About First Choice Hospice
Hospice overview and quality summary
First Choice Hospice is an hospice care provider in Harrisonburg, VA, serving patients and families in Rockingham County and the surrounding area. Medicare certified since 2016, First Choice Hospice has provided 10 years of end-of-life and palliative care to the community.
First Choice Hospice serves an average of 20 patients per day, covering 38 ZIP codes across its service area. 39% of care is delivered in patients' homes, consistent with the hospice philosophy of enabling comfort care in familiar surroundings.
CMS has assigned First Choice Hospice a 3-star quality rating based on caregiver survey feedback, indicating average satisfaction with the hospice's care. The facility's Hospice Care Index score is 8 out of 10, a composite measure of care quality and efficiency.
When choosing hospice care in Harrisonburg, VA, 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
Average
CMS CAHPS Hospice Star Rating
First Choice Hospice has received a 3-star quality rating from CMS, based on the CAHPS Hospice Survey. This average rating reflects caregiver satisfaction across communication, symptom management, timely care, and emotional support. CMS publishes these ratings to help families in Harrisonburg, VA compare hospice providers.
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
93% of caregivers gave First Choice 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
71% 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
77% 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
80% of caregivers gave First Choice 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
67% 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
78% 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
89% of caregivers gave First Choice 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
96.3%
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
98.4%
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
98.2%
Natl: 97.4%
Opioid Bowel Regimen
Patients on opioids who were offered a bowel regimen
94.6%
Natl: 93.2%
Composite Process Score
Composite measure of all hospice care process quality measures
93.5%
Natl: 91.6%
Hospice Care Index
Composite quality score with 10 sub-measures
Overall HCI Score
National average: 8.8/10
First Choice Hospice's Hospice Care Index (HCI) score is 8 out of 10, below the national average of 8.8. The HCI evaluates hospices on nursing visit continuity, care transitions, spending efficiency, and presence in the final days.
46.8% of First Choice Hospice's patients received visits from the hospice team in their final days of life, consistent with the national average of 47.9%. Presence during the final days reflects the hospice's commitment to supporting families when it matters most.
Visits Near Death
Patients with visits in last 3 days of life
89.7%
Natl: 89.5%
Nurse Care Minutes
Average nurse care minutes per routine home care day
11.2
Natl: 13.4
Weekend Nursing
Percentage of skilled nursing minutes on weekends
6.9%
Natl: 9.2%
Gaps in Nursing Visits
Stays with gaps in skilled nursing visits
19.8%
Natl: 55.4%
Early Live Discharges
Patients discharged alive within 3 days
15.4%
Natl: 7.2%
Late Live Discharges
Patients discharged alive after enrollment
26.9%
Natl: 40%
Burdensome Transitions (Type 1)
Hospice-to-acute-care transitions near death
7.7%
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%
Natl: 0.6%
Per-Beneficiary Spending
Average Medicare spending per hospice beneficiary
$11,395
Natl: $16,971
Patient Population
Primary diagnoses of hospice patients
First Choice Hospice's patient population is primarily composed of individuals with cancer (30%), followed by dementia (23%), cardiovascular disease (17%), other conditions (17%), respiratory disease (9%).
Care Settings
Where hospice care is delivered
First Choice Hospice delivers 39% of its care in patients' homes, with 51% in skilled nursing settings, 11% 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 20 patients per day.
Skilled Nursing
Patient's Home
Assisted Living
Patient Reviews
Reviews and ratings from patients
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Frequently Asked Questions
About First Choice Hospice
What is the CMS rating for First Choice Hospice?
First Choice Hospice has a 3-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 First Choice Hospice primarily treat?
First Choice Hospice's patient population includes cancer (30%), dementia (23%), cardiovascular disease (17%), other conditions (17%), respiratory disease (9%). This reflects the hospice's experience managing these conditions.
Where does First Choice Hospice provide care?
First Choice Hospice provides care in skilled nursing (51%), patient's home (39%), assisted living (11%).
How large is First Choice Hospice?
First Choice Hospice serves an average of 20 patients per day and covers 38 ZIP codes in its service area.
How many doctors are affiliated with First Choice Hospice?
Affiliated physician data is not currently available for First Choice Hospice.
Data source: CMS Hospice Compare · CAHPS Hospice Survey ·