CARE INITIATIVES HOSPICE - CEDAR RAPIDS
Provider Information
- Address
- 3720 QUEEN COURT SW, SUITE 9
CEDAR RAPIDS, IA 52404 - Ownership Type
- Non-Profit
- Medicare Certified Since
- September 20, 2009
Are you this hospice's administrator? Update your information
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) | 8 |
20
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 CARE INITIATIVES HOSPICE - CEDAR RAPIDS 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
- Supplied directly by this hospice
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 CARE INITIATIVES HOSPICE - CEDAR RAPIDS compares to hospices nationwide.
15.3 minutes
of nurse care per routine home care day, on average
That is the 78th percentile among hospices nationally. The national median is about 12 minutes.
24
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 day15.3 min
Ranks better than about 78% 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 weekends10.1%
Ranks better than about 70% 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 life94.8%
Ranks better than about 60% 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 visits38.7%
Ranks better than about 68% 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 care4.6%
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 months40%
Ranks better than about 40% 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 care3.1%
Ranks better than about 72% 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)74th 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$10,874 · 14th 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 79.5% of patients or more. Most hospices score above 90 percent.
- Pain screening100%
- Pain assessment100%
- Breathing difficulty screening99.3%
- Breathing difficulty treatment96.4%
- Treatment preferences discussed100%
- Beliefs and values discussed98.6%
- Bowel care for patients on opioids100%
- Visits in the last days of life79.5%
- All care steps completed97.3%
Conditions of patients in their care
Share of patients by primary diagnosis. Useful if you want a team with experience in a specific condition.
- Cancer21%
- Dementia29%
- Heart and circulatory disease16%
- Lung and respiratory disease9%
- Other conditions20%
Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, reporting period January 2023 through December 2024. Percentiles are computed by CMS across all reporting hospices.
Care Initiatives Hospice in Cedar Rapids
Care Initiatives Hospice serves families in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. This freestanding hospice provider offers care focused on comfort and symptom management. They have been certified by Medicare since 2009. The team holds accreditation from the Community Health Accreditation Partner, also known as CHAP. This means they meet high standards for quality and safety set by an independent group. Choosing a local provider with this level of oversight helps ensure your loved one receives steady care in their home or a facility. Their staff works to support patients and their families throughout the hospice experience.
About Care Initiatives Hospice - Cedar Rapids
This provider operates as a non-profit organization. Non-profit status often means the group focuses its resources back into patient services. They have maintained Medicare certification for over a decade. Their CHAP accreditation serves as a mark of quality. This group reviews hospice agencies to confirm they follow best practices for patient safety. It acts like a seal of approval from an outside team. Families should look for this status because it shows the agency follows strict rules. You can feel better knowing they undergo regular checks to keep their high standing. They employ a team of 20 people to provide care. This includes eight registered nurses who manage medical needs. Having a dedicated nursing staff is a major part of how they deliver comfort. They are ready to assist you in the Linn County area whenever you need them.
Quality of Care
What Is Hospice Care Like in Cedar Rapids?
Hospice care in Iowa focuses on quality of life for people with a terminal illness. It brings medical experts and support staff to wherever the patient calls home. The goal is to manage pain and provide emotional support for the whole family. At this specific location, the team includes eight registered nurses who handle the medical side of care. They work with a total staff of 20 to ensure needs are met quickly. Most hospice programs include regular visits from nurses and aides. They also offer social workers to help with tough decisions and emotional stress. You can expect a team approach that puts the patient at the center of every plan. They aim to make each day as comfortable as possible. This is how they spend their time in the Cedar Rapids community.
What to Ask When Choosing a Hospice Provider
Finding the right care team is a big step for your family. Start by asking how quickly a nurse can get to your home if an emergency happens at night. You should also ask how the team will handle pain relief and medication changes. It is smart to ask who will be on your primary care team. Find out if you will see the same nurses and aides on a regular basis. You might also ask how they support family members who are grieving. Ask how they communicate with your primary doctor to keep everyone on the same page. Do not be afraid to ask for details about their experience with your specific health needs. Good providers will be happy to answer these questions clearly. They want you to feel comfortable with the choice you make for your loved one.
Preserve Your Family Stories
Your loved one has a lifetime of memories. We can help you gather these stories to keep them safe for future generations.
Start Your Legacy ProjectOther Hospice Providers Nearby
SUNCREST HOSPICE
HOSPICE COMPASSUS - NORTHEAST IOWA
UNITYPOINT HOSPICE
ST. ANTHONY REGIONAL HOSPITAL AND NURSING HOME
AVERA @ HOME OF SPENCER HOSPITAL
MYRTUE MEDICAL CENTER HOSPICE
Helpful Guides for Families
A Complete End of Life Planning Checklist for Families
Feeling overwhelmed by end of life planning? Use our comprehensive hospice planning checklist to organize your loved one's care and simplify difficult decisions.
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.
Hospice vs Palliative Care: Understanding the Difference
Confused about hospice vs palliative care? We break down the key differences, benefits, and how to choose the right end-of-life care for your loved one.
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.