Literature Review
All posts tagged with “Clinical News.”
The memory bear legacy, sewn with love: One woman’s heartfelt stitches continue to warm the Treasure Coast community
12/03/25 at 03:00 AMThe memory bear legacy, sewn with love: One woman’s heartfelt stitches continue to warm the Treasure Coast community Hometown News, Port St. Lucie, FL; by MaryAnn Ketcham; 11/30/25 Director of Volunteer Services for Treasure Coast Hospice Lisa Gunggoll recently joined Board Chairwoman and former staff member Eileen Emery at the Gardens of Port St. Lucie Senior Living Facility. There, they spent time with resident Gerry Cornell in what became a truly memorable occasion. ... Over the years, Cornell handcrafted more than 100 Memory Bears for Treasure Coast Hospice patients and families. On the day of the visit at the Port St. Lucie Gardens, Cornell proudly presented an album filled with photos of those bears, each stitched with love, care, and compassion. The album is a beautiful gift, returning a piece of her legacy that had brought comfort to so many grieving families. Editor's Note: Click here for more about Treasure Coast Hospice's Memory Bears and Pillows.
A geriatrician explains: Supporting loved ones through end-of-life care
12/02/25 at 03:00 AMA geriatrician explains: Supporting loved ones through end-of-life care BlackDoctor; by Jasmine Smith with video by Dr. Cheryl E. Woodson; 11/30/25 In this video, Dr. Cheryl E. Woodson shares why clear, thoughtful planning is not about how someone wants to die—it’s about understanding the conditions under which living is still meaningful to them. End-of-life decisions should not fall on distraught family members in crisis; they should be guided by the person’s own values, documented long before these decisions ever need to be made.
"Being ill defines your daily life": Social wellbeing of patients residing at home facing an incurable illness and their primary family caregivers
12/02/25 at 03:00 AM"Being ill defines your daily life": Social wellbeing of patients residing at home facing an incurable illness and their primary family caregivers BMC Palliative Care; by Trudy Schutter, Ian Koper, Marieke Groot, Kris Vissers, Jeroen Hasselaar; 11/28/25 Online ahead of print This study demonstrates that meaningful relationships, acknowledgement of one's situation and the ability to determine one's own level of involvement in society are essential for the social wellbeing of patients and family caregivers confronted with incurable illness. ... Furthermore, the quality of communication and relationships with healthcare providers, employers, and institutions, along with the prevailing societal attitudes towards incurable illness, caregiving, death, and dying, is of considerable significance and should be given careful attention.
How clinicians prenatally discuss management options and outcomes for congenital heart disease
12/02/25 at 03:00 AMHow clinicians prenatally discuss management options and outcomes for congenital heart disease Journal of Pain and Symptom Management; by Samantha Syme, Kelsey Schweiberger, Judy C Chang, Ann Kavanaugh-McHugh, Nadine A Kasparian, Robert M Arnold, Kelly W Harris; 11/27/25 Online ahead of printA prenatal diagnosis of complex congenital heart disease (cCHD) introduces significant emotional, social, and financial stress for families. ... Fetal cardiology consultations offer an important opportunity to support families navigating uncertainty following a prenatal diagnosis of CHD. Clinicians approached these conversations with empathy and a focus on long-term outcomes, though discussions about management options varied. There is an opportunity for increased presentation and integration of palliative care consultants as a longitudinal, family-centered resource, regardless of mortality risk, which may enhance supports available to families during this highly emotional period.
Holidays can be celebrated even during illness
12/02/25 at 02:00 AMHolidays can be celebrated even during illness SNJ Today, Cumberland County, NJ; 11/30/25 The holidays often bring warmth, tradition, and togetherness, but when a loved one is facing a terminal diagnosis, the season can also bring intense emotion, uncertainty, and sadness. The joyful anticipation of the season may now feel solemn and bittersweet. Yet, according to NJ Health Hospice and Palliative Care, observing the holidays, gently and intentionally, can foster comfort, connection, and cherished memories.
'It has made my life a lot easier': New Ohio program pays people to care for their loved ones at home
12/01/25 at 03:00 AM'It has made my life a lot easier': New Ohio program pays people to care for their loved ones at homeWTOL-11, Columbus, OH; by Kevin Landers; 11/24/25 Mark Straub, of Delaware County, started caring for his 93-year-old mother about two years ago. As much as he loves to have his mother at home instead of a nursing home, caring for a loved one 24/7 brings with it stress, both emotional and financial. ... The average cost of in-home care in Ohio is $60,238, according to CareScout. The average cost of nursing home care is $108,500 a year, or about $9,000 per month. Thanks to a new program in Ohio, those who care for a loved one at home are about to get financially easier. It’s called Structured Family Caregiving, or SFC. Currently, at least 11 states have formal Medicaid SFC programs that pay family members. “I didn’t believe it at first, until I got that first paycheck and I really wanted to cry, “ said Tsavaris.
Can tech restore the human side of care?
11/28/25 at 03:00 AMCan tech restore the human side of care? Becker's Health IT; by Ella Jeffries; 11/14/25 Technology has been both a promise and a problem in healthcare. When EHRs arrived in hospitals, they were heralded as a revolution — bringing order to messy paper charts and standardizing how care was documented. But soon after, clinicians found themselves staring more at screens than at the patients sitting in front of them. Now, nurse leaders say the very systems that once distanced them from patients could hold the key to rebuilding that connection.
Bridging the gap: A scoping review of clinical decision support systems in end-of-life care for older adults
11/28/25 at 03:00 AMBridging the gap: A scoping review of clinical decision support systems in end-of-life care for older adults Journal of Palliative Medicine; by Susanny J Beltran, Lainey Dorris, Marie Hamel, Shanelle Harvey, Mustafa Ozkaynak, Kenan Sualp; 11/17/25 online ahead of print Background: ... This scoping review maps the current landscape of clinical decision support (CDS) systems in EOL care, identifies key system types, and examines their effectiveness in guiding clinical decisions. ... Results: A total of 31 studies were included, categorizing CDS systems into prognostic tools, referral tools, and care informing tools. ...
Thanksgiving revisited: 2024 and 2025
11/26/25 at 03:00 AMThanksgiving revisited: 2024 and 2025 I-70 West and Beyond - Travels Through Life; blog by Laurie Sunderland; Thanksgiving 2024 and 2025
Rediscovering purpose in the hardest moments of cancer care
11/26/25 at 03:00 AMRediscovering purpose in the hardest moments of cancer care Medscape; by Mark A. Lewis, MD; 11/7/25 ... I'm a GI oncologist, and about a quarter of my patients have metastatic pancreatic cancer. Treat that awful disease often enough and, believe me, you start to doubt your own abilities as a supposed healer. I mean, talk about overpromising and underdelivering. ... When you judge your worth by your outcomes, especially longevity, imposter syndrome sets in like dry rot, and feelings of ineffectiveness lead to therapeutic nihilism in the very caregiver that patients look to for hope. It turns out, though, the best antidote to self-pity is right in front of me every day: my patients. ...
Letters without limits: Jesse Tetterton
11/25/25 at 03:10 AMLetters without limits: Jesse Tetterton The Johns Hopkins News-Letter; by Omkar Katkade; 11/22/25 Letters Without Limits, founded by students at Johns Hopkins and Brown University, connects volunteers with palliative care and hospice patients to co-create “Legacy Letters.” These letters capture memories, values and lessons that patients wish to share, preserving stories that might otherwise be lost. By honoring these voices and preserving legacies, Letters Without Limits hopes to affirm the central role of humanism in medicine, reminding us that every patient is more than their illness and that their voices deserve to be heard.
Shifting to online and telephone bereavement support provision during the COVID-19 pandemic: A mixed methods study of bereavement service provider perspectives and lessons learnt for current practice
11/25/25 at 03:00 AMShifting to online and telephone bereavement support provision during the COVID-19 pandemic: A mixed methods study of bereavement service provider perspectives and lessons learnt for current practice Palliative Medicine; by Lucy E Selman, Jenny Birchall, Eileen J Sutton, Tracey Stone, Renata Medeiros Mirra, Emma Gilbert, Mirella Longo, Kathy Seddon, Anne M Finucane, Alison Penny, Anthony Byrne, Emily Harrop; 11/24/25, online ahead of print Background: Provision of remote (online/telephone) bereavement support accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the extent and impact of this change and lessons learnt are unknown. ...Conclusions: Remote delivery of bereavement support increased support capacity and can potentially reduce inequities in access. However, it needs to be carefully tailored, and is not appropriate for everyone. Staff and volunteers providing remote services require training and support.
Shepherd’s Cove Hospice: Children’s Activity Garden
11/25/25 at 01:00 AMShepherd’s Cove Hospice: Children’s Activity Garden Sand Mountain Reporter, Albertville, AL; by Mary Bailey; 11/22/25 Shepherd’s Cove Hospice in Albertville lives by the words of community, compassion and connection. On Tuesday morning they opened the doors of the community room for a free breakfast and then held a ribbon cutting for their new “Children’s Activity Garden” located at their facility. With one in nine children in Alabama experiencing a loss of a parent or sibling by age 18, Shepherd’s Cove Hospice saw a need and wanted to help. The Children’s Activity Garden is space where children and teenagers can come to deal with their emotions but also have the freedom and space to still be a child and play.
Coordinating at-home care, enhancing quality of life as a hospice nurse case manager
11/24/25 at 03:00 AMCoordinating at-home care, enhancing quality of life as a hospice nurse case manager Grand Haven Tribune; by Emmanuel Hospice; 11/19/25 Throughout her career, Brittany Rickert has explored nursing jobs in various settings but keeps getting drawn back to hospice. For her, there's little out there that offers such a unique and rewarding experience. "There are landmarks throughout our lives and death is one of them," says Rickert, a nurse of 15 years. "It is very special to be allowed into that sacred space with patients and their loved ones, to support them through such a pivotal portion of their life." ... She defines her position as the "coordinator of the patient experience altogether," working alongside an interdisciplinary team to bring supportive services directly to patients, wherever they call home.
Phoebe Sumter helps hospice patient say final goodbyes to "Moonshine" and "Cowboy," her beloved animals
11/21/25 at 03:00 AMPhoebe Sumter helps hospice patient say final goodbyes to "Moonshine" and "Cowboy," her beloved animals Phoebe Putney Health System, Americus, GA; Press Release; 11/14/25 ... Kate’s only wish was to see her horse, Moonshine. ... Kate’s close friend Sunday Laramore said, “She was an amazing horse trainer. She had been doing that since very early adulthood. She got Moonshine when he was 18 months-old; ... they had an amazing bond.” Kate’s condition was too unstable for her to return home to visit Moonshine, so the Phoebe Sumter care team began formulating a plan to bring Moonshine – and Kate’s dog, Cowboy – to the hospital to see her. Less than an hour after the team learned of Kate’s desire to see her animals, the pets were loaded up and on the way to the hospital.
What Express Scripts’s move to eliminate rebates means for the industry
11/21/25 at 03:00 AMWhat Express Scripts’s move to eliminate rebates means for the industryHealthcare Brew; by Maia Anderson; 11/18/25In an unparalleled move, Express Scripts announced plans to get rid of a key part of US drug pricing: rebates. The pharmacy benefit manager (PBM), which is owned by health insurance giant Cigna, announced in late October that its Cigna Healthcare plans will adopt a “rebate-free” model for fully insured members beginning in 2027, and the model will become the standard for all its Evernorth pharmacy benefit clients in 2028.Publisher's note: This appears to be a step in the right direction regarding medication pricing reform. It will be interesting to monitor the details and timeline.
“I was horrified”: 34 surgeons and doctors recall their worst mistakes
11/21/25 at 02:00 AM“I was horrified”: 34 surgeons and doctors recall their worst mistakes BoredPanda; by Justin Sandberg; 11/19/25 Someone asked “Medical professionals, what mistake have you made in your medical career that, because of the outcome, you've never forgotten?” and people shared their stories from fortunately comical to downright grim. ...#4. I work in palliative care, ... I knew he wanted to be a DNR (do not resuscitate). I wrote it on my note. But I didn't re-fill out the hospital paperwork. The next day, I got to work to discover he'd been coded and was on a ventilator in the ICU. Instead of passing peacefully, his wife had to make the decision to turn off life support. ...Editor's Note: Entry #20 comes from a hospice nurse describing a patient with severe bone pain started on morphine—then an out-of-town daughter arrived, shocked to see “Daddy on morphine.” What unfolded was realistic and tragic. This story highlights two timely essentials:
Grateful patient finds strength and support through UConn Health’s ALS Program
11/20/25 at 03:00 AMGrateful patient finds strength and support through UConn Health’s ALS Program UConn Today; by Jennifer Walker; 11/17/25 ... ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that affects the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord responsible for muscle movement. ... Originally conceptualized by Dr. Amanda Hernandez, division chief of Neuromuscular Medicine, the UConn Health ALS and MD Program provides a “one-stop shop” for patients with progressive neuromuscular diseases that often require coordination across multiple specialties. ... “Our social worker meets every patient,” said Viguera Altolaguirre. “We address caregiver stress, financial barriers, and emotional coping. Palliative care helps patients navigate difficult decisions about feeding tubes, ventilation, and future planning—always at their own pace and comfort level.”
End-of-life palliative care: Role of the family physician
11/20/25 at 03:00 AMEnd-of-life palliative care: Role of the family physician American Family Physician (AFP); by Tamara L. McGregor, MD, MA, Jared Morphew, MD, and Heather Ann Dalton, MD; 11/25 issue To care for patients at the end of life, family physicians should be able to evaluate the causes of symptoms, differentiate between distressing symptoms and common end-of-life changes, and balance treatment effectiveness with potential adverse effects, while ensuring alignment with the patient's values and wishes. Editor's Note: What networking, relationship-building, and education do you nurture with family physicians in your service areas?
Preventing falls and hospitalizations: Bayada launches the first AI-enhanced home care model
11/20/25 at 02:00 AMPreventing falls and hospitalizations: Bayada launches the first AI-enhanced home care model Cision / PR Newswire, Philadelphia, PA; Press Release; 11/13/25 Bayada Home Health Care ... unveiled its Enhanced Quality of Care Model (EQoC), the only approach of its kind to improve safety and health outcomes for aging adults wherever they call home. ... BAYADA's EQoC innovation combines daily nurse oversight with predictive technology to catch risk factors before they escalate and provide timely, appropriate preventative care that helps seniors stay safe and well at home with fewer adverse events.Editor's Notes: Pair this with the article we recently posted, "Why are more older people dying after falls?"
AI-assisted decision-making for end-stage organ failure: Opportunities and ethical concerns
11/19/25 at 03:00 AMAI-assisted decision-making for end-stage organ failure: Opportunities and ethical concerns Artificial Organs; by John W Haller, Olga D Brazhnik, Kathleen N Fenton; 11/17/25 ... This paper discusses current applications of AI in healthcare, emphasizing the complex decision-making necessary for patients with organ failure. It outlines how AI can support risk stratification, patient selection, and outcome prediction, particularly in transplantation practices that increasingly rely on robust data to inform care pathways. ... There is a need for standardized, high-quality data, rigorous validation, and transparent algorithms to mitigate biases that could exacerbate disparities in care. Ethical considerations demand attention to equitable access, patient privacy, and the preservation of the human element in patient-clinician relationships.
Sage advice on aging and dying from a Colorado geriatrician
11/18/25 at 03:00 AMSage advice on aging and dying from a Colorado geriatrician CPR News; by Andrea Dukakis; 11/17/25 Geriatricians – doctors trained to treat older adults – are a scarce commodity across the country and in Colorado. The state has about a million residents aged 65 and older and, according to the most recent data available, only 110 geriatricians. ... Here are five things we learned about aging from Dr. Erika Altneu, a geriatrician in Salida:
When health care teams run short, physician burnout rises
11/17/25 at 03:00 AMWhen health care teams run short, physician burnout rises American Medical Association (AMA); by Sara Berg, MS; 11/4/25 ... Drawing on data from the AMA Organizational Biopsy®, the study reveals that inadequate team staffing was also linked to physicians’ intentions to cut clinical hours or leave their organizations. The findings underscore how sustained workforce shortages and daily understaffing continue to affect morale and retention in medicine long after the acute phase of the COVID-19 public health emergency. Participants included 970 physicians from 15 organizations.
Transfusion access central to hospice decision-making among patients with blood cancers
11/14/25 at 03:00 AMTransfusion access central to hospice decision-making among patients with blood cancers The ASCO Post; by Julia Cipriano, MS, CMPP; 11/13/25Based on the results of a multicenter cross-sectional survey study published in JAMA Network Open by Raman et al, patients with blood cancer who were potentially hospice-eligible placed the greatest importance on transfusion access compared with routine hospice services. “The high value placed on transfusion access suggests that this factor is central to hospice decision-making and highlights the need for novel hospice delivery models that incorporate palliative transfusion access for patients with advanced blood cancers,” the investigators commented. Editor's Note: Revisit our previous post, "Access to hospice and certain services under the hospice benefit for beneficiaries with end-stage renal disease or cancer."
A doctor’s mystery cancer gives her a new medical education
11/14/25 at 03:00 AMA doctor’s mystery cancer gives her a new medical educationMedscape; by Kelly Curtin-Hallinan; 11/7/25At some point, every doctor becomes a patient. For many physicians, experiencing serious illness and treatment is humbling, eye-opening, and, in the end, transformative. Dr. Patient is a Medscape series telling these stories... I don’t look like a cancer patient. I didn’t have chemotherapy. I didn’t lose my hair. It’s not obvious to anyone, if they don’t see my enormous abdominal scar, that something crazy has happened to me. To this day, my prognosis is unknown...Publisher's note: Consider how being a hospice patient or family member changes the quality of hospice care you provide...