FRANCISCAN HOSPICE
Provider Information
- Address
- 2901 BRIDGEPORT WAY
UNIVERSITY PLACE, WA 98466 - Ownership Type
- Non-Profit
- Medicare Certified Since
- April 6, 1993
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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) | 58 |
| Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN) | 0 |
| Physicians | 4 |
| Volunteers | 150 |
182
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 FRANCISCAN HOSPICE reported, not a check of what it offers today. Confirm current arrangements with the hospice.
An older Medicare record for this hospice lists short-term inpatient care as “not provided.” That code may be out of date. Medicare requires certified hospices to make inpatient care available for symptom management and caregiver respite. Ask this hospice how it arranges a bed if symptoms become hard to manage at home.
- Medical supplies and equipment
- Brought in through an outside supplier
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 FRANCISCAN HOSPICE compares to hospices nationwide.
12.3 minutes
of nurse care per routine home care day, on average
That is the 51st percentile among hospices nationally. The national median is about 12 minutes.
318
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 day12.3 min
Ranks better than about 51% 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 weekends7.8%
Ranks better than about 49% 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 life87.7%
Ranks better than about 25% 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 visits70%
Ranks better than about 25% 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 care5.7%
Ranks better than about 55% 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 months31.5%
Ranks better than about 65% 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 care2.8%
Ranks better than about 74% 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 hospice1.5%
Ranks better than about 44% 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)87th 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$12,786 · 22nd 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 53.1% 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 life53.1%
- 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.
- Cancer23%
- Dementia24%
- Heart and circulatory disease14%
- Lung and respiratory disease7%
- Stroke6%
- Other conditions28%
Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, reporting period January 2023 through December 2024. Percentiles are computed by CMS across all reporting hospices.
Franciscan Hospice
Franciscan Hospice serves families throughout University Place and the surrounding Pierce County area. This non-profit provider offers hospice care services from their Bridgeport Way location. They have maintained Medicare certification for over thirty years. The organization holds accreditation from the Joint Commission, which shows they meet high standards for safety and performance. This hospital-based provider works to support patients and their loved ones through end-of-life transitions. It is a local resource for those who need medical and emotional support at home.
About Franciscan Hospice
Franciscan Hospice operates as a non-profit entity. This means their focus stays on patient care rather than profit. They have been Medicare certified since 1993. The Joint Commission accreditation is a high bar to reach. This group checks how a provider keeps their patients safe. They look at how staff members work together and how they manage medical records. When a hospice meets these rules, it shows they care about detail. With a team of 58 registered nurses and 150 volunteers, they have many hands available to help your family. This is a large team for a hospice provider. They also have four physicians on staff to oversee medical needs. Families should know that this provider is part of a hospital system. That connection can bring extra resources to your bedside.
Quality Summary
What Is Hospice Care Like in University Place?
Hospice care in University Place focuses on comfort for patients and their families. Teams provide care in homes or wherever a patient lives. You will find that hospice is a team effort. The staff at Franciscan Hospice includes 58 registered nurses and 150 volunteers. These people work to manage pain and provide companionship. Doctors are also part of the mix to help with medical decisions. Most hospice care happens right where you live. This keeps things familiar and comfortable. The goal is to improve quality of life every single day. A hospice team usually includes nurses, aides, and volunteers who visit often. They bring equipment and medicine to the home as needed. It is a way to get support while staying in your own surroundings. You can expect regular visits from the team to check on how things are going.
What to Ask When Choosing a Hospice Provider
Picking a hospice team is a big decision. You should feel comfortable with the people who will enter your home. First, ask how quickly a nurse can get to your house if an emergency happens. You need to know their response time. Ask how many staff members are on call at night and on weekends. It is good to know who will answer the phone at 3 AM. Ask how the team will talk to your current doctors. Good communication prevents mistakes with medicine. Finally, ask about the volunteer program. Volunteers can provide helpful breaks for family caregivers. These simple questions will give you a better sense of how they work. Take your time to get the answers you need. You deserve to feel sure about your choice.
Preserve Your Family Stories
Your family history is a gift that should be saved for the future. We offer tools to help you record and share your most cherished memories during this time.
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