VISITING NURSE & COMMUNITY CARE
Provider Information
- Address
- 37 BROADWAY, 2ND FLOOR
ARLINGTON, MA 02474 - Ownership Type
- Non-Profit
- Medicare Certified Since
- July 7, 2009
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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) | 5 |
| Physicians | 1 |
| Volunteers | 0 |
13
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 VISITING NURSE & COMMUNITY CARE 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 2018.
Care Details from Medicare Data
Medicare computes these numbers from claims and required reporting. They show how VISITING NURSE & COMMUNITY CARE compares to hospices nationwide.
14.1 minutes
of nurse care per routine home care day, on average
That is the 69th percentile among hospices nationally. The national median is about 12 minutes.
46
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 day14.1 min
Ranks better than about 69% 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 weekends5.3%
Ranks better than about 18% 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 life98.3%
Ranks better than about 88% 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 visits45%
Ranks better than about 60% 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 care8.3%
Ranks better than about 37% 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 months50%
Ranks better than about 17% 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 care14.6%
Ranks better than about 18% 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 hospice2.1%
Ranks better than about 36% 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$28,460 · 89th 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 8 required care steps for new patients here, completed for 86% of patients or more. Most hospices score above 90 percent.
- Pain screening100%
- Pain assessment88.2%
- Breathing difficulty screening98.8%
- Breathing difficulty treatment86.4%
- Treatment preferences discussed100%
- Beliefs and values discussed98.8%
- Visits in the last days of life86%
- All care steps completed88.8%
Conditions of patients in their care
Share of patients by primary diagnosis. Useful if you want a team with experience in a specific condition.
- Cancer9%
- Dementia42%
- Heart and circulatory disease18%
- Other conditions20%
Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Percentiles are computed by CMS across all reporting hospices.
About Visiting Nurse & Community Care
Visiting Nurse & Community Care serves the Arlington, Massachusetts area from their office on Broadway. This agency provides support for patients who need care in their own homes. They have been certified by Medicare since 2009. That is a long history of serving the local community. Families often choose them when they need professional help nearby. Medicare certification means they follow strict rules to keep care safe and consistent. This provider is a non-profit organization. Non-profit agencies often put their extra funds right back into the programs they offer. You can count on them for standard health services that meet federal guidelines. It is helpful to know they have been doing this work for over a decade. They keep their focus on the patient and the home environment. That is their primary goal every single day.
Provider Quality and Standards
This agency holds the highest possible marks for their quality of care. These marks come from the official Hospice Care Index used by Medicare. Such scores mean the agency performs well on measures like pain management and patient visits. Being a non-profit group is also a meaningful detail for families to consider. They operate under a mission to serve rather than to earn profit for owners. The team includes 13 total employees who manage daily operations. This group consists of 5 registered nurses and 1 physician. A small team can offer a more personal touch during difficult times. You should feel good about choosing an agency with such high quality ratings. They have proven their ability to meet the needs of their patients over many years. That record speaks for itself.
High Quality Standards
What Is Hospice Care Like in ARLINGTON?
Hospice care in Arlington focuses on comfort and dignity for patients facing serious illness. The goal is to manage pain and help families spend meaningful time together at home. Local agencies like this one provide a team of experts to handle medical needs. The staff here includes 5 registered nurses and 1 physician who coordinate care plans. They also have 13 total employees working to keep things running smoothly. You will not find volunteers listed on their current staff records. This means the professional team handles all aspects of daily care. They visit the home to check on symptoms and offer guidance to family caregivers. This support helps keep the patient comfortable in their own bed. It is a way to ensure that medical needs are met without a hospital stay. Everything is designed to make the home a place of peace and rest.
What to Ask When Choosing a Hospice Provider
Picking the right hospice team is a big decision for your family. You should feel empowered to ask questions until you have the answers you need. Start by asking how quickly a nurse can get to the home if an emergency happens at night. Ask how they handle pain management during the weekends. It is also wise to ask how they communicate with the patient's primary doctor. Do they provide any extra support for family members who are grieving? These questions help you understand how the agency operates on a daily basis. You deserve a team that listens to your concerns. Do not be afraid to speak up about what matters most to your loved one. A good provider will be happy to answer every single question you have. They should be clear and open with you from the start.
Keep Your Family Stories Alive
Finding ways to remember the life and wisdom of your loved one is a gift for future generations. Start capturing those precious memories today.
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