Literature Review

The human thread: Weaving human-centered leadership in health care into culture transformationNurse Leader; by Stephanie Lonzo, Lindsey Colangelo, Kay Kennedy, Lucy Leclerc, Susan Campis; 3/26A large community hospital embraced implementation of Human-Centered Leadership in Health Care by including leaders from every discipline in a hybrid-style leadership development program. After completing the program, the leaders participated in the development of a hospital-wide brand statement which served as a collective WHY for the organization. This statement, which included human-centered principles, provided alignment, connection, and accountability across the organization. Leaders led differently, prioritizing care for self, and leading others in a relational approach. The culture transformation resulted in improved staff engagement, retention, patient experience, and quality outcomes. The senior nurse leaders share their culture transformation experience.

21 hospitals, health systems raising workers’ payBecker's Hospital Review; by Kelly Gooch; 3/24/26 Since December 2025, the following hospitals and health systems have said they plan to raise their workers’ pay. ... This webpage was created Jan. 9 and is updated regularly. It was last updated March 24.

Thyme Care launches Integrated Social Support model, bringing proactive oncology social work to 8 million Americans upon diagnosis PR Newswire, Nashville, TN; by Thyme Care; 3/5/26 Thyme Care today announced the public launch of its Integrated Social Support (ISS) model, a redesigned approach to oncology navigation that positions licensed master's-level social workers as the first to intervene when members experience barriers to navigating their cancer. The announcement coincides with National Social Work Month in March, recognizing the essential role social workers play in improving health outcomes. An estimated 44% of individuals affected by cancer experience psychosocial burdens, which are associated with poorer health, clinical, and economic outcomes for patients and caregivers. Thyme Care's ISS model flips the approach by making licensed social workers one of the first points of contact for social, emotional, and practical needs, assessing members from day one and throughout their journey ...

Why Baylor Scott & White opted for an access redesign Becker's Hospital Review; by Kelly Gooch; 3/2/26 Dallas-based Baylor Scott & White Health, the largest nonprofit health system in Texas, has been undergoing a consumer-focused transformation aimed at expanding access. ... “One thing we heard consistently through all of that is just a need for more access,” Rob Watson, MD, chief clinical operations officer, told Becker’s. “Not just traditional access through what we would consider our large hospitals and clinics, but expanded options like digital and virtual as well as when they had an urgent need or an emergent need, more physical locations as well.”

Infographic: Compliance you can’t ignore HR Daily Advisor Staff; by HR Daily Advisor Staff; 1/21/26 In the age of AI and remote work, HR leaders are dealing with tough compliance challenges, and they must have strategies to keep everything straight and in order for their organizations. Want to learn best practices and what HR leaders should do right now to deal with compliance issues such as AI governance, leave laws, classifying workers, remote and global jurisdictional risk, data privacy, and employee monitoring/surveillance? Check out our infographic to ensure you’re as proactive as possible.

10 healthcare workforce challenges defining 2026 Becker's Hospital Review; by Laura Dyrda; 2/24/25 ... When Becker’s asked 103 healthcare leaders, “What do you anticipate being the most pressing workforce challenge in 2026, and how are you preparing to address it?” the responses revealed an industry preparing for permanent redesign. Across all 103 responses, 10 themes stood out. ...

Stolen ambulance crashes into Meridian medical building. What is Portico North? Idaho Statesman, Meridian, ID; by Hali Smith; 2/19/26 Offices in a Meridian medical building were closed Thursday after a stolen ambulance smashed into the six-story structure. The crash occurred around 12:30 a.m. Thursday at the Portico North building at the southeast corner of Eagle and Franklin roads. ... Portico North is owned by St. Luke’s Health System, whose Meridian hospital is one block to the south. ... “There is no clinical patient care provided in the Portico North building,” Myron told the Statesman. The site functions as a workspace for a health insurance company as well as St. Luke’s hospice care providers and home health teams. 

‘Mass layoffs’ at PeaceHealth include hospice staff Hospice News; by Holly Vossel; 2/18/26 PeaceHealth has announced the elimination of 94 positions across its facilities in Washington state, effective on April 12, 2026. The impacted locations include the PeaceHealth Whatcom Hospice House and medical, surgical and cancer centers, among other facilities. PeaceHealth recently submitted a statement to the Washington Employment Security Department, which included a formal notice of workforce reduction that included “mass layoffs” as defined under state regulations. State requirements stipulate that businesses must provide 60 days notice prior to these types of layoffs under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act. 

Sabbaticals provide a critical lifeline for sustainable medical careers [podcast] MedPage Today's KevinMD.com; podcast by KevinMD; 2/14/26 Palliative care physician and certified physician development coach Christie Mulholland discusses her article “Why every physician needs a sabbatical (and how to take one).” Christie reveals the harsh reality that while sabbaticals exist on paper, unwritten rules often prevent doctors from accessing this critical recovery tool until it is too late. She shares her personal journey of taking an unsanctioned, unpaid break to combat burnout and how that decision allowed her to return to medicine with renewed purpose. 

Direct care nursing as a career destination-A qualitative exploration of why nurses stayNursing Management; by Leach, Catherine T.; Whade, Jill J.; Horvick, Savannah G.; 1/26Intent to stay (ITS) is the best predictor of nurse turnover. Interventions aimed at combating turnover may be ineffective if they're developed without getting input from nurses to understand why they stay. A total of 18 clinical nurses were interviewed, and four major themes were identified: organizational culture, sense of belonging, leadership in action, and sustainability of bedside nursing. Conclusions: Integrating organizational culture, sense of belonging, leadership in action, and resources for direct care nursing will strengthen nurses' ITS and encourage nurses to pursue direct care nursing as a career destination.

They balanced life and work. Now more women are quitting. Here's why USA Today; by Jessica Guynn; 1/29/26 ... [In]2025, more than 455,000 women left the workforce. Now, a national survey casts a light on what drove that decision for many women. Nearly half of the women who voluntarily left said they did so because of their caregiving responsibilities and the high cost and limited availability of child care, according to a survey from women’s advocacy group Catalyst. 

Briana Kohlbrenner: End-of-life care is under threat - as demand for hospice grows, workers say staffing and pay must keep paceVTDigger, Vermont; commentary by Briana Kohlbrenner; 1/27/26 As demand for hospice grows, workers say staffing and pay must keep pace. University of Vermont Home Health and Hospice (UVMHHH) is at a crossroads. As Vermont’s population ages, the demand for hospice care is growing. ... We are asking for fair and transparent pay scales, safe staffing and equity within the UVM Health system. Though we wear the same logo on our badges, we are paid less than our counterparts in other parts of the UVM Health system. A new nurse starting at UVM Home Health and Hospice earns $6.72 less per hour than a new nurse at the UVM Medical Center.

15,000 NYC nurses strike highlights impact on oncology care Oncology Nursing News; by Spencer Feldman; 1/16/26 A 5-day NYC nurses strike raises concerns about staffing, patient safety, and the critical role of oncology nurses in cancer care. ...