VITAS HEALTHCARE CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA
Provider Information
- Address
- 16830 VENTURA BLVD SUITE 315
ENCINO, CA 91436 - Ownership Type
- For-Profit
- Medicare Certified Since
- June 6, 1995
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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) | 21 |
| Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN) | 21 |
| Physicians | 1 |
107
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 VITAS HEALTHCARE CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA reported, not a check of what it offers today. Confirm current arrangements with the hospice.
An older Medicare record for this hospice lists short-term inpatient care as “not provided.” That code may be out of date. Medicare requires certified hospices to make inpatient care available for symptom management and caregiver respite. Ask this hospice how it arranges a bed if symptoms become hard to manage at home.
- Medical supplies and equipment
- Brought in through an outside supplier
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 VITAS HEALTHCARE CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA compares to hospices nationwide.
20.5 minutes
of nurse care per routine home care day, on average
That is the 96th percentile among hospices nationally. The national median is about 12 minutes.
186
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 day20.5 min
Ranks better than about 96% 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 weekends12%
Ranks better than about 80% 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 life97.4%
Ranks better than about 82% 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 visits56.4%
Ranks better than about 45% 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 care20.1%
Ranks better than about 3% 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 months32.9%
Ranks better than about 61% 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 care9.4%
Ranks better than about 39% 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%
Ranks better than about 16% 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)97th 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$16,366 · 41st 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 63.8% of patients or more. Most hospices score above 90 percent.
- Pain screening98.2%
- Pain assessment100%
- Breathing difficulty screening98.4%
- Breathing difficulty treatment99.9%
- Treatment preferences discussed99.9%
- Beliefs and values discussed99.6%
- Bowel care for patients on opioids98.7%
- Visits in the last days of life63.8%
- All care steps completed97.2%
Conditions of patients in their care
Share of patients by primary diagnosis. Useful if you want a team with experience in a specific condition.
- Cancer21%
- Dementia10%
- Heart and circulatory disease14%
- Lung and respiratory disease16%
- Stroke22%
- Other conditions19%
Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Percentiles are computed by CMS across all reporting hospices.
VITAS Healthcare in Encino
VITAS Healthcare Corporation of California serves families in Encino and across Los Angeles County. This hospice provider has been certified by Medicare since 1995. They offer end of life care through a team of 107 employees. This includes 21 registered nurses and 21 licensed practical nurses who provide daily care. The agency holds accreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Health Care. This third party review confirms their commitment to meeting industry standards for safety and service quality.
About VITAS HEALTHCARE CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA
This organization operates as a for profit hospice provider. They have maintained Medicare certification for nearly three decades. The accreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Health Care shows they follow strict rules for patient safety. These standards cover everything from how they store medicine to how they train their staff. Having a physician on their team of 107 people allows them to manage complex medical needs. Families should know that this provider emphasizes care quality based on clinical metrics. That makes a difference in how they handle pain and symptoms. It is a specific approach to hospice care. They focus on the medical side of the experience to ensure comfort for your loved one throughout their stay.
Quality Overview
What Is Hospice Care Like in ENCINO?
Hospice care in Encino focuses on keeping a person comfortable at home or in a facility. The team works to manage pain and support the whole family during this time. At this location, the staff includes a doctor plus 42 total nurses. They work together to address medical needs as they arise. Many families find that having a large team helps them feel secure. The nurses visit often to check on symptoms and adjust care plans as needed. Because this is a freestanding hospice, they focus all their time on end of life services. That is their only job. They do not juggle other types of medical care. This allows them to stay sharp on the specific needs of hospice patients in the Los Angeles area.
What to Ask When Choosing a Hospice Provider
Choosing a hospice is a big decision for any family. You should feel comfortable asking direct questions about how they operate. Start by asking how quickly a nurse can get to your home if an emergency happens at night. Ask how they manage pain and if they use a specific approach for comfort. You can also ask about their staff turnover. It helps to know if your loved one will see the same faces every week. Ask how they keep family members updated on changes in care. Do not be afraid to ask for examples of how they handle tough situations. You deserve clear answers. Good communication makes the process much smoother for everyone involved in the care plan.
Preserve Your Family Stories
Capturing memories is a way to honor those you love during difficult times.
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How to Start Hospice Conversations: A Practical Guide
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What CMS Star Ratings Actually Mean for Your Family
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Some stories are worth writing down
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