MEDICAL SERVICES OF AMERICA HOSPICE-COLUMBIA
Provider Information
- Address
- 166 STONERIDGE DRIVE, SUITE 100
COLUMBIA, SC 29201 - Ownership Type
- For-Profit
- Medicare Certified Since
- April 10, 1996
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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) | 22 |
| Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN) | 8 |
| Physicians | 0 |
| Volunteers | 0 |
60
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 MEDICAL SERVICES OF AMERICA HOSPICE-COLUMBIA 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 2022.
Care Details from Medicare Data
Medicare computes these numbers from claims and required reporting. They show how MEDICAL SERVICES OF AMERICA HOSPICE-COLUMBIA compares to hospices nationwide.
9.3 minutes
of nurse care per routine home care day, on average
That is the 18th percentile among hospices nationally. The national median is about 12 minutes.
107
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 day9.3 min
Ranks better than about 18% 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 weekends6.2%
Ranks better than about 29% 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 life89.2%
Ranks better than about 29% 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 visits73.2%
Ranks better than about 21% 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 months36.6%
Ranks better than about 50% 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 care12.2%
Ranks better than about 26% 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 hospice3.1%
Ranks better than about 24% 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)83rd 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$15,811 · 38th 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 50.4% of patients or more. Most hospices score above 90 percent.
- Pain screening98.6%
- Pain assessment99.7%
- Breathing difficulty screening97.5%
- Breathing difficulty treatment96.5%
- Treatment preferences discussed99.8%
- Beliefs and values discussed99.1%
- Bowel care for patients on opioids95.9%
- Visits in the last days of life50.4%
- All care steps completed92.1%
Conditions of patients in their care
Share of patients by primary diagnosis. Useful if you want a team with experience in a specific condition.
- Cancer25%
- Dementia28%
- Heart and circulatory disease17%
- Lung and respiratory disease10%
- Stroke5%
- Other conditions16%
Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, reporting period January 2023 through December 2024. Percentiles are computed by CMS across all reporting hospices.
MEDICAL SERVICES OF AMERICA HOSPICE-COLUMBIA
Medical Services of America Hospice provides end of life care for residents in Columbia, South Carolina. They have served the Richland County area since 1996. This provider operates as a freestanding hospice agency. Their team works to meet the needs of patients who have limited life expectancy. They focus on comfort and symptom relief for those in their care.
About MEDICAL SERVICES OF AMERICA HOSPICE-COLUMBIA
This is a for-profit hospice agency. They earned Medicare certification in April of 1996. That date shows they have a long history of meeting federal rules for hospice care. Federal certification means they must follow strict standards for patient safety and medical records. It is a baseline for quality in the industry.
The agency employs 60 people to support their operations. This group includes 22 registered nurses and 8 licensed practical nurses. These nurses handle the daily medical needs of patients at home or in facilities. They do not currently employ physicians directly or use volunteers. Families should look at these staffing numbers to see how the team supports their loved ones. Understanding who will visit is a key part of choosing a hospice provider.
Quality Overview
What Is Hospice Care Like in COLUMBIA?
Hospice care in Columbia centers on managing symptoms at home. The main goal is to keep the patient comfortable and pain free. You will find that most agencies here use a team approach. This team includes nurses and aides who visit on a regular schedule.
For this specific provider, the care team relies on their 30 total nurses to lead the medical side of treatment. They help with medication management and basic hygiene. Because they do not have volunteers, the care is strictly medical in nature. This approach is common for agencies that focus on clinical tasks. You should ask how they handle non-medical needs like companionship or spiritual support. Getting a clear answer helps you know what to expect during your visits.
What to Ask When Choosing a Hospice Provider
You need to ask clear questions before you sign any forms. Start by asking how many nurses will be assigned to your family member. It is good to know if you will see the same nurse every time. Consistency helps build trust during a difficult phase.
Ask about their response time for calls at night or on weekends. You want to know exactly who answers the phone when a crisis happens. Also ask how they coordinate care with the patient's primary doctor. Good communication between these two groups is a major factor in patient comfort. Finally, ask what happens if the patient needs to go to a hospital for a short stay. Knowing the plan in advance prevents stress later on.
Keep Family Memories Alive
Recording life stories is a meaningful way to honor your loved ones during this time.
Start Preserving StoriesOther Hospice Providers Nearby
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HADORA HOSPICE OF THE CAROLINAS
HEART OF HOSPICE LLC
ABBEY ROAD HOSPICE, LLC
PRISMA HEALTH HOSPICE MIDLANDS
HANDS OF HOPE
Helpful Guides for Families
Choosing a Hospice Provider: A 5-Step Quality Guide
Feeling overwhelmed? Use our expert 5-step guide to choosing a hospice provider that offers the compassionate, high-quality care your loved one deserves.
Starting the End-of-Life Conversation: A Family Guide
Starting the end-of-life conversation is hard. Our guide provides scripts, expert tips, and Medicare insights to help you navigate this talk with confidence.
Understanding Medicare Hospice Benefit: A Family Guide
Confused by hospice coverage? Our guide to understanding Medicare hospice benefits helps you navigate care options and costs with confidence and clarity.
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.