DEACONESS HOSPICE
Provider Information
- Address
- 1121 N 16TH AVENUE, SUITE A
LAUREL, MS 39440 - Ownership Type
- For-Profit
- Medicare Certified Since
- January 15, 1997
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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) | 3 |
| Physicians | 1 |
9
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 DEACONESS 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 DEACONESS HOSPICE compares to hospices nationwide.
12.7 minutes
of nurse care per routine home care day, on average
That is the 55th percentile among hospices nationally. The national median is about 12 minutes.
36
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 day12.7 min
Ranks better than about 55% 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%
Ranks better than about 39% 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 life97.5%
Ranks better than about 83% 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 visits33.6%
Ranks better than about 75% 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 care9.8%
Ranks better than about 27% 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 months17.1%
Ranks better than about 91% 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 care7.3%
Ranks better than about 49% 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 hospice4.9%
Ranks better than about 11% 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$15,516 · 36th 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 78.1% 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 life78.1%
- 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.
- Cancer18%
- Dementia31%
- Heart and circulatory disease15%
- Lung and respiratory disease11%
- 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 Deaconess Hospice
Deaconess Hospice serves the Laurel, Mississippi area from their office on North 16th Avenue. This freestanding hospice provider offers care focused on comfort and support for patients facing life-limiting illnesses. They have been certified by Medicare since early 1997. Choosing a provider in your own county can help your family stay close during a difficult time. They are a for-profit organization dedicated to providing care within the Jones County community. Their long history of Medicare certification shows they have met federal requirements for many years. This is a reliable sign of their commitment to health standards in Mississippi.
Provider Background
Deaconess Hospice operates as a freestanding hospice facility. This means they focus exclusively on end-of-life care rather than acting as a branch of a larger hospital system. Being a for-profit provider, they follow specific rules set by the government to keep their Medicare status. They hold strong quality-of-care marks based on the official CMS Hospice Care Index. These scores reflect how well a provider manages patient comfort and pain control. It is good to know they rank highly in these objective measures. The team includes nine total employees. This small group includes three registered nurses and one physician. Having a doctor on the team helps ensure that medical needs are handled with care. Families often prefer smaller teams because they allow for better communication between the staff and the patient. You can feel confident knowing they maintain high performance standards in their local community.
Quality Performance
What Is Hospice Care Like in LAUREL?
Hospice care in Jones County aims to keep patients comfortable in their own homes. This approach focuses on managing pain and supporting the emotional needs of the whole family. Deaconess Hospice provides a local option for those who want care near their own neighborhood. Their staff includes registered nurses and a physician who work together to create a plan that fits the specific needs of each patient. They help manage symptoms so that patients can spend their time in comfort. The goal is to improve quality of life every single day. Having a local team means they can reach homes in Laurel quickly when needs change. This proximity is a comfort for families who want to avoid long wait times. The team is ready to support you. They focus on the physical and emotional aspects of care. It is a simple, direct way to handle end-of-life needs with dignity.
What to Ask When Choosing a Hospice Provider
You should feel empowered to ask questions before you sign any paperwork. Start by asking how often a nurse will visit your home. You need to know who to call if you have an emergency at three in the morning. Ask how they handle pain medicine delivery. It is also good to ask how they support family caregivers who are doing the daily work. Ask them to explain their process for updating the doctor on the patient's status. Does the team include volunteers or social workers? Getting these answers helps you understand the level of support your loved one will receive. Write these questions down before you make a call. Keep your notes in one place. Doing this will help you compare your options clearly. You are making an important choice for your family. Take your time to get the answers you need to feel at peace with your decision.
Preserve Your Family Stories
Your family history is a treasure that deserves to be saved for future generations. Start recording those special memories today.
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