UNIVERSAL HOSPICE CARE SERVICES
Provider Information
- Address
- 13201 NORTH 35TH AVENUE, SUITE B8-C
PHOENIX, AZ 85029 - Ownership Type
- For-Profit
- Medicare Certified Since
- March 23, 2022
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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) | 2 |
| Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN) | 2 |
| Physicians | 2 |
| Volunteers | 1 |
8
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 UNIVERSAL HOSPICE CARE SERVICES 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 2022.
Care Details from Medicare Data
Medicare computes these numbers from claims and required reporting. They show how UNIVERSAL HOSPICE CARE SERVICES compares to hospices nationwide.
7.4 minutes
of nurse care per routine home care day, on average
That is the 6th percentile among hospices nationally. The national median is about 12 minutes.
16
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 day7.4 min
Ranks better than about 6% 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 weekends1.5%
Ranks better than about 2% 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 life100%
Ranks better than about 99% 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 visits85.7%
Ranks better than about 8% 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 care0%
Ranks better than about 81% 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 months13%
Ranks better than about 94% 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 care0%
Ranks better than about 81% 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 hospice0%
Ranks better than about 55% 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$22,589 · 73rd 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 7 required care steps for new patients here, completed for 62.1% of patients or more. Most hospices score above 90 percent.
- Pain screening87.9%
- Pain assessment93.5%
- Breathing difficulty screening89.7%
- Breathing difficulty treatment68.4%
- Treatment preferences discussed100%
- Beliefs and values discussed100%
- All care steps completed62.1%
Conditions of patients in their care
Share of patients by primary diagnosis. Useful if you want a team with experience in a specific condition.
- Dementia30%
- Heart and circulatory disease30%
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 Phoenix
Universal Hospice Care Services provides specialized end-of-life care for families in Phoenix, Arizona. Located on North 35th Avenue, this team focuses on comfort and dignity for patients during their final months. They serve the Maricopa County area with a dedicated staff that understands the local needs of our community. Choosing the right care is a big decision for any family. That is why having local options matters so much. This team is ready to help you manage pain and keep your loved one comfortable at home. They work hard to support the entire family, not just the patient. It is about making sure every day counts, no matter what stage of the journey you are in right now.
About Universal Hospice Care Services
Universal Hospice Care Services is a for-profit provider that has been Medicare certified since March 23, 2022. Being certified means they meet federal standards for quality and safety set by the government. For families, this is a sign of accountability. You should know that for-profit status does not change the core mission of hospice. Their goal remains focused on comfort and symptom relief for those facing a terminal illness. The team at this office in Phoenix is part of a larger network of care providers in Maricopa County. What most people do not realize is that all Medicare-certified hospices must offer the same basic level of care. This includes nursing, medical equipment, and emotional support. You have the right to ask how their specific team brings these services to your front door every day.
Quality Performance
Understanding Hospice Care in Phoenix
The Phoenix area has many hospice providers to help families through hard times. Because Maricopa County is so large, you have choices about who comes into your home. The thing is, all these groups must follow strict federal rules to stay open. But the culture and the response time of each agency can feel quite different. Some agencies are small and local, while others are part of big national groups. You want a team that can get to your home quickly when a crisis happens. That is the true test of a good hospice provider. Talk to your doctor about which teams they trust the most in the Valley. Getting a referral is often the first step, but you always have the final say in who you pick for your loved one.
What to Ask When Choosing a Hospice Provider
Do not be afraid to ask tough questions during your first meeting. You are the advocate for your loved one. Start by asking how fast a nurse can get to your house if there is an emergency at night. That is a big deal. You should also ask how often a nurse will visit each week. It helps to know if they offer extra help like volunteers or music therapy. Ask them to explain their plan for managing pain, as this is the most common fear families have. Finally, ask who will be on your core team. You want to know if you will see the same faces or if the staff changes often. Consistency builds trust during a very fragile time for your family.
Preserve Your Family Stories
Your loved one has a lifetime of stories that deserve to be remembered. We help you capture these precious memories in a beautiful way, creating a lasting gift for your children and grandchildren to treasure.
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