Literature Review

Celebrating National Nurses Month with 62 years of nursing excellence: Meet Alma Flowers, hospice nurse Jacksonville News - JAXChamber, Jacksonville, FL; 4/30/25 This month, we are proud to spotlight Ms. Alma Flowers, a dedicated Registered Nurse at Community Hospice & Palliative Care, whose remarkable career spans an impressive 62 years. Alma's journey began at the Brewster Duval School of Nursing in Jacksonville in 1959, marking the start of a lifelong commitment to compassionate care and professional excellence. Alma's career has been a testament to the evolution of nursing, encompassing diverse roles from acute psychiatric units to the compassionate realm of hospice care. Throughout her journey, Alma has adapted to and contributed to advancements in healthcare practices and policies. ... As we celebrate National Nurses Month, we are reminded of nurses' profound impact on patient care, healthcare innovation, and community well-being. Alma Flowers' journey is a testament to the enduring spirit of nursing excellence at Community Hospice & Palliative Care.Editor's note: What a beautiful tribute to Alma, especially when describing her journey as a "testament to the evolution of nursing." Imagine changes ahead for today's student nurses: 62 years from now will be the year 2087. While we struggle to keep up with the current barrage of nursing workforce challenges, we can draw inspiration from Alma's life-long commitments, flexibility, and immeasurable contributions.

Frederick Health Hospice hires new director Longview News-Journal, Frederick, MD; by Frederick Health; 5/7/25 Frederick Health Hospice is excited to announce that Korey Cobb has joined the nonprofit organization as its new Director, only the third director since the hospice was founded in 1980. Frederick Health Hospice has served the Frederick community as a non-profit agency for more than four decades. The organization was one of the earliest hospices formed in the U.S. and has been providing compassionate care for patients since before the Medicare Hospice Benefit was made permanent by Congress in 1986. Heather Kirby, Vice President of Integrated Care Delivery & Chief Population Health Officer at Frederick Health, helped lead the search committee ... [and described,] "Korey prides himself on creating a positive team culture, a strong sense of community involvement, and volunteerism. ..."

'Patients just get violent' | Louisville healthcare workers describe attacks on the job, calling it a crisis ABC WHAS-11, Louisville, KY; by Shay McAlister, Joseph Garcia, Phillip Murrell, and MIchelle Zelli Right now Louisville’s nursing community is facing a crisis, saying they are under attack while on the job.  Since March, police have been called to three different Louisville hospitals after a nurse was assaulted. But those are only the attacks that are reported, several nurses told WHAS11 they face dangerous situations daily without the necessary support. ... The three incidents of violence against nurses sit on a map of hundreds of crimes reported at or near Louisville hospitals and nearby parking garages over the last year. According to LMPD’s crime data portal, 17 assaults were reported at Norton Hospital, 10 at Jewish Hospital, and 28 at the UofL Hospital parking garage over the last 12 months. ... “Many healthcare professionals that are harmed don't report it, and they don't report it because they don't think anybody will listen. And then there are others who think that it's part of the job. It is not part of the job,” CEO of the Kentucky Nurses Association Delanor Manson said. In 2023, Manson worked with lawmakers to formalize language requiring healthcare facilities to track incidents of violence and implement violence prevention strategies. It's a crisis for the career field. 

Hospice of Southern West Virginia to host grief support session ahead of Mother’s Day ABC WOAY-4, Oak Hill, WV; by Brandy Lawrence; 5/6/25 [posted for their community before the event] As Mother’s Day approaches, many individuals face a renewed sense of loss and sorrow. To provide comfort and support during this emotionally challenging time, Hospice of Southern West Virginia (HSWV) will hold a special grief support session focused on coping with the loss of a mother or maternal figure. The session is scheduled for Thursday, May 8, 2025, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Bowers Hospice House. The event is open to anyone in the community navigating the grief of losing their mother. The session aims to offer a safe, compassionate space for attendees to honor loved ones, share cherished memories, and find solace in the presence of others who understand their pain.

Haven Hospice's [FL] E.T. York Hospice Care Center implments "Christmas Room"Haven Hospice press release; by Hailey Reidy; 4/3/25Haven Hospice's E.T. York Hospice Care Center in Gainesville has created a Christmas Room to allow their pediatric patients to celebrate with their families. The room came to be at the wish of these patients wanting to celebrate Christmas one last time which their care team and other member of Haven's team supported. The Haven Women of Philanthropy group also supported the room, covering the cost and gathering supplies.Article posted in Florida Hospice & Palliative Care Association's newsletter The Hospice Professional.

Tri-Cities Chaplaincy announces $3.5 million renovation of Kennewick Hospice House Apple Valley News Now, Kennewick, WA; by Dan Hanson; 5/6/25A place that has provided comfort and peace to terminally ill patients and their families for nearly three decades is getting a significant upgrade. Tri-Cities Chaplaincy has announced a $3.5 million renovation project for Hospice House in Kennewick, marking the first major renovation to the facility since it opened in 1996. The comprehensive renovation aims to modernize the region's only inpatient hospice facility while enhancing patient, family, and staff spaces. Construction is expected to last between four and six months. 

NPHI Honors Visionary Leaders and Organizations at 2025 Annual Summit: The National

Hospice and Palliative Care Buffalo hosted its 29th annual hospice memorial walk NBC 2 WGRZ, Buffalo, NY; by Sara Russo; 5/4/25 Hospice and Palliative Care Buffalo held its 29th annual hospice memorial walk at the Buffalo Outer Harbor on Sunday. The 5K walk began at Terminal B at the Outer Harbor and was the first year the event took place at that location. The route continued through Buffalo's Waterfront District and also included a shorter, one mile "Fun Walk." The Hospice Memorial Walk is one of the largest fundraisers for the center, raising over $5 million in the past 28 years. Walkers were able to participate in teams or individuals as well as virtually.

Empath Health’s new One Hospice Model a ‘blueprint’ for scalable growth Hospice News; by Holly Vossel; 5/5/25 Empath Health on Monday integrated its seven hospice brands under one umbrella. ... The Florida-based nonprofit’s seven brands collectively care for one-in-five hospice patients statewide and include Empath Hospice, Hospice of Marion County, Suncoast Hospice, Suncoast Hospice of Hillsborough, Tidewell Hospice and Trustbridge (also Hospice by the Sea and Hospice of Palm Beach County). ...The new One Hospice Model is structured to provide more direct referral and community access to Empath Health’s overall network of services/ entire continuum of care. ... The new model is designed to strengthen the outlook of hospice care delivery as providers face myriad sustainability challenges, according to Empath Health. Rising demand, workforce shortages, program integrity and regulatory challenges, economic pressures and a shifting hospice marketplace are just some of the leading issues among today’s leaders.

Hillsdale woman celebrates 100th birthday [hospice pioneer, 1970's] HudsonValley360, Hudson, NY; by Tiffany Greenwaldt-Simon; 5/2/25 A Hillsdale resident is celebrating a big milestone - turning 100. Dr. Irma Waldo was born on May 1, 2025, and recently celebrated joining the centenarian club with an openhouse celebration at the Copake Community Center Friday afternoon. ... [Dr. Waldo] opened her own pediatric practice in Hillsdale in 1952 - often making house calls and getting to know the families she was caring for. ... For Waldo, the most rewarding part of her medical career was the hospice service she helped create, Roe Jan Hospice. She received a call in the 1970s from a doctor in New York City who had a 9-year-old patient with a brain tumor. ... The hospice was expanded to cover the all of Columbia County over the course of 18 years, eventually becoming Columbia County Hospice, and then being absorbed into Hudson Valley Hospice. "That was the best thing, most important part of my practice, forming that hospice," Waldo said.Editor's note: Click here for more history.

Hospice of Davidson County’s golf tournament raises over $20,000The Dispatch [NC]; by staff; 4/22/25 Hospice of Davidson County held its 16th annual golf tournament fundraiser on April 17 at Sapona Golf, Swim and Tennis Club and raised more than $20,000 for patients with serious illness and individuals seeking grief and bereavement counseling.

Inside Heart to Heart Hospice’s palliative care growth strategyHospice News; by Holly Vossel; 4/29/25Heart to Heart Hospice’s return on investment in its community-based palliative care service line has come in the form of improved quality and financial outcomes. The Texas-based hospice’s InHome Connect Palliative Care brand has led to significant declines in capitated per member per month (PMPM) costs and positive trends in timely access. The results are a product of the hospice’s recently formed value-based partnership with a leading unnamed Medicare Advantage plan in its home state.

UnitedHealth Group, Amedisys to offload sites to BrightSpring, Pennant GroupMcKnight's Home Care; by Liza Berger; 5/2/25UnitedHealth Group and Amedisys this week entered into agreements to divest certain care, home health and hospice care centers to affiliates of home care firms BrightSpring Health Services and The Pennant Group, according to an 8-K filing dated Thursday. The divestitures are contingent on the completion of UnitedHealth’s acquisition of Amedisys. The acquisition, which has been in the works since 2023, has been beset by federal antitrust scrutiny. Earlier this month, court documents revealed that a lawsuit filed by the United States Justice Department to block the acquisition is set for mediation on Aug. 18.