Literature Review
10 top health system workplaces, per USA Today
03/28/25 at 03:10 AM10 top health system workplaces, per USA TodayBecker's Hospital Review; by Giles Bruce; 3/21/25Ten health systems were named top workplaces March 21 by USA Today and human resources technology company Energage. The Top Workplaces USA 2025 list was determined using Energage’s confidential employee engagement surveys and participating company benchmarks that take into account years of workplace culture research.Here are the health systems that ranked in the top 100 among organizations with 2,500-plus employees:
Executive Personnel Changes - 3/28/25
03/28/25 at 03:00 AMExecutive Personnel Changes - 3/28/25
Five key CDC leaders abruptly retire amid agency shakeup: What to know
03/28/25 at 03:00 AMFive key CDC leaders abruptly retire amid agency shakeup: What to know Newsweek; by Gabe Whisnant; 3/25/25 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is facing a major leadership shakeup, with five high-level officials stepping down in what marks the latest wave of internal turmoil for the nation's premier public health agency. According to the Associated Press, which confirmed the resignations through two CDC officials who requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly, the resignations were revealed during a senior leadership meeting on Tuesday. The announcement follows three other recent departures, and together, these changes amount to nearly a third of the CDC's top management either having already left or planning to do so. ... Why It Matters: The CDC, headquartered in Atlanta, operates more than two dozen centers and offices. The five latest officials to exit lead critical divisions, and while their departures have been described internally as retirements, they were not publicly announced.
New musical asks, 'How do we deal with the end?' (with a singalong)
03/28/25 at 03:00 AMNew musical asks, 'How do we deal with the end?' (with a singalong)Edge Media Network; by Kilian Melloy; 3/25/25 Worcester, Massachusetts natives and brothers Daniel Lazour and Patrick Lazour started making theater when they were still kids, ... "It was a really beautiful coming together of the whole [theater] community to do these shows," Daniel adds. That communal spirit lives on in the brothers' latest work, "Night Side Songs," a production of the American Repertory Theater that's scheduled to play ... from March 27 – April 6 [and] April 8 - 20. Bringing audiences together for a full-length play that makes singing an integral part of the experience – the songs are written to be easy for the audience to sing and to participate in performing, much like hymns at a church service, the brothers say – "Night Side Songs" makes a cathartic shared experience from the story of Yasmine (Brooke Ishibashi), a woman facing cancer and chemotherapy but finding love, meaning, and her own voice as part of the journey. [Continue reading ...]
Kennedy slashing 10,000 jobs in health department overhaul
03/28/25 at 03:00 AMKennedy slashing 10,000 jobs in health department overhaul USA Today, Washington, DC; by Joey Garrison; 3/27/25 Health and Human Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said Thursday he will cut about 10,000 full-time jobs from the Cabinet department in a dramatic reduction that includes closing half its regional offices as part of a wider Trump administration overhaul of the federal government. Combined with HHS employees who previously accepted buyouts and others who were already fired, the agency's workforce will be sliced by one-quarter from 82,000 full-time employees to 62,000 since President Donald Trump returned to the White House. The Department of Health and Human Services ‒ which oversees the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services ‒ will consolidate the agency's 28 divisions into 15 new divisions in Kennedy's shakeup. ... Among the cuts in key divisions:
Saying goodbye to Dad
03/28/25 at 03:00 AMSaying goodbye to Dad MidlandsLife; by Jeff Becraft; 3/27/25 I know my last article talked about my Dad moving on to Higher Ground, but while it is still fresh on my mind, I’m going to delve into the process of saying goodbye. Perhaps it will resonate with someone who has already been down this path… or maybe someone who will be going down this path. I know that many people have been on a longer road than what I am going to describe. I won’t try to cover everything and there are some very significant things that are left out because of space; I will be simply giving my perspective on the overall experience of the last days. [Continue reading ...]Editor's note: If you have to dive into only one article today, this is the one. If you have experienced the vigil of a loved one's final days, this likely gives voice to your journey: "Each day we thought was going to be Dad’s last. It was certainly a time of changing emotions." If you have not experienced this, read to learn common rhythms and themes, dissonances harmonies, and final release into death. Thank you Jeff Becraft for your meaningful reflection.
Mitchell Hospice House celebrates upcoming grand opening
03/28/25 at 03:00 AMMitchell Hospice House celebrates upcoming grand opening KTIV-4 News, Sioux City, IA; by Acacia Phillips; 3/25/25 ... On Tuesday, Mitchell Hospice House celebrated its grand opening, which is less than a week away. At the celebration, members of the community had the opportunity to tour the facility. ... Mitchell Hospice House has a total of 9 rooms. ... They also have rooms for family members so they can be close to their loved ones. The goal is to provide a space for those who need that end-of-life care but want a place that feels like home. They officially open next Monday, March 31. [Contintue reading ...]
[UK] Man to sell his 4,000 books in aid of hospice
03/28/25 at 03:00 AM[UK] Man to sell his 4,000 books in aid of hospice BBC News; by Emily Coady-Stemp and Jo Burn; 3/26/25 A man has opened a shop to sell his collection of 4,000 books to raise money for the hospice where he is receiving care. Rob McCann, from the Kent village of Sutton Valence, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in July 2023 and given just weeks to live. "Yet here I am, 18 months later, still going strong," he added. He opened Capelli's Books in his village on Tuesday to raise money for the Heart of Kent Hospice. [Continue reading ...]
Ohio payer beats UnitedHealthcare in racketeering lawsuit, awarded $50M
03/28/25 at 03:00 AMOhio payer beats UnitedHealthcare in racketeering lawsuit, awarded $50M Becker's Payer Issues; by Jakob Emerson; 3/19/25 An Ohio jury awarded Medical Mutual of Ohio over $50 million in damages on March 12 after the payer prevailed in its lawsuit against FrontPath Health Coalition and HealthScope Benefits, a subsidiary of UnitedHealthcare. FrontPath offers employee benefits solutions, and HealthScope is a third-party administrator. .. The defendants were found to have committed federal wire fraud, telecommunications fraud, tampered with records, and obstructed justice by submitting false bid information. The jury found that the conspiracy resulted in significant damages to Medical Mutual and ultimately caused taxpayers to pay higher healthcare costs than necessary.
Moral agency in healthcare: What does it mean?
03/28/25 at 03:00 AMMoral agency in healthcare: What does it mean? Healthcare Business Today; by Editorial Team; 3/27/25 ... Moral agency, as defined by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, is ”having the intent and then acting to pursue, achieve, and maintain optimal beneficial outcomes consistent with the moral/ethical principles of one’s practice.” ... A moral agent is a person who can tell right from wrong and is held accountable for his or her actions. Moral agents have a moral responsibility not to cause unjustified harm, which is especially important in a healthcare setting. ...
Thompson Scholars and AdventHealth host successful Health Equity Health Fair
03/28/25 at 03:00 AMThompson Scholars and AdventHealth host successful Health Equity Health Fair AdventHealth Manchester, Manchester, KY; by Christina Couch; 3/25/25 The Thompson Scholars Foundation and AdventHealth are proud to announce the successful completion of the Health Equity Health Fair held [March 24] ... in Manchester, KY. With over 250 participants, the event brought together medical professionals, community representatives, and attendees to address health disparities and promote wellness within the community. The Health Equity Health Fair featured a wide range of activities and resources, including: ... Hospice Care ...
Today's Encouragement: Basketball doesn't care ...
03/28/25 at 03:00 AMBasketball doesn’t care what color your skin is. It doesn’t care what language you speak or what religion you practice. It doesn’t care if you’re big or small, fast or slow. It just asks you to play, to complete, to lose with dignity, to win with humility. ~ Coach Jim Calhoun, Basketball Hall of Fame and 3-time NCAA champion
AGG, New Day’s Bill Dombi: Hospices’ ‘vibrant evolutionary path’ spurs legal growing pains
03/28/25 at 02:15 AMAGG, New Day’s Bill Dombi: Hospices’ ‘vibrant evolutionary path’ spurs legal growing pains Hospice News; by Holly Vossel; 3/26/25 Today’s hospice landscape is reaching a pivotal point of evolutionary growth that has come with increased oversight as regulators seek to curb fraudulent activity in the space, according to Bill Dombi, senior counsel for the law firm Arnall Golden Gregory (AGG). ... He previously served as president of the National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC) for 38 years prior to its affiliation with the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) in 2023 and was heavily involved in the establishment of the Medicare Hospice Benefit. ... [Dombi:] "... Hospice has been a very vibrant part of the health care world for quite a while now, but I think its energy levels are at an all-time high right now. And that’s energy levels in terms of not just public awareness and utilization of the services, but also the gained respect of recognizing that hospice is not a cottage industry anymore. Some people might label it as growing pains. I call it more of an evolution that naturally seems to occur in any field and in any organization." [Continue reading ...]
The Healing of America with T.R. Reid
03/28/25 at 02:00 AMThe Healing of America with T.R. Reid TCNtalks Podcast; podcast by Chris Comeaux with T.R. Reid; 3/26/25 In this episode of TCN Talks, host Chris Comeaux interviews NY Times bestselling author T. R. Reid. They discuss T. R. Reid’s experiences and insights from researching healthcare systems around the world, particularly focusing on the need for universal coverage and the various models of healthcare delivery. ... This is a great listen as the U.S. spends more on healthcare, yet we are not even in the top 10 in the world. It’s hard to make one aspect of healthcare successful, like Hospice and Palliative Care, if the broader ecosystem it resides in is flawed and unsustainable. Join us; this is very timely.
Palliative care clinic offers supportive care for patients with end-stage heart failure
03/27/25 at 03:00 AMPalliative care clinic offers supportive care for patients with end-stage heart failure Yale School of Medicine; by Rachel Martin; 3/25/25 ... Michael Beasley, MD, [Yale] assistant professor of medicine (cardiovascular medicine), and Nora Segar, MD, [Yale] assistant clinical professor (general internal medicine) and director of palliative medicine at the Saint Raphael Campus of Yale New Haven Hospital, recently established a new outpatient clinic to provide dedicated palliative care for people with end-stage heart failure. ... “For many patients with advanced heart failure, hospice care does not meet their needs until very late in their course,” said Segar, an early champion of the clinic. “Instead, by providing early palliative care outside of the hospital, when it’s not a time of crisis, we can help patients accept and cope with their prognosis, manage their symptoms, and continue making plans for the future.” New patients receive longer appointments, which allows the team to hear their stories and start building relationships with them. [Continue reading ...]Editor's note: For all palliative and hospice leaders, we highlight this last statement: "New patients receive longer appointments, which allows the team to hear their stories and start building relationships with them."
[Austria] Influence of prior knowledge and experience on willingness to pay for home hospice services: a contingent valuation study
03/27/25 at 03:00 AM[Austria] Influence of prior knowledge and experience on willingness to pay for home hospice services: a contingent valuation study International Journal of Health Economics and Management; Caroline Steigenberger, Andrea M Leiter, Uwe Siebert, Claudia Schusterschitz, Magdalena Flatscher-Thoeni; 3/25/25 Home hospice services contribute to dying in dignity by addressing medical and social needs at the end of life. ... We aim to quantify the benefits of home hospice services to society using society's monetary valuation and examine the influence of prior knowledge and experience on willingness to pay for home hospice services. A nationwide cross-sectional contingent valuation study was conducted in Austria. ... The two-part regression analysis showed a statistically significant positive impact on the probability of having a positive willingness to pay by prior knowledge of home hospice services, prior donations, and the wish of not dying alone. [Continue reading ...]Editor's note: Pair this research from Austria with today's USA post, "Medicare and 24-hour in-home hospice care: Is it covered?" Too often, we take for granted our Hospice Medicare payment system. Some choose to misuse it in ways that lead to fraud. This research reinforces openess to hospice services per "prior knowledge of home hospice services, prior donations, and the wish of not dying alone."
[England] Mother, 79, excited to skydive for hospice
03/27/25 at 03:00 AM[England] Mother, 79, excited to skydive for hospice BBC; by Susie Rack; 3/22/25 A 79-year-old woman planning a skydive to raise funds for a hospice charity that is caring for her friend said she was not "scared at all." Adventure-seeker Shirley Warnes, from Rugby, Warwickshire, who said she loved rock climbing and helicopter rides, described the jump for Myton Hospice as a "bucket-list challenge." ... She has already raised more than £600 for the charity, which supports people with life-limiting illnesses across Coventry and Warwickshire, to thank them for providing respite care for her friend Gordon, who has motor neurone disease.
Today's Encouragement: Where all think alike, ...
03/27/25 at 03:00 AMWhere all think alike, no one thinks very much. ~ Walter Lippman
The HOPE Assessment Tool Series: Compliance saves money
03/27/25 at 03:00 AMThe HOPE Assessment Tool Series: Compliance saves moneyCHAP press release; by Jennifer Kennedy; 3/25This blog will discuss compliance with HOPE record submission and acceptance and tips for avoiding costly penalties.
CMS will not resume implementation of Hospice SFP in 2025
03/27/25 at 03:00 AMCMS will not resume implementation of Hospice SFP in 2025 Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 3/25/25 A federal court has ordered a stay on litigation intended to block the hospice Special Focus Program (SFP) after the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) pledged that it would not resume implementation during 2025. The crux of a lawsuit filed by hospice organizations against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is the criteria that the agency uses to select hospices for the new Special Focus Program (SFP). [Continue reading ...]
What solo parent travel abroad taught me about leadership
03/27/25 at 03:00 AMWhat solo parent travel abroad taught me about leadership Entrepreneur; by Robert Hoffman; 3/20/25 As a solo parent and CEO, balancing family and work responsibilities often feels like navigating uncharted waters. But over the past few years, traveling the world with my daughter has taught me invaluable lessons that have shaped both my personal life and professional leadership. Parenting on the go in unfamiliar settings demands adaptability, cultural intelligence and strategic thinking — qualities that directly translate to leading in today's unpredictable global business environment. ...
5 must-watch TED Talks that will make you a better leader right now
03/27/25 at 03:00 AM5 must-watch TED Talks that will make you a better leader right now Inc; by Peter Economy; 3/21/25Back in 1978, historian and leadership guru James MacGregor Burns said, “Leadership is one of the most observed and least understood phenomena on earth.” While that assessment of leadership may have once been true, I think it’s no longer the case. Today, leadership is a well-understood phenomenon. There are a variety of ways to take your leadership to the next level. Here are five extremely popular—and powerful—TED Talks that will help you do just that. [TED Talk videos are embedded in this article.]
Hidden battles: Keeping cancer secret
03/27/25 at 03:00 AMHidden battles: Keeping cancer secret Harvard Health Publishing - Harvard Medical School; by Maureen Salamon; post is dated 4/1/25, retrieved from the internet 3/25/25 Some people choose to conceal their diagnosis and treatment. Here's why — and reasons that approach can sometimes backfire. ... [In addition to privacy motives, Cristina Pozo-Kaderman, a senior psychologist at Harvard-affiliated Dana-Farber Cancer Institute] says cancer patients may also wish to:
Y.C. Ho/Helen and Michael Chiang Foundation Fellowship Grant Program now open
03/27/25 at 03:00 AMY.C. Ho/Helen and Michael Chiang Foundation Fellowship Grant Program now open American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM); Press Release; 3/25/25 We are pleased to announce that the Y.C. Ho/Helen and Michael Chiang Foundation has awarded AAHPM a grant to support fellowship training programs for the 2026-2027 academic year. [This grant] is available to partially support a fellowship training program that operates an adult accredited program offering a pediatric focused hospice and palliative medicine fellowship training program or pediatric hospice and palliative medicine fellowship training program accredited through the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) preparing physicians to practice as a pediatric hospice and palliative medicine (HPM) subspecialist following training. This funding initiative is open to accredited hospice and palliative care fellowship training programs, not to individual applicants. Funding will go to support part of the salary and benefits of a single fellow. The application cycle is open now through Wednesday, April 23 at 5pm CT. Details on funding priorities, eligibility criteria, and the application are available on the AAHPM website. [From the AAHPM site:] One award of $45,000 will be presented for the 2026-2027 academic year with the opportunity to renew for one additional year following an evaluation. [Continue reading ...]