Literature Review

The great beyond: Why the traditional American funeral is vanishing South Florida Reporter; 2/15/26 For over a century, the American way of death was standardized: a polished mahogany casket, a room heavy with the scent of lilies, an embalmed body, and a solemn procession to a manicured cemetery plot. But in 2026, that script is being rewritten. The “traditional” funeral—once a cornerstone of community life—is facing a quiet but definitive demise. ...

EMS at 60: The past, present, and future of our profession Journal of Emergency Medical Services (JEMS); by David Ferris; 2/10/26 This year, 2026, marks sixty years since the birth of organized national EMS in the United States, and I’ve been fortunate—or maybe stubborn—enough to ride in the back of an ambulance for more than half of that history. For 34 years I’ve carried a radio, a drug box, and the weight of responsibility that comes with being a paramedic. In that time, I’ve watched EMS evolve from the Wild West of guesswork and tradition into a profession grounded in evidence, outcomes, and community health. What follows isn’t just a timeline of milestones; it’s the story of EMS through my own eyes, ...Editor's Note: Whose life--in your life--has been saved (or significantly helped) by Emergency Medical Services?  Memories through the years break through my take-it-for-granted view. While in hospice we tend to downplay EMS calls and hospitalization, join me in gratitude for the timely, life-saving and mitigation of horrific outcomes provided 24/7 by EMS care. 

Why patient flow will decide hospital performance in 2026 Healthcare Business Today | Clinical Care | Patient Experience; by Russel Graney, 2/7/26 ... Why 2026? Health systems are entering a period where demand accelerates, reimbursement pressure tightens, and building new capacity becomes a distant solution. That’s why the next phase of performance will not be decided by who hires faster or cuts deeper, but by who moves patients through the system better. ...

Struggling rural Nebraska hospitals find 'lifeline' in emergency model Lincoln Journal Star, Lincoln, NE; by Julie Anderson; 1/31/26 ... In Garden County, which spans 2,000 square miles in Nebraska's eastern Panhandle and numbers about 2,000 residents, the stream of patients coming into the hospital side of Garden County Health Services in Oshkosh had dwindled to a trickle in recent years. According to a recent count, inpatient admissions at the hospital averaged .07 per day and daily swing bed admissions averaged .05. "They can be few and far between," said Sam Pennington, Garden County's CEO. ... Pennington said hospice care was another concern of residents, so he also plans to try to arrange that under some available options. 

De-mystifying performance measures for hospitalists: Mortality The Hospitalist; by Matt Cersale, ND, MPH, SFHM; Kristin Gershfield, MD, FHM; Preetham Talari, MD; Anunta Virapongse, MD; 2/2/26 Mortality is the ultimate outcome metric for patient care. In the hospital, measuring mortality appears simple and straightforward, but upon considering the layers of attribution and risk stratification, it becomes significantly more complex. Measures of mortality are used in various quality reporting and national ranking programs, making them a common focus of hospital leadership. However, the connection between hospitalists and measures of mortality is not always clear.

Lifespark’s COMPLETE Senior Living Model sets new standard for senior living innovation Business Wire, Minneapolis, MN; Press Release; 1/27/26 Lifespark, a complete senior health company managing more than 50 senior living communities in Minnesota and Wisconsin, has unveiled its COMPLETE Senior Living (CSL) model with plans for significant growth in 2026. The CSL model integrates four key components: Lifespark Senior Living Management, SPARK Growth and Wellness led by Dr. Bill Thomas, Lifespark Medical Group, and Lifespark Hospice.

Healthcare trends & transactions: Year in review - January 2026 JD Supra; by Meredith Edwards Collins, David Cox, Katie D. Asquith, Lara Flatau, Ali Gallagher, Angela Humphreys, Zoebedeh Malakpa, Tatjana Paterno, Cynthia Reisz, Mariah R. Rhodes, Marc Rigsby, Morgan Tandy, David Wilson; 1/22/26 At the end of 2024, we predicted that the healthcare mergers and acquisitions (M&A) market would pick up steam in 2025, given the combination of decreasing interest rates, a potential shift in the regulatory landscape with the new presidential administration and growing comfort and familiarity with new state reporting requirements related to physician practice management (PPM) and other healthcare transactions.

Home care crisis drives innovation for aging in place HousingWire; by Jonathan Delozier; 1/14/26 A growing shortage of home care workers threatens older Americans’ ability to age in place. Low wages, high turnover and limited benefits leave families struggling. Worker-owned co-ops, digital registries and specialized training improve retention, pay and patient outcomes, offering promising solutions amid rapidly rising demand for home health and personal care aides.

15K Nurses strike, disrupting care at 5 NYC hospitals Patch, New York City, NY; by Miranda Levingston; 1/12/26 Five private hospitals are without nearly 15,000 nurses, who are striking for higher wages and health care benefits, starting Monday. According to the New York State Nurses Association, the contract for the union expired on Dec. 31, and hospitals had until Jan. 12 to reach an agreement with the union. The nurse union said that, in addition to higher wages and health care benefits, the union is striking for improved pension plans and protection from workplace violence, highlighting the recent active shooter situation at Mount Sinai on East 100th Street in November.

Senior living executive forecast 2026: ‘Step up or get stepped on’ Senior Housing News; by Austin Montgomery; 1/7/26 ... Today, senior living providers are focused on precision in operations, able to define value to customers, maintain attractive price points and manage rates that can strategically improve margin while not forcing out residents. ... Today, senior living providers are focused on precision in operations, able to define value to customers, maintain attractive price points and manage rates that can strategically improve margin while not forcing out residents.

Scaling home-based care coordination depends on technology, addressing social determinants of health Home Health Care News; by Morgan Gonzales; 12/30/25 The home-based care industry is uniquely equipped to improve care coordination and enhance care for patients. To expand the role that care coordination plays in the U.S., both post-acute providers and the health care system overall must expand their use of technology and address social determinants of health, according to Ruth Raskas, president and chief operating officer at LiveWell Partners.

Diversified Healthcare Trust completes transition of all 116 Five Star-branded AlerisLife communities to new operators McKnights Senior Living; by Lois A. Bowers; 1/5/26 Diversified Healthcare Trust has transitioned all 116 Five-Star Senior Living-branded communities in its senior living operating portfolio communities to new seven different third-party operators, the Newton, MA-based real estate investment trust announced Monday morning. The actions, as expected, were completed by Dec. 31, according to the company.