Visiting Nurse / Hospice Atlanta Blogs

The Importance of CMS Star Ratings

The Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) uses a five-star quality rating system to measure Medicare beneficiaries’ experience with their healthcare provider. This rating system evaluates the overall performance of the type of services a provider would offer and shows the rating in an easy-to-follow format available online at Home Health Compare.

Visiting Nurse Demonstrates Best Practices in Care at Home – and Raises CMS Rating

As a leading nonprofit provider of home healthcare, long-term care at home, and hospice services, it’s important that our patients and healthcare professionals understand the CMS five-star rating and how it affects everyone. CMS established its home healthcare star rating as a tool to use when choosing a home healthcare provider. It is designed to be a source of authoritative information regarding home care assistance. The CMS star ratings are based on nine measures of quality that give a general overview of performance. The indicators of home healthcare quality are known as quality measures and are divided into categories, such as:

  • Managing pain and treating symptoms
  • Managing daily activities
  • Preventing harm
  • Treating wounds and preventing pressure sores
  • Preventing unplanned hospital care

 

Over the last year, Visiting Nurse’s home healthcare division has improved its rating to 3 ½ stars, which is above the national average. The improved rating is attributed to improving processes and providing education to the clinical team to ensure best practices are utilized for assessment strategies and care delivery. In addition, we have worked closely with our referral sources to ensure a smooth transition from the inpatient setting to the patient’s home.

Why It’s Important to Patients and Healthcare Providers

Home health agencies play an increasingly important role in caring for homebound patients, especially the elderly. Jordan Rau, a writer for the Kaiser Health News mentioned, “last year 3.4 million Medicare beneficiaries received home health care services, with nurses, aides, and physical and occupational therapists providing treatment.” With home care, it’s not like walking into a nursing home where you can see for yourself and evaluate quality. Assessing quality is both a challenge for patients and their healthcare provider partners, such as physicians and nurses. With the CMS star rating system, patients, family members and guardians have a rating that they can use to evaluate the level and quality of home care.

All around, the federal government’s star rating system for home health agencies is designed to bring clarity to a fragmented yet fast-growing medical industry segment where it’s been difficult to distinguish between the quality of different providers.

 

Connect with Us on Instagram
Today, we remember and honor all who gave their lives in service to our country. Their courage, sacrifice, and dedication will never be forgotten. Forever grateful. 🕊️
#MemorialDay #HonorAndRemember #NeverForget #hospiceatlanta #visitingnursehealthsystem

...

4 1
🏌️‍♀️ We’re proud to be part of a great cause on and off the course!

Visiting Nurse Health System | Hospice Atlanta was honored to participate in and sponsor this year's LeadingAge Georgia Golf Tournament—an event that brings together healthcare partners and changemakers in senior care. 

This tournament helps sustain the vital work of LeadingAge Georgia, empowering member organizations that serve and advocate for our aging population across the state. It’s a privilege to be part of a community so committed to compassionate, quality care for older adults. ⛳️💙

#LeadingAgeGA #GolfForACause #SeniorCare #VisitingNurseHealthSystem #HospiceAtlanta #AgingWithDignity #CommunitySupport

...

6 1
🎉 Please join us in celebrating our Employee of the Month – Dykia Brummitt! 🌟

Dykia’s dedication, compassion, and positive team spirit make a lasting impact on everyone she cares for. Her commitment to our mission and values here at Visiting Nurse Health System shines through in all she does, and we are so grateful to have her on our team. 💙👏

Congratulations, Dykia—you truly embody what it means to provide care with heart! 🏆

#EmployeeOfTheMonth #VisitingNurseProud #HealthcareHeroes #ThankYouDykia #visitingnursehealthsystem

...

3 0
🎉 Celebrating Nurses Month continues with our incredible nursing team at Hospice Atlanta | Visiting Nurse Home Health! 💙🩺Here's our Home Health team celebrating this week! We’re so proud of our compassionate, dedicated nurses who go above and beyond every day to care for our community in the comfort of their home. Thank you for all that you do! 👏

#NursesMonth #VisitingNurseHealthSystem #ThankYouNurses #hospiceatlanta

...

3 0
We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who joined us last Saturday for Hospice Atlanta's 3rd Annual Resilience bereavement event. Whether you came to listen, speak, or simply be present, your participation helped create a space of healing, support, and strength.

A special thank you to our incredible speakers, who so generously shared their stories, insights, and compassion. Your words touched many and reminded us all that even in grief, we are not alone.

To every attendee — your presence was powerful. Thank you for showing up for yourselves, and for each other. Together, we honored our losses and found comfort in community. Thank you to our gracious volunteers and staff who supported the event operations. Let’s continue to walk this path together. 💛

 #ResilienceEvent #GriefSupport #ThankYou #HealingTogether #hospiceatlanta #visitingnursehealthsystem

...

3 0
💐Happy Mother's Day!💐

#mothersday #hospiceatlanta #visitingnursehealthsystem

...

3 1
Happy Nurses Week! 
Celebrating this week the incredible dedication, compassion, and resilience of nurses here at Visiting Nurse | Hospice Atlanta and everywhere! 🌟🩺
Nurses are the backbone of healthcare, providing unwavering support and care to patients and their families. In 2025, we continue to recognize the vital role they play in our communities and their commitment to improving lives. Let's take a moment to express our gratitude and appreciation for these healthcare heroes. 

Join us in celebrating Nurses Week by sharing a story of a nurse who has inspired you or by simply saying “thank you” to a nurse who has made a difference in your life.

Thank You For All You Do!! Happy Nurses Week! 💙🏥 #nursesweek2025#healthcareheroes#ThankYouNurses#visitingnursehealthsystem#hospiceatlanta

...

4 1
Thank you Mutual of America for a great time celebrating our mission, Healthcare Champions, and new friends of Visiting Nurse at Mercedes Stadium.

#visitingnursehealthsystem #hospiceatlanta #communityfirst

...

4 1
We had a great time celebrating OT month, culminating this week with our 2025 Home Health OT Breakfast! 
Thank you OTs for all you do!

#OTMonth #visitingnursehealthsystem #hospiceatlanta #teamworkmakesthedreamwork❤️

...

4 0
Space Is Still Available - Sign Up Today!

Join us for our 3rd Annual Resilience Event on May 17th, 2025.

This FREE event is designed to support those on the grief journey.
Participants will have the opportunity to:
• Hear from others who understand the grief journey.
• Engage in grief break-out groups for shared support.
• Receive tangible tools to cope with loss and grief.
Together, we can build resilience and support each other through grief. Registration Required.

#hospiceatlanta #visitingnursehealthsystem #grief

...

5 1
As we continue to celebrate our volunteers during National Volunteer Appreciation Week & Month, enjoy this message from one of our longtime volunteers and supporters sharing on why folks volunteer!

Barry gives to our community donating his time and talent in many ways impacting many around the globe, including helping individuals on their grief journey through TGBeyond! Thank you for all you do Barry!

#volunteer #volunteerappreciation #visitingnursehealthsystem #hospiceatlanta #TGBeyond

...

4 0