Literature Review

Little girl receiving hospice care comes home to hero’s welcome in ClaytonJohnston County News [NC]; by Maggie Newland; 4/19/25A little girl battling a devastating disease received a hero’s welcome in Clayton Saturday. For nearly a year, Noelle Franklin has battled an aggressive bone cancer. Now, she is back home receiving hospice care, and her community came together to show their love. As cheers and bubbles filled the air, people lined Main Street in Clayton to catch a glimpse of a hero.

Optum names new CEOBecker's Hospital Review; by Jakob Emerson; 4/30/25UnitedHealth Group has named Patrick Conway, MD, current Optum Rx CEO, as the new CEO of Optum, effective May 6. Current Optum CEO, Heather Cianfrocco, has been named UnitedHealth’s executive vice president of governance, compliance and information security after serving in her role for just over one year. Dr. Conway has served in various leadership roles at UnitedHealth since 2020 and was named CEO of pharmacy benefit manager Optum Rx in 2023. He was president and CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina from 2017 to 2019 and served in several top positions at CMS under the Obama administration, including chief medical officer, director of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation and acting administrator.

Hospice AIA Hospice & Palliative Care Today compilation; 5/5/25We've seen several recent articles discussing the benefits of additional AI integration into hospice services.

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.

Hospice use by cause of death: A cohort study using Utah population database American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine - Sage Journals; by Rebecca L. Utz, PhD, Michael Hollingshaus, PhD, Attrayee Bandyopadhyay, MS, Kathie Supiano, PhD, Margaret Clayton, PhD, Katherine A. Ornstein, PhD, Djin Tay, PhD, Eli Iacob, Ken Smith, PhD, and Caroline Stephens, PhD; first published online 4/29/25 Illnesses such as cancer often follow a predictable trajectory of decline, while others, such as Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD) and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), follow a more dwindling and protracted decline. ... This study assesses whether hospice use differs by the underlying cause of death and whether current hospice eligibility and practices provide optimal EOL to all causes of death. Major Findings: Non-cancer decedents were more likely to have sub-optimal patterns of hospice care, including minimal use, lasting less than a week, and extended use, lasting more than 6 months. Stroke decedents were the most likely to have minimal-use patterns of hospice, whereas dementia and COPD decedents were most likely to have extended use. Conclusion: New models of hospice-like EOL care that can accommodate both short-term and long-term palliative care needs may help meet the diverse needs of patients and families facing different EOL trajectories associated with common causes of death.Editor's note: Compare this data with your own data of disease-related Length of Stay (LOS), live discharges, disease-related accuity needs, and more. How can we improve disease-related patient care, across the different trajectories of palliative/hospice care?

Experiences of hospice staff beyond the frontlines during COVID-19: A qualitative secondary analysis study Journal of Palliative Care and Social Practice; by Thanga Harini Sundaramoorthy, John I MacArtney, Abi Eccles; 4/12/25Three main themes were identified: (1) Blurred margins: Participants discussed facing difficulty separating work and home life and taking stresses and thoughts about work home. (2) Isolation, loneliness and social interactions ...  (3) Disruption to family and personal commitments: Some staff felt unable to see or support their parents, partners and children during the pandemic subsequently impacting their psychological and emotional well-being. Conclusion: Hospice staff compromised aspects of their personal life and family responsibilities during the pandemic to carry out their role at work. Workplaces and organisations should aim to support hospice staff more broadly to help with managing work-related pressures and balancing personal commitments in future emergency periods.Editor's note: Use this evidence-based research with your Emergency Disaster Preparedness Plans. Click here for the CMS.gov Emergency Preparedness Rule. Click here for Wisconsin's CMS Emergency Preparedness Rule Toolkit: Hospices.

Elliot, Southern New Hampshire health systems say separate is better The New Hampshire Union Leader, Manchester, NH; by Dave Pierce; 4/25/25 Although the Elliot Hospital in Manchester and Southern New Hampshire Medical Center in Nashua are just 20 miles apart and share many similarities and goals, that hasn’t been enough to bridge an unforeseen chasm that’s widened over their seven-year partnership. This week, their parent company, SolutionHealth, which also includes Home Health & Hospice Care in Merrimack, started the separation process, holding public forums for community input. 

How cultural shifts surrounding death reflect our evolving health priorities WorldHealth.net; 4/28/25 The culture of thinking about death is evolving in profound and lasting ways. ... Modern society is seeing an unprecedented change in the way we approach mortality since health consciousness, sustainability, and personal well-being now dictate end-of-life discussions. These cultural shifts and changing attitudes about death are indicative of our overall health interests, demonstrating how much our ways of living have crossed with our ways of dying.

An untapped resource: How family caregivers provide value for home careMcKnight's Home Care; by Adam Healy; 4/21/25If there is one lesson Andrea Cohen learned after more than two decades of running a home care company, it is that supporting family caregivers is foundational to quality care. “I would say I have three customers,” Andrea told McKnight’s Home Care Daily Pulse. “One is the client themselves, one is the professional caregiver and the other is the family caregiver. About 95% of the time, we were actually dealing with the family caregiver.”Publisher's note: Equally true in hospice.

Meet Herbie: Your organization's million-dollar constraint with Dr. Lisa Lang Teleios Collaborative Network (TCN); podcast by Chris Comeaux with Dr. Lisa Lang; 4/23/25 Ever wonder why your organization keeps hitting the same wall despite constant improvement efforts?  Dr. Lisa Lang, a world-renowned expert in the Theory of Constraints, reveals why most leaders waste resources by focusing on the wrong problems. Dr. Lisa Lang and Chris Comeaux examine the application of the Theory of Constraints (TOC) in various industries, with a particular focus on healthcare and manufacturing.  They discuss the unique challenges faced by healthcare leaders, including regulatory pressures and staffing shortages, and how TOC can provide a structured approach to problem-solving and how to create breakthrough solutions for your organization. 

Hospice Choices: VITAS Healthcare expands in Austin, Texas Globe Newswire - Small Business World Journal; Press Release; 4/23/25... VITAS Healthcare has expanded its reach in the Austin area by opening a new administrative office in Pflugerville. With the addition of this North Austin location, VITAS now serves the entire metro area and surrounding counties, bringing greater access to compassionate, expert end-of-life care for patients and their families. ... Grand opening celebrations for the Kyle and Pflugerville offices are scheduled for late June.

Demystifying the End: Hospice care impact on the Black community Defender; by Laura Onyeneho; 4/22/25 Monica James has seen firsthand the confusion and emotional strain families face when end-of-life care isn’t discussed early enough. She works for the non-profit organization Houston Hospice as the Community Engagement Coordinator, serving 13 counties across Southeast Texas. ... According to data collected by the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, Black Americans on Medicare seek hospice and palliative treatment 13% less than their white counterparts. For African American, Afro-Caribbean and African immigrant families, generational trauma and a lack of trust in the healthcare system often lead to delayed decisions about hospice care. “There’s been a historical gap in access and trust,” said James. “Our goal is to show up consistently, to listen and to let these communities know they have options and that they’re not alone.”

Arden Home Health & Hospice expands services in Central MS and the Jackson Metro areaNewswire.com, Hattiesburg, MS; Press Release; 4/21/25 Arden Home Health & Hospice is proud to announce another major milestone in its continued expansion of services. On March 10, Arden officially announced the expansion of its home health services to Hinds, Rankin, Simpson, Lawrence, and Jefferson Davis counties, extending its commitment to compassionate, high-quality care to more patients and families across Central Mississippi. Also, this expansion means that Arden now provides both home health and hospice services throughout the entire Jackson Metro area, ... "We are thrilled to extend our services to these counties in the Jackson Metro areas, allowing us to bring the same standard of excellence that has defined Arden's care throughout Mississippi," said Abb Payne, Founder & CEO of Arden Home Health and Hospice. ... Over the past year, Arden has experienced record-breaking growth, more than doubling its workforce from just over 100 employees to now being over 280 A-Team members strong.