About West River Hospice
Hospice overview and quality summary
West River Hospice is a for-profit hospice care provider in Needham, MA, serving patients and families in Norfolk County and the surrounding area. Medicare certified since 2017, West River Hospice has provided 9 years of end-of-life and palliative care to the community.
West River Hospice serves an average of 43 patients per day, covering 81 ZIP codes across its service area. 38% 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 6 out of 10, a composite measure of care quality and efficiency. 8 physicians are affiliated with this hospice.
When choosing hospice care in Needham, 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
90% 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
78% of caregivers gave West River 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
76% 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
67% 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
71% of caregivers gave a top rating for training for family caregivers, below the national average of 75%.
Overall Rating (9-10)
Percentage of caregivers rating the hospice 9 or 10 out of 10
71% 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
70% of caregivers gave a top rating for would recommend, below 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
98.1%
Natl: 99.5%
Beliefs & Values Addressed
Patients whose beliefs and values were addressed in the plan of care
84.0%
Natl: 98.3%
Pain Screening
Patients screened for pain upon hospice admission
83.3%
Natl: 98.3%
Comprehensive Pain Assessment
Patients with pain who received a comprehensive pain assessment
88.5%
Natl: 94.8%
Dyspnea Screening
Patients screened for shortness of breath upon admission
99.4%
Natl: 99.0%
Dyspnea Treatment
Patients with dyspnea who received treatment within 24 hours
87.1%
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
64.2%
Natl: 91.6%
Hospice Care Index
Composite quality score with 10 sub-measures
Overall HCI Score
National average: 8.8/10
West River Hospice's Hospice Care Index (HCI) score is 6 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.
29.6% of West River Hospice's patients received visits from the hospice team in their final days of life, below the national average of 47.9%. Families may want to discuss end-of-life visit availability with this hospice.
Visits Near Death
Patients with visits in last 3 days of life
74.5%
Natl: 89.5%
Nurse Care Minutes
Average nurse care minutes per routine home care day
7.5
Natl: 13.4
Weekend Nursing
Percentage of skilled nursing minutes on weekends
2.8%
Natl: 9.2%
Gaps in Nursing Visits
Stays with gaps in skilled nursing visits
84.8%
Natl: 55.4%
Early Live Discharges
Patients discharged alive within 3 days
10%
Natl: 7.2%
Late Live Discharges
Patients discharged alive after enrollment
36%
Natl: 40%
Burdensome Transitions (Type 1)
Hospice-to-acute-care transitions near death
10%
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
$18,786
Natl: $16,971
Patient Population
Primary diagnoses of hospice patients
West River Hospice's patient population is primarily composed of individuals with dementia (41%), followed by cancer (21%), other conditions (17%), cardiovascular disease (15%), 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
West River Hospice delivers 38% of its care in patients' homes, with 36% in nursing facility settings, 23% in assisted living settings, 3% 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 43 patients per day.
Patient's Home
Nursing Facility
Assisted Living
Skilled Nursing
Doctors at West River Hospice
8 affiliated physicians
Dr. Brett Stecker, DO
Family Practice
Dr. Maria Connor, MD
Internal Medicine
Dr. Evgenia Forman, MD
Geriatric Medicine
Dr. James Tollman, MD
Family Practice
Dr. Trinley Gongya, MD
Family Practice
Dr. Suprav Mishra, MD
Internal Medicine
Dr. Michael Rainone, MD
Medical Oncology
Dr. Stephanie Groll, MD
General Practice
Patient Reviews
Reviews and ratings from patients
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Frequently Asked Questions
About West River Hospice
What is the CMS rating for West River Hospice?
West River 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 West River Hospice primarily treat?
West River Hospice's patient population includes dementia (41%), cancer (21%), other conditions (17%), cardiovascular disease (15%), stroke (6%). This reflects the hospice's experience managing these conditions.
Where does West River Hospice provide care?
West River Hospice provides care in patient's home (38%), nursing facility (36%), assisted living (23%), skilled nursing (3%).
How large is West River Hospice?
West River Hospice serves an average of 43 patients per day and covers 81 ZIP codes in its service area.
How many doctors are affiliated with West River Hospice?
8 physicians are affiliated with West River Hospice.
Data source: CMS Hospice Compare · CAHPS Hospice Survey ·