ST. MARYS — The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid has released the first comprehensive reporting of customer satisfaction and experience of patients and caregivers utilizing a hospice program for end-of-life care.

Grand Lake Hospice scores significantly exceeded the national average in every category.

The Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems Hospice Survey measured and assessed the experiences of patients who died while receiving hospice care, as well as the experiences of their informal primary caregivers. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services developed the CAHPS Hospice Survey with input from other government agencies, industry stakeholders, consumer groups and other key individuals and organizations involved in hospice care.

Since the CAHPS Hospice Survey focused on experiences of care, implementation of the survey supports the following national priorities for improving care: involving patients and families in care and promoting effective communication and coordination.

The standardized, 47-question CAHPS Hospice Survey instrument comprised the following measures: hospice team communication, getting timely care, treating family member with respect, getting emotional and religious support, getting help for symptoms, getting hospice care training, rating of hospice and willingness to recommend. In each of these areas, Grand Lake Hospice exceeded the national average.