VITALCARING GROUP
Provider Information
- Address
- 41601 VETERANS AVE.
HAMMOND, LA 70403 - Ownership Type
- For-Profit
- Medicare Certified Since
- May 3, 1994
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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) | 10 |
| Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN) | 4 |
| Physicians | 1 |
29
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 VITALCARING GROUP 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 2021.
Care Details from Medicare Data
Medicare computes these numbers from claims and required reporting. They show how VITALCARING GROUP compares to hospices nationwide.
11.6 minutes
of nurse care per routine home care day, on average
That is the 42nd percentile among hospices nationally. The national median is about 12 minutes.
102
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 day11.6 min
Ranks better than about 42% 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 weekends7.3%
Ranks better than about 42% 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 life84.4%
Ranks better than about 19% 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 visits53.7%
Ranks better than about 49% 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 care13.8%
Ranks better than about 11% 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 months19.4%
Ranks better than about 88% 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 care14.4%
Ranks better than about 19% 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 hospice2.5%
Ranks better than about 31% 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$14,412 · 30th 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 53.2% of patients or more. Most hospices score above 90 percent.
- Pain screening98.8%
- Pain assessment100%
- Breathing difficulty screening99.7%
- Breathing difficulty treatment98.7%
- Treatment preferences discussed99.7%
- Beliefs and values discussed99.7%
- Bowel care for patients on opioids100%
- Visits in the last days of life53.2%
- All care steps completed98.2%
Conditions of patients in their care
Share of patients by primary diagnosis. Useful if you want a team with experience in a specific condition.
- Cancer22%
- Dementia24%
- Heart and circulatory disease26%
- Lung and respiratory disease9%
- Stroke6%
- Other conditions14%
Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, reporting period January 2023 through December 2024. Percentiles are computed by CMS across all reporting hospices.
About Vitalcaring Group
Vitalcaring Group provides hospice care services in Hammond, Louisiana. This facility supports families in Tangipahoa County who need end of life support. They have been certified by Medicare since 1994. This long history shows they have helped the local community for many years. Choosing a hospice provider is a big decision for your family. You want a team that works well together. Their staff includes ten registered nurses and four licensed practical nurses. They also have one physician on their team to help manage patient needs. Having this many nurses on staff helps ensure that someone is available to address health concerns quickly. That provides real peace of mind during a difficult time. You can rely on their experience to guide your family through the care process. They are a for-profit hospice organization that focuses on providing quality care to those in their service area.
Provider Background
Vitalcaring Group is a freestanding hospice located in Hammond. They operate as a for-profit entity. Medicare certification means they must follow strict federal rules for patient safety. They earned this status in May of 1994. Being Medicare certified is important for families. It means the government checks their work to ensure they meet federal standards. You should look for this certification when choosing any health provider. It acts as a baseline for quality and safety. This provider has a total of 29 employees. This team size allows them to give focused attention to each patient in their care. Families often feel better knowing the provider has a clear history of compliance with national rules. This provider has maintained that status for decades. That is a long time to serve a community. You can feel confident that they understand the regulations required to keep patients safe.
Quality Performance
What Is Hospice Care Like in Hammond?
Hospice care in Hammond focuses on comfort for the patient. It is not about curing an illness. Instead, it is about managing pain and symptoms. The goal is to improve the quality of each remaining day. Teams often visit homes to provide care. They help with physical needs and emotional support. A typical team includes nurses, doctors, and social workers. Vitalcaring Group specifically employs 29 people to help cover these needs. They have a strong nursing presence with ten registered nurses on the team. This high ratio helps ensure that medication and comfort needs are met promptly. Most patients receive these services in their own homes. This allows them to stay in a place they know well. The care is meant to support both the patient and their loved ones through a very hard time. You are the primary partner in this process.
What to Ask When Choosing a Hospice Provider
You should gather information before making a choice. Start by asking how the team handles pain management at night. You need to know who to call during an emergency. Ask how many nurses will be assigned to your loved one. It is also good to ask how they support family caregivers. Do they offer help for your own stress? Will they visit on weekends or only during the week? Ask about their experience with your specific health condition. You deserve clear answers to these questions. A good provider will be happy to talk through these details with you. Take your time to get the answers you need. You have the right to understand exactly how care will look for your family. Do not feel rushed during these conversations. Clarity helps everyone feel more prepared for the days ahead.
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