GENTIVA BIRMINGHAM
Provider Information
- Address
- 2550 ACTON ROAD, SUITE 110
BIRMINGHAM, AL 35243 - Ownership Type
- For-Profit
- Medicare Certified Since
- August 27, 2008
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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) | 32 |
| Physicians | 9 |
| Volunteers | 28 |
86
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 GENTIVA BIRMINGHAM reported, not a check of what it offers today. Confirm current arrangements with the hospice.
- Short-term inpatient care
- Arranged through another hospital or nursing home
- 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 2014.
Care Details from Medicare Data
Medicare computes these numbers from claims and required reporting. They show how GENTIVA BIRMINGHAM compares to hospices nationwide.
10.8 minutes
of nurse care per routine home care day, on average
That is the 34th percentile among hospices nationally. The national median is about 12 minutes.
536
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 day10.8 min
Ranks better than about 34% 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 weekends5.4%
Ranks better than about 19% 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 life93%
Ranks better than about 46% 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 visits45.8%
Ranks better than about 59% 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 care4.7%
Ranks better than about 63% 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 months45.5%
Ranks better than about 26% 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 care13.9%
Ranks better than about 21% 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 hospice4.2%
Ranks better than about 15% 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)74th 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$20,659 · 64th 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 62% of patients or more. Most hospices score above 90 percent.
- Pain screening99%
- Pain assessment99.4%
- Breathing difficulty screening98.7%
- Breathing difficulty treatment99.5%
- Treatment preferences discussed100%
- Beliefs and values discussed99.9%
- Bowel care for patients on opioids98.2%
- Visits in the last days of life62%
- All care steps completed96.8%
Conditions of patients in their care
Share of patients by primary diagnosis. Useful if you want a team with experience in a specific condition.
- Cancer15%
- Dementia11%
- Heart and circulatory disease38%
- Lung and respiratory disease15%
- Stroke15%
- Other conditions9%
Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, reporting period January 2023 through December 2024. Percentiles are computed by CMS across all reporting hospices.
Support for Your Loved One in Birmingham
Gentiva Birmingham provides hospice care to families living in and around Jefferson County, Alabama. Their team focuses on comfort, dignity, and quality of life for those facing a life-limiting illness. They offer medical, emotional, and spiritual support directly in your home or a care facility. Choosing the right partner during this time is a big decision. Gentiva helps manage symptoms so families can focus on spending meaningful time together. They have been serving the community since 2008, bringing years of experience to their care plans. The team is ready to walk this path with you, offering guidance when you need it most. Whether it is help with pain management or simply having a kind person to talk to, they are there to help. It is about making every single day count for your loved one.
About GENTIVA BIRMINGHAM
Gentiva Birmingham is a for-profit hospice provider located on Acton Road. They have been Medicare certified since August 2008. Being in the system for over 15 years shows they have deep roots in the Birmingham area. For-profit status means they operate as a business, but they still must follow strict federal rules to keep their Medicare status. Families should know that Medicare covers hospice services fully for those who qualify. This includes medicine, supplies, and visits from nurses or aides. What most people do not realize is that you can choose any hospice provider you like. You are not forced to pick the one your doctor mentions first. Take the time to look at their quality scores and see how they compare to others nearby. It is your right to pick a team that feels like the right fit for your family.
Quality Performance Snapshot
Understanding Hospice Care in BIRMINGHAM
Hospice is not about giving up. It is about choosing a different kind of care that puts comfort first. In Birmingham, many families use hospice to help manage pain at home instead of staying in a hospital. This local service allows your loved one to stay in a familiar room surrounded by their own things. The thing is, hospice is a team effort. You will have nurses, social workers, and volunteers all working together to help your family. They visit regularly to check on symptoms and offer emotional support. And they are available by phone 24 hours a day. If a crisis happens at 3:00 AM, you are not alone. That is the biggest benefit of having a local hospice team. They know the area and can get to you quickly when you need them the most.
What to Ask When Choosing a Hospice Provider
Picking a hospice team is a personal choice. Do not be afraid to ask hard questions. First, ask how quickly a nurse can get to your home if an emergency happens. You want to feel sure they will be there when it counts. Second, ask how they help with pain and other symptoms. You deserve to know they have a solid plan for comfort. Third, ask what kind of support they offer to family members after a loss. Grief support is a huge part of good hospice care. Finally, ask who will be on your specific care team. It helps to know the faces of the people coming into your home. The right provider will be happy to answer these questions clearly. If they seem rushed or annoyed, that might be a sign they are not the best fit for you.
Preserve Your Family's Story
During this time, the memories you share are more precious than ever. We provide tools to help you record and save your family stories for future generations.
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Helpful Guides for Families
Understanding Medicare Hospice Benefit: A Family Guide
Confused by hospice coverage? Our guide to understanding Medicare hospice benefits helps you navigate care options and costs with confidence and clarity.
Starting Difficult Conversations: A Guide for Families
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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.