COLCHESTER, VT – Hospice and Palliative Care Program Director Annie Meredith-Mitchell of the University of Vermont Health Network – Home Health & Hospice attributes the organization’s recent 5-star rating from the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) to the expertise and compassion of the staff. “This team truly loves what they do and are committed to the work,” she said.

The Hospice and Palliative Care program earned the high marks from CMS’s Hospice Quality Report. Data is gathered from surveys completed by family caregivers. Conducted monthly by CMS, the survey contains 47 questions about communication with family, symptom management, compassion, and overall satisfaction of the care provided. Results are published on the Care Compare website to give consumers the opportunity to compare providers. The UVMHN Hospice program is the only hospice program in Chittenden County and Grand Isle to earn 5 stars.

“We are a 24-hour, 365-day-a-year service and our interdisciplinary team of physicians, nurse practitioners, administrators, licensed nursing assistants, registered nurse case managers, pharmacists, bereavement counselors, physical, occupational and speech therapists, and amazing trained volunteers are dedicated to their patients—and it shows,” Meredith-Mitchell said.

The team works in concert to manage the medical, emotional, and spiritual needs of each patient with a focus on empowerment, informed decision-making, and alleviating pain and suffering. “We care for patients wherever they call home and are available to visit them during middle-of-the-night emergencies, 24/7—we become their 911,” she said. Hospice care is offered in private homes, assisted living centers, skilled nursing facilities, memory care centers, and at the state’s only Medicare-approved inpatient hospice residence, the McClure Miller Respite House.

It’s a service, according to Meredith-Mitchell, that is underutilized in Vermont. Studies show that only 47% of Vermont residents with Medicare at the time of their death accessed hospice services in the last year of life. Only 29% of New York residents with Medicare at the end of life utilize the benefit. And Vermonters who do elect hospice care typically do so at the very end of their lives. “We’re called at the brink of death. It’s a missed opportunity. We can help people make the most of whatever time they have left—giving them the precious gift of quality time,” Meredith-Mitchell said.

The Home Health and Hospice team encourages inquiries into its services. “We are always available to speak with anyone who has questions. Anyone can make a referral to hospice, and we can do an eligibility assessment to determine if the service is right for them. There’s a lot people don’t know about hospice, and we’re committed to both increasing awareness and helping those who would benefit access it—so they get the most of what we have to offer,” Meredith-Mitchell explained.