AMOREM earns 5-star quality rating from Medicare Care Compare

AMOREM announced last week that it has been named a 5-star Quality Rated Hospice by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

This prestigious rating reflects the compassion and dedication of AMOREM’s entire team — and the trust families place in those team members during some of life’s most difficult moments.

The quality rating given by CMS is based on data collected from the Hospice Item Set (HIS) and Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers Survey (CAHPS), also known as the Family Caregiver Survey.

The Family Caregiver Surveys are administered by MatrixCare. Two months after a patient dies, MatrixCare sends a survey to the person most involved with the patient, which could be a relative or friend. The survey includes 38 questions based on the care received by the patient, the support provided to their loved ones, and if they would recommend that hospice to others.

“A 5-star quality rating is more than a measure of performance. It represents the trust families place in AMOREM and our commitment to delivering high-quality, patient-centered hospice care,” AMOREM Chief Regulatory and Experience Officer Bobbie Self said. “We are honored that the experiences shared by families and the quality outcomes achieved by our team have earned this national recognition.”

Less than 20% of hospice organizations nationwide are able to achieve a 5-star rating, and AMOREM is one of only two hospice providers in the service area to do so.

“Choosing a hospice provider is an important decision, and families should be able to see how providers compare,” AMOREM CEO April Moore said. “Medicare Care Compare gives them a way to look at quality across providers. I am proud that AMOREM has earned five stars, grateful to the families who shared their experiences, and thankful for the team whose work made this possible.”

AMOREM has been a local nonprofit hospice provider for more than four decades, previously as Burke Hospice and Palliative Care and Caldwell Hospice and Palliative Care, and since 2021 as AMOREM. For more information about AMOREM’s services, visit amoremsupport.org.

OCTOBER ADVANCE CARE PLANNING WORKSHOPAMOREM and Thrive will offer a free advance care planning workshop Oct. 8 in Lenoir.

The workshop will be held at 1:30 p.m. at Thrive, formerly the Caldwell Senior Center.

Advance care planning helps people make their medical wishes known in case they are unable to speak for themselves. The process includes deciding, discussing, and documenting healthcare wishes through tools such as living wills and healthcare powers of attorney.

Organizers said advance directives can help ensure a person’s healthcare wishes are known and honored while also giving peace of mind to families.

Notaries and witnesses will be available for anyone who wants to complete documents during the workshop.

AMOREM partners with Thrive to offer the workshop at no cost on the second Thursday of each month.

Space is limited, and registration is required.

For more information or to register, call 828-758-2883.

— JM