MERRIMACK VALLEY HOSPICE, INC is a Non-Profit, Medicare Certified, hospice care agency located in LAWRENCE, MA. This agency has been certified to participate in Medicare programs since September 25, 1985.
Updated: 08/24/2020 — See below for more information on MERRIMACK VALLEY HOSPICE, INC, including how patients rate their experiences on the CAHPS survey.
1 Hospice agencies can be run by private for-profit corporations, non-profit corporations, religious affiliated organizations or government entities. The type of ownership may affect agency resources and how services are organized. Quality can vary in hospice agencies within each of the different types of ownership.
2 Agencies that are Medicare Certified are able to participate in Medicare related programs.
In 2016, MERRIMACK VALLEY HOSPICE, INC charged a total of $29,896,033 to Medicare for a total of 43,890 hospice care days provided. Of the 1195 Medicare beneficiaries, 272 were enrolled in Medicare Advantage for at least one month and 373 were eligible for Medicaid for at least one month.
The following section provides information on services provided to Medicare beneficiaries by MERRIMACK VALLEY HOSPICE, INC. It contains utilization and demographic information for this hospice provider. The report covers only calendar year 2016.
| Cancer patients | 418 |
| Dementia | 187 |
| Circulatory / Heart Disease | 196 |
| Stroke | 72 |
| Respiratory Disease | 120 |
| Other Primary Diagnosis | 202 |
| Hospice patients with 7 or fewer care days | 418 |
| Hospice patients with 60 care days | 225 |
| Hospice patients with 180 care days | 45 |
| Medicare Beneficiaries | 1195 |
| Average age | 82 |
| Male | 493 |
| Female | 702 |
| White | 1079 |
| Black | n/a |
| Asian | n/a |
| Hispanic | 87 |
| Other | n/a |
| In Home | 568 |
| Assisted Living Facility | 34 |
| Long-term Care | n/a |
| Skilled Nursing Facility | 266 |
| Inpatient Hospital | n/a |
| Inpatient Hospice | 258 |
| Other Facility | 43 |
The ratings found here are reported to CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) by each agency using the Hospice Item Set. Higher percentages are better. Some measures may not be available for various reasons such as having less than 20 patients or data being removed by CMS at the request of the agency.
Patients or caregivers who were asked about their beliefs and values at the beginning of hospice care - Patients and caregivers should have the opportunity to discuss their spiritual and religious needs, beliefs and values to help ensure t hese care needs are met.
Patients or caregivers who were asked about treatment preferences like hospitalization and resuscitation at the beginning of hospice care - Having discussions w3ith hospice staff about the treatments that patients want or don't want helps ensure that patients get the care they want at the end of life.
Patients who were checked for shortness of breath at the beginning of hospice care - Shortness of breath is common and often undertreated in hospice patients. It can interfere with patients' routine and can be upsetting for patients and families.
Patients who got timely treatment for shortness of breath - Within a day of finding that shortness of breath is a problem, hospice staff should st art treatment. Treatment can be medication, relaxation or breathing exercises.
Patients who got a timely and thorough pain assessment when pain was identified as a problem - Within a day of finding that pain is a problem, hospice staff should collect information about the pain, like its location, how long it lasts, and its severity.
Patients who were checked for pain at the beginning of hospice care - Pain is common and often undertreated for hospice patients. It can interfere with patients' daily activities and can be very distressing for patients and families.
Patients taking opioid pain medication who were offered care for constipation - Constipation is a side effect of opioid use. Staff can recommend treatment options, like laxatives or fiber, to prevent and treat opioid-related constipation.
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