About Pruitthealth Hospice-blue Ridge
Hospice overview and quality summary
Pruitthealth Hospice-blue Ridge is a for-profit hospice care provider in Blue Ridge, GA, serving patients and families in Fannin County and the surrounding area. Medicare certified since 2003, Pruitthealth Hospice-blue Ridge has provided 23 years of end-of-life and palliative care to the community.
Pruitthealth Hospice-blue Ridge serves an average of 68 patients per day, covering 33 ZIP codes across its service area. 70% of care is delivered in patients' homes, consistent with the hospice philosophy of enabling comfort care in familiar surroundings.
Pruitthealth Hospice-blue Ridge has earned a 4-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 10 out of 10, a composite measure of care quality and efficiency. 8 physicians are affiliated with this hospice.
When choosing hospice care in Blue Ridge, GA, 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
Very Good
CMS CAHPS Hospice Star Rating
Pruitthealth Hospice-blue Ridge has earned a 4-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 Pruitthealth Hospice-blue Ridge among the higher-rated hospice providers serving families in Blue Ridge, GA.
Emotional & Spiritual Support
How well the hospice team provided emotional and spiritual support
85% 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
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
81% of caregivers gave Pruitthealth Hospice-blue Ridge 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
79% 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
82% of caregivers gave Pruitthealth Hospice-blue Ridge 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
80% 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
86% 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
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
99.4%
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
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
99.4%
Natl: 91.6%
Hospice Care Index
Composite quality score with 10 sub-measures
Overall HCI Score
National average: 8.8/10
Pruitthealth Hospice-blue Ridge'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.
84.1% of Pruitthealth Hospice-blue Ridge'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
98.3%
Natl: 89.5%
Nurse Care Minutes
Average nurse care minutes per routine home care day
14.9
Natl: 13.4
Weekend Nursing
Percentage of skilled nursing minutes on weekends
6.3%
Natl: 9.2%
Gaps in Nursing Visits
Stays with gaps in skilled nursing visits
11.2%
Natl: 55.4%
Early Live Discharges
Patients discharged alive within 3 days
13.3%
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
3.3%
Natl: 8%
Burdensome Transitions (Type 2)
Acute care admissions near death
3.3%
Natl: 2.3%
CHC/GIP Days
Continuous home care & general inpatient days as share of total
0.2%
Natl: 0.6%
Per-Beneficiary Spending
Average Medicare spending per hospice beneficiary
$13,653
Natl: $16,971
Patient Population
Primary diagnoses of hospice patients
Pruitthealth Hospice-blue Ridge's patient population is primarily composed of individuals with cancer (25%), followed by other conditions (24%), dementia (22%), cardiovascular disease (16%), stroke (8%), respiratory disease (7%).
Care Settings
Where hospice care is delivered
Pruitthealth Hospice-blue Ridge delivers 70% of its care in patients' homes, with 19% in skilled nursing settings, 11% in assisted living settings. The hospice serves an average of 68 patients per day.
Patient's Home
Skilled Nursing
Assisted Living
Doctors at Pruitthealth Hospice-blue Ridge
8 affiliated physicians
Dr. Elias Issa, MD
Internal Medicine
Dr. Maxcene Oreus, MD
Internal Medicine
Dr. Nicholas Morrow, MD
Family Practice
Dr. Damodhar Nerella, MD
Hospitalist
Dr. Jay Jones, MD
Family Practice
Dr. Mary Hendrickson-quirk, DO
Internal Medicine
Dr. Jordan Simpson, DO
Family Practice
Dr. Teresa Bradford, MD
Family Practice
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Reviews and ratings from patients
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Frequently Asked Questions
About Pruitthealth Hospice-blue Ridge
What is the CMS rating for Pruitthealth Hospice-blue Ridge?
Pruitthealth Hospice-blue Ridge has a 4-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 Pruitthealth Hospice-blue Ridge primarily treat?
Pruitthealth Hospice-blue Ridge's patient population includes cancer (25%), other conditions (24%), dementia (22%), cardiovascular disease (16%), stroke (8%), respiratory disease (7%). This reflects the hospice's experience managing these conditions.
Where does Pruitthealth Hospice-blue Ridge provide care?
Pruitthealth Hospice-blue Ridge provides care in patient's home (70%), skilled nursing (19%), assisted living (11%).
How large is Pruitthealth Hospice-blue Ridge?
Pruitthealth Hospice-blue Ridge serves an average of 68 patients per day and covers 33 ZIP codes in its service area.
How many doctors are affiliated with Pruitthealth Hospice-blue Ridge?
8 physicians are affiliated with Pruitthealth Hospice-blue Ridge.
Data source: CMS Hospice Compare · CAHPS Hospice Survey ·