About Whatcom Hospice
Hospice overview and quality summary
Whatcom Hospice is a for-profit hospice care provider in Bellingham, WA, serving patients and families in Whatcom County and the surrounding area. Medicare certified since 2001, Whatcom Hospice has provided 25 years of end-of-life and palliative care to the community.
Whatcom Hospice serves an average of 239 patients per day, covering 25 ZIP codes across its service area. 46% of care is delivered in patients' homes, consistent with the hospice philosophy of enabling comfort care in familiar surroundings.
Whatcom Hospice 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. 19 physicians are affiliated with this hospice.
When choosing hospice care in Bellingham, WA, 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
Whatcom Hospice 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 Whatcom Hospice among the higher-rated hospice providers serving families in Bellingham, WA.
Emotional & Spiritual Support
How well the hospice team provided emotional and spiritual support
94% of caregivers gave Whatcom 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
93% of caregivers gave Whatcom 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
77% of caregivers gave Whatcom 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 Whatcom 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
77% 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
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
86% of caregivers gave Whatcom 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
92% of caregivers gave Whatcom 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
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
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
100.0%
Natl: 91.6%
Hospice Care Index
Composite quality score with 10 sub-measures
Overall HCI Score
National average: 8.8/10
Whatcom 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.
50.4% of Whatcom Hospice's patients received visits from the hospice team in their final days of life, consistent with the national average of 47.9%. Presence during the final days reflects the hospice's commitment to supporting families when it matters most.
Visits Near Death
Patients with visits in last 3 days of life
91.9%
Natl: 89.5%
Nurse Care Minutes
Average nurse care minutes per routine home care day
10.6
Natl: 13.4
Weekend Nursing
Percentage of skilled nursing minutes on weekends
12.5%
Natl: 9.2%
Gaps in Nursing Visits
Stays with gaps in skilled nursing visits
70.5%
Natl: 55.4%
Early Live Discharges
Patients discharged alive within 3 days
9.7%
Natl: 7.2%
Late Live Discharges
Patients discharged alive after enrollment
41%
Natl: 40%
Burdensome Transitions (Type 1)
Hospice-to-acute-care transitions near death
5.2%
Natl: 8%
Burdensome Transitions (Type 2)
Acute care admissions near death
0%
Natl: 2.3%
CHC/GIP Days
Continuous home care & general inpatient days as share of total
2.3%
Natl: 0.6%
Per-Beneficiary Spending
Average Medicare spending per hospice beneficiary
$16,836
Natl: $16,971
Patient Population
Primary diagnoses of hospice patients
Whatcom Hospice's patient population is primarily composed of individuals with cancer (23%), followed by cardiovascular disease (22%), other conditions (20%), dementia (15%), stroke (15%), respiratory disease (6%).
Care Settings
Where hospice care is delivered
Whatcom Hospice delivers 46% of its care in patients' homes, with 28% in assisted living settings, 18% in skilled nursing settings, 3% in inpatient hospice 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 239 patients per day.
Patient's Home
Assisted Living
Skilled Nursing
Inpatient Hospice
Doctors at Whatcom Hospice
19 affiliated physicians
Dr. Radu Ivan, NP
Nurse Practitioner
Dr. John Raduege, MD
Family Practice
Dr. Katrina Murphy, PA
Physician Assistant
Dr. Lindsay Nelson, NP
Nurse Practitioner
Dr. Karena Whitworth, MD
Family Practice
Dr. Gregory Anderson, MD
Family Practice
Dr. Darrell Owens, NP
Nurse Practitioner
Dr. John Knudsen, MD
General Practice
Dr. W. Sandeno, MD
Internal Medicine
Dr. Lisa Brodsky, NP
Nurse Practitioner
Dr. Shelley Rice, MD
Hospice/palliative Care
Dr. Serge Lindner, MD
Geriatric Medicine
Patient Reviews
Reviews and ratings from patients
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Frequently Asked Questions
About Whatcom Hospice
What is the CMS rating for Whatcom Hospice?
Whatcom Hospice 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 Whatcom Hospice primarily treat?
Whatcom Hospice's patient population includes cancer (23%), cardiovascular disease (22%), other conditions (20%), dementia (15%), stroke (15%), respiratory disease (6%). This reflects the hospice's experience managing these conditions.
Where does Whatcom Hospice provide care?
Whatcom Hospice provides care in patient's home (46%), assisted living (28%), skilled nursing (18%), inpatient hospice (3%).
How large is Whatcom Hospice?
Whatcom Hospice serves an average of 239 patients per day and covers 25 ZIP codes in its service area.
How many doctors are affiliated with Whatcom Hospice?
19 physicians are affiliated with Whatcom Hospice.
Data source: CMS Hospice Compare · CAHPS Hospice Survey ·