Literature Review

10 smart questions to ask before hiring an IT services company DesignRush; by Sergio Oliveira; 10/28/25 A first-hand guide for CEOs on how to vet IT vendors, avoid scope traps, and ensure accountability beyond the pitch. ... Every IT partner looks capable during a pitch — that’s their job. The challenge is separating an agency's confidence from day-to-day reality. I’ve learned that asking the right questions early is the only way to find out how potential agencies will handle change, protect uptime, and keep you in control of your own data. 

New Joint Commission Guidance on the use of Artificial Intelligence in healthcare The National Law Review; by  Paul R. DeMuro, PhD, Brandon K. von Kriegelstein, Taylor M. Stilwell Katten; 10/28/25 On September 17, 2025, the Joint Commission, in collaboration with the Coalition for Health AI (“CHAI”), issued its first high-level framework on the responsible use of artificial intelligence (“AI”) in healthcare.  The Guidance on the Responsible Use of AI in Healthcare (“Guidance”) is intended to help hospitals and health systems responsibly deploy, govern, and monitor AI tools across organizations.  The goal of the Guidance is to help “…the industry align elements that enhance patient safety by reducing risks associated with AI error and improving administrative, operational, and patient outcomes by leveraging AI’s potential.” ... The seven core elements articulated by the Guidance are:

AHA responds to OSTP request on AI policies for health care American Hospital Association; by Ashley Thompson, AHA Senior Vice President, Public Policy Analysis and Development; 10/27/25 ... On behalf of our nearly 5,000 member hospitals, health systems and other health care organizations, our clinician partners — including more than 270,000 affiliated physicians, 2 million nurses and other caregivers — and the 43,000 health care leaders who belong to our professional membership groups, the American Hospital Association (AHA) appreciates the opportunity to provide comment on the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) request for information (RFI) regarding regulatory reform on artificial intelligence (AI). ... [Our] members have urged that policy frameworks strike the appropriate balance of flexibility to enable innovation while ensuring patient safety. The AHA offers four categories of recommendations to maximize the potential for AI to improve care, accelerate innovation and support the health care workforce.

Hospice market expands at 9.6% CAGR, projected to hit USD 182.1 billion Market.Us Media; by Trishita Deb; 10/26/25 The Global Hospice Market is projected to reach USD 182.1 billion by 2033, growing from USD 72.8 billion in 2023 at a CAGR of 9.6%. ... Challenges:

Hospice & Palliative Care Network of Maryland calls for action on short hospice stays: New issue paper highlights urgent need for earlier access to careHospice & Palliative Care Network of Maryland press release; by Peggy Shimoda; 10/23/25The Hospice & Palliative Care Network of Maryland (HPCNM) has released a new issue paper, “Short Hospice Stays in Maryland: Ensuring Patient-Centered Care at End-of-Life,” revealing that Maryland ranks 46th nationally for hospice length of stay. With a median of just 18 days in 2024, patients and families miss the full benefit of hospice services that promote comfort, dignity, and peace at the end of life... “Short hospice stays are not just a clinical problem—they’re a systems challenge,” said Dr. Jennifer Kennedy, HPCNM Board Member and Chair of the Short Length of Stay Workgroup. “Earlier conversations, coordinated care, and improved discharge practices can help patients receive the care they deserve sooner.”

New AI tools target providers looking to succeed in TEAM demo Modern Healthcare; by Diane Eastabrook; 10/10/25 Key Takeaways

Care that never gives up - in honour of World Hospice & Palliative Care Day 2025 The Morung Express; by Dr. Victoria Seb, MBBS, PDGDM, FIPM; 10/10/25 Quoting the Father of Medicine, Hippocrates, himself : ‘To cure sometimes, to relieve often, to comfort always’, these timeless words echo deeply the realm of palliative care, reminding us that the heart of healthcare lies not only in curing disease but in easing suffering and preserving dignity. The World Hospice & Palliative Care Day 2025 theme “Achieving the Promise: Universal Access to Palliative Care” calls to action for communities, healthcare systems and policy makers to ensure that palliative care is not a privilege but a universal right – accessible to every person, everywhere. ... In an era marked by medical advancement and increased life expectancy, the demand for holistic, compassionate care at the end of life has never been greater. Yet, despite its proven benefits, access to palliative care remains limited worldwide. The need for palliative care is urgent and growing, especially as populations age and chronic diseases become more prevalent. 

Seasons Hospice hosts commemoration as it closes hospice house, forges ahead with in-home care KTTC, Rochester, MN; by Caitlin Alexander; 10/10/25 Local nonprofit organization Seasons Hospice hosted a somber but significant moment on Friday as it commemorated its hospice house. After more than 25 years, Seasons Hospice is closing the doors of the hospice house, as it now shifts its focus to serving patients and families with in-home hospice care. “I had a hard time at first accepting that and getting beyond it, but I did,” one of the founders, Sarah Oehlke, said. “I’m very grateful that you have sustained our quality-of-care standards for all of the years.” “We have together provided comfort, dignity and compassion to countless families during life’s most poignant moments,” Board President Dawn Beck said. ... Seasons Hospice previously spoke about a declining census at the hospice house, especially in recent years, noting the shift toward people wishing to spend their final days in their homes with loved ones.Editor's Note: This Seasons Hospice is in Rochester, Minnesota; not to be confused with other hospice organizations throughout the nation with "seasons" in its name. They gave their hospice house both a "good life" and "a good death." We draw attention to the shift they described "toward people wishing to spend their final days in their homes with loved ones," and will continue to be on the lookout for similar trends. To quote from an ancient poet, "To everything there is a season ..." We wish Seasons Hospice well through its continued transitions.

Conspiracy of verticals:  Rethinking healthcare models with Peter Benjamin Teleios collaborative Network (TCN); video/podcast hosted by Chris Comeaux with Peter Benjamin; 10/8/25 In this conversation, Peter Benjamin and Chris Comeaux discuss the impact of COVID-19 on mortality rates, particularly the concept of 'death pull forward' and its implications for Hospice Care. Peter highlights the significant role of assisted living facilities in Hospice days and explores macro trends in healthcare, emphasizing the shift from vertical to horizontal care models. The discussion also covers the evolution of Palliative Care, frail elderly practices, and institutional special needs plans (iSNPs), while stressing the importance of measuring quality of care, particularly in pain management. 

Why 95% of AI rollouts fail and what L&D leaders can do about it Big Think+; 10/7/25 Companies are pouring resources into AI, yet capability gaps hold employees back from using it effectively. ... MIT recently reported that 95 percent of AI projects fail to deliver measurable outcomes. Despite the unprecedented investment, productivity gains are elusive, employee adoption is shaky, and the business case often collapses under scrutiny. How can we surround ourselves with the most powerful technology in human history, spend billions deploying it, and still struggle to prove it makes us better? The answer isn’t hiding in the models or the code. The real story and the real risk are sitting right in front of us. ... If you only push the tech, you’ll be part of the 95 percent of failures. If you only focus on people, you’ll underestimate what’s at stake. Success requires advancing both at the same time, with equal intentionality.

Dallas nonprofit plans first hospice house for people experiencing homelessness NBC DFW-5, Dallas, TX; by David Goins; 10/7/25 ... Tucked along a quiet, tree-lined street just east of downtown Dallas sits a historic property that will soon house a new concept for North Texas — a hospice house designed to provide end-of-life care in a safe, supportive environment for those living unsheltered. Chris Culack, CEO of the Visiting Nurse Association of Texas, said the organization’s mission has long centered on supporting vulnerable populations. The group currently provides meals for homebound neighbors in Dallas, Denton and Rockwall counties, as well as in-home hospice care in 16 counties statewide. 

Pine Tree Hospice celebrates 40th anniversary at Peaks Kenny State Park The Piscataquis Observer, Bangor, ME; by Staff, Piscataquis Observer; 10/6/25 Sixty-plus volunteers and their family members gathered on Saturday, Sept. 20 to celebrate Pine Tree Hospice’s 40 years of providing free care and comfort to families in the greater Piscataquis County community. ... Executive Director Kristen Wortman credits the group’s longevity to the devotion of its volunteers to serving isolated and often house-bound neighbors in their communities, caregivers and those grieving the loss of a loved one. Pine Tree Hospice continues to focus on neighbors helping neighbors. Services are free and provided to clients without medical referral.Editor's Note: Congratulations to this out-of-the-box, rural, "non-medical" hospice that saw end-of-life care needs and found creative "neighbors-helping-neighbors" ways to meet them. Put this into context of 1985, in an ongoing rural environment at the uppermost northeast corner of the U.S., long before Medicare became the norm.