BEACON HOSPICE, AN AMEDISYS COMPANY
Provider Information
- Address
- 529 MAIN STREET, SUITE 126
CHARLESTOWN, MA 02129 - Ownership Type
- For-Profit
- Medicare Certified Since
- April 3, 1995
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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) | 36 |
| Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN) | 4 |
| Volunteers | 34 |
105
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 BEACON HOSPICE, AN AMEDISYS COMPANY 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 2019.
Care Details from Medicare Data
Medicare computes these numbers from claims and required reporting. They show how BEACON HOSPICE, AN AMEDISYS COMPANY 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.
475
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 weekends9.6%
Ranks better than about 67% 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 life96.1%
Ranks better than about 71% 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 visits51.6%
Ranks better than about 52% 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 care7.6%
Ranks better than about 42% 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 months46.4%
Ranks better than about 25% 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 care2.3%
Ranks better than about 76% 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 hospice3.5%
Ranks better than about 20% 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$19,844 · 60th 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 83.1% of patients or more. Most hospices score above 90 percent.
- Pain screening100%
- Pain assessment100%
- Breathing difficulty screening99.9%
- Breathing difficulty treatment99.8%
- Treatment preferences discussed100%
- Beliefs and values discussed100%
- Bowel care for patients on opioids100%
- Visits in the last days of life83.1%
- All care steps completed99.9%
Conditions of patients in their care
Share of patients by primary diagnosis. Useful if you want a team with experience in a specific condition.
- Cancer18%
- Dementia29%
- Heart and circulatory disease19%
- Lung and respiratory disease6%
- Stroke10%
- Other conditions20%
Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, reporting period January 2023 through December 2024. Percentiles are computed by CMS across all reporting hospices.
About Beacon Hospice
Beacon Hospice, an Amedisys Company, provides hospice care in Charlestown, Massachusetts. They have served the community since 1995. This provider is a freestanding hospice that holds accreditation from CHAP. That group is a national organization that checks if hospice teams meet high standards for safety and care. They focus on providing comfort to patients near the end of life. Their team works in Suffolk County to support families during a difficult time. Getting the right care matters. Families often choose them because of their long history and clear focus on quality service for those who need it most.
About BEACON HOSPICE, AN AMEDISYS COMPANY
This provider operates as a for-profit hospice company. They have been certified by Medicare for nearly thirty years. That long history shows they have experience with federal rules for patient care. The CHAP accreditation is a big deal for families. It means an outside group reviewed their work to ensure they follow best practices every day. They have a team of 105 employees to help patients. This includes 36 registered nurses and 4 licensed practical nurses. They also work with 34 volunteers who offer extra support. Having a large team often means more hands are available to help your loved one. You should look at their history as a sign of their stability in the local market. They have maintained their certification for a very long time.
Quality Performance
What Is Hospice Care Like in CHARLESTOWN?
Hospice care in this part of Massachusetts focuses on comfort and pain control. You get a team that comes to the patient wherever they live. This could be a private home or a care facility. The team includes doctors, nurses, and volunteers. They work to manage symptoms so the patient can spend time with their family. The Charlestown location uses a large staff to provide this support. With dozens of nurses and volunteers available, they can handle many patient needs at once. They aim to make the final months as peaceful as possible. It is a team approach. Everyone works together to help the patient stay comfortable. They focus on the physical and emotional needs of the person in their care. This team approach is standard for high-quality hospice providers in the state.
What to Ask When Choosing a Hospice Provider
Choosing the right hospice team is a big decision. You should ask questions that help you understand how they will care for your loved one. First, ask how quickly a nurse can get to the home if a problem happens at night. Second, ask how they manage pain and other symptoms. You should also ask how they keep the family informed about changes in the patient. Ask how their volunteers spend time with patients. It helps to know if they provide extra emotional support. You want to feel good about the team you pick. Take your time with these questions. A good provider will be happy to answer them clearly. They should be open about their services and their team size. You deserve to know who is coming into your home to help.
Save Your Family Stories
Your loved one has a life full of stories and memories. We can help you record these moments to keep them safe for years to come.
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