POCONO HEALTH SYSTEM VISITING NURSE & HOSPICE CARE
Provider Information
- Address
- 502 VNA ROAD
EAST STROUDSBURG, PA 18301 - Ownership Type
- Non-Profit
- Medicare Certified Since
- July 10, 1987
Are you this hospice's administrator? Update your information
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) | 9 |
| Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN) | 1 |
| Physicians | 1 |
26
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 POCONO HEALTH SYSTEM VISITING NURSE & HOSPICE CARE reported, not a check of what it offers today. Confirm current arrangements with the hospice.
- Short-term inpatient care
- Provided directly by this hospice
- 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 POCONO HEALTH SYSTEM VISITING NURSE & HOSPICE CARE compares to hospices nationwide.
19.7 minutes
of nurse care per routine home care day, on average
That is the 95th percentile among hospices nationally. The national median is about 12 minutes.
10
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 day19.7 min
Ranks better than about 95% 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 weekends11.8%
Ranks better than about 79% 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 life94%
Ranks better than about 54% 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 visits9.8%
Ranks better than about 96% 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 care5.3%
Ranks better than about 58% 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 months23.7%
Ranks better than about 82% 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 care5.3%
Ranks better than about 60% 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 hospice2.6%
Ranks better than about 30% 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)98th 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$7,399 · 4th 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 49.7% of patients or more. Most hospices score above 90 percent.
- Pain screening99.7%
- Pain assessment100%
- Breathing difficulty screening99.1%
- Breathing difficulty treatment100%
- Treatment preferences discussed100%
- Beliefs and values discussed98.2%
- Bowel care for patients on opioids100%
- Visits in the last days of life49.7%
- All care steps completed96.9%
Conditions of patients in their care
Share of patients by primary diagnosis. Useful if you want a team with experience in a specific condition.
- Cancer40%
- Dementia17%
- Heart and circulatory disease13%
- Lung and respiratory disease10%
- Other conditions18%
Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, reporting period January 2023 through December 2024. Percentiles are computed by CMS across all reporting hospices.
Compassionate Care in East Stroudsburg
Pocono Health System Visiting Nurse & Hospice Care provides specialized end-of-life support to families in East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. They focus on comfort, dignity, and quality of life for patients with serious illnesses. Their team works right in your community to manage pain and provide emotional support. It is about helping your loved one live their final days with as much peace as possible. Choosing the right care team feels like a heavy task, but you have strong options right in Monroe County. These professionals understand the local area and the unique needs of neighbors here. They offer a blend of medical expertise and heart that makes a real difference during difficult times. You are not alone in this journey.
About POCONO HEALTH SYSTEM VISITING NURSE & HOSPICE CARE
This provider operates as a non-profit organization. That is a big deal because it means their focus stays strictly on patient needs rather than profits. They have been Medicare certified since July 10, 1987. That is nearly four decades of experience serving the community. When a provider has been around this long, it shows they have deep roots and reliable systems in place. Families should know that non-profit hospice agencies often reinvest their resources back into patient services. This can include extra comfort items or specialized staff training. Their long history of certification shows they follow strict federal rules for safety and care quality. You can feel confident that they meet the high standards set by Medicare to keep patients safe and comfortable. It is a solid foundation for your family's care plan.
Top-Tier Quality of Care
Understanding Hospice Care in EAST STROUDSBURG
Finding hospice care in Monroe County means you have access to a team that knows the local hospitals and doctors well. Hospice is not about giving up. It is about changing the goal of care from curing a disease to managing symptoms. The team usually includes nurses, aides, social workers, and chaplains. They come to your home or a facility to help with medicine, equipment, and personal care. The thing is, many families wait too long to start these services. Starting early allows the team to build a relationship with your loved one. This helps everyone feel more at ease. You might be surprised to learn that hospice care is fully covered by Medicare for those who qualify. And it is designed to support the whole family, not just the patient. That includes help with grief and emotional stress for everyone involved.
What to Ask When Choosing a Hospice Provider
Choosing a hospice provider is a personal decision that requires clear information. Start by asking how quickly they can respond if a crisis happens at night or on a weekend. You need to know that help is available 24/7. Ask how often a nurse will visit your home. It helps to know if they provide specialized support for certain conditions like heart disease or dementia. Another great question is how they handle medications and equipment. Will they deliver everything to your door? Also, ask how they support family caregivers who might be feeling tired or overwhelmed. Do they offer volunteer help or respite care to give you a break? Trust your gut when you talk to them. You want a team that listens to your fears and answers your questions with kindness and patience. Never feel rushed during these conversations.
Keep Your Loved One's Story Alive
Your family's history is a precious gift. Our tools make it simple to record stories and memories that will last for generations to come.
Start Preserving MemoriesOther Hospice Providers Nearby
WAYNE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL DEPARTMENT OF HOME HEALTH
HOSPICE OF THE SACRED HEART
GENTIVA II
BRIDGES HOSPICE, INC
CONSTELLATION HOSPICE PA, LLC
ASERACARE HOSPICE
Helpful Guides for Families
How to Start the Hospice Conversation: A Practical Guide
Struggling to talk about end-of-life care? Learn how to start the hospice conversation with your aging parents using these compassionate, expert-backed tips.
What CMS Star Ratings Actually Mean for Your Family
Confused by hospice star ratings? Learn how CMS calculates these scores, what they reveal about care quality, and how to find the right provider for your family.
Hospice at Home vs. Inpatient: Choosing the Right Care
Deciding between hospice at home and inpatient hospice? Discover the pros and cons of each care setting to help you make the right choice for your loved one.
Some stories are worth writing down
Between the calls and the paperwork, many families wish they had asked more about the person at the center of it all. A recorded conversation, a favorite recipe, the story behind an old photo. Small things now can mean a great deal later. Our legacy guides show simple ways to start.