PALOMA HOSPICE AND PALLIATIVE CARE
Provider Information
- Address
- 8438 FOUNTAIN CIRCLE
SAN ANTONIO, TX 78229 - Ownership Type
- For-Profit
- Medicare Certified Since
- October 11, 2011
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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) | 17 |
| Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN) | 4 |
| Physicians | 1 |
| Volunteers | 3 |
52
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 PALOMA HOSPICE AND PALLIATIVE CARE reported, not a check of what it offers today. Confirm current arrangements with the hospice.
- Short-term inpatient care
- Both provided directly and arranged with other facilities
- Type of inpatient care
- Both general inpatient care and respite care
- Medical supplies and equipment
- Both supplied directly and through outside suppliers
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 PALOMA HOSPICE AND PALLIATIVE CARE compares to hospices nationwide.
6.3 minutes
of nurse care per routine home care day, on average
That is the 3rd percentile among hospices nationally. The national median is about 12 minutes.
156
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 day6.3 min
Ranks better than about 3% 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 weekends4.7%
Ranks better than about 13% 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 life81.6%
Ranks better than about 15% 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 visits87.4%
Ranks better than about 7% 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 care5.2%
Ranks better than about 59% 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 months53.6%
Ranks better than about 13% 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 care18.7%
Ranks better than about 9% 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 hospice2.1%
Ranks better than about 36% 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$28,001 · 88th 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 24.9% of patients or more. Most hospices score above 90 percent.
- Pain screening93.3%
- Pain assessment98.5%
- Breathing difficulty screening80.9%
- Breathing difficulty treatment94.9%
- Treatment preferences discussed98.3%
- Beliefs and values discussed96.8%
- Bowel care for patients on opioids88.2%
- Visits in the last days of life24.9%
- All care steps completed73.6%
Conditions of patients in their care
Share of patients by primary diagnosis. Useful if you want a team with experience in a specific condition.
- Cancer7%
- Dementia28%
- Heart and circulatory disease33%
- Lung and respiratory disease12%
- Stroke10%
- Other conditions15%
Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, reporting period January 2023 through December 2024. Percentiles are computed by CMS across all reporting hospices.
Hospice Care in San Antonio
Paloma Hospice and Palliative Care provides end-of-life support for patients and their families in San Antonio, Texas. Based in Bexar County, they offer medical, emotional, and spiritual care to help make the final stages of life as comfortable as possible. Their team serves the 78228 area and surrounding neighborhoods. Choosing the right partner for this journey is a big decision for any family. You need a team that focuses on comfort and dignity every single day. Paloma Hospice aims to provide this support with a local, hands-on approach. They work closely with patients to manage pain and help them stay in their own homes whenever possible. It is all about giving families more quality time together during a very difficult season of life. That is the true goal of hospice care.
About PALOMA HOSPICE AND PALLIATIVE CARE
Paloma Hospice and Palliative Care is a for-profit provider that has been Medicare certified since October 11, 2011. This long history shows they have experience working within the federal standards for hospice care. Being certified means they meet specific requirements set by Medicare to ensure safety and quality. The thing is, for-profit status is common in the industry, but it does not tell you everything about the culture of care. Families should look at how a team talks to them during the first meeting. Do they listen to your needs? Are they clear about what they provide? You want a team that feels like an extension of your own family. They operate out of their office on S Piedras Drive, ready to coordinate care across the San Antonio area. Always check if their specific services match what your loved one needs most right now.
Quality Rating Note
Understanding Hospice Care in SAN ANTONIO
San Antonio has many hospice choices, which can feel overwhelming for families. Most providers here cover the entire Bexar County area to ensure patients get help where they live. Hospice is not just for the final days or weeks of life. It is actually designed for the final six months. Many families wait too long to call, which is a real shame. The truth is that starting care early allows the team to build a better relationship with the patient. They can manage pain and anxiety much better when they have more time. And remember, hospice is not just about the patient. It also provides support to the family members who are acting as caregivers. You do not have to carry this heavy load all by yourself. Local teams are trained to provide both physical care and emotional support for everyone involved.
What to Ask When Choosing a Hospice Provider
You should feel empowered to ask tough questions before you sign any paperwork. First, ask how quickly a nurse can get to your home if an emergency happens in the middle of the night. You need to know if they have staff on call 24/7. Second, ask how they handle pain and symptom management specifically for your loved one's condition. Every illness is different, so get a clear answer. Third, ask how they support family caregivers during the day. Do they have volunteers who can sit with the patient so you can run errands or sleep? Finally, ask how they handle communication. Will you have one main person to call, or will you talk to a different person every time? These answers will show you if the provider is a good fit for your specific family dynamics and needs.
Preserve Your Family's History
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Helpful Guides for Families
Hospice vs Palliative Care: Understanding the Difference
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How to Choose a Hospice Provider: A Family’s Complete Guide
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Understanding Medicare Hospice Benefit: A Family Guide
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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.