Literature Review

Hospice and palliative care experiences as expressed on the r/hospice and r/palliative subredditsAmerican Journal of Hospice & Palliative Medicine; Riley Shin, BSA; Ashley Shin, MD; Elizabeth K. Nugent, MD, MS; 6/25 Reddit, an anonymous online community forum, provides space for sharing medical information, seeking emotional support, and facilitating open communication. This qualitative study examined the most popular questions on the r/hospice and r/palliative communities on Reddit. Seven primary themes emerged from question and advice-seeking r/hospice comments: (1) the dying process (24%), (2) coping and emotional support for patients and caregivers (22%), (3) logistics of hospice and palliative care (22%), (4) medication treatments and side effects (13%), (5) negative hospice experiences (10%), (6) support for hospice providers (7%), and (7) other less related material (2%). Assessment of posts on the r/hospice and r/palliative subreddits revealed gaps in communication between patients, caregivers, and healthcare providers in several important areas, most importantly in demystifying the dying process and providing patient and caregiver support.

Enzo Health forms Advisory Board of industry titans to drive innovation in home-based care Associated Press, Lehi, UT; Press Release; 7/8/25 Enzo Health, the AI-powered automation platform redefining how home health agencies deliver and document care, today announced the formation of its Advisory Board. This influential group unites nationally acclaimed experts in home health operations, clinical excellence, healthcare regulation, and digital health innovation. 

When less is more: Addressing polypharmacy in high-risk populations Pharmacy Times; by Andrew E. Esch, MD, MBA and Alain Hipensteele; 7/7/25 As digital health tools and artificial intelligence (AI)–powered clinical decision support systems become increasingly embedded in pharmacy workflows, pharmacists are gaining new opportunities to identify and address the risks of polypharmacy—particularly in high-risk populations such as older adults and those receiving palliative care. At the same time, evolving deprescribing guidelines and ongoing drug shortages have underscored the need for coordinated, patient-centered medication management strategies. In this interview with Pharmacy Times®, Andrew E. Esch, MD, MBA, director of the Palliative Care Program Development at the Center to Advance Palliative Care, discusses how pharmacists are using emerging technologies to streamline medication reviews, reduce therapeutic duplication, and engage caregivers in deprescribing conversations. 

Artificial intelligence and health care waste—Promise or peril?JAMA Health Forum; William H. Shrank, MD, MSHS; Suhas Gondi, MD, MBA; David J. Brailer, MD, PhD; 6/25One obvious target of AI [artificial intelligence] tools in health care is the reduction of waste. While LLM [large language model] applications to health care are still nascent—many still make errors, and more rigorous evaluations are needed—most agree that the long-term opportunity for AI in health care is tremendous. A recent study estimated that widespread adoption of AI could lead to savings of 5% to 10% of total US health care spending. Realizing even a fraction of this potential would increase the affordability of care for people in the US and free substantial societal resources to make other valuable investments. But getting there will require deliberate choices from leaders and policymakers and careful attention to risks that could set back progress.

Can a chatbot be a medical surrogate? The use of large language models in medical ethics decision-makingNEJM-AI; Isha Harshe, B.S., B.A.; Kenneth W. Goodman, Ph.D.; Gauri Agarwal, M.D.; 6/25 The use of AI in health care has raised numerous ethical challenges. Issues concerning data privacy, accountability, bias perpetuation, and the identification of appropriate uses and users have prompted scholars and scientists to tackle these challenges. Our findings indicate that while AI systems may assist in identifying considerations and guidelines for ethical decision-making, they do not consistently demonstrate the flexibility of thought that humans exhibit when addressing novel ethical cases. AI can support ethical decision-making, but it is not currently capable of showing autonomous ethical reasoning for consultation regarding patient care.

Joint Commission to create guidelines on AI’s use in healthcare Becker's Clinical Leadership; by Eria Carbajal; 6/11/25 The Joint Commission has partnered with the Coalition for Health AI to establish and implement evidence-based guidance on the use of artificial intelligence in healthcare operations. The first set of guidelines and best practices is slated to be released in the fall, according to a June 10 news release shared with Becker’s. The organizations are also developing an AI certification program, which will be available after the initial guidance is published. The guidance will include a “suite of AI playbooks” and tools to support health systems with safe and ethical adoption of AI. The guidance is expected to be used by more than 80% of U.S. healthcare organizations, according to the release. 

An example AI Readiness Assessment framework for C suite leaders Solutions Review; by Tim King; 6/17/25 There is no one-size-fits-all blueprint for artificial intelligence. Every organization has its own legacy systems, workforce culture, regulatory pressures, and innovation appetite. But one thing is universally true: AI success depends on readiness. Not just technical readiness, but ethical, emotional, and operational readiness across the entire enterprise. But as the pressure to “implement AI now” mounts, many organizations rush in without a clear framework for what it means to be ready. They focus on models, tools, and talent—but overlook the critical dimensions of ethics, empathy, and impact. That’s where this guide comes in. ...

5 real world lessons from using AI to transform legacy software Forbes - Innovation; by Muamer Cisija; 6/10/25 AI is not the future—it is already shaping our present. According to a recent Forbes survey, AI and machine learning represent the top tech spending area in 2025, capturing 42% of IT budgets. Moreover, an NTT survey conducted by WSJ Intelligence shows that 89% of global CEOs consider AI crucial for future profitability. ... Drawing from real-world use cases I've seen across sectors, here are five critical lessons for applying AI to transform legacy software and unlock growth.

Medical robots to the rescue: New technologies to help our healthNIH News in Health; 6/2/25What do you think of when you hear the word robot? Is it a human-like assistant with a friendly face, or a large and menacing foe? Generally, a robot is a machine that that’s been built to perform specific tasks. [This article highlights:]

Empathetic AI policy example: A framework for the human impact on AI Solutions Review; by Tim King; 5/30/25 ... Empathetic AI is our organizational pledge to place people at the center of our AI strategy. It means prioritizing the dignity of work, the stability of our workforce, and the fair treatment of all individuals impacted by automated systems. It means actively supporting those whose roles may be transformed or displaced and investing in their future through retraining, redeployment, and transparent communication. Our core principles are as follows:

Empathy meets efficiency: Voice AI in law, healthcare and debt collection Forbes; by Kumar Abhirup; 5/29/25 When a grieving daughter calls a probate firm at midnight or a worried parent rings a pediatric clinic after hours, the first voice they meet decides whether they stay or stray. As organizations adopt AI, especially voice and conversational AI, that voice is increasingly synthetic. A recent survey from the American Bar Association found that the share of firms using AI tools rose from 11% in 2023 to 30% in early 2025. Healthcare has sprinted even faster: The American Medical Association found 66% of physicians now use some form of AI, up from 37% two years earlier. Collections agencies are also hopping aboard this trend ... 

Trend Report: Artificial Intelligence In Health CareHealth Affairs; 5/25/25For our first Insider trend report, we explore the ways that artificial intelligence could impact the health care landscape. The report highlights:

6 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.