Care Central VNA & Hospice Inc
Home health agency in Gardner, Massachusetts
Quality of care
Patient survey
How patients did
Compared with the average Massachusetts agency. The dot is this agency; the grey tick is the state average.
Care started on timeBetter than average
99.9%Share of patients whose first visit happened on the date the doctor ordered, or within 2 days of the referral or of coming home from the hospital when no date was ordered.
State average 96.5% · U.S. average 96.5% · 4013 of 4017 patients
Patients got better at walkingAbout average
88.7%Share of patients who could walk or move around more easily by the end of care.
State average 89.8% · U.S. average 88.6% · 2742 of 2889 patients
Falls with major injury· lower is betterBetter than average
0.5%Share of patients who had a fall that caused a broken bone, head injury or similar during care. Lower is better.
State average 1.0% · U.S. average 0.9% · 21 of 3999 patients
Patients sent home to the community
Share of patients who went home or to the community after home health and stayed out of a facility, adjusted for how sick patients were.
90.2%likely between 87.8% and 91.7%
National rate 77.7% (dashed line)
Preventable hospital stays during care· lower is better
Share of home health stays with a hospital or observation stay for a problem good care might have prevented, adjusted for how sick patients were. Lower is better.
10.7%likely between 9.3% and 12.4%
National rate 10.8% (dashed line)
See all 17 measuresShow fewer
Checked on flu shotBetter than average
68.5%Share of patients who were determined to have received the flu shot for the current flu season, from the agency or elsewhere.
State average 65.5% · U.S. average 64.2% · 1643 of 2399 patients
Got better at getting in and out of bedBelow average
88.9%Share of patients who needed less help getting in and out of bed by the end of care.
State average 92.0% · U.S. average 89.7% · 2769 of 2890 patients
Got better at bathingBelow average
89.3%Share of patients who needed less help washing themselves by the end of care.
State average 91.2% · U.S. average 90.6% · 2718 of 2891 patients
Less short of breathBetter than average
94.0%Share of patients who were less short of breath by the end of care.
State average 91.0% · U.S. average 91.3% · 1870 of 1997 patients
Got better at taking medicinesBelow average
84.0%Share of patients who could take their medicines correctly on their own by the end of care.
State average 87.9% · U.S. average 88.1% · 2635 of 2859 patients
Pressure ulcers that got worse or appeared· lower is betterAbout average
0.3%Share of patients who developed a new or worsened pressure ulcer during care. Lower is better.
State average 0.2% · U.S. average 0.2% · 3 of 2978 patients
Medication problems acted on in timeBetter than average
98.2%Share of patients whose medications were reviewed at the start of care and, each time a medication problem was found, the doctor-recommended action was completed with timely follow-up.
State average 94.5% · U.S. average 94.5% · 3943 of 4017 patients
Met expected function at dischargeBetter than average
80.2%Share of patients whose ability to move and care for themselves at discharge met or beat what was expected for them.
State average 78.1% · U.S. average 71.7% · 2317 of 2891 patients
Medication list sent to the next providerBetter than average
96.0%Share of patients whose current medication list was sent in a timely way to the next doctor or facility at transfer or discharge.
State average 80.9% · U.S. average 81.2% · 1240 of 1291 patients
Medication list given to the patientBelow average
91.1%Share of patients given their current medication list in a timely way when discharged to a home or similar setting.
State average 93.2% · U.S. average 92.2% · 2466 of 2708 patients
Preventable readmission within 30 days· lower is better
Share of patients readmitted to a hospital within 30 days of leaving home health for a problem good care might have prevented, adjusted for how sick patients were. Lower is better.
4.2%likely between 3.5% and 5.0%
National rate 4.1% (dashed line)
Medicare spending per episode
A ratio to the national average (1.00). Lower means less spending.
0.98
2% below the national average
What patients said
87% would definitely recommend this agency, from 360 patient surveys.
State average 77% · U.S. average 79% · 28% response rate. Based on 300 or more surveys, so this rating is steady.
- Care was professional
- 5 of 5
- Team communicated well
- 5 of 5
- Discussed medicines, pain and safety
- 5 of 5
- Rated the agency 9 or 10
- 5 of 5
Medicare payment
Cohort
Larger-volume
Total performance score
28.2 of 100
Cohort average 32.2
Payment adjustment
-0.6%
Payment year 2026
How it's calculatedHide how it's calculated
- Potentially preventable hospitalization0.0 pts26.25% weight
Achievement 0.0 · Improvement 0.0 · the higher one counts
- Discharge to community2.4 pts5.83% weight
Achievement 0.0 · Improvement 2.4 · the higher one counts
- Improvement in dyspnea4.4 pts5.83% weight
Achievement 3.8 · Improvement 4.4 · the higher one counts
- Improvement in oral medications3.7 pts5.83% weight
Achievement 2.2 · Improvement 3.7 · the higher one counts
- Improvement in mobility5.4 pts8.75% weight
Achievement 5.4 · Improvement 4.9 · the higher one counts
- Improvement in self-care4.5 pts8.75% weight
Achievement 4.5 · Improvement 4.0 · the higher one counts
- ED use0.0 pts8.75% weight
Achievement 0.0 · Improvement 0.0 · the higher one counts
- Care of patients4.6 pts6% weight
Achievement 4.3 · Improvement 4.6 · the higher one counts
- Communication2.5 pts6% weight
Achievement 2.5 · Improvement 1.8 · the higher one counts
- Specific care issues3.0 pts6% weight
Achievement 3.0 · Improvement 0.0 · the higher one counts
- Overall rating6.0 pts6% weight
Achievement 6.0 · Improvement 4.9 · the higher one counts
- Willingness to recommend6.2 pts6% weight
Achievement 6.2 · Improvement 2.8 · the higher one counts
Each measure earns the higher of its achievement or improvement points. Points are weighted and summed into the total performance score.
About the agency
- Services
- Nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, social work, home health aide
- Ownership
- Non-profit
- Certified
- Since 1966
- Address
- 34 Pearly Lane, Gardner, MA 01440
- ZIP codes served
- 01001, 01002, 01005, 01007, 01009, 01010, 01013, 01020, 01027, 01028, 01030, 01031
All 162 ZIP codesFewer ZIP codes
01001, 01002, 01005, 01007, 01009, 01010, 01013, 01020, 01027, 01028, 01030, 01031, 01033, 01036, 01037, 01040, 01053, 01054, 01056, 01057, 01060, 01062, 01068, 01069, 01072, 01073, 01074, 01075, 01077, 01079, 01080, 01081, 01082, 01083, 01085, 01089, 01092, 01093, 01094, 01095, 01104, 01105, 01106, 01107, 01108, 01109, 01118, 01119, 01128, 01129, 01151, 01301, 01302, 01330, 01331, 01337, 01338, 01339, 01340, 01341, 01342, 01344, 01346, 01349, 01351, 01354, 01355, 01360, 01364, 01366, 01367, 01368, 01370, 01373, 01375, 01376, 01378, 01379, 01380, 01420, 01430, 01431, 01432, 01434, 01436, 01438, 01440, 01450, 01451, 01452, 01453, 01462, 01464, 01468, 01469, 01473, 01474, 01475, 01501, 01503, 01504, 01505, 01506, 01507, 01508, 01510, 01515, 01516, 01518, 01519, 01520, 01521, 01522, 01523, 01524, 01526, 01527, 01529, 01531, 01532, 01534, 01535, 01536, 01537, 01540, 01541, 01542, 01543, 01545, 01550, 01560, 01562, 01564, 01566, 01568, 01569, 01570, 01571, 01581, 01583, 01585, 01588, 01590, 01602, 01603, 01604, 01605, 01606, 01607, 01608, 01609, 01610, 01611, 01612, 01740, 01747, 01748, 01749, 01752, 01756, 01757, 01772