About High Desert Hospice
Hospice overview and quality summary
High Desert Hospice is an hospice care provider in Albuquerque, NM, serving patients and families in Bernalillo County and the surrounding area. Medicare certified since 2015, High Desert Hospice has provided 11 years of end-of-life and palliative care to the community.
High Desert Hospice serves an average of 282 patients per day, covering 44 ZIP codes across its service area. 48% of care is delivered in patients' homes, consistent with the hospice philosophy of enabling comfort care in familiar surroundings.
CMS has assigned High Desert 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 9 out of 10, a composite measure of care quality and efficiency. 2 physicians are affiliated with this hospice.
When choosing hospice care in Albuquerque, NM, 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
High Desert 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 Albuquerque, NM compare hospice providers.
Emotional & Spiritual Support
How well the hospice team provided emotional and spiritual support
87% of caregivers gave a top rating for emotional & spiritual support, below 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
77% of caregivers gave High Desert 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
82% of caregivers gave a top rating for team communication, consistent with the national average of 81%.
Getting Timely Care
Whether the patient received help as soon as it was needed
76% 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
76% of caregivers gave a top rating for training for family caregivers, consistent with 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
82% of caregivers gave a top rating for would recommend, consistent with the national average of 84%.
Source: CMS CAHPS Hospice Survey · Vertical markers indicate national average
Hospice Care Index
Composite quality score with 10 sub-measures
Overall HCI Score
National average: 8.8/10
High Desert 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.
52.1% of High Desert 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
91%
Natl: 89.5%
Nurse Care Minutes
Average nurse care minutes per routine home care day
15.8
Natl: 13.4
Weekend Nursing
Percentage of skilled nursing minutes on weekends
4.2%
Natl: 9.2%
Gaps in Nursing Visits
Stays with gaps in skilled nursing visits
34%
Natl: 55.4%
Early Live Discharges
Patients discharged alive within 3 days
4.5%
Natl: 7.2%
Late Live Discharges
Patients discharged alive after enrollment
37.9%
Natl: 40%
Burdensome Transitions (Type 1)
Hospice-to-acute-care transitions near death
6.8%
Natl: 8%
Burdensome Transitions (Type 2)
Acute care admissions near death
2.3%
Natl: 2.3%
CHC/GIP Days
Continuous home care & general inpatient days as share of total
0.1%
Natl: 0.6%
Per-Beneficiary Spending
Average Medicare spending per hospice beneficiary
$22,582
Natl: $16,971
Patient Population
Primary diagnoses of hospice patients
High Desert Hospice's patient population is primarily composed of individuals with dementia (39%), followed by other conditions (19%), cardiovascular disease (14%), cancer (14%), respiratory disease (11%), stroke (5%). Dementia care requires specialized communication techniques and behavioral support, which experienced hospice teams are trained to provide.
Care Settings
Where hospice care is delivered
High Desert Hospice delivers 48% of its care in patients' homes, with 50% in assisted living settings, 1% in nursing facility settings, 1% in skilled nursing 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 282 patients per day.
Assisted Living
Patient's Home
Nursing Facility
Skilled Nursing
Doctors at High Desert Hospice
2 affiliated physicians
Patient Reviews
Reviews and ratings from patients
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Frequently Asked Questions
About High Desert Hospice
What is the CMS rating for High Desert Hospice?
High Desert 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 High Desert Hospice primarily treat?
High Desert Hospice's patient population includes dementia (39%), other conditions (19%), cardiovascular disease (14%), cancer (14%), respiratory disease (11%), stroke (5%). This reflects the hospice's experience managing these conditions.
Where does High Desert Hospice provide care?
High Desert Hospice provides care in assisted living (50%), patient's home (48%), nursing facility (1%), skilled nursing (1%).
How large is High Desert Hospice?
High Desert Hospice serves an average of 282 patients per day and covers 44 ZIP codes in its service area.
How many doctors are affiliated with High Desert Hospice?
2 physicians are affiliated with High Desert Hospice.
Data source: CMS Hospice Compare · CAHPS Hospice Survey ·