About Howard County Community Hospice
Hospice overview and quality summary
Howard County Community Hospice is an hospice care provider in Cresco, IA, serving patients and families in Howard County and the surrounding area. Medicare certified since 1996, Howard County Community Hospice has provided 30 years of end-of-life and palliative care to the community.
Howard County Community Hospice serves an average of 21 patients per day, covering 18 ZIP codes across its service area. 30% 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 10 out of 10, a composite measure of care quality and efficiency. 5 physicians are affiliated with this hospice.
When choosing hospice care in Cresco, IA, 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
95% of caregivers gave Howard County Community Hospice 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
92% 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
86% of caregivers gave Howard County Community 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
84% of caregivers gave Howard County Community 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
82% of caregivers gave Howard County Community 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
86% of caregivers gave Howard County Community 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
79% of caregivers gave a top rating for overall rating (9-10), consistent with the national average of 81%.
Would Recommend
Percentage of caregivers who would definitely recommend this hospice
87% of caregivers gave Howard County Community 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
98.7%
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
100.0%
Natl: 99.0%
Dyspnea Treatment
Patients with dyspnea who received treatment within 24 hours
95.4%
Natl: 97.4%
Composite Process Score
Composite measure of all hospice care process quality measures
94.7%
Natl: 91.6%
Hospice Care Index
Composite quality score with 10 sub-measures
Overall HCI Score
National average: 8.8/10
Howard County Community Hospice'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.
87.2% of Howard County Community 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
98.2%
Natl: 89.5%
Nurse Care Minutes
Average nurse care minutes per routine home care day
14.6
Natl: 13.4
Weekend Nursing
Percentage of skilled nursing minutes on weekends
5.7%
Natl: 9.2%
Gaps in Nursing Visits
Stays with gaps in skilled nursing visits
3.5%
Natl: 55.4%
Early Live Discharges
Patients discharged alive within 3 days
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
0%
Natl: 8%
Burdensome Transitions (Type 2)
Acute care admissions near death
4%
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
$15,848
Natl: $16,971
Patient Population
Primary diagnoses of hospice patients
Howard County Community Hospice's patient population is primarily composed of individuals with cancer (31%), followed by dementia (24%), cardiovascular disease (21%), respiratory disease (13%). 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
Howard County Community Hospice delivers 30% of its care in patients' homes, with 61% in nursing facility settings, 8% 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 21 patients per day.
Nursing Facility
Patient's Home
Assisted Living
Doctors at Howard County Community Hospice
5 affiliated physicians
Patient Reviews
Reviews and ratings from patients
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Frequently Asked Questions
About Howard County Community Hospice
What is the CMS rating for Howard County Community Hospice?
Howard County Community Hospice 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 Howard County Community Hospice primarily treat?
Howard County Community Hospice's patient population includes cancer (31%), dementia (24%), cardiovascular disease (21%), respiratory disease (13%). This reflects the hospice's experience managing these conditions.
Where does Howard County Community Hospice provide care?
Howard County Community Hospice provides care in nursing facility (61%), patient's home (30%), assisted living (8%).
How large is Howard County Community Hospice?
Howard County Community Hospice serves an average of 21 patients per day and covers 18 ZIP codes in its service area.
How many doctors are affiliated with Howard County Community Hospice?
5 physicians are affiliated with Howard County Community Hospice.
Data source: CMS Hospice Compare · CAHPS Hospice Survey ·