PINEHURST, N.C. – FirstHealth Hospice received a 5-star rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) in its 2023 Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems Hospice Survey (CAHPS).
The survey measured a variety of categories to provide hospice programs a star ranking from one to five, with five being the highest possible score. Measured categories include:
- Communication with family
- Getting timely help
- Treating patients with respect
- Emotional and spiritual support
- Help for pain and symptoms
- Training family to care for patient
Only 11% of all hospices across the United States and 24% of hospices in North Carolina received a 5-star rating in the last reporting period.
Tina Gibbs, MSW, LCSW, director of FirstHealth Hospice, said the 5-star rating reflects FirstHealth’s commitment to excellent patient care.
“Our team works hard to provide compassionate, high-quality end-of-life care and to offer support to both patients and families during difficult transitions,” Gibbs said. “We are proud to receive this rating, which reflects our commitment to our patients.”
The CAHPS Hospice Survey was designed to assess the experiences of patients who died while receiving hospice care, as well as the experiences of their informal primary caregivers. Implementation of the survey supports the national priority of involving patients and families in care and promoting effective communication and coordination.
FirstHealth Hospice offers at-home care, along with assisted living and skilled nursing facility care. FirstHealth Hospice includes an 11-bed hospice house with an interfaith chapel, lake, gardens and walking paths. FirstHealth Hospice House is located at 251 Campground Road, minutes away from FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital. Grief counseling is also offered. All grief resources are free and open to the public.
To learn more about FirstHealth Hospice, visit www.FirstHealth.org/Hospice or call (910) 715-7600.
