West River Hospice

For-Profit8 years operating

Needham, Massachusetts — Norfolk County

West River Hospice is a for-profit hospice provider that scores above average overall, ranking in the 8th percentile in Massachusetts. They perform particularly well in family communication, meeting or exceeding state benchmarks in this area. Worth noting: their rate of visits in a patient's final days is below the state average and their Hospice Care Index falls below the state average. When speaking with them, ask about their approach to after-hours care, how they communicate changes in a patient's condition, and what support they offer to caregivers.

Wayven Quality Score

Above Average

In the bottom 92% in Massachusetts

Independent & data-driven — no paid listings

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Quality breakdown

Three pillars that make up the overall score. Tap to explore individual measures.

Visits in last days of life29.6

State avg: 67.3

Pain screening83.3

State avg: 94.1

Pain assessment88.5

State avg: 94.1

Breathing difficulty screening99.4

State avg: 94.1

Breathing difficulty treatment87.1

State avg: 94.1

Bowel care for pain medication patients100

State avg: 94.1

Note: Family satisfaction scores are from the Massachusetts CAHPS Hospice Survey (state-level, not provider-specific). Providers in this state share these benchmarks.

Overall rating (9-10)80
Would recommend84
Timely care77
Team communication81
Respect91
Emotional & spiritual support91
Symptom management74
Caregiver training78
Treatment preferences documented98.1

State avg: 94.1

Beliefs & values addressed84

State avg: 94.1

6

HCI Score

out of 10

8%

Percentile

in Massachusetts

#71

State Rank

in Massachusetts

HCI composite score6

State avg: 9.3

HIS composite score64.2

State avg: 94.1

Continuous care / inpatient days0
Gaps in nursing visits84.8
Nurse care minutes per day7.5

About this provider

West River Hospice performs strongly in Family Support, placing them among the better providers in Massachusetts.

Their Process Integrity scores are near the state average.

Ask about their staffing approach for end-of-life visits — their current rate is below the state benchmark.

Based on federal CMS quality data, updated February 2026.

Hospice Care Index Components

Overall HCI score
6 / 10
Continuous care / inpatient days
0
Gaps in nursing visits
84.8
Nurse care minutes per day
7.5
Visits near death
74.5
Per-beneficiary spending
$18786

Process Quality Measures (HIS)

Composite score
64.2
Treatment preferences
98.1
Beliefs & values
84
Pain screening
83.3
Pain assessment
88.5
Dyspnea screening
99.4
Dyspnea treatment
87.1
Opioid bowel care
100

Utilization & Operations

Visits in last days of life
29.6%
Nurse care minutes / day
7.5
Per-beneficiary spending
$18786
Avg daily census
43 patients

Patient Mix

Cancer
21%
Dementia
41%
Heart disease
15%
Respiratory
Not reported
Stroke
6%

Data Sources

CCN
221604
CMS Region
1

All scores come directly from CMS. Providers cannot edit or influence their profile on this site.

Contact

Needham, MA 02494

(781) 707-9524