About Visiting Nurse & Community Care
Hospice overview and quality summary
Visiting Nurse & Community Care is a nonprofit hospice care provider in Arlington, MA, serving patients and families in Middlesex County and the surrounding area. Medicare certified since 2009, Visiting Nurse & Community Care has provided 17 years of end-of-life and palliative care to the community.
Visiting Nurse & Community Care serves an average of 46 patients per day, covering 36 ZIP codes across its service area. 28% 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. 3 physicians are affiliated with this hospice.
When choosing hospice care in Arlington, MA, 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
89% 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
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
80% of caregivers gave Visiting Nurse & Community Care a top rating for help with symptoms, above the national average of 74%.
Team Communication
How well the hospice team communicated with the family
78% 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
72% of caregivers gave a top rating for getting timely care, below the national average of 77%.
Training for Family Caregivers
Whether sufficient training was provided to care for the patient
77% 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
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
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
Quality Process Measures
CMS hospice care quality indicators vs. national benchmarks
Treatment Preferences Documented
Patients whose treatment preferences were discussed and documented
98.9%
Natl: 99.5%
Beliefs & Values Addressed
Patients whose beliefs and values were addressed in the plan of care
97.7%
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
92.7%
Natl: 94.8%
Dyspnea Screening
Patients screened for shortness of breath upon admission
97.7%
Natl: 99.0%
Dyspnea Treatment
Patients with dyspnea who received treatment within 24 hours
95.7%
Natl: 97.4%
Composite Process Score
Composite measure of all hospice care process quality measures
90.8%
Natl: 91.6%
Hospice Care Index
Composite quality score with 10 sub-measures
Overall HCI Score
National average: 8.8/10
Visiting Nurse & Community Care'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.
86.0% of Visiting Nurse & Community Care'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
14.1
Natl: 13.4
Weekend Nursing
Percentage of skilled nursing minutes on weekends
5.3%
Natl: 9.2%
Gaps in Nursing Visits
Stays with gaps in skilled nursing visits
45%
Natl: 55.4%
Early Live Discharges
Patients discharged alive within 3 days
8.3%
Natl: 7.2%
Late Live Discharges
Patients discharged alive after enrollment
50%
Natl: 40%
Burdensome Transitions (Type 1)
Hospice-to-acute-care transitions near death
14.6%
Natl: 8%
Burdensome Transitions (Type 2)
Acute care admissions near death
2.1%
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
$28,460
Natl: $16,971
Patient Population
Primary diagnoses of hospice patients
Visiting Nurse & Community Care's patient population is primarily composed of individuals with dementia (42%), followed by other conditions (20%), cardiovascular disease (18%), cancer (9%). Dementia care requires specialized communication techniques and behavioral support, which experienced hospice teams are trained to provide.
Care Settings
Where hospice care is delivered
Visiting Nurse & Community Care delivers 28% of its care in patients' homes, with 69% in assisted living settings, 3% in skilled nursing settings, 1% in nursing facility 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 46 patients per day.
Assisted Living
Patient's Home
Skilled Nursing
Nursing Facility
Doctors at Visiting Nurse & Community Care
3 affiliated physicians
Patient Reviews
Reviews and ratings from patients
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Frequently Asked Questions
About Visiting Nurse & Community Care
What is the CMS rating for Visiting Nurse & Community Care?
Visiting Nurse & Community Care 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 Visiting Nurse & Community Care primarily treat?
Visiting Nurse & Community Care's patient population includes dementia (42%), other conditions (20%), cardiovascular disease (18%), cancer (9%). This reflects the hospice's experience managing these conditions.
Where does Visiting Nurse & Community Care provide care?
Visiting Nurse & Community Care provides care in assisted living (69%), patient's home (28%), skilled nursing (3%), nursing facility (1%).
How large is Visiting Nurse & Community Care?
Visiting Nurse & Community Care serves an average of 46 patients per day and covers 36 ZIP codes in its service area.
How many doctors are affiliated with Visiting Nurse & Community Care?
3 physicians are affiliated with Visiting Nurse & Community Care.
Data source: CMS Hospice Compare · CAHPS Hospice Survey ·