HOSPICE OF OKEECHOBEE INCORPORATED
Provider Information
- Address
- 411 SE 4TH STREET
OKEECHOBEE, FL 34974 - Ownership Type
- For-Profit
- Medicare Certified Since
- June 3, 1987
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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) | 23 |
| Physicians | 2 |
| Volunteers | 3 |
39
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 HOSPICE OF OKEECHOBEE INCORPORATED reported, not a check of what it offers today. Confirm current arrangements with the hospice.
- Short-term inpatient care
- Both provided directly and arranged with other facilities
- Type of inpatient care
- General inpatient care (for pain or symptoms that cannot be managed elsewhere)
- 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 2022.
Care Details from Medicare Data
Medicare computes these numbers from claims and required reporting. They show how HOSPICE OF OKEECHOBEE INCORPORATED compares to hospices nationwide.
15.2 minutes
of nurse care per routine home care day, on average
That is the 77th percentile among hospices nationally. The national median is about 12 minutes.
37
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 day15.2 min
Ranks better than about 77% 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 weekends6.8%
Ranks better than about 36% 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 life91%
Ranks better than about 35% 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 visits60.2%
Ranks better than about 39% 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 care15%
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 months30%
Ranks better than about 69% 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 care11.7%
Ranks better than about 28% 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%
Ranks better than about 55% 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)91st 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$11,859 · 18th 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 62.4% of patients or more. Most hospices score above 90 percent.
- Pain screening99.6%
- Pain assessment100%
- Breathing difficulty screening100%
- Breathing difficulty treatment99.4%
- Treatment preferences discussed100%
- Beliefs and values discussed100%
- Bowel care for patients on opioids100%
- Visits in the last days of life62.4%
- All care steps completed99.2%
Conditions of patients in their care
Share of patients by primary diagnosis. Useful if you want a team with experience in a specific condition.
- Cancer28%
- Dementia20%
- Heart and circulatory disease20%
- Lung and respiratory disease14%
- Stroke6%
- Other conditions15%
Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Percentiles are computed by CMS across all reporting hospices.
Hospice of Okeechobee Incorporated
Hospice of Okeechobee Incorporated provides end of life support for residents in Okeechobee, Florida. This freestanding hospice team helps patients and families manage illness at home or in care settings. They have served the community since 1987. That is a long history of local service. The organization focuses on comfort and care for those who need it most.
About HOSPICE OF OKEECHOBEE INCORPORATED
This is a for profit hospice provider. They have been certified by Medicare for over thirty years. This history shows their experience with federal quality standards. Families should know that Medicare certification means they must follow strict rules for patient care and safety. Being a freestanding hospice means they focus only on hospice services. They do not run other medical clinics. This allows their staff to dedicate their time to end of life comfort. It is helpful to ask how their specific team size fits your needs. You can look at their official quality records to see how they perform on national benchmarks. These scores show how well they manage pain and help families during difficult times. Choosing a provider is a big decision for any family. Take the time to look at their history and their current standing.
Quality Performance
What Is Hospice Care Like in OKEECHOBEE?
Hospice care in this area focuses on keeping patients comfortable in their own homes. The team works to reduce pain and help with daily needs. Hospice of Okeechobee Incorporated employs 39 people to handle these tasks. This group includes 23 registered nurses who visit patients to provide medical care. They also have two physicians on staff to oversee medical plans. Three volunteers help out with non medical tasks like sitting with patients. That is a solid team for a local provider. Most care happens where the patient lives. The goal is to keep life as normal as possible for as long as possible. Nurses coordinate with the doctors to make sure every symptom gets addressed quickly. And family members get support too. You are not just getting medical help. You are getting a team that knows the community well.
What to Ask When Choosing a Hospice Provider
You should feel comfortable with the team that helps your family. Start by asking how quickly a nurse can reach your home during an emergency. This matters if your loved one has sudden pain. Ask if the team is available on weekends or holidays. You should also ask how they handle changes in the care plan. It is smart to learn how they help families cope with grief after a loss. Ask them to explain their role in your daily life. Do they help with personal care like bathing or just medical tasks? A good provider will answer these questions with patience. They should want you to feel confident in their plan. Write your questions down before you call them. This helps you keep track of the answers you get.
Keep Your Family Stories Alive
Your loved one has a life full of memories and wisdom. We offer tools to help you record and save these stories for future generations.
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Helpful Guides for Families
What Does Medicare Cover for Hospice Care?
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Hospice at Home vs. Inpatient: Choosing the Right Care
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What Nearly 17,000 Hospice Inspection Reports Reveal
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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.