May 1, 2024

Hospice of Davidson County (HODC) announces achievement of a 5-star rating on the Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS®) Hospice Survey and classification as the only 5-star hospice provider in Davidson County.

Currently HODC is one (1) of twenty (20) organizations providing hospice services in Davidson County and the only provider to achieve a 5-star rating on the CAHPS® Hospice Survey, a survey distributed nationwide to caregivers of patients who died while under hospice care.

“While we are an ACHC accredited agency, and have earned the Hospice Honors designation for twelve (12) consecutive years, the 5-star rating from the CAHPS® Survey is extraordinarily meaningful because it is based solely on feedback from the caregivers and families of the patients we serve,” explained Laura Owen, Chief Executive Officer.  “This substantiates that you don’t need to go to Winston or Greensboro or Charlotte for quality end-of-life care. You have access to professional, expert care right here in your own community.”

HODC was founded as a hometown agency by a small group of volunteers in 1984, and has remained committed to serving the Davidson County community. “Instead of expanding the geographical area we serve, we have pursued professional advancement and excellence,” added Owen. “We know that local means more, to both us as an agency and – more importantly – to the community members we serve.” HODC served 942 patients in 2023, with over 400 additional individuals participating in one-on-one grief counseling, spiritual counseling, and support groups.

HODC is unique for more reasons than its local background. The commitment to excellence includes embracing technology and innovation. Telehealth technology and visits were implemented pre-pandemic, a credentialed learning lab with proprietary curriculum is housed on-campus, and an active partnership with Davidson-Davie Community College continues to grow. The Henry Etta & Bruce Hinkle Hospice House opened fifteen (15) years ago and remains the only in-patient unit in Davidson County, and one (1) of only 43 in North Carolina.

Owen concluded “This ranking substantiates we are the end-of-life care provider of choice based on the quality of care for the patient and caregiver experience. There can be no higher accolade or more meaningful recommendation than for the people we have walked alongside on the end-of-life journey to endorse us on such a high level.”

HODC is one of 14 hospice providers in North Carolina and one of 253 nationwide that earned a 5-star rating. The CAHPS® Hospice Survey is required of every hospice with 50 or more eligible patient/caregiver pairs in a year In order for the hospice to receive full Medicare Annual Payment Update (APU). The survey consists of 47 questions related to both hospice patients and their caregivers under the topics of communication with family, getting timely help, treating the patient with respect, emotional and spiritual support, help for pain and symptoms, training family to care for the patient, rating of this hospice and willingness to recommend this hospice.  Survey results are published as part of Care Compare on the www.Medicare.gov website.