Literature Review

Healing hearts: How palliative care staff reunited a father with his daughters after nearly 40 years apart The Daily Scan - Cancer; by Sondi Bruner; 11/25/24, published in our newsletter 11/25/24Leah Duval and Tanya Ellis don’t have many childhood memories of their father. They recall fragments, like his bright smile and building snowmen in the backyard. And then one day, when they were three and five years old, Glenn Ellis disappeared completely. ​As the girls grew up, they learned their father had schizophrenia, which they guessed played a large role in his disappearance. ... The family searched for years in the 1980s and never found him. The sisters had no choice but to move forward with their lives, though they never gave up hope that their father was still out there. ... Then, on May 14th 2024, nearly 40 years after their father vanished from their hometown in Ontario, Tanya received an unexpected phone call from across the country. It was from Siobhan Gallagher, a social worker at May’s Place Hospice in Vancouver, BC. She had a patient named Glenn Ellis, and he was looking for his daughters. [Click on the title's link to read this story.] ... “People can hold onto grudges for their entire life and they don’t allow healing to happen,” says Tanya. “Have an open heart and an open mind. Just let things go, because we’re just all humans trying to do the best we can in this world.”

A ‘cloak of comfort’: an integrated approach to palliative care for cancer patients Sinai Health; 5/26/25 At Mount Sinai Hospital, palliative care is fully integrated into cancer care, providing comprehensive, person-centered support for those with advanced illness. Palliative care, derived from the Latin pallium meaning “cloak,” offers comfort and support to individuals with serious illnesses. Often misunderstood as solely end-of-life care, it actually provides relief at any stage of a life-threatening illness and can be provided in tandem with cancer treatment. This holistic approach addresses physical, emotional, and spiritual needs, aiming to improve quality of life for both patients and their families. In fact, early integration of palliative care can enhance symptom management, extend life and offer greater support to caregivers. Patients can receive care at Mount Sinai Hospital’s Cancer Care Clinic, at home through the Temmy Latner Centre’s home palliative care program, and in the palliative care unit at Hennick Bridgepoint Hospital.  

Tell us more: The Palliative Care Oral History Project Journal of Palliative Medicine; by Richard E. Leiter, Yilong Peng, and William E. Rosa; 5/19/25 As palliative specialists, we have a unique appreciation for the power of oral tradition—the stories of healing and suffering, challenge and accomplishment, and meaning and purpose that can be honored between us in safe and inclusive spaces. To this end, we take great pride in launching a new Journal of Palliative Medicine (JPM) podcast series, “Tell Us More: The Palliative Care Oral History Project.” Each month, we will sit down with a pivotal leader from Hospice and Palliative Care (HAPC) and do what our field does best—ask questions, listen, and reflect. Through our podcast, we’ll seek to understand the complexities and nuance behind our established practices and processes. Our interviews will be with pioneers from across HAPC’s professions and around the world. 

‘Wake-up call’: Aggressive cancer care common at end of life, supportive care lackingHealio; by Josh Friedman; 5/22/25Nearly half of people with advanced cancer receive aggressive care at the end of life, a rate little changed from a decade ago. At the same time, use of palliative or supportive care remains rare, despite increasing evidence that they are a key component of high-quality, patient-centered care. ... Meanwhile, two other studies showed oncologists’ individual practice patterns and institutional resources can play a significant role in determining which patients receive systemic therapy or early palliative care at the end of life.

New palliative care unit at Mercy Medical Center in Springfield WWLP Springfield, MA; by Kayleigh Thomas; 5/15/25 Mercy Medical Center in Springfield has just opened its new Palliative Care Unit, the first in western Massachusetts. This unit is named after the late Andy Yee, a well-known local restaurant owner. It serves as a tribute to his legacy and dedication to the community. ... To honor his memory, Mercy Medical Center held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new palliative care unit named after him. “My dad is extraordinary. He always took care of others. He always showed up when it mattered most. And this space here, this unit embodies that spirit,” said Andy Yee’s daughter, Bella Yee. 

Wisconsin Hospice and Palliative Care Council: Applauds state Assembly for approving bill establishing a State Palliative Care Council WisPolitics, Kimberly, WI; Press Release; 5/13/25 |Today, the State Assembly approved Assembly Bill 23, a bill that would establish a state Palliative Care Council.  The Wisconsin Hospice and Palliative Care Association (WiHPCA) strongly supports this legislation, which would ultimately help increase awareness and utilization of this specialized type of medical care throughout the state. The Assembly Committee on Health, Aging, and Long-Term Care voted 14-1 on March 13 to recommend approval of this legislation. This bill would establish a council of individuals with palliative care and other medical expertise to consult and advise the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) on this type of specialized medical care. In addition, this legislation would require DHS to create a statewide palliative care consumer and professional information and education program, as this type of specialized care is often misunderstood. 

Bristol Hospice expands, rebrands palliative care program Hospice News; by Holly Vossel; 4/25/25 Bristol Hospice has expanded and rebranded its palliative care program amid rising demand for these services. The hospice provider on Wednesday launched the Bristol Palliative Care program, designed to support seriously ill patients with chronic or life-limiting conditions. Formerly the Advanced Illness Management (AIM) program, the rebranding reflects the hospice’s enhanced patient-centered services and sprawling geographic footprint.

Value-based palliative care moving toward risk-based models Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 4/21/25 Risk-based contracts may be the future of palliative care reimbursement as Medicare Advantage continues to ascend. The simple term “value-based care” belies its complexity. The term can refer to any number of payment models that are designed to reduce total cost of care and improve outcomes. While most palliative care remains locked in the fee-for-service realm, most value-based organizations like MA plans are moving towards it, according to Dr. Gavin Baumgardner, vice president and national medical director for complex and palliative care at Contessa Health, a subsidiary of Amedisys (Nasdaq: AMED). 

Why good palliative care clinicians get fired JAMA Network - Viewpoint; by Abby R. Rosenberg, MD, MS, MA; Elliot Rabinowitz, MD; and Robert M. Arnold; 4/14/25 Even the most seasoned palliative care clinician gets fired. In the past year, one of us was fired after asking whether a patient endorsing suicidal ideation had access to a gun; the patient requested not to see the palliative care team because we asked intrusive questions and documented the encounter. One of us was fired after supporting a family’s decision to discontinue life-sustaining therapies for their loved one with multisystem organ failure; the primary intensivist suggested palliative care overstepped in discussing options for which the family (and clinical teams) was not ready. And one of us was fired after sharing the impression that a patient with cancer was dying; the family suggested they preferred the oncologist’s version of a more hopeful future.

Helios Care gets major grant for palliative care program ALLOTSEGO, Oneonta, NY; Press Release; 4/3/25 Helios Care has received a grant of $195,000.00 from the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation to support its Choices Program, officials announced on Friday, February 14. According to a media release, the Choices Program, which supports patients in Delaware, Otsego, and Schoharie counties, was created to bring in-home palliative care services to older adults who are facing a serious illness. ... “Choices has evolved thanks to the longstanding relationship between Helios Care and the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation,” said Kelly McGraw, who played a key role in launching and developing this program at Helios Care. “With this grant, Choices brings in-home person-centered care to patients, addressing their emotional, social, and physical needs.” [Continue reading ...]

Palliative 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."

Community health workers and technology interventions' impact on palliative support globally Journal of Palliative Medicine; by Alekhya Gunturi, Margarita Pertierra, Irma Elizabeth Huayanay Espinoza, Maya Kavita Ramachandran, Mpho Ratshikana Moloko, Karl A Lorenz; 3/20/25Background: Palliative care has the potential to relieve burdened global health systems but is in short supply in many low-resource settings. Community health workers (CHWs) and digital health tools/telephonic support have the potential to scale scarce palliative care resources and improve outcomes for seriously ill adults in home/community settings.  Conclusions: CHWs and digital health/telephony can improve quality of life, health care use, and caregiver support. Most research focuses on physical and psychological aspects of care instead of cultural aspects of care. Future research is needed to explore culturally tailored interventions in minority populations and low- and middle-income countries, as well as investigate emerging remote technologies to allow for scaling palliative care into home/community settings.Editor's note: Pair this with Hospice community responds to proposed DEA telehealth prescribing rule, posted 3/21/25.