About Preferred Hospice
Hospice overview and quality summary
Preferred Hospice is a for-profit hospice care provider in Florence, AL, serving patients and families in Lauderdale County and the surrounding area. Medicare certified since 2002, Preferred Hospice has provided 24 years of end-of-life and palliative care to the community.
Preferred Hospice serves an average of 65 patients per day, covering 30 ZIP codes across its service area. 64% of care is delivered in patients' homes, consistent with the hospice philosophy of enabling comfort care in familiar surroundings.
Preferred 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 8 out of 10, a composite measure of care quality and efficiency. 1 physicians are affiliated with this hospice.
When choosing hospice care in Florence, AL, 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
Preferred 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 Preferred Hospice among the higher-rated hospice providers serving families in Florence, AL.
Emotional & Spiritual Support
How well the hospice team provided emotional and spiritual support
94% of caregivers gave Preferred 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
95% of caregivers gave Preferred 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
84% of caregivers gave Preferred 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
89% of caregivers gave Preferred 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
88% of caregivers gave Preferred 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
91% of caregivers gave Preferred 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
89% of caregivers gave Preferred 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
94% of caregivers gave Preferred 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
100.0%
Natl: 98.3%
Pain Screening
Patients screened for pain upon hospice admission
99.5%
Natl: 98.3%
Comprehensive Pain Assessment
Patients with pain who received a comprehensive pain assessment
99.0%
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
100.0%
Natl: 97.4%
Opioid Bowel Regimen
Patients on opioids who were offered a bowel regimen
100.0%
Natl: 93.2%
Composite Process Score
Composite measure of all hospice care process quality measures
98.9%
Natl: 91.6%
Hospice Care Index
Composite quality score with 10 sub-measures
Overall HCI Score
National average: 8.8/10
Preferred 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.
87.2% of Preferred 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
99.3%
Natl: 89.5%
Nurse Care Minutes
Average nurse care minutes per routine home care day
11.1
Natl: 13.4
Weekend Nursing
Percentage of skilled nursing minutes on weekends
8%
Natl: 9.2%
Gaps in Nursing Visits
Stays with gaps in skilled nursing visits
55.8%
Natl: 55.4%
Early Live Discharges
Patients discharged alive within 3 days
11.5%
Natl: 7.2%
Late Live Discharges
Patients discharged alive after enrollment
23%
Natl: 40%
Burdensome Transitions (Type 1)
Hospice-to-acute-care transitions near death
27.9%
Natl: 8%
Burdensome Transitions (Type 2)
Acute care admissions near death
6.6%
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
$15,161
Natl: $16,971
Patient Population
Primary diagnoses of hospice patients
Preferred Hospice's patient population is primarily composed of individuals with dementia (41%), followed by cardiovascular disease (26%), other conditions (12%), cancer (10%), respiratory disease (7%), stroke (6%). Dementia care requires specialized communication techniques and behavioral support, which experienced hospice teams are trained to provide.
Care Settings
Where hospice care is delivered
Preferred Hospice delivers 64% of its care in patients' homes, with 33% in nursing facility settings, 1% in assisted living settings, 1% in skilled nursing settings. The hospice serves an average of 65 patients per day.
Patient's Home
Nursing Facility
Assisted Living
Skilled Nursing
Patient Reviews
Reviews and ratings from patients
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Frequently Asked Questions
About Preferred Hospice
What is the CMS rating for Preferred Hospice?
Preferred 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 Preferred Hospice primarily treat?
Preferred Hospice's patient population includes dementia (41%), cardiovascular disease (26%), other conditions (12%), cancer (10%), respiratory disease (7%), stroke (6%). This reflects the hospice's experience managing these conditions.
Where does Preferred Hospice provide care?
Preferred Hospice provides care in patient's home (64%), nursing facility (33%), assisted living (1%), skilled nursing (1%).
How large is Preferred Hospice?
Preferred Hospice serves an average of 65 patients per day and covers 30 ZIP codes in its service area.
How many doctors are affiliated with Preferred Hospice?
1 physicians are affiliated with Preferred Hospice.
Data source: CMS Hospice Compare · CAHPS Hospice Survey ·