Hospice of Health First Only Licensed Hospice in Florida to Earn Medicare’s Top Rating of 5 Stars
By Space Coast Daily // August 9, 2024
star ratings provide customers with a quick and easy way to compare hospices
Hospice of Health First has 250 to 300 patients at any time. It maintains 16 inpatient beds between Cape Canaveral Hospital and Health First’s William Childs Hospice House.
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Hospice of Health First is now a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services 5-star hospice, the only licensed hospice in Florida with the federal agency’s top rating.
Hospice of Health First has 250 to 300 patients at any time. It maintains 16 inpatient beds between Cape Canaveral Hospital and Health First’s William Childs Hospice House. Most patients choose to and are able to receive care at home.
“You want the highest quality care for your loved one during this time,” says Valerie Kenworthy, Vice President of Outpatient Operations for Community Health Services at Health First.
“There are 42 licensed hospice agencies in the state of Florida, but only one that received 5 stars from Medicare, and that is a rating that comes from families of patients in our care.”
The star rating is based on data collected by the agency’s Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers & Systems (CAHPS) Hospice Survey.
According to the agency, the star ratings provide customers with a quick and easy way to compare hospices based on past assessments of people like themselves. The CAHPS Hospice Survey is a 47-item questionnaire that’s completed by family members of hospice patients.
Many of the questions consider how hospice staff communicate with families, how they equip families to care for their loved ones, and how often clinicians – doctors, nurses, social workers and more – were present to deliver care at critical moments.
“This is a reflection of the care that we’ve provided to patients and families,” Kenworthy said, “and many, many care teams contributed to this top rating.”
Hospice of Health First maintains two inpatient units, at Cape Canaveral Hospital and William Childs Hospice House, but the statistics spotlight Hospice of Health First’s commitment to families.
One quality metric calculates a percentage of families reporting a visit from a nurse (or doctor) and/or social worker on at least two of a patient’s last three days of life. For Hospice of Health First, that percentage is 82.3% of families. The state average is 47.9%.
“We have a team approach at Hospice of Health First,” said Dr. Ruddy Ruiz, Medical Director of Hospice of Health First.
“Our team includes physicians, nurses, hospice aides and more, and we’ve worked tirelessly to refine processes and educational materials to help our patients and families understand their care. This 5-star rating highlights the trust and confidence our community has in our care and services.”
One of the family members who may have been a CAHPS Hospice Survey respondent is Karen Martin. She and her husband, James – both military service veterans – retired to Brevard County almost three decades ago. More recently, James was diagnosed with cancer and, near the end of his life, entered hospice care. He died the next day.
Despite the short stay, Karen Martin reached out to some of her husband’s military comrades and friends, and together, they were able to make a $1,200 gift in the name of Brothers of the 819th Red Horse Squadron and Friends of James Martin to William Childs Hospice House through the Health First Foundation.
“When I walked into the William Childs Hospice House, I felt the warmth of being embraced with care and comfort for both me and my husband,” Karen Martin reflected earlier this year.
“He was only at the Hospice House for one day, but he was respected and comfortable. They showed genuine compassion, and they let me know they had his best interest at heart.
“They cared for both of us.”
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services updates the CAHPS Hospice Survey Star Ratings twice a year.
Founded in 1995, Health First is Brevard County’s not-for-profit, community healthcare system. The fully integrated delivery network (IDN) includes health insurance plans, hospitals, a multi-specialty medical group, and outpatient and wellness services.
As a locally owned, not-for-profit organization, Health First is committed to investing in our community. In 2022, Health First provided more than $220 million in community support. To learn more about Health First and how we’re giving back to our community, please visit HF.org/givesback.
If you’re considering hospice care or to learn more about Hospice of Health First’s 5-star rating, visit HF.org/5star.
