Literature Review

An innovative take on transforming hospice spaces with Buildner for better well-being Arch Daily; 12/19/24 Buildner has announced the results of its Hospice - Home for the Terminally Ill competition, the third in a series of architectural idea challenges focused on creating compassionate spaces for individuals facing terminal illnesses. This competition encouraged architects to move beyond traditional medical models, designing environments that prioritize comfort, dignity, and community. Participants were tasked with envisioning a facility for up to 15 visitors and five staff members, incorporating essential spaces such as a library-equipped common area, gathering room, chapel, kitchen, dining area, nurse's station, and therapy room for psychological support. Designs were grounded in theoretical sites within participants' home countries, allowing for the integration of local cultural, social, and environmental contexts. The competition highlighted how innovative, thoughtful design can provide solace and strength during life's most difficult moments. ...

HopeWest concludes search for new CEO The Daily Sentinel, Grand Junction, CO; by Jace Dicola; 12/19/24 HopeWest, one of western Colorado’s largest hospice and palliative care providers, has selected a new Chief Executive Officer: Deneen Silva. Silva will replace current HopeWest CEO Cassie Mitchell, who announced her “bittersweet” departure for a job closer to family in mid-October. According to a HopeWest press release, Silva will begin the new position in February 2025. Mitchell will continue as CEO until then and remain with the organization through the end of March to ensure a smooth transition. ... HopeWest is not new territory for Silva, who has served as the organization’s Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) Executive Director since September of this year. ... Previously, Silva served as a hospice executive director in Oregon and was a primary player in establishing southern Oregon’s first PACE program.

Why good leaders turn bad and harm their teams Forbes; by Benjamin Laker; 12/17/24 Leadership is often idealized as a force for good—driving positive change, inspiring teams and achieving ambitious goals. However, leadership also has a darker side. Power, ambition and the pressures of professional life can push even well-intentioned leaders into behaviors that harm their teams, their companies and, in many cases, themselves. Understanding why and how leaders succumb to the darker aspects of leadership is not just an academic exercise—it’s also a practical challenge for anyone navigating today’s workplaces.

Cherish Hospice celebrates new location in Springfield Springfield News-Sun; by Brooke Spurlock; 12/17/24 Cherish Hospice celebrated its new headquarters location at 1929 E. High St. in Springfield [OH] on Tuesday. Cherish officials said that since 2021, they have served hundreds of patients in Southwest Ohio, with a staff of more than 25 caregivers and a volunteer program. “This is a great symbol of us, how we’ve grown,” said Jason Casto, administrator for Cherish Hospice. “This is a ribbon cutting event to celebrate our growth and the fact that we plan to remain here in Springfield as a staple.”

What Gen Z wants from employers Becker's Hospital Review; by Kristin Kuchno; 12/16/24 Each new generation entering the workforce brings unique challenges for management, and Generation Z is no exception. Leaders may find themselves puzzled by what Gen Z workers want from their employers and what drives their retention. This generation includes individuals born between 1997 and 2012, making the oldest members 27 years old. [Here] are 16 common priorities of Gen Z workers, as reported by Becker's in 2024: 1. Company culture ... 2. Team dynamics ... 3. Career paths ... 4. Mental health resources ... 5. Student loan repayment options ... 6. Full-time commitment ... 7. Wise feedback ... 8. Work-life balance ... 9. Purpose-driven roles ... 10. Flexible work ... 11. Growth opportunities ... 12. Feedback and validation ... 13. Retention by role ... 14. AI skepticisim ... 15. Timely pay ... 16. Authenticity ...

15 Important differences to know between leadership and management Forbes - Leadership; by Expert Panel - Forbes Coaches Council; 12/16/24 Understanding the difference between leadership and management is crucial for anyone looking to excel in guiding a team or advance within an organization. While the two terms are often used interchangeably, they involve distinct approaches to motivating people, driving results and achieving goals. Knowing when to lead, when to manage and how to balance the two can make all the difference in one’s professional success. Here, 15 members of the Forbes Coaches Council share their insights to clarify the distinction between leadership and management and explain the difference in their own words.

Which skills will survive the AI onslaught? National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD), Arlington, VA; by Vivek Sharma and David C. Edelman; 12/17/24 ... Boards and CEOs are inundated with reports projecting doomsday scenarios of job displacement due to AI. For example, according to the World Economic Forum's The Future of Jobs Report 2020, automation and AI are expected to displace 85 million jobs globally by 2025, especially in industries such as manufacturing, data entry, and customer service due to the repetitive nature and predictable processes of these fields. AI is already disrupting many roles hitherto considered firmly within the human domain. ... Irreplaceable Human Dimensions ... In analyzing a wide range of articles on the topic, when a job scores high along any of the following three dimensions, it creates significant hurdles for displacement by AI:

MedPAC advises cutting home health payments by 7 percent, freezing hospice payments in ’26 McKnights Home Care; by Liza Berger; 12/16/24 The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) on Friday issued draft recommendations that entail cutting payments to home health agencies by 7% and freezing hospice payments in 2026. The body, which advises Congress on Medicare payment issues, issued the same recommendations last year. Providers, once again, were not pleased. “The recent recommendations by MedPAC regarding Medicare home health and hospice policy are misguided and deeply troubling,” Steve Landers, MD, CEO of the National Alliance for Care at Home, said in a statement to McKnight’s Home Care Daily Pulse. “Medicare hospice spending has not kept up with labor inflation in the past five years and the typical length of stay and proportion of beneficiaries accessing hospice has stagnated. With respect to home health, the recommendation for drastic cuts is based on a flawed analysis of agency margins that fails to account for all payers and the true financial health of the home health system.”

Anvoi Hospice now serving Tangipahoa Parish The Daily Star, Hammond, LA; 12/13/24 Anvoi Hospice has announced that they are bringing their specialized hospice care to Hammond, Ponchatoula and the surrounding area. Their goal is to provide care for the patient and the whole family with an emphasis on dignity, compassion and comfort, according to a press release. Anvoi Hospice was founded in 2013 and serves the Greater New Orleans area, including Tangipahoa and St. Tammany parishes. “We are honored to bring our services to this community,” said Angelique Richardson, Anvoi Health Care CEO. ... Anvoi Hospice has been named one of the “Best Places to Work” by New Orleans City Business Magazine.

2023 hospice index scores, by state Becker's Hospital Review; by Elizabeth Gregerson; 12/11/24 In 2023, the District of Columbia had the lowest hospice care index score among states while Maryland had the highest, according to CMS data released Nov. 26.  CMS collected state data between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2023, on the quality of patient care measures, including facility observed rates of hospice care. Hospices earn points for each of the 10 claims-based indicators they meet between admission and discharge. Here are the hospice care index overall scores for each state: [listed in alphabetical order].

Embracing life when nearing death The Aspen Times - Snowmass Sun; Aspen, CO; by Allison Daily; 12/13/24 Receiving a terminal diagnosis is one of life’s most profoundly difficult moments — a collision of disbelief, fear, and uncertainty. With some diseases, there’s a glimmer of hope for a miracle; with others, the focus shifts to navigating the process ahead. When Rita Hunter first asked to meet with me, I had no idea she had been diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) or Lou Gehrig’s Disease. As we settled into my office, she got straight to the point: “I want you to help me with this last part of my life.” I left our first session rattled, but we established a clear understanding over time. She needed someone with whom she could be brutally honest — someone to discuss, without judgment, what she was willing and unwilling to endure. ... In her final days, her body let her know when it was time, and she showed extraordinary grace. She was a gift to this community, and she was a gift to me. She taught me more than I could ever give to her. Rita had become a model of how to live fully, even in the face of an unchangeable reality. Editor's note: Click on the title's link to read this inspirational story, and to learn this clinician's "treehouse" imagery intervention.

Donations helping Solvay Hospice House ABC News WDIO, Duluth, MN; by WDIO; 12/11/24 One of the donations you may have seen on pin pads at Super One [Food] locations within the last few weeks, was in support of the National Hospice Month Campaign. On Wednesday, December 11, 2024, Miners Incorporated presented a check to the Solvay Hospice House. The check was for a donation of $43,705.91 collected from the various Super One locations across the state. What started as purchasing one dollar paper houses has turned it into a donation drive driven on the pin pads at checkout. And with that small change in the last few years, donations have doubled to support the cause. This donation will help continue their mission to provide compassionate care provided at Solvay Hospice House for patients and their families. Susie Marshall, Digital Media Manager at Minors Incorporated, expressed their gratitude to continue their tradition and the efforts from consumers. 

Why introverted leaders outperform extroverts by 28% Forbes; by Cynthia Pong, JD; 12/8/24 Move over, charismatic showboats—introverted leaders drive 28% higher productivity from proactive, engaged teams compared to their extroverted counterparts, according to research by Adam Grant from Wharton, Francesca Gino from Harvard Business School and David Hofmann from UNC-Chapel Hill’s Business School. The finding runs counter to conventional wisdom about what makes an effective leader. While extroverts often steal the spotlight at work, introverted leaders are quietly revolutionizing modern workplaces by demonstrating how thoughtful competence can outshine performative leadership any day of the week. ... The secret sauce to introverted leaders’ success? They’re mastering: