About Agape Hospice Of The Lowcountry
Hospice overview and quality summary
Agape Hospice Of The Lowcountry is a for-profit hospice care provider in North Charleston, SC, serving patients and families in Charleston County and the surrounding area. Medicare certified since 2009, Agape Hospice Of The Lowcountry has provided 17 years of end-of-life and palliative care to the community.
Agape Hospice Of The Lowcountry serves an average of 891 patients per day, covering 232 ZIP codes across its service area. 58% of care is delivered in patients' homes, consistent with the hospice philosophy of enabling comfort care in familiar surroundings.
CMS has assigned Agape Hospice Of The Lowcountry a 3-star quality rating based on caregiver survey feedback, indicating average satisfaction with the hospice's care. The facility's Hospice Care Index score is 9 out of 10, a composite measure of care quality and efficiency. 20 physicians are affiliated with this hospice.
When choosing hospice care in North Charleston, SC, consider quality ratings, caregiver satisfaction surveys, the hospice's experience with your loved one's condition, and the service area. Since hospice care is typically delivered in the home, the responsiveness and availability of the care team are critical factors.
At a Glance
Caregiver Satisfaction
CAHPS Hospice Survey results from bereaved family caregivers
Average
CMS CAHPS Hospice Star Rating
Agape Hospice Of The Lowcountry has received a 3-star quality rating from CMS, based on the CAHPS Hospice Survey. This average rating reflects caregiver satisfaction across communication, symptom management, timely care, and emotional support. CMS publishes these ratings to help families in North Charleston, SC compare hospice providers.
Emotional & Spiritual Support
How well the hospice team provided emotional and spiritual support
89% of caregivers gave a top rating for emotional & spiritual support, consistent with the national average of 90%.
Treated with Respect
Whether the patient was treated with dignity and respect
88% of caregivers gave a top rating for treated with respect, consistent with the national average of 90%.
Help with Symptoms
How well the hospice team managed pain and other symptoms
73% of caregivers gave a top rating for help with symptoms, consistent with the national average of 74%.
Team Communication
How well the hospice team communicated with the family
80% of caregivers gave a top rating for team communication, consistent with the national average of 81%.
Getting Timely Care
Whether the patient received help as soon as it was needed
76% of caregivers gave a top rating for getting timely care, consistent with the national average of 77%.
Training for Family Caregivers
Whether sufficient training was provided to care for the patient
73% of caregivers gave a top rating for training for family caregivers, consistent with the national average of 75%.
Overall Rating (9-10)
Percentage of caregivers rating the hospice 9 or 10 out of 10
78% of caregivers gave a top rating for overall rating (9-10), below the national average of 81%.
Would Recommend
Percentage of caregivers who would definitely recommend this hospice
83% of caregivers gave a top rating for would recommend, consistent with the national average of 84%.
Source: CMS CAHPS Hospice Survey · Vertical markers indicate national average
Quality Process Measures
CMS hospice care quality indicators vs. national benchmarks
Treatment Preferences Documented
Patients whose treatment preferences were discussed and documented
100.0%
Natl: 99.5%
Beliefs & Values Addressed
Patients whose beliefs and values were addressed in the plan of care
100.0%
Natl: 98.3%
Pain Screening
Patients screened for pain upon hospice admission
100.0%
Natl: 98.3%
Comprehensive Pain Assessment
Patients with pain who received a comprehensive pain assessment
100.0%
Natl: 94.8%
Dyspnea Screening
Patients screened for shortness of breath upon admission
100.0%
Natl: 99.0%
Dyspnea Treatment
Patients with dyspnea who received treatment within 24 hours
100.0%
Natl: 97.4%
Opioid Bowel Regimen
Patients on opioids who were offered a bowel regimen
100.0%
Natl: 93.2%
Composite Process Score
Composite measure of all hospice care process quality measures
100.0%
Natl: 91.6%
Hospice Care Index
Composite quality score with 10 sub-measures
Overall HCI Score
National average: 8.8/10
Agape Hospice Of The Lowcountry's Hospice Care Index (HCI) score is 9 out of 10, above the national average of 8.8. This composite score reflects stronger-than-average performance across measures of nursing continuity, care transitions, and presence near death.
74.3% of Agape Hospice Of The Lowcountry's patients received visits from the hospice team in their final days of life, significantly above the national average of 47.9%. This is one of the most meaningful quality indicators — having the hospice team present during the final hours provides critical comfort to both patients and families.
Visits Near Death
Patients with visits in last 3 days of life
96.7%
Natl: 89.5%
Nurse Care Minutes
Average nurse care minutes per routine home care day
12.3
Natl: 13.4
Weekend Nursing
Percentage of skilled nursing minutes on weekends
8.6%
Natl: 9.2%
Gaps in Nursing Visits
Stays with gaps in skilled nursing visits
56.5%
Natl: 55.4%
Early Live Discharges
Patients discharged alive within 3 days
11.6%
Natl: 7.2%
Late Live Discharges
Patients discharged alive after enrollment
33%
Natl: 40%
Burdensome Transitions (Type 1)
Hospice-to-acute-care transitions near death
19.9%
Natl: 8%
Burdensome Transitions (Type 2)
Acute care admissions near death
2.8%
Natl: 2.3%
CHC/GIP Days
Continuous home care & general inpatient days as share of total
1.2%
Natl: 0.6%
Per-Beneficiary Spending
Average Medicare spending per hospice beneficiary
$15,732
Natl: $16,971
Patient Population
Primary diagnoses of hospice patients
Agape Hospice Of The Lowcountry's patient population is primarily composed of individuals with dementia (29%), followed by respiratory disease (19%), cancer (17%), other conditions (15%), cardiovascular disease (14%), stroke (8%). Dementia care requires specialized communication techniques and behavioral support, which experienced hospice teams are trained to provide.
Care Settings
Where hospice care is delivered
Agape Hospice Of The Lowcountry delivers 58% of its care in patients' homes, with 32% in assisted living settings, 6% in skilled nursing settings, 2% in inpatient hospice settings, 1% in hospital settings. The hospice serves an average of 891 patients per day.
Patient's Home
Assisted Living
Skilled Nursing
Inpatient Hospice
Hospital
Doctors at Agape Hospice Of The Lowcountry
20 affiliated physicians
Dr. David Smith, MD
Family Practice
Dr. Tiffany Cochran, MD
Internal Medicine
Dr. Johnna Stevens, MD
Internal Medicine
Dr. Joseph Powell, MD
Family Practice
Dr. Christopher Ferguson, DO
Internal Medicine
Dr. David Castellone, MD
Family Practice
Dr. Russell Blackwelder, MD
Family Practice
Dr. Anish Brahmbhatt
Internal Medicine
Dr. Patrick Meehan, MD
Family Practice
Dr. Tracy Ridgill, MD
Family Practice
Dr. Evan Welker, DO
Hospitalist
Dr. Adam Silbiger, MD
Hospitalist
+ 8 more physicians
Dr. Timothy Gaw, DO
Internal Medicine
Dr. Matthew Cusano, MD
Internal Medicine
Dr. Robert Thomas, MD
Internal Medicine
Dr. Farhan Maqsood, MD
Nephrology
Dr. Ziad Skaff, MD
Hematology/oncology
Dr. Heber Watson, DO
Family Practice
Dr. Toney Graham, MD
Internal Medicine
Dr. Elizabeth Anisis, DO
Family Practice
Patient Reviews
Reviews and ratings from patients
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Frequently Asked Questions
About Agape Hospice Of The Lowcountry
What is the CMS rating for Agape Hospice Of The Lowcountry?
Agape Hospice Of The Lowcountry has a 3-star quality rating from CMS based on the CAHPS Hospice Survey of bereaved family caregivers, which evaluates satisfaction across areas including symptom management, communication, and emotional support.
What conditions does Agape Hospice Of The Lowcountry primarily treat?
Agape Hospice Of The Lowcountry's patient population includes dementia (29%), respiratory disease (19%), cancer (17%), other conditions (15%), cardiovascular disease (14%), stroke (8%). This reflects the hospice's experience managing these conditions.
Where does Agape Hospice Of The Lowcountry provide care?
Agape Hospice Of The Lowcountry provides care in patient's home (58%), assisted living (32%), skilled nursing (6%), inpatient hospice (2%), hospital (1%).
How large is Agape Hospice Of The Lowcountry?
Agape Hospice Of The Lowcountry serves an average of 891 patients per day and covers 232 ZIP codes in its service area.
How many doctors are affiliated with Agape Hospice Of The Lowcountry?
20 physicians are affiliated with Agape Hospice Of The Lowcountry.
Data source: CMS Hospice Compare · CAHPS Hospice Survey ·