Literature Review

UW Health: Initiative enhances hospice and palliative care programs WisBusiness, Madison, WI; Press Release; 11/4/25 A new UW Health initiative improves the hospital’s hospice care process to ensure patients receive the best, most coordinated care possible throughout their end-of-life journeys. The initiative provides inpatient and emergency department hospice enrollment at University Hospital, ensuring that patients nearing the end of life receive timely, compassionate support and more coordinated care between the health system and the hospice agency. This program, created in partnership with regional hospice organizations and hospital staff, aims to improve continuity of care for patients already getting care in the UW Health system, according to Dr. Jeff Pothof, chief quality officer and emergency medicine physician, UW Health. 

The future of hospice care: Opportunities and challenges – top news stories October 2025 Teleios Collaborative Network (TCN); podcast hosted by Chris Comeaux with Cordt Kassner; 11/5/25 In this episode of TCN Talks, Chris Comeaux and Cordt Kassner discuss the top news stories of October, focusing on AI in healthcare, innovations in hospice care, and the impact of personal experiences on healthcare practices. They explore the ethical implications of AI surrogates in life-or-death decisions, the importance of equitable access to hospice care, and the role of technology in improving care delivery. The conversation also highlights the significance of personal stories in shaping healthcare perspectives and the ongoing challenges in the hospice industry.

Hospice House welcomes 500th patient, expands mission Nola.com, New Orleans, LA; by Lisa Von Eberstein; 11/2/25 When the 500th patient entered the Hospice House near Slidell last month, the milestone marked more than a number. ...  “We call them bittersweet benchmarks,” said Miranda Lindsay, executive director of the Hospice Foundation of the South and Hospice House. “It’s amazing for us in 11 years to have helped 500 families in our community, but at the same time, it’s 500 people who have passed.” Hospice House is a 3,600-square-foot home featuring three private suites, with screened-in porches in a homelike setting, for terminally ill patients to spend their final days.

Alive Hospice founders mark 50 years by reflecting on how their first patient molded themThe Tennessean; by Brad Schmitt; 11/2/25 ... The third hospice program in the world launched in Nashville in 1974 with coffee and doughnuts. One of its cofounders, Vanderbilt psychiatrist David Barton, felt the hospitals could be institutionally apathetic toward terminally ill patients. "There was a bit of aversion to being constantly around people whose lives are ending," Barton said. So, after studying about dying and reading about hospice care facilities that had opened in London and Connecticut, he bought refreshments and invited eight people to his West Meade home. ... Barton pitched the idea to those eight, who included a few other doctors, a neighbor with cancer, his rabbi, and his wife, who by that point had become a clinical social worker. At meeting's end, he had pledges of support. Within a year, they had raised $57.

The Katherine House: Hospice care for homeless people coming to Dallas Dallas News, Dallas, TX; by Steve Hamm; 10/31/25 The $5 million project is scheduled to kick off renovations at the home in January 2026. A 1896 Victorian-style house in the Wilson Historic District will be converted into a hospice house, providing end-of-life care for homeless individuals in Dallas at no cost. The Visiting Nurse Association of Texas is a 91-year-old nonprofit organization that provides home-delivered meals free of charge to individuals unable to obtain or prepare their own meals and offers home health, hospice, and community health services. The association has partnered with The Meadows Foundation to bring the project to life. 

Care-A-Van will make the rounds on Veterans Day Texarkana Gazette, Texarkana, TX; 11/2/25 Hospice of Texarkana will take to the streets again this Veteran's Day with its annual Care-A-Van, a rolling tribute to the men and women who have served the country. On Nov. 11, staff, volunteers and community partners will visit senior and assisted living centers throughout the area to thank and recognize local veterans, according to a news release from Hospice of Texarkana. ... Each stop will feature live patriotic music, certificate presentations and the giving of a U.S. flag to each veteran. In 2024, the Care-A-Van honored 110 veterans, and organizers hope to surpass that number this year, according to a news release.

Friends Fore Hospice Golf Tournament raises over $100,000 Hickory Daily Record, Newton, NC; by Carolina Caring; 10/30/25 Carolina Caring Foundation's 23rd annual Friends Fore Hospice Golf Tournament surpassed fundraising records this year, bringing in over $100,000 to support nonprofit serious illness provider Carolina Caring. The event was held on Oct. 6 at Catawba Country Club in Newton. ... This is the third consecutive year that the event sold out. Sixty sponsors from across North and South Carolina offered generous monetary and in-kind donations to Carolina Caring Foundation. 

Honoring the lives and legacies of hospice leaders - October 2025

Kalos Health shutters amid Medicaid changes Hospice News; by Holly Vossel; 10/29/25 Kalos Health Inc. is closing amid changes to Medicaid reimbursement. The change could challenge access to home-based services for chronically ill adults in western New York. The nonprofit provided health insurance coverage across six counties in New York through a Medicaid managed long-term care (MLTC) plan. Since 2014, the plan has coordinated with regional health care providers to serve adults with chronic illness and health disabilities. Kalos Health is part of The Hospice and Palliative Care Group (HPCG), an organization that provides administrative services. Other providers in the group include Niagara Hospice, Liberty Home Care, Hospice of Orleans and The Niagara Hospice Alliance.  

Improving end-of-life care: Making hospice and home support accessible Cure; by Maureen Canavan and Dr. Kerin Adelson; 10/22/25 Maureen Canavan and Dr. Kerin Adelson, healthcare executive, chief quality and value officer, and professor of Breast Medical Oncology at MD Anderson Cancer Center, sat down with us to discuss critical issues in end-of-life care. In this interview, they explore the urgent need for policy and system-level changes to improve access to hospice and supportive home care, highlighting how current reimbursement structures often fail to meet the needs of patients and families at the end of life. Canavan is an epidemiologist at Yale Cancer Outcomes, Public Policy, and Effectiveness Research Center (COPPER) and affiliated faculty at Yale Institute for Global Health.

Local organization offers guidance for grieving during the holidaysKKCO11 Grand Junction, CO; by Bella Demosthenous; 10/24/25HopeWest provides resources and advice for those struggling with loss during the festive season. HopeWest, a local organization that specializes in helping people grieve, shares advice on how to navigate the holidays while battling grief. “My encouragement is to show self-compassion for yourself first and foremost. It’s not an easy thing to do outside of grief,” said Jodi Molina Lopez, HopeWest youth counselor.

Headwaters Hospice and Palliative Care appoints James Bisom as new CEO CityBuzz; Press Release; 10/29/25Headwaters Hospice and Palliative Care [in Helena, Montana] has announced the appointment of James Bisom, MHA, as its new Chief Executive Officer. With over 14 years of healthcare leadership experience, Bisom assumes leadership of the veteran-owned healthcare provider with a clear mission to advance quality of life, dignity, and comfort for patients and families throughout Montana. ... Throughout his career, he has championed strategic initiatives that improved patient safety, expanded access to specialized services, and enhanced overall care delivery.

Hospice organizations: 5 tips for building a direct-to-consumer campaign McKnights Home Care; by Andrew Robinson; 10/22/25 [... Why] are so many hospice organizations so reliant on waiting for families to find you through referrals? Referrals usually come too late. And families are left scrambling to make sense of their options. This is why direct-to-consumer marketing is not only appropriate, it’s essential. Here are five tips on how to effectively create and execute hospice direct-to-consumer marketing.