About Avera At Home
Hospice overview and quality summary
Avera At Home is a nonprofit hospice care provider in Estherville, IA, serving patients and families in Emmet County and the surrounding area. Medicare certified since 1984, Avera At Home has provided 42 years of end-of-life and palliative care to the community.
Avera At Home serves an average of 14 patients per day, covering 36 ZIP codes across its service area. 53% of care is delivered in patients' homes, consistent with the hospice philosophy of enabling comfort care in familiar surroundings.
The facility's Hospice Care Index score is 10 out of 10, a composite measure of care quality and efficiency. 9 physicians are affiliated with this hospice.
When choosing hospice care in Estherville, IA, 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
Emotional & Spiritual Support
How well the hospice team provided emotional and spiritual support
94% of caregivers gave Avera At Home a top rating for emotional & spiritual support, above the national average of 90%.
Treated with Respect
Whether the patient was treated with dignity and respect
95% of caregivers gave Avera At Home a top rating for treated with respect, above the national average of 90%.
Help with Symptoms
How well the hospice team managed pain and other symptoms
84% of caregivers gave Avera At Home a top rating for help with symptoms, above the national average of 74%.
Team Communication
How well the hospice team communicated with the family
87% of caregivers gave Avera At Home a top rating for team communication, above the national average of 81%.
Getting Timely Care
Whether the patient received help as soon as it was needed
91% of caregivers gave Avera At Home a top rating for getting timely care, above the national average of 77%.
Training for Family Caregivers
Whether sufficient training was provided to care for the patient
84% of caregivers gave Avera At Home a top rating for training for family caregivers, above the national average of 75%.
Overall Rating (9-10)
Percentage of caregivers rating the hospice 9 or 10 out of 10
87% of caregivers gave Avera At Home a top rating for overall rating (9-10), above the national average of 81%.
Would Recommend
Percentage of caregivers who would definitely recommend this hospice
95% of caregivers gave Avera At Home a top rating for would recommend, above 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
96.6%
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%
Composite Process Score
Composite measure of all hospice care process quality measures
97.6%
Natl: 91.6%
Hospice Care Index
Composite quality score with 10 sub-measures
Overall HCI Score
National average: 8.8/10
Avera At Home's Hospice Care Index (HCI) score is 10 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.
81.6% of Avera At Home'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
96.8%
Natl: 89.5%
Nurse Care Minutes
Average nurse care minutes per routine home care day
18.7
Natl: 13.4
Weekend Nursing
Percentage of skilled nursing minutes on weekends
7.9%
Natl: 9.2%
Gaps in Nursing Visits
Stays with gaps in skilled nursing visits
13.8%
Natl: 55.4%
Early Live Discharges
Patients discharged alive within 3 days
0%
Natl: 7.2%
Late Live Discharges
Patients discharged alive after enrollment
47.8%
Natl: 40%
Burdensome Transitions (Type 1)
Hospice-to-acute-care transitions near death
8.7%
Natl: 8%
Burdensome Transitions (Type 2)
Acute care admissions near death
0%
Natl: 2.3%
CHC/GIP Days
Continuous home care & general inpatient days as share of total
0.1%
Natl: 0.6%
Per-Beneficiary Spending
Average Medicare spending per hospice beneficiary
$11,563
Natl: $16,971
Patient Population
Primary diagnoses of hospice patients
Avera At Home's patient population is primarily composed of individuals with other conditions (29%), followed by cardiovascular disease (23%), cancer (22%), dementia (14%).
Care Settings
Where hospice care is delivered
Avera At Home delivers 53% of its care in patients' homes, with 46% in nursing facility settings, 1% in assisted living settings. The hospice serves an average of 14 patients per day.
Patient's Home
Nursing Facility
Assisted Living
Doctors at Avera At Home
9 affiliated physicians
Dr. Garrett Sterk, DO
Family Practice
Dr. Keith Probst, MD
Family Practice
Dr. James Creech, MD
Family Practice
Dr. Madhan Prabhakaran, MD
Family Practice
Dr. Lorraine Tangen, MD
Family Practice
Dr. David Springer, MD
Family Practice
Dr. Andrew Mueting, DO
Family Practice
Dr. Rachel Wilcinot, DO
Family Practice
Dr. Chester Dejong, MD
Family Practice
Patient Reviews
Reviews and ratings from patients
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Frequently Asked Questions
About Avera At Home
What is the CMS rating for Avera At Home?
Avera At Home does not currently have a CMS star rating available. Approximately 69% of hospice providers lack sufficient survey data for a star rating.
What conditions does Avera At Home primarily treat?
Avera At Home's patient population includes other conditions (29%), cardiovascular disease (23%), cancer (22%), dementia (14%). This reflects the hospice's experience managing these conditions.
Where does Avera At Home provide care?
Avera At Home provides care in patient's home (53%), nursing facility (46%), assisted living (1%).
How large is Avera At Home?
Avera At Home serves an average of 14 patients per day and covers 36 ZIP codes in its service area.
How many doctors are affiliated with Avera At Home?
9 physicians are affiliated with Avera At Home.
Data source: CMS Hospice Compare · CAHPS Hospice Survey ·