COMMONWEALTH HOSPICE OF BERWICK
Provider Information
- Address
- 900 RUTTER AVENUE SUITE 20
FORTY FORT, PA 18704 - Ownership Type
- For-Profit
- Medicare Certified Since
- July 27, 2001
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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) | 3 |
| Physicians | 1 |
10
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 COMMONWEALTH HOSPICE OF BERWICK 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 COMMONWEALTH HOSPICE OF BERWICK compares to hospices nationwide.
16.1 minutes
of nurse care per routine home care day, on average
That is the 83rd percentile among hospices nationally. The national median is about 12 minutes.
23
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 day16.1 min
Ranks better than about 83% 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 weekends10.1%
Ranks better than about 70% 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 life96.4%
Ranks better than about 74% 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 visits18.8%
Ranks better than about 90% 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 care16%
Ranks better than about 7% 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 months28%
Ranks better than about 74% 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 care4%
Ranks better than about 67% 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 hospice0%
Ranks better than about 55% 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$10,447 · 12th 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 81.4% 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 life81.4%
- 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.
- Cancer21%
- Dementia7%
- Heart and circulatory disease22%
- Lung and respiratory disease12%
- Other conditions39%
Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Percentiles are computed by CMS across all reporting hospices.
Commonwealth Hospice of Berwick
Commonwealth Hospice of Berwick serves the Forty Fort community from their office on Rutter Avenue. This freestanding hospice provider offers care to individuals in Luzerne County and the surrounding area. They have been certified by Medicare since the summer of 2001. The team holds accreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Health Care. This status means an outside group checked their work to ensure they meet high standards for patient safety and care. You can expect a professional team focused on your needs.
About Commonwealth Hospice of Berwick
This provider operates as a for-profit organization. They have maintained Medicare certification for over two decades. Accreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Health Care serves as a mark of quality. This group visits the provider to check that they follow strict rules for medical care. It is a voluntary process that shows a commitment to doing things the right way. Their team includes ten employees who work together to support your family. Among these staff members are three registered nurses and one physician. Having a doctor on the team helps ensure that medical decisions are handled with care. Families should look for these signs of stability when choosing a partner for end of life care. It helps to know that the team has a long history of serving the region.
High Quality Standards
What Is Hospice Care Like in FORTY FORT?
Hospice care in this part of Pennsylvania focuses on comfort and quality of life. The team at Commonwealth Hospice of Berwick provides services directly to the patient where they live. Their staff includes ten professionals who coordinate your care plan. This group includes three registered nurses and one physician who work to manage symptoms and pain. They help families understand what to expect as a loved one nears the end of life. Local hospice care means you have people who know the area and can visit your home to help. The goal is to keep the patient comfortable and supported in their own space. You can talk with the staff about your specific needs and how they can best help your family during this time.
What to Ask When Choosing a Hospice Provider
Choosing a provider is a big step for any family. You should ask questions that help you understand how they work. First, ask how quickly they can start care after a doctor makes a referral. Ask how the team handles pain management after normal business hours. You should also find out how many patients each nurse sees in a day. It is good to know if they have experience with your loved one's specific diagnosis. Ask about the ways they support family members who are grieving. Finally, ask what happens if your loved one needs to move to a different setting for care. Clear answers help you feel better about the path ahead.
Keep Family Stories Alive
Preserving the memories and life stories of your loved ones is a gift for future generations. Learn how to record these precious moments today.
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