Healthcare AI in the United States — navigating regulatory evolution, market dynamics, and emerging challenges in an era of rapid innovation 
The National Law Review; by Nadia de la Houssaye, Andrew R. Lee, Jason M. Loring, Graham H. Ryan of Jones  Walker LLP; 10/2/25 
The use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools in healthcare continues to evolve at an unprecedented pace, fundamentally reshaping how medical care is delivered, managed, and regulated across the United States. As 2025 progresses, the convergence of technological innovation, regulatory adaptation (or lack thereof), and market shifts has created remarkable opportunities and complex challenges for healthcare providers, technology developers, and federal and state legislators and regulatory bodies alike. ...

• Regulatory Frameworks Under Pressure ...
• Data Privacy and Security: The HIPAA Challenge ...
• Algorithmic Bias and Health Equity Concerns ...
• Professional Liability and Standards of Care ...
• Market Dynamics and Investment Trends ...
• Emerging Technologies and Integration Challenges ...
• Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Considerations ...
• Human Oversight and Professional Standards ...
• Conclusion: Balancing Innovation and Responsibility ...

'I spent 36 years holding dying patients' hands' 
BBC News, Ireland; by Grace Shaw; 10/5/25
For hospice nurse Trish Carling, holding a dying patient's hand through the dark hours of the night was a privilege to share. The 66-year-old has just retired after 36 years working in palliative care at St Michael's Hospice in Harrogate. Her first shift was in November 1989, and she has worked almost every Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve since. Despite the demands of the job, she originally chose the pathway because it worked around family life when her children were young. "At first I found the night shifts practical - they then became my preferred hours," she said. ... [Continue reading]
Editor's Note: In what ways do you honor your longtime employees? How do you tell their stories of passionate compassion? Of loyalty to your core mission through changing times and operational practices? So many of these valued employees began in a pre-digital era. Imagine: before cell phones, the internet, websites, electronic employee files, EMR systems, and so much more. Crucial employee data can get lost especially during organizational name changes, Mergers & Acquistions, or a short-term leave of absence. Let this article be a catalyst for you to research and honor your employees with long tenures. Without their faithful foundations, your work today would not be the same.

Good Samaritan announces transition of hospice services 
Good Samaritan, Vincennes, IN; Press Release by Good Samaritan; 10/3/25 
Good Samaritan [in Vincennes, Indiana] has announced the difficult decision to close its hospice program effective December 31, 2025. The decision, made by the hospital’s Executive Team and Board of Governors, follows a careful evaluation of health care trends and reflects Good Samaritan’s commitment to responsible stewardship and long-term sustainability. “Since its beginning, our hospice team has provided extraordinary, compassionate care to patients and families across our region,” said Rob McLin, CEO of Good Samaritan. “We hold deep respect for that legacy and are committed to supporting our patients, families, and hospice team throughout this transition.” ... Good Samaritan is working closely with regional hospice providers and is actively exploring multiple partnership strategies to ensure hospice care throughout the communities we serve is provided seamlessly. All impacted hospice staff will be offered positions within Good Samaritan, and the organization is committed to supporting each individual through the transition.
Editor's Note: Per the National Hospice Locator, over a dozen hospices are named "Good Samaritan"; this is located in Vincennes, Indiana. While such decisions and transitions are surely difficult, Good Samaritan demonstrates excellence  in continuing their mission in how they are tending these transitions. Dare I say, they are providing "a good death"? 

Honoring the lives and legacies of hospice leaders - September 2025

• Balfour Mount, MD, with the following post from AAHPM: "... a visionary whose compassion and courage transformed the landscape of serious illness care. Widely recognized as the “father of palliative care in North America”, Dr. Mount’s legacy is woven into the very fabric of our field. ... Dr. Mount’s legacy is not only in the programs he built or the accolades he received, but in the lives he touched—patients, families, clinicians, and communities. His vision challenged us to see beyond the illness, to embrace the person, and to lead with empathy and integrity. ...  With gratitude and reverence, American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine
  
  
• Carol McAdoo, with the following post from the Louisiana-Mississippi Hospice & Palliative Care Association: "With gratitude for her life and efforts, we are saddened to announce the unexpected death of Carol McAdoo .  Carol was loved and appreciated for her work with LMHPCO Prison Hospice Support Project.  Before her retirement in 2019, she was very involved our educational prison conferences and her visits always resulted in greater care being provided by staff and inmates. She helped LMHPCO maintain a commitment to working with inmates and correctional administrators and staff members to ensure better palliative and end-of-life care in prison facilities and communities across Louisiana and Mississippi."

How palliative care supports families emotionally and physically 
Elevated Magazines; 10/3/25 
People often feel lost when someone they love is diagnosed with a serious illness. The shift in daily routines, the constant medical appointments, and the uncertainty about the future can feel overwhelming. Palliative care steps in to ease this transition, offering medical expertise and guidance that helps families adjust to new roles and responsibilities. Having a care team that understands both medical needs and the emotional burden can make a significant difference.

• Physical Support for Family Caregivers ...
• Emotional Support for Families ...
• Strengthening Family Relationships ...
• Frequently Asked Questions ...

Grief etiquette in the digital age: Why waiting, listening, and respecting family wishes matters more than ever 
National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) - Remembering a Life; by Dr. Camelia L. Clarke; 10/2/25
When my nephew died unexpectedly, I was still reeling from the news when my phone began to buzz with notifications. Within an hour, his death was already circulating on social media. The world had found out before our family had even begun to process the loss, let alone notify our closest friends and relatives. I remember feeling overwhelmed, exposed, and, most of all, heartbroken—not just by the loss itself, but by how quickly and impersonally it became public knowledge. As a funeral director and grief educator for nearly thirty years, I’ve witnessed this scenario unfold countless times. 

• Why Grief Etiquette Matters More Than Ever ...
• Let the Family Lead ...
• Compassion Before Clicks ...
• Practical Tips for Supporting Grieving Friends and Family ...
• Resources for Navigating Loss ...

Editor's Note: Long before social media, my family experienced how devastating it can be to have no ownership of how a loved one’s death is shared. When my grandfather’s car was hit by an 18-wheeler, the news of his death—with his name—aired on TV before my mother—his daughter and nearby emergency contact—was even notified. Dr. Camelia Clarke’s piece is a powerful reminder that grief etiquette isn’t just about manners; it’s about compassion, timing, and allowing families the space to process loss before the world steps in. I share with you this easy-to-remember-and-use teaching tool I've used with families:

A spiritual journey: Hospice of the Valley chaplains support patients at end of life 
Lovin' Life; by Laura Latzko; 10/5/25
As a chaplain, serving patients in hospice can be emotionally and mentally-taxing work. Hospice of the Valley chaplains such as David Kaminski and Leandro Luna do it because they love their work. Kaminski has been working with Hospice of the Valley since 1998. He was inspired to become a hospice chaplain after doing a residency in Chicago at Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke’s Medical Center in a wing with 52 intensive beds. He has been in hospice for the last 32 years. He has also worked for Hospice of the Great Lakes in the Chicago area. 

What is water cremation and why did Pa. lawmakers just back a bill to legalize it? 
LeighValleyLive.com, Leigh Valley, PA; by Lehigh Valley Community News; 10/5/25 
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed bipartisan legislation on Wednesday authorizing alkaline hydrolysis, commonly known as water cremation, as an approved cremation method in the state. The bill would give Pennsylvania families a more environmentally sustainable option for end-of-life services. Alkaline hydrolysis uses a mixture of water and alkali in a sealed pressurized steel chamber to reduce the body to bone, which is then processed into ash. The process consumes significantly less energy than traditional flame cremation, which requires temperatures exceeding 1,600 degrees Fahrenheit. According to the Mayo Clinic, alkaline hydrolysis uses only about one-quarter of the energy required for flame cremation. 

Connecticut legislature expands employee safety requirements for home health and hospice agencies 
Pullman & Comley - Connecticut Health Law; 10/3/25
In 2024, the Connecticut state legislature passed Public Act 24-19 to enhance protections for home health workers after a patient murdered a home health nurse. During its 2025 legislative session, the legislature passed Public Act 25-168 which, in Sections 184-186, amends the original law to require hospice agencies to comply with some of the provisions and to make other changes. These amendments went into effect on October 1, 2025. 
The 2024 Act 
Among other provisions in Public Act 24-19 are those codified at Sections 19a-491f, 19a-491g and 19a-491h, described below. [Continue reading.]

Stamford-area seniors can now enjoy free daytime care 
Evergreen, Stamford, CT; by Evergreen Daytime Senior Care and CT Hospice; 10/3/25
Thanks to a groundbreaking Medicare initiative, seniors living with dementia now qualify for benefits that help cover the cost of adult daytime care. Designed to improve quality of life, the GUIDE (Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience) Model, offered by Connecticut Hospice's Stand By Me program, features a full range of valuable services, including care coordination, caregiver education, and an annual respite benefit for up to 25 free days at adult day centers like Evergreen Daytime Senior Care. ... "We're excited to partner with Evergreen to provide high-quality adult day services to families enrolled in the GUIDE Model program," explained Mark Olynciw, GUIDE Program Manager at Connecticut Hospice. "Having trusted partners like Evergreen ensures our families have excellent options for their respite benefits."

Treasure Coast Hospice data breach: What you need to know 
Investors Hangout; by Henry Turner; 10/3/25 
Overview of the Treasure Coast Hospice Incident
Recently, Treasure Coast Hospice announced a significant cybersecurity incident that has compromised the personal information of over thirteen thousand individuals. This breach affected the confidentiality of sensitive records, including names, birth dates, and Social Security numbers. Such incidents highlight the importance of data security in healthcare services.

Invention, it must be humbly admitted, does not consist in creating out of void, but out of chaos. ~ Mary Wollstonecraft Shelly, author, Frankenstein