Literature Review
All posts tagged with “Communication | Staff.”
The hidden leadership threat draining workplace productivity
07/29/25 at 03:00 AMThe hidden leadership threat draining workplace productivity Forbes; by Julian Hayes II; 7/27/25 If speed is a premium currency in modern business, friction is the hidden tax. It doesn't appear on your balance sheet or get highlighted on the org chart. Yet, it compounds daily through missed deadlines, disengaged employees, decision bottlenecks, various leadership issues, and a tech stack that overwhelms more than it empowers. ... Perhaps the most revealing (and to some surprising) insight: executives reported the highest levels of friction. The very individuals tasked with solving complexity are often the most affected by it. This discovery underscores a deeper truth: friction isn't merely an operational issue. It's also a leadership issue. ... [The] following four categories of friction offer a diagnostic window into the health of an organization's leadership infrastructure. ...
Your secret weapon: How simple recognition fuels success
07/28/25 at 03:00 AMYour secret weapon: How simple recognition fuels success HR Daily Advisor; by HR Daily Advisor Staff; 7/23/25 In today’s fast-moving work world, the key to winning isn’t just about cool tech or smart processes. It’s about truly putting people first. Dr. Meisha-Ann Martin, VP of People Research at Workhuman and speaker at SHRM 25, recently showed us just how powerful this can be. She highlighted that when done right, recognition isn’t just a nice gesture – it’s a game-changer for your entire company.
How to perform a Regret Audit: A simple question that can help you live with purpose and have fewer regrets
07/22/25 at 03:00 AMHow to perform a Regret Audit: A simple question that can help you live with purpose and have fewer regrets. Psychology Today; by Jordan Grumet, MD; 7/20/25 As a hospice doctor, I’ve spent countless hours sitting at the bedsides of dying patients, listening to the echoes of lives well-lived and those haunted by regret. As Bronnie Ware described in The Five Regrets of the Dying, many end-of-life reflections center around missed chances to live more authentically, joyfully, and meaningfully. But we don’t have to wait until our final moments to face these truths. I’ve long advocated for the hospice life review as a proactive tool. It’s a structured set of questions used by hospice professionals to help patients process their lives and find peace. The questions are simple but profound:
Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment in rural Virginia
07/19/25 at 03:35 AMPhysician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment in rural VirginiaSage Open Aging; Pamela B Teaster, E Carlisle Shealy; 6/25Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) arose in 1991 to improve end-of life-care for patients with advanced, chronic, and progressive illnesses whose death is imminent within a year. POLST attempted to address problems inherent in advance directives (e.g., poor completion rates, confusing form language, dismal communication with a surrogate). POLST exists in all U.S. states, although each is unique and uptake is inconsistent, particularly in rural areas. The purpose of this study was to investigate current practices and barriers around POLST in a rural area using an online survey and interviews with practitioners. Findings included the need for consistent funding, clarification of goals, and greater and varied opportunities for staff training.
Parental authority and the weight of assent: Navigating moral dilemmas in adolescent end of life care
07/19/25 at 03:25 AMParental authority and the weight of assent: Navigating moral dilemmas in adolescent end of life careJournal of Bioethical Inquiry; A. L. Heifner, M. M. Ortiz, T. L. Major-Kincade, C. O’Connor; 6/25 In the current era of moral pluralism, medical decisions must account for much more than clinical considerations: they must abide by legal standards of decision-making which usually prioritize parental preferences. Conflict abounds between the parent or other legal decision-maker and healthcare team in situations where the parent prefers not to disclose the severity of the adolescent’s illness or the healthcare team believes continuing lifesaving therapies are not in the adolescent’s best interest. These dilemmas challenge how we solicit adolescents’ preferences (assent) and their options for refusal (dissent). We explore the moral distress healthcare workers face navigating conflict amongst various stakeholders involved in the adolescent’s end-of-life care. Strategies to minimize moral distress are also provided.
My health and my politics walk into a doctor’s office …
07/18/25 at 02:00 AMOpinion: My health and my politics walk into a doctor’s office … The Washington Post; by Kim Fellner; 7/16/25 [Note: Access is behind a paid firewall, with an option to set up a temporary free account]... My palliative care doctor and I have almost nothing in common. We’re still learning from each other. ... It began simply enough. By October, my sarcoma had moved from possibly curable to definitively terminal, and, since metastasis to the bones can be painful, my anchor oncologist offered to connect me with a palliative care doctor to help with the physical and conceptual aches and pains of dying. Which seemed like a good thing to do. ... I did not anticipate, however, that the personal and the political would collide in my doctor’s office. ... [Descriptions unfold of significant, conflicted dialogue between (1) this Jewish daughter of holocaust survivors whose life-long vocation was social justice and (2) this Christian palliative care physician who asked about mental health and then dismissed this person's primary concerns that were affecting her dying.] ... Clearly, my doctor and I shared some beliefs about the importance of the palliative approach. ... But as the doctor noted, the best palliative care goes beyond the purely physical to address the more cosmic questions of life and death, and I was uncertain we were well matched as partners for this intimate process. ... I had no idea how to proceed. ... [More descriptions.] ... And that’s where the magic happened. Within a few days, my palliative care doctor sent me back a transparent, thoughtful and moving response. ... Her courage and openness, her willingness to risk a forthright response, have precipitated a remarkable dialogue about what each of us brings into the room, and how we can honor the space and each other once we get there. ... Editor's Note: Whatever one's political or religious stance, this article is sure to spark fireworks—of conflict, dissonance, and, hopefully, powerful insight. I encourage readers to engage with it attentively, attuned to three things:
‘Family’s Voice Diary’ improved support for caregivers of patients at the end of life
07/09/25 at 03:00 AM‘Family’s Voice Diary’ improved support for caregivers of patients at the end of life Oncology Nurse; by Ryner Lai; 7/1/25 The authors of this study sought to understand the challenges that caregivers face when a patient is approaching end of life. For this study, they worked with bereaved relatives, members of the public, healthcare professionals, and policymakers to develop the Family’s Voice Diary (FVD), an initiative that allowed participants to freely express their thoughts regarding end-of-life care and the role of caregivers. ... These interviews illuminated some of the challenges that were faced when providing end-of-life care. For example, families expressed a lack of knowledge regarding what “normal” dying looks like and they wanted more support from healthcare staff, but were reluctant to ask or didn’t know how to approach the subject. Healthcare professionals themselves appeared to be reluctant to discuss matters associated with death.
How to give physicians autonomy—and protect them from burnout
07/09/25 at 03:00 AMHow to give physicians autonomy—and protect them from burnout American Medical Association (AMA); by Georgia Garvey; 7/1/25 Almost everyone appreciates having autonomy at work. But when physicians spend more than a decade in high-stakes and grueling medical training, only to enter practice with virtually no control over their work environment, schedule or day, it can lead to the kind of spiraling frustration that often turns into burnout or leaving the profession entirely. “It’s one of those things where the more you try to micromanage a physician’s schedule, the more a feeling of distrust you give to the physicians ...” said Jill Jin, MD, MPH, an internist and senior physician adviser for the AMA, one of the authors of the AMA STEPS Forward® “Value of Feeling Valued Playbook.” ... Though the percentages of those experiencing burnout have declined from the peak during the COVID-19 public health emergency, 43.2% of physicians still say they have at least one symptom of burnout. ... When physicians feel valued—... as competent professionals who have devoted immense time and energy to becoming experts at their jobs—it is proven to be positively associated with lower levels of burnout.
Clinicians’ perceptions about institutional factors in moral distress related to potentially nonbeneficial treatments
07/05/25 at 03:25 AMClinicians’ perceptions about institutional factors in moral distress related to potentially nonbeneficial treatmentsJAMA Network Open; Teva D. Brender, MD; Julia K. Axelrod, BA; Sofia Weiss Goitiandia, MA, MSc; Jason N. Batten, MD, MA; Elizabeth W. Dzeng, MD, PhD, MPH; 6/25In this qualitative study, we described institutional factors that may exacerbate, prevent, or mitigate the influence of societal factors contributing to moral distress related to potentially nonbeneficial LST [life-sustaining treatments]. Health systems should consider how health care consumerism influences patients’, families’, and clinicians’ expectations regarding potentially nonbeneficial LST, particularly at hospitals with advanced technological interventions (eg, organ transplantation, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, salvage chemotherapies). Future studies should explore the societal and institutional factors contributing to moral distress for clinicians at lower-resourced hospitals, such as inaccessible advanced treatments and barriers to transferring patients for higher levels of care. While some institutions lacked sufficient structures to support clinicians’ efforts to de-escalate potentially nonbeneficial treatments, policies empowering clinicians across the medical hierarchy, as well as conflict resolution and emotional support resources (eg, palliative care) might prevent or mitigate moral distress.
Bossed around? Six ways to deal with difficult leaders
06/19/25 at 03:00 AMBossed around? Six ways to deal with difficult leadersBrain Circuits; by Merete Wedell-Wedellsborg; 6/11/25 Have you ever experienced behavior by a leader that defies conventional norms of engagement? Merete Wedell-Wedellsborg suggests strategies to handle bosses who dispense with widely accepted norms of civility, empathy, and ethical leadership.
Sky Harbor program teaches TSA to help passengers with dementia. It's the 1st of its kind in U.S.
06/18/25 at 03:00 AMSky Harbor program teaches TSA to help passengers with dementia. It's the 1st of its kind in U.S. 91.5 KJZZ Phoenix; by Kathy Ritchie; 6/17/25 For the first time anywhere in the U.S., Transportation Security Administration officers at Sky Harbor Airport are learning how to help travelers living with dementia. "So during this simulation, we're going to be wearing sunglasses, headphones, and both pairs of gloves," said Calli Carlson with Hospice of the Valley during a recent training session. "It's going to be about an 8-minute experience. So those headphones are going to tell you what to do with your blue bag. Do the best that you can." She’s leading the agents in a simulation so they experience what it's like to have dementia. "So this interactive Dementia Moments training is one of the first trainings that has been provided to TSA agents." This simulation uses special glasses that impair vision, headphones to mimic audio distortion and gloves which affect dexterity.Editor's Note: Bravo! Do you provide any similar type of training for your employees and volunteers, designed to simulate contexts and interactions with persons with dementia? Surely, you can!
Empath revamping physical, digital workspace for improved employee experience
06/17/25 at 03:00 AMEmpath revamping physical, digital workspace for improved employee experience Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 6/16/25 ... [Empath is updating] its physical locations to enhance the workspace for employees. “Some of this workspace design that we’re doing is innovative. We’ve invested in common workplace environments. We have quiet rooms, where people can go and focus on rest, relaxation and ease in the middle of the day. We leave your laptops, leave your phones out of that room,” Fleece told Hospice News. “We’ve invested in common kitchen areas and gathering places that are like a workplace cafe, with coffee, lounge chairs, TVs and things like that, so people can get together and socialize while they are in the office.” Florida-based Empath Health is the parent company of 17 affiliates and four philanthropic foundations. The organization provides care to more than 81,000 patients annually.
Celebrating Father’s Day when Dad is on hospice
06/13/25 at 03:00 AMCelebrating Father’s Day when Dad is on hospice Roze Room Hospice, Culver City, CA; retrieved from www.rozeroom.org on 6/12/25Father’s Day is often synonymous with backyard cookouts, gifts, cards and large family gatherings. Honoring your father or a father figure means celebrating the role this important person has played in your life. It can be a sentimental day where we slow down and consider the gift this person has been in our lives. But if your father is in hospice care, Father’s Day can take on even more significance. You may believe the day will be filled with sadness and unease. But truly capturing this day will be a gift to your dad and all those who love him. Here are five ways to celebrate Father’s Day when your dad is on hospice.
Describing the impact of physician end-of-life communication training on simulated stress using a novel stress marker
06/07/25 at 03:20 AMDescribing the impact of physician end-of-life communication training on simulated stress using a novel stress marker American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine; by Amy H. J. Wolfe, MD, MEd, Pamela S. Hinds, PhD, RN, FAAN, Adre J. du Plessis, MD, Heather Gordish-Dressman, PhD, and Lamia Soghier, MD, MEd-2; 3/25/25 Introduction: Empathetic end-of-life (EOL) communication is important for high quality pediatric patient and family outcomes. Trainees may have limited exposure and training in caring for patients at EOL which may impact communication-related stress. ... Conclusions: Pediatric residents report limited opportunities to communicate with patients/families at EOL, which may impact stress responses when communicating life-altering news to families. Simulated communication encounters can be designed to evoke subjective and objective stress which can be measured using novel technology and may help address limited EOL opportunities.
Hawai'i Pacific University alumni join forces to build a pioneering palliative care team for student excellence
06/05/25 at 03:00 AMHawai'i Pacific University alumni join forces to build a pioneering palliative care team for student excellence Special to The 'Ohana - HPU's Daily News, Honolulu, HI; 6/3/25 A group of HPU alumni from the nursing, social work, public health and business administration programs ... will be working towards steering a newly established palliative care team at HPU to assist nursing students, social workers and public health students to play an important role in understanding palliative care, hospice and communication with family and survivors. The team will play a role in setting up clinical placements in the community at St. Francis Palliative Care Units and Hospice, to give our nursing students invaluable hands-on experience in providing compassionate care for patients with serious and life-limiting illnesses. HPU Assistant Professor Joy Bliss, Ph.D., will also be designing simulations for “effective listening and communication skills,” to enhance student’s performance and skills in grief and this specialty of nursing. ... This initiative is not only an opportunity to strengthen the clinical training of nursing students, but also an essential step forward in improving the availability and quality of palliative care in Hawaiʻi.
How do you comfort a dying parent?
06/04/25 at 02:00 AMHow do you comfort a dying parent? U.S. News & World Report - WTOP News; 6/1/25 Caring for a parent who is dying can be emotionally taxing. ... Here are ten tips for how to conduct a caring conversation with someone who is dying — and how to know when to sit in silence too.
"You're next": People are sharing the last words they heard someone say as they were dying, and they're not all inspiring
05/26/25 at 03:00 AM"You're next": People are sharing the last words they heard someone say as they were dying, and they're not all inspiring BuzzFeed; by Mike Spohr; 5/21/25There's so much we don't understand about the end of life. Recently, we shared a post where Quora users shared their experiences being present for the final moments of someone's life...and hearing their last words. Well, as it turns out, BuzzFeed's readers wanted to share their experiences hearing someone's last words too, so we rounded them up here:
The best leaders ask the right questions
05/20/25 at 03:00 AMThe best leaders ask the right questions Harvard Business Review On Leadership, Episode 110; podcast by Arnaud Chevallier; 5/14/25 Few leaders have been trained to ask great questions. That might explain why they tend to be good at certain kinds of questions, and less effective at other kinds. Unfortunately, that hurts their ability to pursue strategic priorities. Arnaud Chevallier, strategy professor at IMD Business School, explains how leaders can break out of that rut and systematically ask five kinds of questions: investigative, speculative, productive, interpretive, and subjective. He shares real-life examples of how asking the right sort of question at a key time can unlock value and propel your organization. With his IMD colleagues Frédéric Dalsace and Jean-Louis Barsoux, Chevallier wrote the HBR article “The Art of Asking Smarter Questions.”
NorthStar Care Community launches 'Life's Big Moments' campaign to initiate nationwide conversation about end-of-life hospice care
05/20/25 at 03:00 AMNorthStar Care Community launches 'Life's Big Moments' campaign to initiate nationwide conversation about end-of-life hospice care PR Newswire, Ann Arbor, MI; by NorthStar Care Community; 5/19/25 NorthStar Care Community has launched Life's Big Moments, a campaign that celebrates the beauty of life's journey from the big milestones to the small, everyday moments that leave the deepest impact on our well-being and purpose. The campaign aims to initiate conversation and awareness around end-of-life care while also raising money to benefit the members of NorthStar Care Community. Companies, organizations, and individuals are invited to support these efforts throughout the campaign, focusing on recognizing the needs of our Veterans.
6 ways to successfully implement clinical communication tools
05/20/25 at 03:00 AM6 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.
[June 12-18, 2025] Why celebrating CNA Week is a big deal
05/16/25 at 02:00 AM[June 12-18, 2025] Why celebrating CNA Week is a big deal ShiftMed; by Sarah Knight; 4/23/25 National Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Week, which kicks off on the Thursday of the second full week of June, is an annual tribute to the dedicated individuals who form the backbone of our healthcare system. So, as we approach CNA Week 2025, we must recognize their tireless efforts and unwavering commitment. ... CNA Week 2025 kicks off on Thursday, June 12 and runs through Wednesday, June 18. This year’s theme, “We Are the Champions,” celebrates CNAs as the unsung heroes of frontline care—professionals who ensure patients feel seen, heard, and truly cared for every single day. ...
TCN Podcast: A Whole New Mind with Daniel H. Pink
05/15/25 at 03:00 AMTCN Video/Podcast: A Whole New Mind with Daniel H. PinkTeleios Collaborative Network (TCN); by Chris Comeaux with Daniel H. Pink; 5/14/25What makes us uniquely human in an age of artificial intelligence? Daniel H. Pink, the bestselling author of A Whole New Mind, offers a compelling framework for thriving in a world where machines increasingly perform tasks once thought exclusively human. In this episode, Pink, the world-renowned author of seven bestselling nonfiction books, discusses his interdisciplinary approach to understanding human motivation and the evolving work landscape in the AI age. Pink emphasizes the importance of empathy, creativity, and the need for individuals to augment machine intelligence rather than compete with it. He also explores the role of technology in healthcare, particularly in Hospice Care, and the significance of human connection and listening in providing care.
Honey, Sweetie, Dearie: The perils of elderspeak
05/14/25 at 03:00 AMHoney, Sweetie, Dearie: The perils of elderspeakKFF Health News, originally published by The New York Times; by Paula Span; 5/9/25 A prime example of elderspeak: Cindy Smith was visiting her father in his assisted living apartment in Roseville, California. An aide who was trying to induce him to do something — Smith no longer remembers exactly what — said, “Let me help you, sweetheart.” “He just gave her The Look — under his bushy eyebrows — and said, ‘What, are we getting married?’” recalled Smith, who had a good laugh, she said. Her father was then 92, a retired county planner and a World War II veteran; macular degeneration had reduced the quality of his vision, and he used a walker to get around, but he remained cognitively sharp. People understand almost intuitively what “elderspeak” means. “It’s communication to older adults that sounds like baby talk,” said Clarissa Shaw, a dementia care researcher at the University of Iowa College of Nursing ... “It arises from an ageist assumption of frailty, incompetence, and dependence.” Its elements include inappropriate endearments. “Elderspeak can be controlling, kind of bossy, so to soften that message there’s ‘honey,’ ‘dearie,’ ‘sweetie,’” said Kristine Williams, a nurse gerontologist at the University of Kansas School of Nursing ...
A daughter’s cautionary elder care tale
05/13/25 at 03:00 AMA daughter’s cautionary elder care tale The Progressive Magazine - Book Review; by Bill Lueders; 5/12/25 The call that woke Judy Karofsky in the middle of the night on May 18, 2015, was from a hospice nurse, who got right to the point: “I’m calling to tell you that your mother has died.” Karofsky, deeply shaken by the unexpected news, managed to ask, “Did she struggle?” Karofsky’s important new book, DisElderly Conduct: The Flawed Business of Assisted Living and Hospice, does not mention the hospice nurse’s response to this question. But it does note that she called back a moment later to say: “I’m so sorry . . . . I called the wrong number. I’m at a different facility and I had the wrong file.” Karofsky’s mother, Lillian Deutsch, had not died at all. It was someone else’s mother. Apologies were made. This is just one of many stories Karofsky shares throughout the book about the final years of her mother’s life in Wisconsin. This particular anecdote strikes me as noteworthy not just as an example of the sort of awful things that can happen when facilities are understaffed and staff members are overworked, but also because Karofsky’s first reaction was to wonder whether she struggled.Editor's note: Though printed news typically lifts up the good, compassionate moments of hospice care, most all of us have experienced negative accounts--professionally and/or personally. While this book is sure to give significant insights, perhaps the most important lessons are waiting to be validated from your own family caregivers, employees, and volunteers. What stories are behind your lower-than-you-want CAHPS Hospice scores? Dig deeper. May we all listen, learn, and improve care.
National Nurses Week: Why did you choose to become a nurse?
05/07/25 at 02:10 AMWhy did you choose to become a nurse?Yuma Sun, Yuma, AZ; by James Gilbert; 5/5/25 In honor of National Nurses Week, the Yuma Sun is proud to celebrate the dedicated nurses who serve our community with compassion, strength and resilience. ... To mark this special week, we asked nurses from across Yuma a simple but powerful question: Why did you choose to become a nurse? Their answers reflect the heart of the profession—stories of inspiration, personal sacrifice and a deep commitment to caring for others.