Literature Review

The Carilion office driving 139 projects Becker's Hospital Review; by Kelly Gooch; 5/5/25 Roughly five years ago, Roanoke, Va.-based Carilion Clinic recognized the need for an organizational pivot to better align system strategic plans with major operational initiatives. That led to the creation of its Enterprise Project Management Office, which leaders say has already yielded results. At the outset, senior leaders sought to build an internal group that could consistently implement and support the organization’s strategic plan.  Carilion — an integrated health system with seven hospitals, home health services, imaging, pharmacies, urgent care centers, a ground and air transportation network and a more than 800-member multispecialty physician group — had previously housed pockets of project management within various departments, ... However, the health system’s goal was more standardization, as many project managers were splitting their time between project management and day-to-day operations.

Breaking with the status quo in end-of-life care through de-implementation Journal of Internal Medicine; by Chetna Malhotra and Ellie Bostwick Andres; 4/17/25... In the realm of serious illness, many patients undergo interventions that may marginally prolong life but often sacrifice quality of life and entail significant costs. These interventions, categorized as ‘low-value care’, often involve complex procedures, frequent hospitalizations and intense medical management, leading to considerable discomfort, reduced functional ability and overall decreased well-being and calling into question the efficiency and effectiveness of current end-of-life (EOL) care practices. ... How to conduct de-implementation in EOL contexts:

Patient, provider, and health system determinants of hospice Length of Stay Palliative Medicine Reports; by Eliza Thompson, Daniel Sanchez Pellecer, Gregory J Hanson, Shealeigh A Inselman, Jenn M Manggaard, Kevin J Whitford, Jacob J Strand, Rozalina G McCoy; 4/3/25Background: Benefits of hospice care, such as improvement in quality of life and reduced costs, depend on duration of enrollment in hospice services, making timely hospice referral essential. ... Conclusion: Based on a review of hospice referral patterns, the integration of hospice care into subspecialty practices, long-term care facilities, and advanced practice education could be an effective strategy to improve hospice LOS.

UVM Health Network employees plant thousands of trees VB VermontBiz, South Burlington, VT; by Tim; 4/25/25 ... Each year to celebrate Earth Day, health system employees in Vermont have planted trees at their homes and in their communities to support and celebrate a healthy and vibrant environment. ... This year, that effort grew from employees at two partner hospitals -- University of Vermont Medical Center and UVM Health Network - Porter Medical Center -- to include nearly every organization in the health system:  ...  Home Health and Hospice, ... “We were thrilled to take part,” said Kristin Walsh, RN, CHWC, an employee health nurse at Home Health and Hospice and the organizer of their local effort, which distributed 150 trees and shrubs to employees. “We work tirelessly to take care of others, even in the toughest of circumstances. That’s why we wanted to share local saplings from the Intervale with employees. ..." 

Special Report: Examining group health coverage alternatives for small employers - update JDSupra; by Alden Bianchi, Sarah Raaii, Teal Trujillo, Erin Turley, Allison Wilkerson; 4/23/25 ... Small employers’ efforts to provide robust major medical coverage to workers and their families have long proven futile, primarily due to underwriting challenges. Groups of under 50 employees are often relegated to state small group market coverage, which tends to be expensive. ... This Special Report examines the options available to small employers – and the obstacles they routinely encounter – as they seek to make affordable health insurance coverage available to their employees and their families.

By the Bay forges educational partnerships to grow hospice, home-based care workforce Hospice News; by Holly Vossel; 4/23/25 By the Bay Health has launched a new career program that aims to build up the next generation of home-based health care professionals amid widespread workforce shortages. The California-based health system unveiled its educational initiative, Pathways to Care Careers, in December 2024 as part of its 50th anniversary commemoration. The program is a collaboration with local schools and community organizations. By the Bay Health recently began a $1 million fundraising campaign to support the expansion of the career initiative. A main goal is to reach an increasingly diverse range of health care workers further upstream in their educational journeys, said Robertina Szolarova, chief administrative officer at By the Bay Health and program lead for its Pathways to Care Careers initiative.

Meet Herbie: Your organization's million-dollar constraint with Dr. Lisa Lang Teleios Collaborative Network (TCN); podcast by Chris Comeaux with Dr. Lisa Lang; 4/23/25 Ever wonder why your organization keeps hitting the same wall despite constant improvement efforts?  Dr. Lisa Lang, a world-renowned expert in the Theory of Constraints, reveals why most leaders waste resources by focusing on the wrong problems. Dr. Lisa Lang and Chris Comeaux examine the application of the Theory of Constraints (TOC) in various industries, with a particular focus on healthcare and manufacturing.  They discuss the unique challenges faced by healthcare leaders, including regulatory pressures and staffing shortages, and how TOC can provide a structured approach to problem-solving and how to create breakthrough solutions for your organization. 

Join Rebecca Ramsey and Chris Comeaux in exploring the future of home care Teleios Collaborative Network (TCN); podcast by Chris Comeaux with Rebecca Ramsey; 4/16/25 In this episode of TCNtalks, host Chris Comeaux interviews Rebecca Ramsay, CEO of Housecall Providers.  Rebecca shares her unique journey in healthcare and emphasizes the importance of nonprofit organizations in delivering quality care. Rebecca discusses the evolution of Housecall Providers, the significance of home-based primary care, and the interdisciplinary approach required to meet the needs of patients with complex conditions. She also advocates for Hospice organizations to expand into home-based primary care, highlighting the growing demand and the gaps in current services.  Chris and Rebecca explore the challenges of maintaining a stable workforce, the complexities of payment structures, and the importance of a steady referral stream for viable home-based primary care.  

AI in procurement: How different industries are harnessing its power Spend Matters; by Spend Matters Team; 4/15/25 ... Across industries, AI is capable of reshaping procurement, making it smarter, more predictive and highly efficient. In this article we will highlight some of the key changes AI has made to procurement strategies in the following industries: manufacturing and industrials, life sciences and healthcare, and the public sector.

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. ..."

Family Hospice partners with Alzheimer’s Association to expand educational outreach EIN Presswire.com, Atlanta, GA; by Brittany Brown; 4/8/25 Family Hospice announces an official partnership with the Alzheimer’s Association, Georgia Chapter, to enhance educational outreach and raise awareness of available resources for individuals facing Alzheimer’s or other dementia.This collaboration will provide families, caregivers, and healthcare professionals with critical information on hospice and Alzheimer’s and dementia-related support. As part of this effort, Family Hospice and the Alzheimer's Association are planning an upcoming statewide initiative in Georgia aimed at expanding awareness and support. Both organizations will share educational materials at community events and through social media to ensure families and caregivers have access to the guidance they need. [Continue reading ...]

Las Vegas’ non-profit urges families to research hospice care after facilities see surge of transfers, neglect Fox-5 KVVU-TV, Las Vegas, NV; by Jaclyn Schultz; 4/9/25 The Las Vegas Valley’s only non-profit hospice is among many facilities urging families to thoroughly research their choice of hospice care, after doctors see a rise in patients seeking transfers after suffering from neglect or poor care somewhere else. FOX5 told you how numerous doctors called for tougher hospice care standards across Nevada, as Assembly Bill 161 progresses through the Legislature. Nathan Adelson Hospice tells FOX5, from 2022 to 2024 alone, the non-profit took in more than 150 transfers from other facilities across the Las Vegas Valley. The rise coincides with another trend: more than 250 new facilities opening up across the Las Vegas Valley, as other neighboring states enact tougher regulations. [Continue reading ...]