8/25 After years of envisioning a community center next door to Hospice of Midland headquarters, the day is finally here. The commercial building, located at 901 W. Texas Ave., will serve as a space for various community needs, including professional and student educational support, bereavement support, memorial services, volunteer gatherings and even collaborations with other nonprofit organizations.  Deborah Goodman, chief executive officer of Hospice Midland, said that the building was initially purchased by Midlander Ted Johnson and was renovated with community support. The one-story building offers 3,000 square feet of space and is equipped with a new commercial kitchen.

'Patients just get violent' | Louisville healthcare workers describe attacks on the job, calling it a crisis ABC WHAS-11, Louisville, KY; by Shay McAlister, Joseph Garcia, Phillip Murrell, and MIchelle Zelli Right now Louisville’s nursing community is facing a crisis, saying they are under attack while on the job.  Since March, police have been called to three different Louisville hospitals after a nurse was assaulted. But those are only the attacks that are reported, several nurses told WHAS11 they face dangerous situations daily without the necessary support. ... The three incidents of violence against nurses sit on a map of hundreds of crimes reported at or near Louisville hospitals and nearby parking garages over the last year. According to LMPD’s crime data portal, 17 assaults were reported at Norton Hospital, 10 at Jewish Hospital, and 28 at the UofL Hospital parking garage over the last 12 months. ... “Many healthcare professionals that are harmed don't report it, and they don't report it because they don't think anybody will listen. And then there are others who think that it's part of the job. It is not part of the job,” CEO of the Kentucky Nurses Association Delanor Manson said. In 2023, Manson worked with lawmakers to formalize language requiring healthcare facilities to track incidents of violence and implement violence prevention strategies. It's a crisis for the career field. 

The Carilion office driving 139 projects Becker's Hospital Review; by Kelly Gooch; 5/5/25 Roughly five years ago, Roanoke, Va.-based Carilion Clinic recognized the need for an organizational pivot to better align system strategic plans with major operational initiatives. That led to the creation of its Enterprise Project Management Office, which leaders say has already yielded results. At the outset, senior leaders sought to build an internal group that could consistently implement and support the organization’s strategic plan.  Carilion — an integrated health system with seven hospitals, home health services, imaging, pharmacies, urgent care centers, a ground and air transportation network and a more than 800-member multispecialty physician group — had previously housed pockets of project management within various departments, ... However, the health system’s goal was more standardization, as many project managers were splitting their time between project management and day-to-day operations.

Empath Health’s new One Hospice Model a ‘blueprint’ for scalable growth Hospice News; by Holly Vossel; 5/5/25 Empath Health on Monday integrated its seven hospice brands under one umbrella. ... The Florida-based nonprofit’s seven brands collectively care for one-in-five hospice patients statewide and include Empath Hospice, Hospice of Marion County, Suncoast Hospice, Suncoast Hospice of Hillsborough, Tidewell Hospice and Trustbridge (also Hospice by the Sea and Hospice of Palm Beach County). ...The new One Hospice Model is structured to provide more direct referral and community access to Empath Health’s overall network of services/ entire continuum of care. ... The new model is designed to strengthen the outlook of hospice care delivery as providers face myriad sustainability challenges, according to Empath Health. Rising demand, workforce shortages, program integrity and regulatory challenges, economic pressures and a shifting hospice marketplace are just some of the leading issues among today’s leaders.

Patient, provider, and health system determinants of hospice Length of Stay Palliative Medicine Reports; by Eliza Thompson, Daniel Sanchez Pellecer, Gregory J Hanson, Shealeigh A Inselman, Jenn M Manggaard, Kevin J Whitford, Jacob J Strand, Rozalina G McCoy; 4/3/25Background: Benefits of hospice care, such as improvement in quality of life and reduced costs, depend on duration of enrollment in hospice services, making timely hospice referral essential. ... Conclusion: Based on a review of hospice referral patterns, the integration of hospice care into subspecialty practices, long-term care facilities, and advanced practice education could be an effective strategy to improve hospice LOS.

The Big Bend Hospice linen drive brings comfort to patients in rural communities: Addressing a critical need in underserved areas ABC WTXL-TV 27, Tallahassee/Monticello, FL; by Lentheus Chaney; 4/30/25 In Jefferson County, kindness sometimes comes in the form of cotton. Big Bend Hospice is collecting linens here to help patients face their final days with dignity. Big Bend Hospice just launched a linen drive. It's asking neighbors to donate new Twin XL-sized bed sheets. They'll be used for patients across Jefferson, Madison, and Taylor counties. The drive's goal is to ensure no one spends their final days without the comfort of clean sheets—something most of us take for granted. The  need is especially great in rural areas. According to state data, hospice use in parts of North Florida lags behind the statewide average—just 57%. That's compared to nearly 66% across Florida. That gap means fewer resources in the places that need them most.

UVM Health Network employees plant thousands of trees VB VermontBiz, South Burlington, VT; by Tim; 4/25/25 ... Each year to celebrate Earth Day, health system employees in Vermont have planted trees at their homes and in their communities to support and celebrate a healthy and vibrant environment. ... This year, that effort grew from employees at two partner hospitals -- University of Vermont Medical Center and UVM Health Network - Porter Medical Center -- to include nearly every organization in the health system:  ...  Home Health and Hospice, ... “We were thrilled to take part,” said Kristin Walsh, RN, CHWC, an employee health nurse at Home Health and Hospice and the organizer of their local effort, which distributed 150 trees and shrubs to employees. “We work tirelessly to take care of others, even in the toughest of circumstances. That’s why we wanted to share local saplings from the Intervale with employees. ..." 

Ardent Health's first CDIO, a nurse, on the value of 'human-centric' technology Healthcare IT News; by Bill Siwicki; 4/23/25 Anika Gardenhire, RN, chief digital and information officer at the 30-hospital health system, is working to improve the provider and patient experience with ambient listening, augmented intelligence and more. Nashville-based Ardent Health includes 30 hospitals and more than 280 sites of care in six states, including Idaho, Kansas, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. ... 

CMS releases HOPE Guidance Manual (V. 1.01) and TablesCenters for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); by CMS; 4/22/25On April 22, 2025, CMS released the HOPE Guidance Manual (V. 1.01) and connected tables. Providers can use v1.01 for HOPE planning, as this is considered final before HOPE implementation. Also note that earlier this month, the final HOPE data specs have also been released, helping software developers to finalize their HOPE software for testing in the coming months.

Ahead of National Volunteer Week and in celebration of National Volunteer Month, NPHI CEO urges Americans: “Step forward. Be present. Volunteer with your local hospice.” National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation (NPHI), Washington, DC; by Matthew Wilkinson; 4/16/25 Ahead of National Volunteer Week next week, and in celebration of National Volunteer Month this April, the National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation (NPHI) is shining a light on the often-unsung heroes of hospice: volunteers. These compassionate individuals are central to the mission of NPHI’s member providers nationwide, offering their time, energy, and hearts to patients and families during life’s most tender and vulnerable moments. NPHI member organizations rely on nearly 30,000 volunteers to keep their programs running—almost matching the number of full- and part-time staff employed across its national member network. Nationwide, hundreds of thousands of hospice volunteers contribute millions of hours of service annually. This deep tradition of volunteerism isn’t just symbolic—it’s built into the very structure of hospice care. All Medicare-certified hospices are required to have volunteers actively involved in patient and family support, reflecting the core values of compassion and community care that define the field.Editor's note: Throughout the year, find this and more national observances on our newsletters "Healthcare Observances" tab at the top of our website, https://www.hospicepalliativecaretoday.com/resources/healthcare-observances.