Literature Review

5 things every leader can learn from Pope Francis  Inc., by Suzanne Lucas; 4/21/25 He led the world’s largest organization with humility and a willingness to engage with different groups and hear different viewpoints. ...  [Pope Francis' death marks] the end of a papacy that influenced far more than just the Catholic Church. In his 12 years as pope, he led with a style that offers enduring leadership lessons for anyone in a position of authority, especially in business. ... While I’m not Catholic, I have followed his work in the 12 years he’s served as pope, and there are plenty of things you can learn about his leadership of the Catholic Church and apply in your life and business.

20 tech experts on how to boost operational resilience Forbes; by Forbes Expert Panel; 3/23/25 Managing risk and boosting resilience is an important initiative for organizations—particularly so for the finance, healthcare and logistics sectors. ... Members of Forbes Technology Council share their top tips for building operational resilience.

Ardent Health's first CDIO, a nurse, on the value of 'human-centric' technology Healthcare IT News; by Bill Siwicki; 4/23/25 Anika Gardenhire, RN, chief digital and information officer at the 30-hospital health system, is working to improve the provider and patient experience with ambient listening, augmented intelligence and more. Nashville-based Ardent Health includes 30 hospitals and more than 280 sites of care in six states, including Idaho, Kansas, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. ... 

What’s driving health system investment in Gen Z leadership Becker's Hospital Review; by Kristin Kuchno; 4/15/25 With an aging workforce and looming executive retirements, building leadership pipelines early is more important than ever, Jason Gilbert, PhD, RN, chief nurse executive at Indianapolis-based Indiana University Health, told Becker’s. It is especially important given Generation Z’s strong interest in early career development. “Gen Z is actively seeking development, and if you do not provide them that opportunity, they are going to look for someone who is,” he said. While their ambitions may not be entirely different from those of earlier generations, their expectations of employers are, he added. ... “Feedback is very important to Gen Z employees,” she said. “They’re interested in personalized coaching and mentoring, and they want to be a part of the solution and have an expectation around communication and frequent, actionable feedback.”

Why leadership training is the next big thing in RN to BSN programs Nevada State University; by RN to BSN; 4/22/25 The role of registered nurses (RNs) has expanded far beyond traditional bedside care. Today’s nurses are expected to navigate complex systems, coordinate interdisciplinary teams, and contribute to decision-making at all levels of care. In response, degree programs like the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) are placing a stronger emphasis on leadership training — equipping nurses with the tools they need to guide teams, manage change, and improve patient outcomes. This shift reflects a growing recognition that leadership is not reserved exclusively for executives or administrators. Nurses at every level are uniquely positioned to influence clinical practice, shape policy, and advocate for their patients.

How physician CEOs are reenergizing later-career cliniciansBecker's Hospital Review; by Kristin Kuchno; 4/9/25 While much attention has been paid to recruiting top talent amid workforce shortages, retaining physicians later in their careers is also a key focus for health systems. Mentorship, flexible scheduling and leadership development opportunities can help energize experienced physicians and reduce burnout in the years leading up to their retirement, health system CEOs told Becker’s. Physician CEOs are uniquely positioned to understand the challenges around burnout and retention. Sunny Eappen, MD, president and CEO of The University of Vermont Health Network in Burlington [described], “Having experience being in front of a patient and having to either have difficult conversations or make difficult decisions is at the core of what we do,” Dr. Eappen said. “People understand that I can really speak from the heart and truly be in their shoes.”

6 nonverbal cues that reveal your leadership communication style Forbes; by Cheryl Robinson; 4/17/25 ... [Some] of the most influential leadership communication doesn’t come from words—it comes from what you do when you’re not speaking. And it’s not always the cues you’d expect. These subtle, often overlooked signals shape how others perceive your authority; your body language tells a completely different story from your words. Dr. Albert Mehrabian’s well-known 7-38-55 rule breaks down communication into three key components: 7% of meaning comes from words, 38% is conveyed through tone of voice and 55% through body language. Mastering nonverbal communication has become a critical leadership skill in the digitally remote workspace.  ... To lead with greater impact, you need to recognize the signals you’re sending, especially the ones you don’t realize you’re giving off.

This weekend: Passover and Easter with hospice patients and familiesHospice & Palliative Care Today; by Joy Berger, DMA, FT, BCC, MT-BC, editor in chief; 4/17/25 This weekend brings a confluence of the Jewish Passover and Christian Easter holy days. Whatever your faith system, understanding at least a bit about the diverse faith systems of those you serve matters. We provide these hospice-specific resources as references:

More than just meds: What a palliative care pharmacist learned from the bedside Pharmacy Times; by Trinh Bui, PharmD, Yale New Haven Health; April 2025 Issue A palliative care pharmacist highlights a spectrum of clinical opportunities for patients, caregivers, and clinicians when rounding at the bedside. ... I hold a unique clinical position. In 2018, the National Palliative Care Registry reported that less than 10% of national palliative care (PC) programs have a dedicated pharmacist. I am a member of the PC consultation service at a cancer hospital affiliated with a large tertiary academic medical center in New Haven, Connecticut. Routinely, we are consulted for at least 40 patients a day, with more than 2000 consults in 2024. ... A benefit of having a clinical pharmacist on the interdisciplinary team includes the ability to provide off-label medication to optimize complex medication regimens while honoring patients’ psychosocial, cultural, and spiritual needs. ...

The modern health care professional: How to combine skills from different fields to redefine your career MedPage Today's KevinMD.com; by Jalene Jacob, MD, MBA; 4/11/25 Gone are the days when careers followed linear paths and job titles neatly fit into predefined boxes. Today’s health care industry celebrates versatility, and hybrid professionals are redefining what it means to succeed. A hybrid health care professional combines skills and expertise from different fields, blending knowledge to create unique value in the health care space. Whether you’re a nurse with coding skills, a doctor with a passion for data analysis and research, or a biomedical engineer with a talent for design and business, hybridization is becoming the new competitive advantage. This article explores how early professionals can harness their diverse interests and talents to shape their careers and stand out in a rapidly evolving job market.

The future of management is hybrid: Leading human-AI teams in a new era of work Holtz Communication + Technology; by Shel Holtz; 4/12/25 ... Consider healthcare, where an AI agent will draft post-visit follow-up patient care plans, schedule check-ins, send reminders, and flag unusual symptoms in post-visit surveys for review. The human nurse practitioner will review and personalize the follow-up plan, contact patients in need of emotional support or clarification, and make clinical decisions about concerns the AI has flagged. ... Healthcare managers will have to align clinical protocols with AI-generated outputs, ensure HIPAA compliance (in the U.S.), and train staff to interpret and override AI recommendations when necessary. ... With less busy work, managers should be able to to focus on those aspects of managing that require a human touch, shifting to leading and mentoring, employing soft skills over hard skills, as shown in this chart: [Management Task/Skill | AI-AGents - Strength | Human Managers - Strength]

National Alliance for Care at Home responds to the FY 2026 Hospice Proposed Rule National Alliance for Care at Home, Alexandira, VA and Washington, DC; Press Release; 4/11/25 The National Alliance for Care at Home (the Alliance) issued the following statement [Fri 4/11] in response to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Hospice Wage Index proposed rule, which proposes payment and regulatory updates under the Medicare hospice benefit. The proposed 2.4% payment update fails to adequately address the mounting financial pressures facing hospices nationwide. With escalating operational costs driven by inflation, workforce shortages, and rising expenses for supplies and services, the proposed payment increase would threaten the ability of hospices to sustainably provide quality end-of-life care. “The proposed payment update for FY 2026 falls short of what is needed to sustain high-quality hospice care,” said Dr. Steve Landers, CEO of the Alliance. “Without meaningful adjustments, hospices across the country will face serious challenges—jeopardizing access to care for terminally ill patients and placing added strain on families already facing the unimaginable. ..."