Literature Review

[Australia] The unmet needs of parents in pediatric palliative care: A qualitative systematic reviewJournal of Palliative Medicine; by Piyumi Senanayake, John Oldroyd; 8/25The goal of pediatric palliative care is to improve the quality of life of children with life-limiting or life-threatening disease and their families through a holistic care approach. Thirteen studies were included [in this analysis]. Five major themes emerged: (1) pediatric palliative care services delivery and care coordination, (2) emotional, psychological, and spiritual support, (3) end-of-life care and bereavement support, (4) practical and daily living support, and (5) communication and information. Parents reported unmet needs in multiple dimensions and wished for more support in caring for their children. Given that all of the unmet needs align with already established pediatric palliative care standards, this review highlights the need for revised health care policies and practices that will lead to better implementation of these standards in practice.

Benefits and burdens of research participation: A mixed methods systematic review in palliative and end-of-life careJournal of Hospice and Palliative Nursing; by Cara L Wallace, Stephanie P Wladkowski, Ruaa Al-Juboori, Anna Wingo, Kathryn W Coccia, Rebecca Hyde, Verna Hendricks-Ferguson; 8/25Research participation of hospice and palliative care patients and family caregivers is essential to develop and test best practices. Yet, healthcare professionals are often hesitant to ask patients and caregivers to participate in research, fearing it is too intrusive or unethical during a sensitive time. This review focused on the motivating factors, benefits, and burdens of research participation for patients with serious illness and their family caregivers. For clinicians and researchers, connecting patients and caregivers to palliative and end-of-life research may be both beneficial as a contribution to scientific literature and as an additional source of ongoing support.

COUNTDOWN: 18 Days Until HOPE Tool Starts, October 1, 2025

Family says bear attack victim to be transferred to hospice care KNWA/KFTA FOX-24, Little Rock, AR; by Justin Trobaugh; 9/9/25 The family of a Franklin County man says Sept. 8 that his condition has worsened and that he has been moved to hospice care. Vernon Patton, 72, is being held at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences after being attacked by a bear in the Mulberry Mountain area of Franklin County on Sept. 3. Patton was working on a gravel road with his tractor near Mulberry Mountain Lodge Park when the black bear attacked, according to Keith Stephens with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC). His son arrived to check on him and saw the bear actively attacking. Editor's Note: Executive leaders, traumatic events like this that lead to a hospice admission call for extra support for your clinical, direct care professionals and volunteers. They can experience secondary trauma as they tend horrific wounds, both physical (for the patient) and emotional (for family and friends). Also, what policies do you have in place to balance important community news and family privacy (e.g. staff or volunteers posting anything on social media).

What does it mean to be human in the age of AI? The Hastings Center for Bioethics - The Big Question; host Vardit Ravitsky with Insoo Hyun; 9/3/25 What are the moral and philosophical challenges we face as AI advances and humans navigate aging, end-of-life care, and cognitive decline? “We’re at a turning point because for the first time in the history of either our planet or our species we are seeing the emergence of a nonhuman intelligence,” says Hastings Center President Vardit Ravitsky in conversation with Hastings Center Fellow Insoo Hyun of the Museum of Science in Boston in the latest episode of The Big Question. 

Disaster preparedness in 2025: Recommendations for healthcare chief executive officers Becker's Hospital Review - Leadership & Management; by Anne Davila Casas Diamond; 9/9/25 September is National Preparedness Month, which aims to raise awareness about the importance of preparing for emergencies. The American College of Healthcare Executives advises healthcare executives to actively participate in disaster preparedness for natural and man-made disasters. This advice has never been more relevant as healthcare organizations plan for the 2026 fiscal year. The decreased financial resources from local, state and federal agencies require increased vigilance by healthcare leaders. ... Our preparedness now for the potential of man-made or natural disasters will benefit both our local communities and our workforces as we strive to keep highly reliable and effective operations under all situations. Editor's Note: For a wealth of resources, information, and stories we have published, go to our homepage, click on "Search" (if not already, "Login" to your subscription), and type in a key word that is relevant to your service area, e.g. disaster, hurricane, flood, fire, tornado, evacuate, et. al. 

My keyboard must be broken. I keep hitting the escape key, but I'm still at work. ~ Unknown

[Canada] How mobile palliative care unit is making a difference Ontario Hospital Association - New Models of Care, Ontario, Canada; Press Release; 9/9/25 Launched earlier this year, the PEGASUS program, short for palliative expertise group for ambulatory support and unified solutions, is an innovative, mobile model of care that brings palliative medicine directly to patients in outpatient clinics across the hospital. Rather than establishing a traditional clinic space, the PEGASUS team “flies” to where the need is. ... The result: a consultation-based team that integrates seamlessly into existing ambulatory clinics, avoiding duplication of services and focusing on enhancing continuity of care. 

COUNTDOWN: 19 Days Until HOPE Tool Starts, October 1, 2025

NGHS breaks ground on philanthropy-funded hospice house Access WDUN, Gainesville, GA; by Caleb Hutchins; 9/9/25 Northeast Georgia Health System held a groundbreaking ceremony Tuesday morning for a philanthropy-funded hospice house near Gainesville. ... The project, which is expected to open in fall of 2026, is the first philanthropy-funded facility in NGHS’ history. Christopher Bray, chief philanthropy officer of the Northeast Georgia Health System Foundation, called the Stephens’ more-than $5 million donation, which kick-started the project, game-changing for the foundation and the health system at large.

New van opens doors for Hospice of West Alabama clients Tuscaloosa News, Tuscaloosa, AL; by Gary Cosby, Jr.; 9/8/25 A new Hospice of West Alabama transport van is rolling through the streets, courtesy of the generosity of community donors. Hospice Executive Director Latrelle Hallum said the new vehicle will greatly expand the services they can offer to their clients. Before purchasing the new Toyota Sienna minivan, the organization did not have the ability to take clients places they needed to get to. "It's going to allow us to do a lot of extras. We will do Christmas lights tour for our patients and families in December, take them to graduations, or to see a newborn baby, or a Thanksgiving gathering, or to doctor's appointments. The only requirement is that it is not an ambulance. We can only transport people who are in a wheelchair," Hallum said.

Home health agency sues HHS over $34m Medicare payment recoupment Home Health Care News; by Morgan Gonzales; 9/8/25 Infinity Home Care of Lakeland, a Florida-based home health provider and affiliate of Amedisys, has sued the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services over Medicare recoupments. The Florida-based home health agency alleged that HHS completed “shoddy expert work” that led the agency to conclude that Medicare overpaid Infinity by $34 million for services from 2014 to 2016. According to the lawsuit, a contractor, Zone Program Integrity Contractors (ZPIC), reviewed 72 of the agency’s claims in 2017 and denied all 72 on the basis of errors with the face-to-face encounter documentation, that home health services were not medically reasonable and necessary or a lack of medical records. 

How ‘The Pitt' gets death right Hollywood Reporter; by Ingrid Schmidt; 9/8/25 Boasting 13 Emmy nominations and four recent TV Critics Association Award wins, HBO Max's breakout medical drama The Pitt has been widely lauded for its hyperrealistic portrayal of a chaotic, underfunded hospital emergency department. Among the many things the show has been credited for getting right is its nuanced depiction of death and dying. The Pitt cuts deep into the heart of harrowing end-of-life decisions and conversations faced by patients, family members and physicians, as well as the messy emotional aftermath. Editor's Note: Ira Byock, MD--pioneer palliative physician--significantly contributed to The Pitt's death stories. Explore more in our previous posts: Social Media Watch 6/20/25 and “It’s an homage”: Noah Wyle quietly sneaked in a tribute in one of the best episodes of ‘The Pitt’ . Additionally, we thank Dr. Byock for serving as a guest editor in our newsletter.