HOSPICE OF SOUTHERN KENTUCKY
Provider Information
- Address
- 5872 SCOTTSVILLE ROAD
BOWLING GREEN, KY 42104 - Ownership Type
- Non-Profit
- Medicare Certified Since
- March 23, 1988
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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) | 28 |
| Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN) | 7 |
| Physicians | 5 |
| Volunteers | 45 |
78
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 SOUTHERN KENTUCKY 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
- 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 HOSPICE OF SOUTHERN KENTUCKY compares to hospices nationwide.
12.4 minutes
of nurse care per routine home care day, on average
That is the 52nd percentile among hospices nationally. The national median is about 12 minutes.
89
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 day12.4 min
Ranks better than about 52% 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 weekends6.2%
Ranks better than about 29% 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 life96.4%
Ranks better than about 74% 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 visits52.1%
Ranks better than about 51% 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 care21.1%
Ranks better than about 3% 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 months26.3%
Ranks better than about 77% 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 care6.6%
Ranks better than about 53% 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 hospice1.3%
Ranks better than about 47% 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)99th 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$8,344 · 6th 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 57.8% of patients or more. Most hospices score above 90 percent.
- Pain screening99.6%
- Pain assessment99.8%
- Breathing difficulty screening100%
- Breathing difficulty treatment99.8%
- Treatment preferences discussed100%
- Beliefs and values discussed100%
- Bowel care for patients on opioids100%
- Visits in the last days of life57.8%
- All care steps completed99.4%
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%
- Dementia9%
- Heart and circulatory disease22%
- Lung and respiratory disease12%
- Stroke16%
- Other conditions13%
Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, reporting period January 2023 through December 2024. Percentiles are computed by CMS across all reporting hospices.
Hospice of Southern Kentucky
Hospice of Southern Kentucky serves families in Bowling Green and the surrounding Warren County area. This provider offers end-of-life care as a freestanding hospice organization. They have been certified by Medicare since 1988. This long history shows their commitment to the local community. They focus on providing support to patients and their loved ones during difficult times. Choosing a local provider often helps families stay connected to their own support networks. This group works hard to keep care centered on the patient. They operate as a non-profit organization. That means they reinvest their resources back into the care they give to those they serve.
About Hospice of Southern Kentucky
Hospice of Southern Kentucky is a non-profit provider. Being non-profit means their primary goal is the mission of care rather than generating profit for shareholders. They earned their Medicare certification in 1988. That is over three decades of service to the region. This longevity gives them deep roots in the community. Families should know that non-profit hospices often have strong volunteer programs to support their staff. This provider has 45 volunteers working alongside their team. Volunteers provide companionship and respite for caregivers. The staff includes 28 registered nurses and 7 licensed practical nurses. They also have 5 physicians on the team. These professionals work together to manage pain and symptoms. They aim to make the patient as comfortable as possible. You can look at their long history as a sign of their stability in the healthcare system.
What Is Hospice Care Like in Bowling Green?
Hospice care in Bowling Green focuses on comfort and quality of life. It is not about giving up. It is about choosing to live each day with less pain and more support. The team at Hospice of Southern Kentucky consists of 78 total employees. This includes a mix of nurses, doctors, and volunteers. They visit patients where they live. That might be a private home or a care facility. The nurses handle medical needs while volunteers often help with errands or simply sit with the patient. This team approach ensures that patients have someone to talk to. It also means family members get a break when they need it. The goal is to keep the patient in a familiar setting. Most people prefer to be at home. This team helps make that possible for many families in the area.
What to Ask When Choosing a Hospice Provider
You should feel empowered to ask questions before you start care. First, ask how quickly a nurse can get to your home if an emergency happens at night. You need to know that help is available around the clock. Second, ask how often the hospice nurse will visit your loved one each week. Consistency matters. Third, ask how the team will manage difficult pain or breathing issues. You want a clear plan for these moments. And finally, ask how they support family caregivers. Do they provide training or extra help during hard nights? A good provider will have clear answers for all these concerns. They should treat your questions with respect. Do not settle for vague promises. You deserve specific details about how they will care for your family member every single day.
Other Hospice Providers Nearby
APPALACHIAN HOSPICE CARE
ST ANTHONY'S HOSPICE INC
HOSPICE OF WESTERN KENTUCKY
HOSPICE OF OHIO COUNTY
HOSPICE EAST
MURRAY CALLOWAY COUNTY HOSPITAL HOSPICE
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