ALABAMA HOSPICE CARE OF TUSCALOOSA
Provider Information
- Address
- 94 MCFARLAND BLVD
NORTHPORT, AL 35476 - Ownership Type
- For-Profit
- Medicare Certified Since
- December 30, 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 August 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) | 6 |
| Physicians | 1 |
| Volunteers | 17 |
15
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 ALABAMA HOSPICE CARE OF TUSCALOOSA 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
- Respite care (up to five days at a time, to give family caregivers a break)
- 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 2021.
Care Details from Medicare Data
Medicare computes these numbers from claims and required reporting. They show how ALABAMA HOSPICE CARE OF TUSCALOOSA compares to hospices nationwide.
12 minutes
of nurse care per routine home care day, on average
That is the 47th percentile among hospices nationally. The national median is about 12 minutes.
22
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 min
Ranks better than about 47% 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 weekends6.5%
Ranks better than about 32% 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 life93.2%
Ranks better than about 47% 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 visits53.2%
Ranks better than about 49% 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 care7.4%
Ranks better than about 43% 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 months38.9%
Ranks better than about 44% 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 care3.7%
Ranks better than about 69% 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 hospice1.9%
Ranks better than about 39% 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)52nd 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$21,198 · 67th 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 8 required care steps for new patients here, completed for 72.1% 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 discussed100%
- Visits in the last days of life72.1%
- All care steps completed100%
Conditions of patients in their care
Share of patients by primary diagnosis. Useful if you want a team with experience in a specific condition.
- Dementia22%
- Heart and circulatory disease37%
- Other conditions18%
Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Percentiles are computed by CMS across all reporting hospices.
About Alabama Hospice Care of Tuscaloosa
Alabama Hospice Care of Tuscaloosa serves families in the Northport area from their office on McFarland Boulevard. This freestanding hospice provider offers care focused on comfort and support for patients during their final stages of life. They have been Medicare certified since late 2008. Their team works to meet the needs of those living in Tuscaloosa County. Choosing a local provider helps keep care close to home. That is a benefit for many families who want to stay near their loved ones during this time.
Understanding This Provider
This is a for-profit hospice organization. They have maintained Medicare certification for over fifteen years. Being certified means they meet federal rules for safety and care quality. Families should know that federal oversight helps ensure a baseline of care across all certified agencies. This provider currently holds high marks for their quality of care. These ratings come from the Hospice Care Index used by government health officials. They look at how well a provider manages pain and talks with family members. You can use these marks to compare your local options. It is a simple way to see how an agency performs compared to others in the state. Always check the latest scores before you make a final choice for your loved one.
Quality Performance
What Is Hospice Care Like in Northport?
Hospice care in Northport focuses on managing symptoms and improving the quality of daily life. This team includes fifteen employees who provide different types of support. You will find six registered nurses who handle medical needs and one physician who oversees the care plan. They also have seventeen volunteers on their staff list. Volunteers often provide companionship or help with small tasks around the house. This mix of staff ensures that medical and emotional needs are met. Many people do not realize that volunteers play a large part in the hospice experience. Their presence offers a different kind of support that is not medical in nature. The team works together to ensure the patient remains comfortable in their own home. You can ask about the specific roles of each staff member when you meet them for the first time.
What to Ask When Choosing a Hospice Provider
Choosing the right hospice involves asking direct questions to understand how they work. Start by asking how quickly a nurse can get to your home if an urgent need comes up at night. You should also ask how the team will help manage pain or other physical symptoms. It is smart to ask how they support family members with grief or emotional stress. Ask what happens if the patient needs a higher level of care than the home can provide. Does the agency have a contract with a local facility for short stays? These questions help you understand the full range of support available. You need clear answers before you sign any forms. Take your time to talk with the staff about your specific family situation and goals.
Preserve Your Family Stories
Your loved one has a life full of stories and wisdom that should be saved for the next generation to cherish.
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