About Bitterroot Health - Hospice
Hospice overview and quality summary
Bitterroot Health - Hospice is an hospice care provider in Hamilton, MT, serving patients and families in Ravalli County and the surrounding area. Medicare certified since 1991, Bitterroot Health - Hospice has provided 35 years of end-of-life and palliative care to the community.
Bitterroot Health - Hospice serves an average of 21 patients per day, covering 14 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.
Bitterroot Health - Hospice has earned a 5-star CMS quality rating based on caregiver survey results, reflecting strong satisfaction across communication, symptom management, and emotional support. The facility's Hospice Care Index score is 9 out of 10, a composite measure of care quality and efficiency. 12 physicians are affiliated with this hospice.
When choosing hospice care in Hamilton, MT, 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
Excellent
CMS CAHPS Hospice Star Rating
Bitterroot Health - Hospice has earned a 5-star quality rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), based on the CAHPS Hospice Survey of bereaved family caregivers. This rating reflects above-average satisfaction across emotional support, symptom management, team communication, and respect. This places Bitterroot Health - Hospice among the higher-rated hospice providers serving families in Hamilton, MT.
Emotional & Spiritual Support
How well the hospice team provided emotional and spiritual support
91% 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
96% of caregivers gave Bitterroot Health - Hospice 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 Bitterroot Health - Hospice a top rating for help with symptoms, above the national average of 74%.
Team Communication
How well the hospice team communicated with the family
90% of caregivers gave Bitterroot Health - Hospice 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 Bitterroot Health - Hospice 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
87% of caregivers gave Bitterroot Health - Hospice 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
90% of caregivers gave Bitterroot Health - Hospice 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
93% of caregivers gave Bitterroot Health - Hospice 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
98.8%
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
98.8%
Natl: 99.0%
Dyspnea Treatment
Patients with dyspnea who received treatment within 24 hours
99.1%
Natl: 97.4%
Composite Process Score
Composite measure of all hospice care process quality measures
97.0%
Natl: 91.6%
Hospice Care Index
Composite quality score with 10 sub-measures
Overall HCI Score
National average: 8.8/10
Bitterroot Health - Hospice'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.
72.9% of Bitterroot Health - Hospice'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
98.5%
Natl: 89.5%
Nurse Care Minutes
Average nurse care minutes per routine home care day
11.9
Natl: 13.4
Weekend Nursing
Percentage of skilled nursing minutes on weekends
6%
Natl: 9.2%
Gaps in Nursing Visits
Stays with gaps in skilled nursing visits
9.8%
Natl: 55.4%
Early Live Discharges
Patients discharged alive within 3 days
11.4%
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
5.7%
Natl: 8%
Burdensome Transitions (Type 2)
Acute care admissions near death
2.9%
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
$8,215
Natl: $16,971
Patient Population
Primary diagnoses of hospice patients
Bitterroot Health - Hospice's patient population is primarily composed of individuals with cancer (31%), followed by cardiovascular disease (20%), dementia (17%), respiratory disease (13%), other conditions (11%), stroke (7%). While cancer has historically been the most common hospice diagnosis, the proportion of non-cancer patients has grown substantially over the past decade.
Care Settings
Where hospice care is delivered
Bitterroot Health - Hospice delivers 58% of its care in patients' homes, with 36% in assisted living settings, 5% in skilled nursing settings. The hospice serves an average of 21 patients per day.
Patient's Home
Assisted Living
Skilled Nursing
Doctors at Bitterroot Health - Hospice
12 affiliated physicians
Dr. Carlee Kalbfleisch, MD
Family Practice
Dr. Yvonne Courchesne, MD
Family Practice
Dr. Lawrence Brouwer, MD
Family Practice
Dr. Tor Anderson, DO
Family Practice
Dr. Madeline Mussman, DO
Family Practice
Dr. Kathleen Harder-brouwer, MD
Family Practice
Dr. Brenda Kirkland, MD
Family Practice
Dr. Daniel Child, DO
Family Practice
Dr. Harvard Heath, MD
Family Practice
Dr. Elizabeth Erikson, DO
Family Practice
Dr. April Weinberger, MD
Family Practice
Dr. Robert Smith, MD
Family Practice
Patient Reviews
Reviews and ratings from patients
Loading reviews...
Manage This Hospice Profile
Claim your profile to update information, respond to reviews, and showcase your hospice to patients and families.
Claim & Manage ProfileOther Hospice Providers Nearby
Hospice care in MT
Hestia Hospice Advantage
For-Profit · 43 mi away
700 Sw Higgins Ave Suite102, Missoula, MT 59803
(406) 540-4302
Anaconda Pintler Hospice
Non-Profit · 46 mi away
118 E Seventh St Ste 1a, Anaconda, MT 59711
(406) 563-7023
Big Sky Hospice
Other · 48 mi away
1900 South Reserve Street, Missoula, MT 59801
(406) 543-4408
Home Health & Hospice Of Montana
Other · 55 mi away
100 Consumer Direct Way, Missoula, MT 59808
(406) 541-1800
Highland Hospice
Other · 79 mi away
3703 Harrison Ave, Butte, MT 59701
(406) 533-0020
Compassus Hospice Helena
For-Profit · 79 mi away
19 Discovery Dr, Butte, MT 59701
(406) 494-6114
Find Hospice Care in Nearby Cities
Browse hospice providers in surrounding areas
Frequently Asked Questions
About Bitterroot Health - Hospice
What is the CMS rating for Bitterroot Health - Hospice?
Bitterroot Health - Hospice has a 5-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 Bitterroot Health - Hospice primarily treat?
Bitterroot Health - Hospice's patient population includes cancer (31%), cardiovascular disease (20%), dementia (17%), respiratory disease (13%), other conditions (11%), stroke (7%). This reflects the hospice's experience managing these conditions.
Where does Bitterroot Health - Hospice provide care?
Bitterroot Health - Hospice provides care in patient's home (58%), assisted living (36%), skilled nursing (5%).
How large is Bitterroot Health - Hospice?
Bitterroot Health - Hospice serves an average of 21 patients per day and covers 14 ZIP codes in its service area.
How many doctors are affiliated with Bitterroot Health - Hospice?
12 physicians are affiliated with Bitterroot Health - Hospice.
Data source: CMS Hospice Compare · CAHPS Hospice Survey ·