Navigating 2025: Turning Hospice Challenges into Opportunity

By Steven Shelton, MBA, MSN, RN, CHPN; Senior Director, Clinical Services

Hospice Outlook 2025

As we move through 2025, hospice providers are navigating a landscape of transformation. The Hospice News 2025 Outlook Survey reveals that staffing remains the top concern for organizations. Medalogix believes that innovation and the embracing of technology is the key to providers adapting, evolving, and finding new ways to deliver compassionate, high-quality care in an increasingly complex environment. A key element of that innovation and technology are products such as Medalogix Muse.

At the heart of this evolution are clinicians. They are not only delivering care but also interpreting data, shaping strategy, and leading change. As the industry continues the shift toward quality-driven outcomes, such as those with the new HOPE tool slated for October 1, aligning clinical workflows with data and technology is no longer optional—it’s essential.

This article explores how hospice agencies can turn today’s challenges into tomorrow’s opportunities by empowering clinicians with intelligent tools like Medalogix Muse.

1. Addressing the Workforce Crisis

Staffing shortages and clinician burnout continue to be the most pressing issues facing hospice providers. The emotional toll of end-of-life care, combined with administrative burdens and high patient volumes, has created a perfect storm. But there is a path forward.

Technology investments in technologies such as Medalogix Muse, offer a way to reduce strain while improving outcomes. By focusing on the right care at the right time, these models help clinicians:

• Ensure patients, families, and caregivers receive optimal support
• Better align visit volume with patient needs
• Streamline patient care

Medalogix Muse plays a pivotal role in this transformation. By identifying patients with a high mortality risk through predictive analytics, Muse enables smarter visit allocation and resource planning. Clinicians can rest assured that their time and energy is being utilized where their knowledge and experience is needed, the most—on patients who need them the most—without increasing their workload.

This shift not only improves patient outcomes but also enhances job satisfaction. When clinicians feel supported and see the impact of their work, burnout decreases and retention and morale improves.

2. Regulatory Changes and Oversight

The regulatory landscape in hospice care is evolving rapidly. The new HOPE (Hospice Outcomes and Patient Evaluation) Tool, HVLDL (Hospice Visits in the Last Days of Life), and HCI (Hospice Care Index) are reshaping how agencies measure quality and compliance.

Navigating these changes requires more than just awareness—it demands action. Agencies must adopt tools that support both clinical excellence and financial sustainability.

Muse helps agencies stay ahead of the curve by:

• Delivering patient-level insights
• Guiding care under new and evolving regulatory requirements
• Supporting proactive, data-informed decisions

Rather than reacting to non-compliance after the fact, Muse enables agencies to anticipate and address them in real time through the utilization of various dashboards and insights. This proactive approach not only ensures compliance but also elevates the standard of care being provided.

See our Video on how agencies can prepare for HOPE using Muse.

3. Consolidating/Shifting Market

The hospice market continues to undergo consolidation into 2025 with industry experts expecting the merger and acquisition market, as well as the development of joint ventures and partnerships, to remain strong. Referral networks are shifting, joint ventures are emerging, and competition is intensifying. In this dynamic environment, speed to referrals and strategy are critical.

Data empowerment is the key to staying competitive. With Muse, providers gain:

• Strategic alignment with partners / joint ventures regarding patient care expectation and outcomes
• Faster, more informed decision-making
• Care resource insights facilitating faster responses to referrals

This agility is especially important in a market where relationships and responsiveness can make or break a referral. With Muse, agencies can build stronger partnerships and position themselves for long-term success.

4. Leading with Clinical Intelligence

Technology should never replace the clinician—it should empower them. At Medalogix, we believe that clinical intelligence is the future of hospice care. Muse is designed to enhance and support, not override, clinical judgment.

Clinicians remain the leaders in care strategy. With Muse, they can:

• Incorporate predictive insights
• Tailor care plans to individual needs
• Improve patient transitions and family experiences

Consider this example:

“Our team used Muse to identify a patient at risk of transitioning. We intervened early, adjusted the care plan, and improved the family’s experience.”

This is the power of clinical intelligence in action. By combining data with compassion, clinicians can deliver care that is not only effective but deeply human.

Muse doesn’t tell clinicians what to do—it gives them additional information to assist in making the best decisions for their patients. It’s a partnership between technology and humanity, and it’s changing the way hospice care is delivered.

Building Confidence in a Risk-Based Future

The future of hospice care is uncertain in many ways. Payment models are shifting. Staffing remains a challenge. Regulatory demands are increasing. But amid this uncertainty, one thing is clear: the agencies that will thrive are those that empower their clinicians with the right tools.

Medalogix Muse is more than a technology platform—it’s a catalyst for transformation. By aligning clinical workflows with predictive insights, Muse helps agencies deliver better care, improve outcomes, and build a more sustainable future.

At Medalogix, we’re committed to supporting your journey. Whether you’re navigating staffing challenges, adapting to new regulations, or exploring new market opportunities, we’re here to help you lead with confidence.

Let’s talk about how we can turn today’s challenges into tomorrow’s opportunities—together.