About Avera @ Home
Hospice overview and quality summary
Avera @ Home is an hospice care provider in Pierre, SD, serving patients and families in Hughes County and the surrounding area. Medicare certified since 1996, Avera @ Home has provided 30 years of end-of-life and palliative care to the community.
Avera @ Home serves an average of 33 patients per day, covering 25 ZIP codes across its service area. 34% 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 9 out of 10, a composite measure of care quality and efficiency. 8 physicians are affiliated with this hospice.
When choosing hospice care in Pierre, SD, 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
93% of caregivers gave Avera @ 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
96% of caregivers gave Avera @ 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 @ 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
85% of caregivers gave Avera @ 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
82% of caregivers gave Avera @ 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
82% of caregivers gave Avera @ 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
89% of caregivers gave Avera @ 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
87% of caregivers gave Avera @ 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
97.2%
Natl: 98.3%
Comprehensive Pain Assessment
Patients with pain who received a comprehensive pain assessment
99.1%
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
96.5%
Natl: 91.6%
Hospice Care Index
Composite quality score with 10 sub-measures
Overall HCI Score
National average: 8.8/10
Avera @ Home'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.
82.1% of Avera @ 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
95.7%
Natl: 89.5%
Nurse Care Minutes
Average nurse care minutes per routine home care day
12.7
Natl: 13.4
Weekend Nursing
Percentage of skilled nursing minutes on weekends
4.9%
Natl: 9.2%
Gaps in Nursing Visits
Stays with gaps in skilled nursing visits
36.8%
Natl: 55.4%
Early Live Discharges
Patients discharged alive within 3 days
0%
Natl: 7.2%
Late Live Discharges
Patients discharged alive after enrollment
87.5%
Natl: 40%
Burdensome Transitions (Type 1)
Hospice-to-acute-care transitions near death
0%
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%
Natl: 0.6%
Per-Beneficiary Spending
Average Medicare spending per hospice beneficiary
$14,221
Natl: $16,971
Patient Population
Primary diagnoses of hospice patients
Avera @ Home's patient population is primarily composed of individuals with dementia (30%), followed by cancer (26%), other conditions (22%), cardiovascular disease (11%), respiratory disease (9%). Dementia care requires specialized communication techniques and behavioral support, which experienced hospice teams are trained to provide.
Care Settings
Where hospice care is delivered
Avera @ Home delivers 34% of its care in patients' homes, with 47% in nursing facility settings, 19% in assisted living 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 33 patients per day.
Nursing Facility
Patient's Home
Assisted Living
Doctors at Avera @ Home
8 affiliated physicians
Dr. Chad Carda, MD
Family Practice
Dr. Darrell Plumage, MD
Internal Medicine
Dr. Robert Allison, MD
Internal Medicine
Dr. Michelle Turner, MD
Family Practice
Dr. Victor Strasburg, MD
Family Practice
Dr. Jenna Wickersham, DO
Family Practice
Dr. Rebecca Waring, MD
Internal Medicine
Dr. Michael Richardson, MD
Family Practice
Patient Reviews
Reviews and ratings from patients
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Frequently Asked Questions
About Avera @ Home
What is the CMS rating for Avera @ Home?
Avera @ 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 @ Home primarily treat?
Avera @ Home's patient population includes dementia (30%), cancer (26%), other conditions (22%), cardiovascular disease (11%), respiratory disease (9%). This reflects the hospice's experience managing these conditions.
Where does Avera @ Home provide care?
Avera @ Home provides care in nursing facility (47%), patient's home (34%), assisted living (19%).
How large is Avera @ Home?
Avera @ Home serves an average of 33 patients per day and covers 25 ZIP codes in its service area.
How many doctors are affiliated with Avera @ Home?
8 physicians are affiliated with Avera @ Home.
Data source: CMS Hospice Compare · CAHPS Hospice Survey ·