About Desert Harmony Hospice Of Tucson
Hospice overview and quality summary
Desert Harmony Hospice Of Tucson is a for-profit hospice care provider in Tucson, AZ, serving patients and families in Pima County and the surrounding area. Medicare certified since 2015, Desert Harmony Hospice Of Tucson has provided 11 years of end-of-life and palliative care to the community.
Desert Harmony Hospice Of Tucson serves an average of 117 patients per day, covering 40 ZIP codes across its service area. 57% of care is delivered in patients' homes, consistent with the hospice philosophy of enabling comfort care in familiar surroundings.
Desert Harmony Hospice Of Tucson holds a 2-star CMS rating based on caregiver surveys. Families are encouraged to review the detailed quality measures below. The facility's Hospice Care Index score is 10 out of 10, a composite measure of care quality and efficiency. 11 physicians are affiliated with this hospice.
When choosing hospice care in Tucson, AZ, 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
Below Average
CMS CAHPS Hospice Star Rating
Desert Harmony Hospice Of Tucson has received a 2-star quality rating from CMS, based on caregiver survey results. Families in Tucson, AZ considering this hospice should review the detailed survey results below and discuss quality measures with the care team.
Emotional & Spiritual Support
How well the hospice team provided emotional and spiritual support
88% 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
89% 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
66% of caregivers gave a top rating for help with symptoms, below the national average of 74%.
Team Communication
How well the hospice team communicated with the family
76% of caregivers gave a top rating for team communication, below the national average of 81%.
Getting Timely Care
Whether the patient received help as soon as it was needed
75% 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
65% of caregivers gave a top rating for training for family caregivers, below the national average of 75%.
Overall Rating (9-10)
Percentage of caregivers rating the hospice 9 or 10 out of 10
76% 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
76% of caregivers gave a top rating for would recommend, below 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
95.8%
Natl: 98.3%
Pain Screening
Patients screened for pain upon hospice admission
98.9%
Natl: 98.3%
Comprehensive Pain Assessment
Patients with pain who received a comprehensive pain assessment
99.7%
Natl: 94.8%
Dyspnea Screening
Patients screened for shortness of breath upon admission
99.8%
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
99.1%
Natl: 93.2%
Composite Process Score
Composite measure of all hospice care process quality measures
94.2%
Natl: 91.6%
Hospice Care Index
Composite quality score with 10 sub-measures
Overall HCI Score
National average: 8.8/10
Desert Harmony Hospice Of Tucson'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.
64.4% of Desert Harmony Hospice Of Tucson'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
93.7%
Natl: 89.5%
Nurse Care Minutes
Average nurse care minutes per routine home care day
13.8
Natl: 13.4
Weekend Nursing
Percentage of skilled nursing minutes on weekends
9.7%
Natl: 9.2%
Gaps in Nursing Visits
Stays with gaps in skilled nursing visits
47%
Natl: 55.4%
Early Live Discharges
Patients discharged alive within 3 days
5.5%
Natl: 7.2%
Late Live Discharges
Patients discharged alive after enrollment
43.3%
Natl: 40%
Burdensome Transitions (Type 1)
Hospice-to-acute-care transitions near death
4.3%
Natl: 8%
Burdensome Transitions (Type 2)
Acute care admissions near death
0.6%
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
$15,447
Natl: $16,971
Patient Population
Primary diagnoses of hospice patients
Desert Harmony Hospice Of Tucson's patient population is primarily composed of individuals with cancer (38%), followed by dementia (25%), other conditions (16%), cardiovascular disease (14%), respiratory disease (6%), stroke (4%). 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
Desert Harmony Hospice Of Tucson delivers 57% of its care in patients' homes, with 20% in assisted living settings, 1% in nursing facility settings. The hospice serves an average of 117 patients per day.
Patient's Home
Assisted Living
Nursing Facility
Doctors at Desert Harmony Hospice Of Tucson
11 affiliated physicians
Dr. Valerie Bradley, NP
Nurse Practitioner
Dr. Kindra Roads, NP
Nurse Practitioner
Dr. Katherine Ball, NP
Nurse Practitioner
Dr. Charlene Gundry, NP
Nurse Practitioner
Dr. Bari Orozco, NP
Nurse Practitioner
Dr. Stephen Morgenstern, NP
Nurse Practitioner
Dr. Daniel Casto, MD
Family Practice
Dr. Lisa Reilly, NP
Nurse Practitioner
Dr. Michelle Rafferty, NP
Nurse Practitioner
Dr. Stephen Karuga, NP
Nurse Practitioner
Dr. Milton Spivack, NP
Nurse Practitioner
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 AZ
Affinity Hospice Care Inc
For-Profit · < 1 mi away
4400 East Broadway Boulevard, Suite 600- Q, Tucson, AZ 85711
(520) 230-1220
Bristol Hospice - Tucson
For-Profit · < 1 mi away
5210 E Williams Circle Ste 530, Tucson, AZ 85711
(520) 300-9337
Agape Hospice & Palliative Care
For-Profit · < 1 mi away
4400 East Broadway Boulevard, Suite 400, Tucson, AZ 85711
(520) 207-5817
Hospice Of Tucson Inc
For-Profit · < 1 mi away
4400 East Broadway Boulevard, Suite 600- O, Tucson, AZ 85711
(520) 372-4365
Curo Health Services Llc
Non-Profit · 3 mi away
3112 North Swan Road, Tucson, AZ 85712
(520) 325-2790
T M C Hospice Aka Peppi's House
Other · 3 mi away
2715 North Wyatt Drive, Tucson, AZ 85712
(520) 324-5624
Frequently Asked Questions
About Desert Harmony Hospice Of Tucson
What is the CMS rating for Desert Harmony Hospice Of Tucson?
Desert Harmony Hospice Of Tucson has a 2-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 Desert Harmony Hospice Of Tucson primarily treat?
Desert Harmony Hospice Of Tucson's patient population includes cancer (38%), dementia (25%), other conditions (16%), cardiovascular disease (14%), respiratory disease (6%), stroke (4%). This reflects the hospice's experience managing these conditions.
Where does Desert Harmony Hospice Of Tucson provide care?
Desert Harmony Hospice Of Tucson provides care in patient's home (57%), assisted living (20%), nursing facility (1%).
How large is Desert Harmony Hospice Of Tucson?
Desert Harmony Hospice Of Tucson serves an average of 117 patients per day and covers 40 ZIP codes in its service area.
How many doctors are affiliated with Desert Harmony Hospice Of Tucson?
11 physicians are affiliated with Desert Harmony Hospice Of Tucson.
Data source: CMS Hospice Compare · CAHPS Hospice Survey ·