DESERT HARMONY HOSPICE OF TUCSON
Provider Information
- Address
- 310 S WILLIAMS BLVD STE 210
TUCSON, AZ 85711 - Ownership Type
- For-Profit
- Medicare Certified Since
- March 24, 2015
Are you this hospice's administrator? Update your information
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) | 1 |
| Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN) | 1 |
| Physicians | 1 |
| Volunteers | 3 |
6
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 DESERT HARMONY HOSPICE OF TUCSON 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 2019.
Care Details from Medicare Data
Medicare computes these numbers from claims and required reporting. They show how DESERT HARMONY HOSPICE OF TUCSON compares to hospices nationwide.
13.8 minutes
of nurse care per routine home care day, on average
That is the 66th percentile among hospices nationally. The national median is about 12 minutes.
117
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 day13.8 min
Ranks better than about 66% 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 weekends9.7%
Ranks better than about 67% 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 life93.7%
Ranks better than about 51% 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 visits47%
Ranks better than about 58% 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 care5.5%
Ranks better than about 57% 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 months43.3%
Ranks better than about 32% 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 care4.3%
Ranks better than about 65% 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 hospice0.6%
Ranks better than about 54% 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$15,447 · 36th 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 64.4% of patients or more. Most hospices score above 90 percent.
- Pain screening98.6%
- Pain assessment100%
- Breathing difficulty screening99.8%
- Breathing difficulty treatment100%
- Treatment preferences discussed100%
- Beliefs and values discussed96.6%
- Bowel care for patients on opioids99%
- Visits in the last days of life64.4%
- All care steps completed94.7%
Conditions of patients in their care
Share of patients by primary diagnosis. Useful if you want a team with experience in a specific condition.
- Cancer38%
- Dementia25%
- Heart and circulatory disease14%
- Lung and respiratory disease6%
- Stroke4%
- Other conditions16%
Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, reporting period January 2023 through December 2024. Percentiles are computed by CMS across all reporting hospices.
Desert Harmony Hospice of Tucson
Desert Harmony Hospice of Tucson serves families in Pima County from their office on South Williams Boulevard. This freestanding provider has offered hospice services since 2015. They hold accreditation from the Joint Commission, which shows they meet high standards for patient safety and care quality. The team focuses on comfort and support for patients during their final months. They aim to provide clear care options for residents in the Tucson area. Finding the right support matters during this time.
About Desert Harmony Hospice of Tucson
This is a for-profit hospice provider. They have been certified by Medicare for nearly a decade. The Joint Commission accreditation is a key detail for families to consider. This group performs regular reviews to ensure the hospice follows strict rules. They check everything from how the team handles medicine to how they document patient needs. It means an outside group has verified their work. You should know that this provider operates as a freestanding hospice. This means they are not part of a hospital system. They work as an independent team to manage end-of-life care. Their small staff size allows for a focused approach to care plans. You can ask their staff about how they handle after-hours calls or weekend needs. Getting these details early helps families feel more prepared for the road ahead.
Quality Performance
What Is Hospice Care Like in Tucson?
Hospice care in Tucson focuses on managing symptoms and improving quality of life at home. Most care happens where the patient lives. This could be a private house or an assisted living facility. The team at Desert Harmony includes one registered nurse and one licensed practical nurse. They also have one physician and three volunteers on staff. This small group works together to provide medical help and emotional support. Volunteers often help with companionship or light tasks around the home. Nurses manage pain and other difficult symptoms so the patient stays comfortable. The physician oversees the medical side of the care plan. Families often find that having a nurse visit regularly brings peace of mind. It allows the patient to stay in a familiar place. This is the goal of hospice in the Tucson region.
What to Ask When Choosing a Hospice Provider
You have the right to ask questions before you sign any forms. Start by asking how the team handles medical emergencies at night. You need to know who will answer the phone at 2:00 AM. Ask how many nurses they have available for home visits. It is also good to ask how they handle pain management for complex cases. Find out how often the social worker will check on the family. You might also ask if they have volunteers who can sit with the patient. These small details make a difference in your daily experience. Keep a list of your questions written down before the meeting. Do not feel rushed to make a choice during the first visit. Clear answers help you feel more secure with your final decision.
Preserve Your Family Stories
Your loved one has a lifetime of wisdom and memories. We offer tools to help you record their stories and preserve their legacy for future generations.
Start RecordingOther Hospice Providers Nearby
HAVEN HOSPICE
CHARTER HEALTHCARE OF TUCSON, LLC
HOSPICE IN THE DESERT LLC
T M C HOSPICE AKA PEPPI'S HOUSE
DEPENDABLE HOSPICE AND PALLIATIVE CARE, LLC
AGAPE HOSPICE & PALLIATIVE CARE
Helpful Guides for Families
10 Essential Hospice Questions for Evaluating Providers
Evaluating hospice care for a loved one? Use these 10 essential hospice questions to interview providers and ensure your family receives the best possible support.
Hospice at Home vs. Inpatient: Choosing the Right Care
Deciding between hospice at home and inpatient hospice? Discover the pros and cons of each care setting to help you make the right choice for your loved one.
How to Choose a Hospice Provider: A Family’s Complete Guide
Feeling overwhelmed? Our hospice selection guide helps you compare providers, understand Medicare benefits, and make the best choice for your loved one today.
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.