AMEDISYS HOSPICE OF BIRMINGHAM
Provider Information
- Address
- 2204 LAKESHORE DRIVE, SUITE 160
BIRMINGHAM, AL 35209 - Ownership Type
- For-Profit
- Medicare Certified Since
- May 2, 1991
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CMS Quality Ratings
Composite score combining quality measures and patient survey results.
Based on the CMS Hospice Care Index — 10 operational quality indicators including visits near death, nursing minutes, and care transitions.
CAHPS Hospice Survey — family caregivers rate communication, symptom management, respect, and overall experience.
CMS scores as of May 2026. Quality of Care derived from CMS Hospice Care Index. Patient Satisfaction from the CMS CAHPS Hospice Survey. Overall is the equally-weighted average of both. All source data published by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Staffing & Capacity
| Role | Staff Count |
|---|---|
| Registered Nurses (RN) | 101 |
204
Total Employees
Staffing data as reported to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Inpatient Care and Medical Equipment
Hospices report these services to Medicare when they are certified. This is what AMEDISYS HOSPICE OF BIRMINGHAM reported, not a check of what it offers today. Confirm current arrangements with the hospice.
- Short-term inpatient care
- Both provided directly and arranged with other facilities
- Type of inpatient care
- Both general inpatient care and respite care
- Medical supplies and equipment
- Brought in through an outside supplier
Short stays in a hospice inpatient unit, hospital, or nursing home for pain or symptoms that cannot be managed where the patient lives, or to give family caregivers a break.
Equipment and supplies tied to the terminal illness and the plan of care, such as a hospital bed, oxygen, wound supplies, or a wheelchair.
Medicare lets hospices provide these services through arrangements with other organizations. Either way, the hospice stays responsible for the covered care in the patient’s plan of care.
Reported by this hospice to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services when it was certified in 2019.
Care Details from Medicare Data
Medicare computes these numbers from claims and required reporting. They show how AMEDISYS HOSPICE OF BIRMINGHAM compares to hospices nationwide.
12.3 minutes
of nurse care per routine home care day, on average
That is the 51st percentile among hospices nationally. The national median is about 12 minutes.
377
patients in care on an average day
A rough measure of size. Smaller can mean more personal. Larger can mean more resources.
How this hospice compares nationally
Bars show national standing on measures from the CMS Hospice Care Index. A fuller bar means this hospice does better than more of the hospices CMS tracks.
- Nurse care minutes per home care day12.3 min
Ranks better than about 51% of hospices nationally on this measure.
What this measures
The average minutes of nursing care per day for patients getting routine care at home, based on Medicare claims. More nurse time usually means more hands-on support.
- Skilled nursing on weekends8.9%
Ranks better than about 61% of hospices nationally on this measure.
What this measures
The share of skilled nursing time delivered on Saturdays and Sundays. Symptoms do not wait for weekdays, so weekend coverage matters.
- Nurse visits in the last days of life96.1%
Ranks better than about 71% of hospices nationally on this measure.
What this measures
The share of patients who got nurse visits in their final days of life. This is when families tend to need the most support.
- Gaps in nursing visits54.9%
Ranks better than about 47% of hospices nationally on this measure.
What this measures
How often patients went more than a week without a nursing visit. Fewer gaps mean steadier attention.
- Patients discharged alive early in care8.4%
Ranks better than about 36% of hospices nationally on this measure.
What this measures
The share of patients who left hospice alive within the first week of care. A rate of 0% means it did not happen to any of their patients.
- Patients discharged alive after 6 months39.9%
Ranks better than about 42% of hospices nationally on this measure.
What this measures
The share of patients discharged alive after six months or more in hospice care.
- Hospital transfers near the end of care12.8%
Ranks better than about 24% of hospices nationally on this measure.
What this measures
The share of patients who left hospice, spent time in the hospital, then came back to hospice.
- Hospital stays that interrupt hospice2.7%
Ranks better than about 29% of hospices nationally on this measure.
What this measures
The share of patients who left hospice, went to the hospital, and died there soon after.
- Days at higher levels of care (CHC or GIP)67th percentile
What this measures
The share of care days delivered at higher levels, such as continuous home care or inpatient care. Shown only as a national rank because small percentages round to zero.
- Medicare spending per patient$15,749 · 38th percentile
What this measures
What Medicare paid per patient for this hospice's care. Higher or lower spending is not a quality judgment by itself.
Care steps completed at admissionShow detailsMedicare tracked 9 required care steps for new patients here, completed for 84.5% of patients or more. Most hospices score above 90 percent.
- Pain screening100%
- Pain assessment100%
- Breathing difficulty screening100%
- Breathing difficulty treatment100%
- Treatment preferences discussed100%
- Beliefs and values discussed99.8%
- Bowel care for patients on opioids100%
- Visits in the last days of life84.5%
- All care steps completed99.8%
Conditions of patients in their care
Share of patients by primary diagnosis. Useful if you want a team with experience in a specific condition.
- Cancer17%
- Dementia25%
- Heart and circulatory disease31%
- Lung and respiratory disease12%
- Stroke4%
- Other conditions13%
Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, reporting period January 2023 through December 2024. Percentiles are computed by CMS across all reporting hospices.
About Amedisys Hospice of Birmingham
Amedisys Hospice of Birmingham serves families across the Birmingham, Alabama area. They offer specialized end-of-life care focused on comfort and symptom management. As a freestanding hospice provider, they hold accreditation from CHAP. This means an outside group checked their work against high standards. They have served the community since 1991. You can find their office on Lakeshore Drive in Jefferson County. They maintain a large team of 204 employees to support their patients. This includes 101 registered nurses who provide direct medical care. Their long history of service shows they have been part of the local healthcare system for over three decades.
Understanding This Provider
This provider operates as a for-profit organization. They earned Medicare certification back in May 1991. Being CHAP accredited is a mark of quality. It shows they meet strict rules for how they treat people and run their business. Families should know that these standards cover everything from staff training to patient safety. The organization employs a large nursing staff compared to their total team size. This suggests a strong focus on clinical care. Their high quality-of-care marks from CMS reflect this focus on medical needs. They also maintain strong patient satisfaction scores. These scores come from surveys asking families about their actual experiences with the hospice team. You can use these measures to compare how well they support patients during their final months.
Quality Performance
What Is Hospice Care Like in Birmingham?
Hospice care in Birmingham focuses on making the final months of life as comfortable as possible. The goal is to manage pain and help patients stay at home if they choose. Amedisys Hospice of Birmingham uses a large team of 101 registered nurses to handle medical needs. They work with other staff to support the whole person. This means your family gets help with medical, emotional, and social needs. The team visits you where you live. They provide the equipment and medicine you need to stay safe. They also offer support to the family members who act as caregivers. It is a team effort. You are not just getting a nurse. You are getting a group of experts trained to handle the hard parts of this transition.
What to Ask When Choosing a Hospice Provider
You should feel confident before you sign any paperwork. Start by asking how quickly a nurse can get to your home in an emergency. This shows if they have staff available at night or on weekends. Ask who will be your main contact person during the day. You want one person who knows your story well. Ask how they help family caregivers who might be tired or overwhelmed. Ask about their specific experience with the condition your loved one has. Do they have special programs for certain diseases? Get these answers in writing if you can. A good provider will be happy to talk through these details with you. They should never rush your questions.
Preserve Your Family History
Your loved one has a unique life story that deserves to be remembered. Start capturing those memories today to share with future generations.
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Helpful Guides for Families
Understanding Medicare Hospice Benefits: A Family Guide
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Hospice vs Palliative Care: Understanding the Difference
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Choosing a Hospice Provider: A 5-Step Quality Guide
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Some stories are worth writing down
Between the calls and the paperwork, many families wish they had asked more about the person at the center of it all. A recorded conversation, a favorite recipe, the story behind an old photo. Small things now can mean a great deal later. Our legacy guides show simple ways to start.