HOSPICE OF SOUTHERN WEST VIRGINIA, INC
Provider Information
- Address
- 456 CRANBERRY DRIVE
BECKLEY, WV 25801 - Ownership Type
- Non-Profit
- Medicare Certified Since
- October 16, 1989
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 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) | 37 |
| Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN) | 29 |
| Physicians | 1 |
| Volunteers | 2 |
114
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 HOSPICE OF SOUTHERN WEST VIRGINIA, INC 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 2020.
Care Details from Medicare Data
Medicare computes these numbers from claims and required reporting. They show how HOSPICE OF SOUTHERN WEST VIRGINIA, INC compares to hospices nationwide.
15.9 minutes
of nurse care per routine home care day, on average
That is the 82nd percentile among hospices nationally. The national median is about 12 minutes.
157
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 day15.9 min
Ranks better than about 82% 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 weekends7.9%
Ranks better than about 50% 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 life98.1%
Ranks better than about 87% 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 visits40.3%
Ranks better than about 67% 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 care11%
Ranks better than about 22% 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 months29.7%
Ranks better than about 70% 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 care5.5%
Ranks better than about 59% 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)96th 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$10,442 · 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 63.6% of patients or more. Most hospices score above 90 percent.
- Pain screening99.6%
- Pain assessment100%
- Breathing difficulty screening99.6%
- Breathing difficulty treatment99.3%
- Treatment preferences discussed99.9%
- Beliefs and values discussed99.8%
- Bowel care for patients on opioids97.6%
- Visits in the last days of life63.6%
- All care steps completed99.0%
Conditions of patients in their care
Share of patients by primary diagnosis. Useful if you want a team with experience in a specific condition.
- Cancer27%
- Dementia14%
- Heart and circulatory disease31%
- Lung and respiratory disease10%
- Stroke7%
- Other conditions11%
Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Percentiles are computed by CMS across all reporting hospices.
Hospice of Southern West Virginia, Inc
Hospice of Southern West Virginia, Inc serves families in the Beckley area. This provider offers end of life support to patients and their loved ones. They have been certified by Medicare since 1989. That is over three decades of work in the Raleigh County community. Their team focuses on comfort and care during a difficult time. They operate as a non-profit organization. This means their focus stays on the needs of the patient. Families often look for this kind of stability when choosing care.
About Hospice of Southern West Virginia, Inc
This provider operates as a non-profit hospice. Being non-profit means they do not work for shareholders. They put their resources back into the care they provide. They earned their Medicare certification in October of 1989. You should know that Medicare certification requires providers to meet federal standards for health and safety. These standards cover everything from how they manage pain to how they handle medications. The agency employs 114 people to meet these needs. This includes 37 registered nurses and 29 licensed practical nurses. They also have one physician on staff. Having a large team of nurses helps ensure that patients get regular check-ins. It is helpful to understand that they have been operating for a long time. They have proven their ability to follow rules for many years. That offers peace of mind to many local families.
Quality Performance
What Is Hospice Care Like in Beckley?
Hospice care in Beckley focuses on keeping patients comfortable in their own homes. The goal is to manage pain and symptoms while supporting the family. Hospice of Southern West Virginia, Inc uses a team approach to reach these goals. Their team includes 37 registered nurses and 29 licensed practical nurses. These nurses handle the day to day medical needs. They also have a physician who oversees the care plan. You might also see volunteers involved in the support process. Two volunteers currently help the agency. This staffing setup allows them to keep a close eye on patient changes. Care happens wherever the patient lives. This could be a private house or a care facility. The team visits often to provide support and answer questions. They work to make sure the patient stays as comfortable as possible each day.
What to Ask When Choosing a Hospice Provider
Picking a hospice agency is a big step. You should ask clear questions to find the right fit for your family. First, ask how quickly a nurse can come to the home if a problem arises. You need to know that support is available 24 hours a day. Second, ask how the team will talk to you about the patient's condition. Good communication is a must. Third, ask what services the volunteers provide. Some offer companionship while others help with errands. Finally, ask if the staff has experience with the specific health needs of your loved one. These questions help you understand how they work. Take your time to get the answers you need. You deserve to feel confident in the care your loved one gets.
Preserve Your Family Stories
Your family history is a treasure. We offer simple tools to help you record and save stories for future generations.
Start PreservingOther Hospice Providers Nearby
DIGNITY HOSPICE OF SOUTHERN WEST VIRGINIA, INC
AMEDISYS HOSPICE OF VIENNA
WVUHS HOME CARE
HOSPICE COMPASSUS - SOUTHERN WEST VIRGINIA
HOSPICE OF BARBOUR COUNTY
VALLEY HOSPICE, INCORPORATED
Helpful Guides for Families
Understanding Medicare Hospice Benefits: A Family Guide
Navigating end-of-life care is complex. Our guide to Understanding Medicare Hospice Benefits helps you manage costs, coverage, and care with confidence today.
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.
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.
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.