Hospice

The key quality measures below have been chosen by Federal and state agencies as measurements of high quality medical care and reflect what is privately reported to Brookings Health by independent research firm NRC Health and publicly reported on the Care Compare website.

Overall Patient Experience Rating

The table below shows the percentage of patients who rated us as being a 9 or 10 on a 10-point scale in overall patient experience according to the NRC Health Database (approximately 186 hospice agencies nationwide). Higher percentages are better. Data from October, 2024 - September, 2025. 

Service AreaBrookings Health SystemNRC Health Average
Hospice87.5%87.7%

Measures from Care Compare

The information below shows the quality of patient care from Brookings Health System's Hospice Agency compared to national averages. More information on Brookings Health System and other hospice agencies can be found on the Care Compare website. 

MeasureBrookings Health SystemSouth Dakota AverageNational Average
Communication with family (Higher percentages are better)83%83%81%
Getting timely help (Higher percentages are better)80%80%78%
Treating patient with respect (Higher percentages are better)94%92%91%
Emotional and spiritual support (Higher percentages are better)92%91%90%
Help for pain and symptoms (Higher percentages are better)76%76%75%
Training family to care for patient (Higher percentages are better)81%78%76%
Rating of this hospice (Higher percentages are better)85%82%81%
Willing to recommend this hospice (Higher percentages are better)84%86%84%

The Hospice Item Set (HIS) Comprehensive Assessment Measure is a composite of 7 HIS care process measures. Specifically, this one measure shows if hospice staff completed all of the following when a patient was admitted to hospice care: 

  • Asked patients about their beliefs and values
  • Asked patients about their treatment preferences
  • Checked to see if patients were in pain
  • Thoroughly assessed patients who are in pain
  • Checked to see if patients had shortness of breath
  • Began treating patients with shortness of breath 
  • Offered care for constipation for patients taking opioids 

If a hospice didn't complete even one of these 7 care processes for a patient, the patient isn't included in the HIS Comprehensive Assessment Measure score. 

  • Each agency electronically reports data about these measures to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) using the Hospice Item Set (HIS)
  • The data was collected between 10/01/2021 and 09/30/2023
  • Higher percentages are better

 

MeasureBrookings Health SystemSouth Dakota AverageNational Average
Patients who got an assessment of all 7 care process quality measures at the beginning of hospice care to meet the Hospice Comprehensive Assessment Measure requirements.83.6%95.1%92.2%
Percentage of patients who received visits from a registered nurse or medical social worker on at least 2 of the final 3 days of their life68.1%71.2%48.3%
Hospice Care Index score (0-10)99.18.8
Why Brookings Health
Hospice nurse administering a shot to a patient at home in bed

Your Feedback Matters!

Following your visit with us, you may receive a survey from NRC Health. This survey only takes a few minutes. Patients are randomly selected. If you are chosen, please complete the survey. Your feedback will be used by Brookings Health System to further enhance our care quality.