ST CROIX HOSPICE
Provider Information
- Address
- 302 N GRAND AVE SUITE 5
CHARLES CITY, IA 50616 - Ownership Type
- For-Profit
- Medicare Certified Since
- September 22, 2014
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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) | 9 |
| Physicians | 0 |
| Volunteers | 0 |
21
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 ST CROIX 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 2020.
Care Details from Medicare Data
Medicare computes these numbers from claims and required reporting. They show how ST CROIX HOSPICE compares to hospices nationwide.
13.9 minutes
of nurse care per routine home care day, on average
That is the 67th percentile among hospices nationally. The national median is about 12 minutes.
150
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 day13.9 min
Ranks better than about 67% 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 weekends8.6%
Ranks better than about 58% 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 life96.5%
Ranks better than about 75% 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 visits37.6%
Ranks better than about 70% 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 care7.4%
Ranks better than about 43% 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 months43.2%
Ranks better than about 32% 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 care5.4%
Ranks better than about 60% 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 hospice6.1%
Ranks better than about 7% 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$13,602 · 26th 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 75.4% of patients or more. Most hospices score above 90 percent.
- Pain screening100%
- Pain assessment100%
- Breathing difficulty screening100%
- Breathing difficulty treatment100%
- Treatment preferences discussed100%
- Beliefs and values discussed100%
- Bowel care for patients on opioids100%
- Visits in the last days of life75.4%
- All care steps completed100%
Conditions of patients in their care
Share of patients by primary diagnosis. Useful if you want a team with experience in a specific condition.
- Cancer13%
- Dementia14%
- Heart and circulatory disease38%
- Lung and respiratory disease6%
- Stroke17%
- Other conditions14%
Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, reporting period January 2023 through December 2024. Percentiles are computed by CMS across all reporting hospices.
Supportive Care in Charles City
St. Croix Hospice offers comfort-focused care for patients in Charles City, Iowa. They provide medical, emotional, and spiritual support to families facing serious illness. Their team works right in Floyd County to ensure patients stay comfortable in their own homes. This local presence helps the team respond quickly when families need them most. Whether it is managing pain or helping with daily tasks, their goal is to improve quality of life. It is about focusing on what matters most to the patient each day. They bring hospice expertise directly to your doorstep in the community.
About St. Croix Hospice
St. Croix Hospice has been a Medicare-certified provider since September 2014. As a for-profit organization, they operate with a focus on meeting specific standards set by federal regulators. Choosing a provider with a long history of certification is a good step for any family. It shows they have met government rules for care quality for nearly a decade. Families should know that every hospice must follow the same Medicare rules for coverage. But each agency has its own culture and team approach. That said, St. Croix Hospice has established a clear record of service in the region. You can feel confident knowing they have been part of the Iowa healthcare landscape for many years now.
High Quality Ratings
Understanding Hospice Care in Charles City
Hospice is not a place you go to live. It is a type of care that comes to you. In Charles City, families often choose hospice when they want to focus on comfort rather than a cure. The team usually includes a nurse, an aide, a social worker, and a chaplain. They work together to handle physical pain and emotional stress. The thing is, many people wait too long to start these services. Starting early means more time for the hospice team to build a bond with the patient. And that bond is what makes the care feel personal. You do not have to walk this path alone. Local providers like St. Croix Hospice are there to help you coordinate all the pieces of care at home.
What to Ask When Choosing a Hospice Provider
Picking a hospice team is a big decision. You should feel comfortable asking direct questions to get the answers you need. Start by asking how quickly a nurse can get to your home if an emergency happens at night. It is also smart to ask how they handle pain medicine and equipment needs. Ask them how often a nurse will visit your loved one each week. You might also want to know how they support family members who are grieving. Do they offer extra visits from volunteers or spiritual counselors? These simple questions help you see if their values match what your family needs. Trust your gut feeling during these talks. You want a team that listens to you as much as they listen to the patient.
Preserve Your Family Stories
This time is difficult, but it is also a chance to capture the memories and wisdom of those you love most. We provide tools to help you record and save your family history for future generations.
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