SOUTHWESTERN PALLIATIVE CARE AND HOSPICE
Provider Information
- Address
- 1950 WEST 3RD STREET SUITE B
YUMA, AZ 85364 - Ownership Type
- For-Profit
- Medicare Certified Since
- August 11, 2017
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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) | 7 |
| Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN) | 2 |
| Physicians | 1 |
| Volunteers | 9 |
23
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 SOUTHWESTERN PALLIATIVE CARE AND HOSPICE 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 2020.
Care Details from Medicare Data
Medicare computes these numbers from claims and required reporting. They show how SOUTHWESTERN PALLIATIVE CARE AND HOSPICE compares to hospices nationwide.
9.4 minutes
of nurse care per routine home care day, on average
That is the 19th percentile among hospices nationally. The national median is about 12 minutes.
56
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 day9.4 min
Ranks better than about 19% 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 weekends8.4%
Ranks better than about 56% 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 life88.1%
Ranks better than about 26% 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 visits44.1%
Ranks better than about 61% 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 months25.6%
Ranks better than about 79% 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 care7%
Ranks better than about 51% 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 hospice1.2%
Ranks better than about 48% 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$17,116 · 45th 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 50.9% of patients or more. Most hospices score above 90 percent.
- Pain screening96.4%
- Pain assessment98.9%
- Breathing difficulty screening99.2%
- Breathing difficulty treatment100%
- Treatment preferences discussed99.2%
- Beliefs and values discussed98.8%
- Bowel care for patients on opioids98.4%
- Visits in the last days of life50.9%
- All care steps completed93.3%
Conditions of patients in their care
Share of patients by primary diagnosis. Useful if you want a team with experience in a specific condition.
- Cancer18%
- Dementia24%
- Heart and circulatory disease27%
- Lung and respiratory disease9%
- Stroke13%
- Other conditions13%
Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, reporting period January 2023 through December 2024. Percentiles are computed by CMS across all reporting hospices.
Supportive Care in Yuma
Southwestern Palliative Care and Hospice serves the Yuma community from their office on West 3rd Street. They focus on comfort, dignity, and quality of life for patients facing a serious illness. The team provides care directly in your home or wherever you reside. It is a big decision to seek support, but you do not have to walk this path alone. Their goal is to help families manage symptoms while keeping their loved ones comfortable. They work hard to honor your personal preferences every single day.
About Southwestern Palliative Care and Hospice
This provider operates as a for-profit organization. They earned their Medicare certification back in August 2017. That is seven years of serving the Yuma area. What most people do not realize is that all Medicare-certified hospices must meet strict federal standards for safety and care. They have been doing this work for a long time now. Families should know that this team is held to the same high benchmarks as any other certified provider. Choosing a local provider often means the staff knows the community well. That matters when you need help fast. It is a detail that can bring real peace of mind to a family during a hard time.
High Quality Standards
Understanding Hospice Care in Yuma
Hospice is about more than just medical needs. It is about the whole person and their family too. In Yuma, you have access to teams that understand the desert climate and the specific needs of our local population. Here is the thing—hospice care is covered by Medicare for those who qualify. It includes medicine, medical equipment, and visits from nurses or social workers. These services can be provided in your own house, an assisted living facility, or a nursing home. You get to choose the setting that feels safest. The main point is to make sure your loved one feels supported and seen. It is a compassionate way to focus on what matters most during a difficult transition.
What to Ask When Choosing a Hospice Provider
Picking the right partner for your family is a big step. You want to feel confident in the team you choose. Start by asking how quickly a nurse can get to your home if an emergency happens in the middle of the night. You should also ask how they handle pain management and if they have staff available on weekends. It is smart to ask how they help families cope with the emotional side of this journey, too. Do they offer grief support or volunteers to sit with your loved one? Get clear answers to these questions before you sign anything. You deserve to feel fully supported by the people entering your home.
Keep Your Family Stories Alive
This time of life is deeply personal. Preserving your family's history and unique stories can be a beautiful way to connect with those you love. Learn how to capture these memories for future generations.
Preserve Your HistoryOther Hospice Providers Nearby
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UNICARE HOSPICE INC
HOSPICE COMPASSUS - YUMA
ARIZONA BEST HOSPICE, LLC
ACACIA HOSPICE CARE, INC
ACCORD HOSPICE OF THE WHITE MOUNTAINS, LLC
Helpful Guides for Families
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.
Understanding Hospice Levels of Care: A Family Guide
Navigating end-of-life care is hard. Our guide to understanding hospice levels of care helps you make informed choices for your loved one with confidence.
Choosing a Hospice Provider: A 5-Step Quality Guide
Feeling overwhelmed? Use our expert 5-step guide to choosing a hospice provider that offers the compassionate, high-quality care your loved one deserves.
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.