Literature Review

Hospice provider sues to demand denied employee retention credit Bloomberg Law; by Tristan Navera; 2/13/25 Hospice healthcare provider Passages LLC is contesting the IRS denial of a $663,000 employee retention credit, arguing that it’s eligible for the coronavirus incentive program due to the disruptions it faced during the pandemic. The New Orleans-based company said the IRS wrongly denied its claim for the ERC credit—a program that reimbursed companies for keeping workers on the payroll during the economic disruption caused by Covid-19—for one quarter of 2021. The company endured partial suspension of its operations and should qualify, it told the US District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana.

Teleios announces completion of Boomer End-of-Life Care Survey Teleios Collaborative Network (TCN), Hendersonville, NC; by Tina Gentry; 2/12/25 Teleios Collaborative Network (TCN) announced the completion of its survey titled “What Baby Boomers Want in End-of-Life Care.” This survey aimed to gain insights into the healthcare preferences and needs of the Baby Boomer generation as they age, transition into retirement and seek end-of-life care. On February 5th, TCN’s Visioneering Council, which comprises member CEOs, C-Suite staff, and marketing managers, gathered to discuss the survey results and explore the best ways to utilize this information to enhance patient care. Before reviewing TCN’s survey findings, Matthew Wilkinson from NPHI and Bill Keane from Emergence presented results from NPHI’s “Aging and End of Life Care Survey.” Additionally, Dr. Terry Fulmer provided insights from the John A. Hartford Foundation’s survey titled “What Older Adults Want from Health Care.” TCN President and CEO Chris Comeaux said, “Over my career, we have been honored to care for the greatest generation. Now that we are at the dawn of the baby boomers being the majority of those we will be honored to care for as they enter their twilight years. Knowing what they expect, what they care about, what they do not want to worry about, all of this is such important data to ensure hospice over the next 30 years is providing an even greater service to patients and families. That’s what this study was looking to accomplish. It’s a great start in that direction.” 

It’s inoperable cancer. Should AI make call about what happens next? The Harvard Gazette - Harvard University; by Alvin Powell; 2/10/25AI is already being used in clinics to help analyze imaging data, such as X-rays and scans. But the recent arrival of sophisticated large-language AI models on the scene is forcing consideration of broadening the use of the technology into other areas of patient care. In this edited conversation with the Gazette, Rebecca Weintraub Brendel, director of Harvard Medical School’s Center for Bioethics, looks at end-of-life options and the importance of remembering that just because we can, doesn’t always mean we should. When we talk about artificial intelligence and end-of-life decision-making, what are the important questions at play? ...

'It's not about technology or dashboards': What health systems need from IT execs next Becker's Health IT; by Laura Dyrda; 2/4/25 Health system IT leaders are entering a new era of leadership amid transformational technology platform purchases, artificial intelligence integration and cybersecurity advancements. But being the most technically proficient no longer guarantees leaders the top role. ... Healthcare IT leaders can become distracted by the bells and whistles of new technology and move forward without considering the patient experience. ... Staying close to the health system's mission is critical for IT leaders, and [Christopher Hutchins, senior vice president and chief data and analytics officer at Lifepoint Health] ties the technology back to patient care. He prioritizes his teammates and colleagues, listening carefully to what they need. Notable mentions: James Forrester, Chief Technology Officer at University of Rochester (NY) Medical Center; Donna Roach, CIO of University of Utah Health; and Christopher Hutchins, senior vice president and chief data and analytics officer at Lifepoint Health 

Owners of McHenry Village restaurant have partnered with nonprofit [hospice] to open Modesto cafe The Modesto Bee, Modesto, CA; by Dominique Williams; 2/3/25 ... Cafe Verona opened to the public Monday inside Community Hospice & Health Services, a Modesto nonprofit. It is operated by executive chef Jaime Alderete and his wife, Edwarda, owners of Verona Cucina Italiana in McHenry Village and Verona18 in Copperopolis. ... The cafe is open for breakfast and lunch. Its business hours are weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

New report details hospice industry outlook for 2025 PR Newswire, Cleveland, OH; by WTWH Media; 1/30/25 Hospice News, a WTWH Media publication, is pleased to announce the results of its annual outlook survey on the state of the hospice and palliative care markets. Conducted in collaboration with home-based care EHR leader Homecare Homebase, the survey compiles the views of more than 100 industry professionals to uncover the key factors defining the hospice landscape in 2025. Responses come from a range of provider representatives, including owners, operators, C-suite executives, managers and staff. In summary, respondents indicated:

Carlsberg A/S: Supplier & licensee Code of Conduct MarketScreener Blog; by the Carlsberg Group; 1/28/25 ... As a UN Global Compact signatory, we are committed to its four pillars: human rights, labour, environment, and anti-corruption. The Code aligns with international stand- ards, such as the UN Global Compact's Ten Principles, the Base Code of the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI), the principles of the International Labour Organization (ILO) and ISO 14001. [Click on the title's link for the sample "Code of Conduct."]Editor's note: What ethics policies do you have in place for the suppliers and other vendors with whom you partner? How does this sample Code of Conduct align--or not--with your organization's ethics and conduct?

Circle of Life opens home-based care center Talk Business & Politics, Arkansas; by Talk & Politics staff; 1/28/25 Nonprofit hospice provider Circle of Life recently opened the two-story, 27,133-square-foot Joey Feek Center for Home-Based Care in Lowell after a capital campaign raised over $12.5 million. According to a news release, the center will serve 93% of the nonprofit’s patients daily. “We want to express our deep gratitude to our community, board of directors, and dedicated staff for making this expansion possible,” CEO Catherine Grubbs said. ... Dee Vaughn, chief development officer, said the campaign surpassed its $12.5 million goal and had over 350 supporters. Circle of Life has more than 170 staff based at the new center, ... 

Healthcare under siege: Defending hospitals from ransomware threats Cylera; by Maureen Sahualla; 1/22/25 Hospitals today are very concerned about ransomware attacks - and rightly so. A recent research report from Comparitech, Ransomware Roundup: 2024 End-of-Year Report (published on January 9th, 2025) found:

TCN podcast: The need for innovation with Meg Pekarske Teleios Collaborative Network (TCN); hosted by Chris Comeaux; 1/22/25 In this episode of TCNtalks, host Chris Comeaux interviews Meg Pekarske, a partner and head of the Hospice and Palliative Care Practice Group at Husch Blackwell.  They discuss Meg's extensive expertise in Hospice Care, the significant challenges, and promising opportunities for growth and diversification.  Meg makes it clear that strategic planning is essential.  Adapting to shifts in the payer market and implementing legal restructuring to support new care models are critical to success.  The conversation boldly addresses the need for innovation and collaboration to navigate the ever-changing landscape of Hospice and Palliative care.  It also touches on surprising facets that reveal Meg's unique approach—she is not your average attorney.[Teleios Collaborative Network is a sponsor of our newsletter.]

CEOs face personal inflection point affecting decision making, management and culture; seek to recalculate AI journey, CEO study finds GlobeNewswire - The Futurum Group; media contact, Nati Katz; 1/21/25 Global Management Consulting Partnership Kearney, and Futurum, the leading research, intelligence and advisory firm, today jointly announced the release of the 2025 CEO AI Management study. As largest of its kind for CEO response rates within the company size targeted, the published global CEO Study examined leadership’s stance and status of organizational AI adoption, implementation and roadmaps, – revealing alarming backlash effects that CEOs may already experience. ... Futurum and Kearney managed to develop a substantial CEO playbook for AI which features five points that lead to breakthroughs in AI outcomes. [Key items from their "Five-Point CEO Playbook" include:]

Nonprofit opens home-based care facility for hospice patients Fox KNWA-24/KFTA, Lowell, AR; by Justin Trobaugh; 1/17/25 A nonprofit organization introduced a new resource Jan. 17 for those in Northwest Arkansas who need home-based care. Circle of Life provides hospice and in-and-out patient care services, and it opened its Joey Feek Center for Home-Based Care in Lowell. The facility will serve 93% of the non-profit’s patients and was donated by the Willard and Pat Walker Charitable Foundation. 

New data reveals the hidden costs of workplace violence in healthcare Perceptyx; by Ellen Lovell, PhD and Stephanie Schloemer, PhD; 1/17/25 Workplace violence has become an impossible-to-ignore crisis in healthcare, threatening the safety of medical professionals, patients, and institutions. The severity and frequency of these incidents have reached alarming levels, demanding immediate attention and action. ... The human cost is staggering.  ... While our research confirms the widespread nature of safety concerns in healthcare, a deeper analysis reveals significant variations across different healthcare environments and roles. This granular view helps us understand where intervention is most urgently needed. Editor's note: Although "hospice settings reported the lowest agreement at 54%," this statistic should be considered too high for comfort. Actions need to be taken to reduce it. From your professional leadership role, examine the importance of protecting hospice professionals' safety--typically in home settings--and through moments such vulnerable, emotional, conflicted times within families. What can your agency improve?