Literature Review

A musical about hospice? Yes, and it actually works Baltimore Fishbowl, Baltimore, MD; by Aliza Worthington; 4/21/26 ... The hospice experience may not initially evoke thoughts of “musical theater,” but if music expresses that which cannot be put into words, the subject matter put to music makes a lot of sense. Benjamin Kintisch is a trained cantor and former chaplain from Columbia, Maryland. He created “Life Review: The Hospice Musical” from real hospice patient stories over more than a decade, turning those conversations into songs. ... It is a 2025 Maryland State Arts Council Creativity Grant recipient. “Life Review: The Hospice Musical” is set in “Hopeful Hospice” – the final home for a group of hospice patients. The audience is witness to private conversations between the patients and their chaplain, a rabbi, transformed into song. Each patient’s story invites reflection on one’s own life, relationships, and memories.

Nursing profession sees major boom NBC Nightly News; by Emilie Ikeda; 4/21/26 As AI threatens so many industries, nursing is in demand. The Labor Department last year reported health care as the largest source of job creation in the U.S. "So many industries, one is thriving and paying good salaries," Emilie Ikeda explains why so many Americans are giving up working in office buildings to become nurses. ... At a time when many industries are shrinking in part because of Artificial Intelligence, "Why do you say that nursing is A.I.-proof?" "I don't think that A.I. can pick up on the minute nuances that may happen in human emotion ..."

Physician pay gaps by gender, race Becker's Hospital Review; by Mariah Taylor; 4/16/26 Gender pay gaps continue to widen between male and female physicians, and physicians by race, Medscape’s Physician Compensation report found. ... The survey found that the gender pay gap has widened since 2023, going from men making $91,000 more per year than women to $102,000 more per year in 2025. This means men make about 31% per year more than women physicians. ... There are also substantial pay gaps based on race. White physicians make about $8,000 more than Asian Americans, the next highest paid group and $49,000 more than Black physicians, the lowest paid group. 

Local filmmaker releases new movie "Winter Hymns" shot in Menomonie WQOQ-18 ABC News, Eau Claire, WI; by Sam Fristed; 4/16/26 A Chippewa Valley filmmaker is excited about a new movie that is now on the silver screen. Nathan Deming's new film "Winter Hymns" recently premiered at the Wisconsin Film Festival. ... The plot centers around a doctor who visits multiple dying patients in one day. While helping the families, she struggles with balancing the compassion of her profession with the American health care system that prioritizes profits and efficiency. Deming was inspired to write the film because his father was a palliative care physician in Eau Claire for about ten years. 

‘We provide end-of-life care. Here is the advice we often hear from terminally ill patients’ Independent; by Rosie Shead; 4/13/26 For the fundraising drive, Capital radio DJ Kemi Rodgers met with nurses from the end-of-life charity. They showcased placards adorned with wisdom from patients at a Superdrug store in London. One placard urged individuals to embrace the present and release past grievances. Further counsel included not dedicating too much time to work at the expense of life experiences, cherishing memories made with loved ones, and utilising money to create happy moments rather than saving it all for a future contingency, the charity stated. 

The giant thrift store in Wisconsin that turns shopping into an all-day adventure Taking the Kids; by Hazel Vaughn; 4/12/26 ... Walking into Agrace Thrift Store for the first time, most people slow down just to take it all in. The layout is thoughtfully designed so that moving from one section to the next feels natural rather than chaotic. ... The store is operated to support Agrace, a nonprofit hospice and palliative care organization that serves patients and families throughout southern Wisconsin. Every purchase made in the store contributes directly to that mission. ... A customer loyalty program adds another layer of value for frequent visitors. 

Westhampton teen's care packages honor her late father WN.com - Newsday; by Michael R. Ebert; 3/29/26 ... Elizabeth Sultan, a junior at Westhampton Beach High School, recently spearheaded a program called Peter's Packages, named in honor of her father, Peter, who died last year at 54 after suffering a heart attack while competing in the Jamesport Triathlon. Sultan's initiative provides curated care packages that contain items ranging from books to blankets. She said she was inspired to launch the effort after she and her brother, William, received similar comfort items from community members following their father's death.

Hospice of St. Lawrence Valley grief services coordinator discusses deeper meaning for spring cleaning North Country Now, Potsdam, NY; by Kate Favaro; 3/26/26 There is something about those first few spring days in the North Country that makes us want to throw all the windows up and let in the fresh air and sunlight. Spring cleaning has become a ritual of sorts. ... Hospice of St. Lawrence Valley offers the following when considering a deeper meaning behind spring cleaning: ... widen your idea of what spring cleaning can involve. Start with the basics and work out from there. Clean out a drawer. Label a photograph. Update a document or password. Tell a trusted person where they can find the important papers. Sometimes the most meaningful spring cleaning happens where no one else can see it, but everyone you love will one day feel its impact.

How "The Pitt" can prepare you for the end of lifeKatie Couric Media; by Maggie Parker; 3/20/26 If you're sensitive to seeing death on screen, you shouldn't watch The Pitt. Set in a major city's emergency room, on the hit medical procedural, death is inevitable, and frequent. ... The way end-of-life issues are addressed on the show was carefully thought out and intentionally diverse. ... Unfortunately, it's rare for the media to portray death and dying authentically, according to Dr. Underleider's analysis of more than 141,000 scripted TV episodes from 2010 to 2020. ... This season, The Pitt takes its quest to realistically depict death to another level, with the introduction of a terminal cancer patient, Roxie, who knows what's coming and doesn't want to go home to face it. We spoke to Dr. Ungerleider about her reaction to Roxie's final moments, her experience working with the creators, what they get right about end of life, and why it matters. ...Editor's Note: Pair this with our previous posts, "HBO’s ‘The Pitt’ inspires viewers to consider organ donation, end-of-life planning" and "How ‘The Pitt' gets death right."

Metro East hospice aide caring for her own son with rare terminal disorder First Alert 4, Collinsville, IL; by Jeffrey Bullard; 3/13/26 A Collinsville mother has worked as a hospice care aide for more than 13 years, and soon she will be placing her son in that care. “She is the best,” said Brenda McGarvey of Amber Mers, her coworker at Unity Hospice Care. “If you didn’t know Amber personally, you would never know what she is going through,” explained Beverly Lee. Amber is facing a mother’s worst nightmare. Her son Emil is dying.

Mom of Frosty-loving daughter on hospice shouts out Wendy’s staff for ‘lovely gesture’ NBC Today Show; by Heather Marin, RD; 3/13/26 ... [Mary Adams] wanted to give a shoutout to a Wendy’s drive-thru employee in Palm Desert, California, who made her feel seen on a weekly Frosty run that’s deeply bittersweet. ... Purdie’s sister, Gretchen, was diagnosed with glioblastoma in 2023 [... and chose hospice care in January 2025]. Her appetite is limited these days. “Every week,” Purdie explains. “Someone from our family, usually my mom, goes to Wendy’s and gets six chocolate Frostys.” ... When Adams arrived at her local Wendy’s to pick up the weekly supply recently, a staff member recognized her. “Hey, you’re late!” said the team member, handing over the drink tray, “No spoons, right?” “Many days, there are very few reasons to smile while being a caregiver for her terminally ill daughter, but that interaction was a bright spot,” says Purdie. The whole family was touched that someone noticed the routine that is for them both life-sustaining and painful.

Friends of Hospice starts life longings bucket list program WSYR-TV, Syracuse, NY; by Iris St. Meran; 2/26/26 Losing a friend or loved one is never easy. That’s why organizations like Friends of Hospice in Oswego County are important. They provide non-medical support and have a new initiative to help those facing a life limiting diagnosis fulfill bucket list requests. Elena Twiss, the executive director shared more about the Life Longings program. It is designed to support individuals facing a life-limiting diagnosis by fulfilling “bucket list” requests, making comfort improvements, or helping with milestone celebrations. To learn more about life longings and the other resources friends of hospice provides visit FriendsOfHospice.org.

American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine announces 2026 annual Presidential Citation HonoreesPR Newswire; by American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine; 2/3/26The three honorees this year are the