AVE MARIA HOSPICE, INC
Provider Information
- Address
- 16438 VANOWEN STREET, SUITE 208
VAN NUYS, CA 91406 - Ownership Type
- For-Profit
- Medicare Certified Since
- June 23, 2021
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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) | 1 |
| Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN) | 1 |
| Physicians | 1 |
| Volunteers | 1 |
5
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 AVE MARIA HOSPICE, INC 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 2021.
Care Details from Medicare Data
Medicare computes these numbers from claims and required reporting. They show how AVE MARIA HOSPICE, INC compares to hospices nationwide.
11.3 minutes
of nurse care per routine home care day, on average
That is the 39th percentile among hospices nationally. The national median is about 12 minutes.
18
patients in care on an average day
A rough measure of size. Smaller can mean more personal. Larger can mean more resources.
Medicare reports this hospice billed for routine home care only from January 2022 through December 2024. Hospices can also provide continuous home care, inpatient care, and respite care when symptoms are harder to manage. There can be good reasons for this. Ask the provider how they handle a crisis at home.
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 day11.3 min
Ranks better than about 39% 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 weekends31.4%
Ranks better than about 99% 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 life50%
Ranks better than about 4% 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 visits22.8%
Ranks better than about 86% 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 months59.4%
Ranks better than about 7% 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 hospice3.1%
Ranks better than about 24% 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$40,880 · 98th 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 89.7% of patients or more. Most hospices score above 90 percent.
- Pain screening97.4%
- Pain assessment94.3%
- Breathing difficulty screening100%
- Breathing difficulty treatment97.3%
- Treatment preferences discussed100%
- Beliefs and values discussed100%
- All care steps completed89.7%
Conditions of patients in their care
Share of patients by primary diagnosis. Useful if you want a team with experience in a specific condition.
- Dementia28%
- Heart and circulatory disease54%
Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, reporting period January 2023 through December 2024. Percentiles are computed by CMS across all reporting hospices.
Hospice Care in Van Nuys
Ave Maria Hospice, Inc serves patients and families in Van Nuys, California. This provider offers end-of-life care options from their office on Vanowen Street. They have been certified by Medicare since mid-2021. The team holds accreditation from the Joint Commission to ensure they meet high standards for patient care. Choosing a hospice provider is a major decision for your family. Having a local team can offer peace of mind during a difficult time. They focus on comfort and support for those facing a life-limiting illness. You deserve clear facts about who will care for your loved one. This provider is ready to talk about their specific approach to care and how they serve the Los Angeles area. They offer a range of services designed to help patients stay comfortable in their own homes. It is a big step to reach out for help.
About Ave Maria Hospice, Inc
Ave Maria Hospice, Inc is a for-profit provider based in Los Angeles County. They have operated as a certified hospice since June 2021. The provider is a freestanding hospice rather than part of a hospital system. This means they focus only on hospice care. The Joint Commission accreditation is a key detail to note. This group reviews health care providers to ensure they follow strict safety rules. They look at how a team handles patient pain, medication, and overall support. When a hospice earns this mark, it shows they aim for high quality in their daily work. The agency employs a small team of five people. This group includes a physician, a registered nurse, and a licensed practical nurse. They also work with a volunteer to support patient needs. Small teams can sometimes offer more personal attention to each patient. You should ask how their staff size affects their response times for your family.
Quality of Care
What Is Hospice Care Like in Van Nuys?
Hospice care in Van Nuys focuses on quality of life rather than curing an illness. The care team comes to the patient wherever they live. This could be a private home or a care facility in the area. The goal is to manage pain and help the patient stay as comfortable as possible. This provider is staffed with one registered nurse and one licensed practical nurse. They also have one physician on the team. Having a doctor and nurses involved helps the family manage complex symptoms at home. A volunteer is also part of their team to provide extra companionship. This model of care is standard for hospice in California. The team coordinates with your primary doctor to make sure everyone is on the same page. You can ask them how they manage care visits during nights or weekends. Getting clear answers helps you feel more prepared for the future.
What to Ask When Choosing a Hospice Provider
You should feel empowered to ask direct questions during your first meeting. Start by asking how quickly a nurse can get to your home if a crisis happens. It is also wise to ask how they handle pain management and medication changes. You might want to know how the team communicates with family members about changes in a patient's condition. Ask about their volunteer services and how those volunteers support the patient. It helps to know what specific training their staff members have received. Ask if they provide 24-hour support for urgent needs. Most importantly, ask how they will support your family during the grieving process after a loss. These questions help you see if their values match your family's needs. Take your time to get the answers you need before making a final choice. The right provider will be happy to talk through these details with you.
Preserve Your Family Stories
Your loved one has a lifetime of memories and wisdom to share. Capturing these stories now creates a lasting gift for your family to cherish for generations to come.
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Helpful Guides for Families
Hospice vs Palliative Care: Understanding the Difference
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Understanding Medicare Hospice Benefit: A Family Guide
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Hospice at Home vs. Inpatient: Choosing the Right Care
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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.