Hearth Record

Prohealth Hospice-Gadsden

A hospice in Gadsden, Alabama 35901

644 Walnut Street, Suite B, Gadsden, Alabama 35901. (256) 494-8170.

CMS’s own record, on Care Compare

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The short answer

Record last released by CMS on Oct 23, 2026.

The last 24 months 8 deficiencies in 1 month of the last 36. Last cited Sep 2024. Most serious: Standard-level. Every month

Each figure’s source sits beside it, in its section below.

What these words mean3
Star ratings
CMS rates some kinds of place from 1 to 5 stars, more stars meaning better on CMS’s own measures for that kind: for a nursing home, its health inspections, staffing and quality measures. A rating is CMS’s summary of those measures; it doesn’t promise good care. Source: CMS, Care Compare and the Five-Star Quality Rating System.
Inspection (survey)
A visit by state inspectors, often unannounced, who check a place against the rules it must meet. For nursing homes and other places Medicare pays, CMS calls these visits surveys: a standard survey of a nursing home comes at least every 15 months, and a complaint survey whenever a complaint calls for one. Source: CMS; 42 CFR 488.308.
Deficiency, citation, violation
What inspectors write up when a place didn’t meet a rule: the rule, what they saw, and when. CMS calls it a deficiency; states may say citation or violation. It is the inspectors’ finding, not a court’s, and the place is usually asked for a plan to correct it. Source: CMS, statement of deficiencies (Form CMS-2567); each state’s licensing agency.

What did inspectors find?

8 deficiencies cited in the last three years

The middle of the 14 hospices serving ZIP code 35901 had 5.

The last inspection on record was on Sep 12, 2024: a reaccreditation inspection by the Accreditation Commission for Health Care.

Source:

CMS, QCOR hospice inspection reports. Released Oct 23, 2026. Updated quarterly.

CMS, Hospice ZIP Data. Released Aug 26, 2026. Updated quarterly.

When those deficiencies happened

8 deficiencies in 1 month of the last 36. Last cited Sep 2024. Most serious: Standard-level. The last 3 years, to Oct 27, 2026.

8 deficiencies by month over the last 3 years. Each cell is one month.
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
2023 NovDec
2024 JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
2025 JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
2026 JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOct

Hover or focus a month to read it.

No visit on record Visited, nothing cited A stronger orange is more serious, on its source’s own levels, read onto four bands: from the least serious it publishes to the most
Source:

Hearth Record drew this from the dates and levels in the source’s own records.

Each deficiency, as cited

Rule titles as CMS’s inspectors cite them, set in sentence case.

Source:

CMS, QCOR hospice inspection reports. Released Oct 23, 2026. Updated quarterly.

Sep 12, 2024: reaccreditation inspection by the Accreditation Commission for Health Care8 deficiencies
  • Content of comprehensive assessment (42 CFR 418.54(c)(6))

    The inspectors’ words, 461 words

    “Upon patient record review, 9 of 23 (Patient #4,5,7,10,11,13,15,16,17) did not have evidence in the patient record that a review was completed of all prescription and non-prescription medications, including herbal remedies that could affect drug therapy. This review includes, but is not limited to: • Effectiveness of drug therapy • Drug side effects • Actual or potential drug interactions • Duplicate drug therapy • Drug therapy currently associated with laboratory monitoring, Patient #4: There is evidence in the medical record of an order for Oxygen 2-5 L/Min as needed for SOB. There is not a titration scale or route of delivery. (Corrected on site.) Patient #5: There is evidence of duplicate medications on the medication record. Morphine SL q 1 hour PRN for Pain and SOB and Morphine SL q 1 hour PRN for Pain. Additionally, Voltaren 2Xdaily and Voltaren Q 12 hours. (Corrected on site.) Patient #7: There is evidence of an order for Oxygen 2-5 L/Min as needed for SOB. There is not a titration scale or route of delivery. (Corrected on site.) Patient #10: There is evidence in the medical record of an order for Oxygen 2-4 L/Min with the “route” listed as “oxygen” and there is not a scale for titration or route of delivery. Additionally, eye drops did not indicate which eye or both. Also, Senna 1-3 tablets, does not indicate when to take an increase in tablets. (Corrected on site.) Patient #11: There is evidence in the medical record of an order for Oxygen 2-4 L/Min for SOB. There is not a titration scale or route of delivery. (Corrected on site.) Patient #13: There is evidence in the medical record of an order for Oxygen 2-4 L/Min with the “route” listed as “oxygen” and there is not a scale for titration or route of delivery. Additionally, hyoscyamine disintegrating tablet route was oral instead of SL. Also, Senna 1-3 tablets, does not indicate when to take an increase in tablets. (Corrected on site.) Patient #15: There is evidence on the medication record of Lorazepam intensol 2 mg/ml, 0.25 - 1 ml every 4 hours PRN. There is no titration scale. (Corrected on site.) The instructions state “take 0.5 to 1 ml every 4 hours as needed for agitation. The dosage is not clear. Patient #16: There is evidence on the medication record of Oxygen 2-4 L/min as needed for SOB. There is no titration scale or route of delivery. Additionally, the route was listed as “oxygen” rather than “nasal cannula”. (Corrected on site.) Patient #17: There is evidence on the medical record of Miralax 17 gm. daily. There is no diluent listed. Additionally, on the medication record, Oxygen 2-5 L/min as needed for SOB. There is no titration scale or route of delivery. (Corrected on site.)”

    Rule L0530. Standard-level.

  • Content of plan of care (42 CFR 418.56(c))

    The inspectors’ words, 165 words

    “Upon patient record review, 3 of 23 (Patient #2, 10, 12) did not have evidence in the patient record that the hospice has developed an individualized written plan of care for each patient. The plan of care must reflect patient/family goals and interventions based on the problems identified in the initial, comprehensive, and updated comprehensive assessments. The plan of care must include all services necessary for the palliation and management of the terminal illness and related conditions. Patient #2: There is evidence in the medical record that the patient was admitted with primary diagnosis of Prostate Cancer. The initial plan of care did not include Cancer Patient #10: There is evidence in the medical record that the patient was admitted with primary diagnosis of Chronic Respiratory Failure. The initial plan of care did not include Respiratory. Patient #12: There is evidence in the medical record the patient was admitted with a primary diagnosis of breast cancer. The initial plan of care did not include Cancer.”

    Rule L0545. Standard-level.

  • Content of plan of care (42 CFR 418.56(c)(4))

    The inspectors’ words, 405 words

    “Upon patient record review, 9 of 23 (Patient #4,5,7,10,11,13,15,16,17) did not have evidence the plan of care must include all services necessary for the palliation and management of the terminal illness and related conditions, including medications and treatments. Patient #4: There is evidence in the medical record of an order for Oxygen 2-5 L/Min as needed for SOB. There is not a titration scale or route of delivery. (Corrected on site.) Patient #5: There is evidence of duplicate medications on the plan of care. Morphine SL q 1 hour PRN for Pain and SOB and Morphine SL q 1 hour PRN for Pain. Additionally, Voltaren 2Xdaily and Voltaren Q 12 hours. (Corrected on site.) Patient #7: There is evidence of an order for Oxygen 2-5 L/Min as needed for SOB. There is not a titration scale or route of delivery. (Corrected on site.) Patient #10: There is evidence in the medical record of an order for Oxygen 2-4 L/Min with the “route” listed as “oxygen” and there is not a titration scale or route of delivery. Additionally, eye drops did not indicate which eye or both. Also, Senna 1-3 tablets, does not indicate when to take an increase in tablets. (Corrected on site.) Patient #11: There is evidence in the medical record of an order for Oxygen 2-4 L/Min for SOB. There is not a titration scale or route of delivery. (Corrected on site.) Patient #13: There is evidence in the medical record of an order for Oxygen 2-4 L/Min with the “route” listed as “oxygen” and there is not a scale for titration. Additionally, hyoscyamine disintegrating tablet route was oral instead of SL. Also, Senna 1-3 tablets, does not indicate when to take an increase in tablets. (Corrected on site.) Patient #15: There is evidence on the medication record of Lorazepam intensol 2 mg/ml, 0.25 - 1 ml every 4 hours PRN. There is no titration scale. (Corrected on site.) Patient #16: There is evidence on the medication record of Oxygen 2-4 L/min as needed for SOB. There is not a titration scale or route of delivery. The route was listed as “oxygen” rather than “nasal canula”. (Corrected on site.) Patient #17: There is evidence on the medical record of Miralax 17 gm. daily. There is no diluent listed. Additionally, on the medication record, Oxygen 2-5 L/min as needed for SOB. There is not a titration scale or route of delivery. (Corrected on site.)”

    Rule L0549. Standard-level.

  • Review of the plan of care (42 CFR 418.56(d))

    The inspectors’ words, 355 words

    “Upon patient record review, 8 of 23 (Patient #1,3,8,9,12,13,14,18) did not have evidence that a revised plan of care includes information from the patient’s updated comprehensive assessment and must note the patient’s progress towards outcome/goals from the plan of care. Patient #1: There is evidence in the medical record that on 8/29/22 Imminent death was added to the Plan of Care. The POC has not been updated (Corrected on site.). Patient #3: There is evidence in the medical record that on 7/17/23 Imminent death was added to the Plan of Care. The POC has not been updated. Additionally, on 7/24/24, an order for nebulizer treatments for wheezing was ordered. Inhalation or Respiratory was not added to the Plan of Care. (Corrected on site.) Patient #8: There is evidence in the medical record that on 7/17/24 an order to decrease SN visits to 1Xwk. The POC has not been updated to discontinue Imminent death. (Corrected on site.) Patient #9: There is evidence in the medical record of a call from the facility nurse on 7/19/24 to report the patient was having bloody stools and coffee ground emesis. The Plan of Care was not updated to include Risk of Bleeding. (Corrected on site.) Patient #12: There is evidence in the medical record on 9/5/24, an order for Meclizine for dizziness and the on call nurse made a visit due to the patient “going limp with swimmy head”. The POC was not updated to include fall risk. (Corrected on site.) Patient #13: There is evidence in the medical record on 8/8/24, an order for Keflex for infection right heel. The POC was not updated to include infection. Additionally, on 8/21/24, an order was added for wound care. The POC was not updated to include Wound. (Corrected on site.) Patient #14: There is evidence in the medical record on 9/5/24, an order for Levaquin for urinary tract infection. The POC was not updated to include infection. (Corrected on site.) Patient #18: There is evidence in the medical record on 6/25/24, an order for Macrobid for urinary tract infection. The POC was not updated to include infection. (Corrected on site.)”

    Rule L0553. Standard-level.

  • Prevention (42 CFR 418.60(a))

    “Upon observation, there was no evidence the hospice follows acceptable standards of practice to prevent the transmission of infections and communicable diseases, including standard precautions. Patient #5: Upon observation of the nurse making a home visit, the equipment was re-contaminated after cleaning as evidence by as the nurse cleaned the equipment tried to hold all the equipment in one hand as she cleaned it. The equipment was exposed to the clean hand that she washed. The nurse did not have a clean area to put down the equipment to dry.”

    Rule L0579. Standard-level.

  • Hospice aide assignments and duties (42 CFR 418.76(g)(1))

    The inspectors’ words, 391 words

    “Upon patient record review, 8 of 23 (Patient #1,2,4,5,8,9,14,17) did not have evidence in the patient record that hospice aide assignments and duties are: • Assigned to a specific patient by a registered nurse that is a member of the interdisciplinary group • Written patient care instructions for a hospice aide must be prepared by a Registered Nurse who is responsible for the supervision of a hospice aide as specified under paragraph (h) of 418.76 • There is evidence in the patient record that the plan of care; indicate what tasks are to be done by the Aide and the frequency of these tasks. The use of “PRN” or “per patient choice”, for any task, whether personal care or non-personal care tasks, are not acceptable Patient #1: There is evidence in the medical record that the patient has a diagnosis of dysphagia. The aide POC did not include aspiration precautions. (Corrected on site.) Patient #2: There is evidence in the medical record that the patient is on bleeding and fall precautions. The aide POC did not include bleeding and fall precautions. (Corrected on site.) Patient #4: There is evidence in the medical record that the patient is on bleeding, seizure, aspiration and fall precautions. The aide POC did not include bleeding, seizure, aspiration and fall precautions. (Corrected on site.) Patient #5: There is evidence in the medical record that the patient is on oxygen, aspiration and fall precautions. The aide POC did not include oxygen, aspiration and fall precautions. (Corrected on site.) Patient #8: There is evidence in the medical record that the patient is on oxygen and seizure precautions. The aide POC did not include oxygen and seizure precautions. (Corrected on site.) Patient #9: There is evidence in the medical record that the patient is on oxygen and bleeding precautions. The aide POC did not include oxygen and bleeding precautions. (Corrected on site.) Patient #14: There is evidence in the medical record that the patient is on oxygen precautions. The aide POC did not include oxygen precautions. Additionally, the aide POC indicated “report to RN if B/P, respirations, pulse out of parameters. No parameters were indicated. (Corrected on site.) Patient #17: There is evidence in the medical record that the patient is on oxygen and bleeding precautions. The aide POC did not include oxygen and bleeding precautions. (Corrected on site.)”

    Rule L0625. Standard-level.

  • Hospice aide assignments and duties (42 CFR 418.76(g)(2))

    The inspectors’ words, 173 words

    “Upon patient record review 3 of 23 (Patient #1,3,17) did not have evidence documentation in the patient record that a hospice aide provides services that are: • Ordered by the interdisciplinary group • Included in the plan of care • Permitted to be performed under state law by such hospice aide • Consistent with the hospice aide training Patient #1: There is evidence on the aide plan of care that the aide was scheduled to shampoo and change linen weekly. During the weeks of 8/18/24 and 8/25/24 the aide completed the tasks each visit. (Corrected on site.) Patient #3: There is evidence on the aide plan of care that the aide was scheduled to change linen weekly. During the weeks of 8/25/24 and 9/4/24 the aide completed the task each visit. (Corrected on site.) Patient #17: There is evidence on the aide plan of care that the aide was scheduled to shampoo and change linen weekly. During the weeks of 8/18/24 and 8/25/24 the aide completed the tasks each visit. (Corrected on site.)”

    Rule L0626. Standard-level.

  • Authentication (42 CFR 418.104(b))

    “Upon patient record review, 1 of 23 (Patient #12) did not have evidence that all entries are legible, clear, complete, and appropriately authenticated and dated in accordance with the organizations policies and procedures and currently accepted standards of practice. Electronic signatures are acceptable as long the hospice is following appropriate safeguards to prevent unauthorized access to the patient records. Patient #12: There is evidence in the medical record on 7/1/24 the Nursing comprehensive assessment “PPS/FAST/KPS/NYHA Scales: 40%. There is no indication of which scale the 40% refers.”

    Rule L0679. Standard-level.

The one inspection in the last three years
Inspections on record
DateVisitWhat the record says
Sep 12, 2024Reaccreditation inspection by the Accreditation Commission for Health Care8 deficiencies cited

Is it certified?

  • Medicare-certified hospice since Jun 26, 2018.
  • Ownership: for-profit.
  • No deficiency or on record in the last three years.
Source:

CMS, Hospice General Information. Released Aug 26, 2026. Updated quarterly.

CMS, QCOR hospice inspection reports. Released Oct 23, 2026. Updated quarterly.

Has anything been proven against it?

  • CMS doesn’t publish fines or other penalties for hospices, so none are shown.
  • 0 deficiencies cited in the last three years came from inspections that included a complaint investigation.
Source:

CMS, QCOR hospice inspection reports. Released Oct 23, 2026. Updated quarterly.

Who does the caring?

  • From Medicare claims (Jan 1, 2023 to Dec 31, 2024): 11.6 nurse care minutes per routine home care day, 6.6% of skilled nursing minutes at weekends and a visit near death for 95.3% of patients who died.
  • Where its patients were cared for (Jan 1, 2024 to Dec 31, 2024): 82% at home, 1% in assisted living, 16% in a nursing facility.
Source:

CMS, Hospice Provider Data. Released Aug 26, 2026. Updated quarterly.

Staffing measures
MeasureThis provider
Nurse care minutes per routine home care day11.6 min
Skilled nursing minutes at weekends6.6%
Visits near death95.3% of patients who died

Who owns it?

  • Prohealth Hospice, LLC owns 100% directly since May 1, 2016.
  • Prohealth Group, Inc. runs it.
  • 8 owners or officers are people: Melissa Black (managing employee (on the payroll), 100%); David Lester (runs it (operational or managerial control), 100%); Kyle J Rudemiller (managing employee (on the payroll), 100%); David Lester (corporate officer, 50%); David Lester (corporate director, 50%); William Rosser Lester (corporate officer, 50%); William Rosser Lester (corporate director, 50%); Cynthia Thompson (runs it (operational or managerial control)).
  • No private-equity firm among the owners CMS lists.
  • No real-estate investment trust among the owners CMS lists.
Source:

CMS, Hospice All Owners and Hospice Enrollments. Released Sep 29, 2026. Updated quarterly.

Organisations CMS lists
OrganisationRoleShareSince
Prohealth Group, Inc.Owns 5% or more through other companies100%May 1, 2016
Prohealth Group, Inc.Runs it (operational or managerial control)100%May 1, 2016
Prohealth Hospice, LLCOwns 5% or more directly100%May 1, 2016
David Alan Lester Irrevocable Trust IIOwns 5% or more through other companies33.3%May 1, 2016
Hannah E Lester Irrevocable Trust IIOwns 5% or more through other companies33.3%May 1, 2016
James Paul Lester Irrevocable TrustOwns 5% or more through other companies33.3%May 1, 2016

What do families say?

  • Family caregivers rate it 4 of 5 in CMS’s survey (Oct 1, 2023 to Sep 30, 2025): 83% rated it 9 or 10 out of 10, and 87% would definitely recommend it.
  • CMS’s Hospice Care Index: 9 of 10 (Jan 1, 2023 to Dec 31, 2024).
  • 92.26% of patients were assessed on all seven of CMS’s measures at the start of care (Oct 1, 2024 to Sep 30, 2025); 75.2% had visits from a nurse or social worker on at least 2 of their last 3 days (Jan 1, 2023 to Dec 31, 2024).
Source:

CMS, CAHPS Hospice Survey and Hospice Provider Data. Released Aug 26, 2026. Updated quarterly.

Ratings and measures, as published
MeasureRating
Family caregiver survey ratingCMS star rating from its survey of patients’ family caregivers, 1 to 54 of 5
Hospice Care IndexCMS’s Hospice Care Index, 0 to 10 (higher is better): a point for each of ten measures from Medicare claims on which the hospice meets CMS’s threshold9 of 10

How does it compare nearby?

  • Of the 14 hospices CMS’s data show serving patients in ZIP code 35901, where this hospice’s office is, the middle number of deficiencies cited in the last three years was 5; this one had 8.
Source:

CMS, Hospice ZIP Data. Released Aug 26, 2026. Updated quarterly.

CMS, QCOR hospice inspection reports. Released Oct 23, 2026. Updated quarterly.

What the record doesn’t say

  • CMS doesn’t publish fines or other penalties for hospices, so none are shown.
  • Only complaints that led to a citation appear; complaints that didn’t aren’t published.
  • CMS ended its Special Focus Program for hospices with serious problems on Feb 14, 2025, so no hospice is marked as one.
  • Hospice quality measures have a gap from October 2025: CMS replaced its patient assessment then, and public results from the new one (HOPE) are expected around November 2027.

Sources

If you believe something here is wrong, a correction starts with the agency whose record this copies: CMS. CMS’s own record is on Care Compare. If Hearth Record copied something wrongly, it will fix it and log the correction publicly, with its date: how corrections work.

Source:

This copy of the record was made on Oct 27, 2026.

From the hospice

The public record above comes first. Anything the hospice adds will appear here, below it, and say who wrote it.

Replies

None. Replies aren’t open yet. When they open, the hospice will be able to answer any finding for free, and the reply will show beside that finding, unedited and dated.

Paid listing

None. Paid listings aren’t open yet. When they open, anything paid for will say “Paid by the hospice”, and paying will never change a finding, a rating or the order of results.

How to read a record

Four things every record does, shown on an example record made up for this guide.

An example record, made up for this guide

An example nursing home

Made up for this guide: no real place is shown

Not fully inspected in over two years (CMS flag)

11 health citations at the latest inspection cycle

The state average is 14.3.

Source:

CMS, State and US Averages and Health Deficiencies. Released Oct 28, 2026. Updated monthly.

From the homeNone yet. Replies and paid listings aren’t open, and when they open they will sit here, below the record.

1 of 4

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