HEALTH LINK HOSPICE
Provider Information
- Address
- 550 BRYANT STREET, SUITE 1A
SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94107 - Ownership Type
- For-Profit
- Medicare Certified Since
- December 2, 2019
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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 |
| Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN) | 1 |
| Volunteers | 0 |
16
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 HEALTH LINK 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 2019.
Care Details from Medicare Data
Medicare computes these numbers from claims and required reporting. They show how HEALTH LINK HOSPICE compares to hospices nationwide.
16.3 minutes
of nurse care per routine home care day, on average
That is the 84th percentile among hospices nationally. The national median is about 12 minutes.
38
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 day16.3 min
Ranks better than about 84% 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 weekends7.4%
Ranks better than about 44% 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 life92.3%
Ranks better than about 42% 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 visits4.9%
Ranks better than about 98% 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 care14.6%
Ranks better than about 9% 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 months20.8%
Ranks better than about 86% 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 care8.3%
Ranks better than about 44% 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 hospice2.1%
Ranks better than about 36% 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$26,890 · 86th 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 54.3% of patients or more. Most hospices score above 90 percent.
- Pain screening100%
- Pain assessment100%
- Breathing difficulty screening100%
- Breathing difficulty treatment99.2%
- Treatment preferences discussed100%
- Beliefs and values discussed100%
- Bowel care for patients on opioids100%
- Visits in the last days of life54.3%
- All care steps completed99.5%
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%
- Dementia29%
- Heart and circulatory disease15%
- Lung and respiratory disease8%
- Stroke9%
- Other conditions22%
Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Percentiles are computed by CMS across all reporting hospices.
About Health Link Hospice
Health Link Hospice serves the San Francisco community from its office on Bryant Street. This provider offers end of life care to families in the area. They have held Medicare certification since late 2019. The team holds accreditation from CHAP, which proves they follow high national standards. This status means an outside group checked their work to ensure they meet strict safety rules. Choosing a group with this mark shows they care about how they run their daily operations. It is a sign of their commitment to quality care for your loved ones.
Provider Background
Health Link Hospice operates as a for-profit organization. They have been active in the Medicare system for several years now. Being a freestanding hospice means they focus only on this specific type of care. They are not part of a hospital or a nursing home system. Their team includes six registered nurses and one licensed practical nurse. These professionals handle the medical needs of patients in their homes. You should know that they do not use volunteers as part of their staff. This is a common setup for many local providers today. They keep their focus on direct nursing support for the people they serve in the city.
Quality Performance
What Is Hospice Care Like in San Francisco?
Hospice care in San Francisco focuses on comfort when a cure is no longer the main goal. Doctors, nurses, and aides visit your home to help manage pain and other symptoms. The goal is to improve the quality of each day for the patient. You can expect regular visits from the nursing staff to check on changes in health. They also provide emotional support for the whole family during this time. Most care happens in your own home where you feel most at ease. Some people may need a short stay in a facility if their symptoms become too hard to handle at home. But the primary focus remains on keeping the patient comfortable in their own familiar space.
What to Ask When Choosing a Hospice Provider
Finding the right match takes a few smart questions. Start by asking how quickly a nurse can get to your home if an emergency happens at night. You should also ask how they handle pain medicine and if they have a pharmacy they use. Ask them to explain their plan for after-hours calls because you need to know who will answer your questions at 3:00 AM. It is also good to ask how they support family members with grief. Ask if they have social workers who can visit you at home. These professionals help with the stress of caregiving. Keep a list of these answers so you can compare the different hospice options you find in your area.
Keep Your Family Stories Alive
Preserving the memories and life lessons of your loved ones provides comfort for generations to come. Start recording those special stories today.
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