About Avera @ Home Of Spencer Hospital
Hospice overview and quality summary
Avera @ Home Of Spencer Hospital is a government-operated hospice care provider in Spencer, IA, serving patients and families in Clay County and the surrounding area. Medicare certified since 1993, Avera @ Home Of Spencer Hospital has provided 33 years of end-of-life and palliative care to the community.
Avera @ Home Of Spencer Hospital serves an average of 7 patients per day, covering 16 ZIP codes across its service area. 45% 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. 10 physicians are affiliated with this hospice.
When choosing hospice care in Spencer, 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
95% of caregivers gave Avera @ Home Of Spencer Hospital 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
96% of caregivers gave Avera @ Home Of Spencer Hospital 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
82% of caregivers gave Avera @ Home Of Spencer Hospital a top rating for help with symptoms, above the national average of 74%.
Team Communication
How well the hospice team communicated with the family
91% of caregivers gave Avera @ Home Of Spencer Hospital 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
88% of caregivers gave Avera @ Home Of Spencer Hospital 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
90% of caregivers gave Avera @ Home Of Spencer Hospital 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
92% of caregivers gave Avera @ Home Of Spencer Hospital 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
90% of caregivers gave Avera @ Home Of Spencer Hospital 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
98.8%
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
98.8%
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
97.7%
Natl: 91.6%
Hospice Care Index
Composite quality score with 10 sub-measures
Overall HCI Score
National average: 8.8/10
Avera @ Home Of Spencer Hospital'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.
83.8% of Avera @ Home Of Spencer Hospital'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
95.9%
Natl: 89.5%
Nurse Care Minutes
Average nurse care minutes per routine home care day
17.7
Natl: 13.4
Weekend Nursing
Percentage of skilled nursing minutes on weekends
6.3%
Natl: 9.2%
Gaps in Nursing Visits
Stays with gaps in skilled nursing visits
22%
Natl: 55.4%
Early Live Discharges
Patients discharged alive within 3 days
0%
Natl: 7.2%
Late Live Discharges
Patients discharged alive after enrollment
20%
Natl: 40%
Burdensome Transitions (Type 1)
Hospice-to-acute-care transitions near death
10%
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
1.4%
Natl: 0.6%
Per-Beneficiary Spending
Average Medicare spending per hospice beneficiary
$7,818
Natl: $16,971
Patient Population
Primary diagnoses of hospice patients
Avera @ Home Of Spencer Hospital's patient population is primarily composed of individuals with cancer (26%), followed by cardiovascular disease (23%), other conditions (21%), dementia (15%).
Care Settings
Where hospice care is delivered
Avera @ Home Of Spencer Hospital delivers 45% of its care in patients' homes, with 52% in nursing facility settings, 3% in hospital settings. The significant proportion of facility-based care may reflect patients requiring higher levels of medical support or those without available home caregivers. The hospice serves an average of 7 patients per day.
Nursing Facility
Patient's Home
Hospital
Doctors at Avera @ Home Of Spencer Hospital
10 affiliated physicians
Dr. Amy Jochims, MD
Family Practice
Dr. Travis Witt, MD
Family Practice
Dr. Lucas De Jong, MD
General Practice
Dr. John Hilsabeck, MD
Family Practice
Dr. Amanda Young, DO
Family Practice
Dr. Yelena Thomas, DO
Hospitalist
Dr. David Keith, DO
Family Practice
Dr. William Bensen, DO
Family Practice
Dr. Bruce Feldmann, MD
Family Practice
Dr. Sherry Kolacia Tighe, MD
Family Practice
Patient Reviews
Reviews and ratings from patients
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Frequently Asked Questions
About Avera @ Home Of Spencer Hospital
What is the CMS rating for Avera @ Home Of Spencer Hospital?
Avera @ Home Of Spencer Hospital 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 @ Home Of Spencer Hospital primarily treat?
Avera @ Home Of Spencer Hospital's patient population includes cancer (26%), cardiovascular disease (23%), other conditions (21%), dementia (15%). This reflects the hospice's experience managing these conditions.
Where does Avera @ Home Of Spencer Hospital provide care?
Avera @ Home Of Spencer Hospital provides care in nursing facility (52%), patient's home (45%), hospital (3%).
How large is Avera @ Home Of Spencer Hospital?
Avera @ Home Of Spencer Hospital serves an average of 7 patients per day and covers 16 ZIP codes in its service area.
How many doctors are affiliated with Avera @ Home Of Spencer Hospital?
10 physicians are affiliated with Avera @ Home Of Spencer Hospital.
Data source: CMS Hospice Compare · CAHPS Hospice Survey ·