Encore Hospice LLC
A hospice in Phoenix, Arizona 85086
4122 W Innovative Drive Ste 101 H & I, Phoenix, Arizona 85086. (623) 248-6636.
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The short answer
Record last released by CMS on Oct 23, 2026.
- 9 deficiencies cited in the last three years
- Not rated family caregiver rating
- 8of 10 CMS’s Hospice Care Index
Each figure’s source sits beside it, in its section below.
What these words mean2
- 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?
9 deficiencies cited in the last three years
The middle of the 60 hospices serving ZIP code 85086 had 5.
The last inspection on record was on Jun 25, 2026: a reaccreditation inspection by the Accreditation Commission for Health Care.
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
9 deficiencies in 1 month of the last 36. Last cited Jun 2026. Most serious: Standard-level. The last 3 years, to Oct 27, 2026.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Nov | Dec | ||||||||||
| 2024 | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| 2025 | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| 2026 | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct |
Hover or focus a month to read it.
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.
CMS, QCOR hospice inspection reports. Released Oct 23, 2026. Updated quarterly.
Jun 25, 2026: reaccreditation inspection by the Accreditation Commission for Health Care9 deficiencies
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Content of comprehensive assessment (42 CFR 418.54(c)(6))
The inspectors’ words, 116 words
“Upon patient record review, 3 of 14 (Patients #7, 8,10) 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 #7: The patient is prescribed Miralax, the order is missing reconstitution directions for administration. Patient #8: The patient is using oxygen. Oxygen is not on the medication list. Patient #10: The patient is prescribed Miralax, the order is missing reconstitution directions for administration.”
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Content of plan of care (42 CFR 418.56(c))
The inspectors’ words, 204 words
“Upon patient record review, 4 of 14 (Patients #1, 3, 6, 9) 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 #1: Patient is on service for left Carotid aneurysm. There is no evidence of interventions or goals for bleeding precautions and education regarding bleeding potentials. Patient #3: Patient is taking aspirin for Atrial Fibrillation. There is no evidence of interventions or goals for use of anticoagulants or bleeding precautions. Patient #6: Patient has a nebulizer as well as a nephrostomy tube. There is no evidence of interventions or goals for the use of nebulizer or for the care of the nephrostomy tube. Patient #9: Patient has diagnosis of epilepsy. Patient is taking Dilantin. There is no evidence of interventions or goals for seizure precautions. The patient has a nebulizer. There is no evidence of interventions or goals for use of nebulizer on plan of care.”
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Content of plan of care (42 CFR 418.56(c)(4))
The inspectors’ words, 169 words
“Upon patient record review, 3 of 14 (Patients #1, 3, 4) 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 #1: The patient has a sacral wound. The order states Stage 2 wound care order 1 application twice weekly topical. This order does not have evidence of location of the wound, cleansing of the wound, or dressing for the wound. It also shows no evidence of who will change dressing (Hospice RN/Patient/Caregiver) Patient #3: The patient wound order states: 1 application twice weekly topical. Cleanse wound and apply small amount of Medi honey and cover with dry dressing. The order does not have evidence as to where the wound is located, what they are to cleanse the wound with, and who will be changing the dressing how often. Patient #4: The patient has an indwelling catheter, 16fr. There is no evidence of a physician order for foley catheter.”
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Level of activity (42 CFR 418.78(e))
“Upon observation, there was no evidence the annual report documents the use of volunteers providing day to day administrative and/or direct patient care services in an amount that, at a minimum, equals 5 percent of the total patient care hours of all paid hospice employees and contract personnel. The agency Administrator stated that they had 47 hours of volunteer time last year but did not meet the 5%. They have not met 5% in any given month for the past 12 months.”
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Training (42 CFR 418.100(g)(2))
“Upon personnel record review, 1 of 11 (Personnel #11 ) did not have evidence that the hospice employees have received orientation on their specific job requirements. Personnel #11: The volunteer personnel record shows no evidence of orientation to their specific job requirements.”
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Training (42 CFR 418.100(g)(3))
The inspectors’ words, 99 words
“Upon personnel record review, 3 of 11 (Personnel #1, 10, 11 ) did not have evidence that a skills competency assessment, specific to each discipline had been conducted for all personnel including volunteers initially during orientation. Personnel #1: The administrator also acts as volunteer coordinator, there is no evidence of a skills competency being performed specific to volunteer coordinator. Personnel #10: The SC also holds the role of bereavement coordinator. There is no evidence of a skills competency being performed specific to bereavement coordinator. Personnel #11: There was no evidence of a skills competency being performed specific to volunteer.”
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Personnel qualification (42 CFR 418.114(b)(5))
“Upon personnel record review, 1 of 11 (Personnel #6 ) did not have evidence all Occupational Therapy Services are provided by a qualified licensed Occupational Therapist (OT) in accordance with the state’s Occupational Therapy Practice Act and the hospice’s policies and procedures and/or job descriptions. Personnel #6 The therapy company has not provided the agency with specific therapist information, there is no evidence that the OT is qualified.”
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Personnel qualification (42 CFR 418.114(b)(7))
“Upon personnel record review, 1 of 11 (Personnel #5 ) did not have evidence all Physical Therapy Services are provided by a qualified licensed Physical Therapist (PT) in accordance with the state’s Physical Therapy Practice Act and the hospice’s policies and procedures and/or job descriptions. Personnel #5 The therapy company has not provided the agency with specific therapist information, there is no evidence that the PT is qualified.”
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Criminal background checks (42 CFR 418.114(d)(1))
“Upon personnel record review, 2 of 11 (Personnel #5, 6 ) did not have evidence the hospice obtained a criminal background check on all contracted individuals who have direct patient care and access to patient records. Personnel #5, 6: As the therapy company has not provided the agency with specific therapist information, there is no evidence that the PT/OT had criminal background checks completed.”
The one inspection in the last three years
| Date | Visit | What the record says |
|---|---|---|
| Jun 25, 2026 | Reaccreditation inspection by the Accreditation Commission for Health Care | 9 deficiencies cited |
Is it certified?
- Medicare-certified hospice since Aug 15, 2023.
- CMS doesn’t list its type of ownership.
- No For hospices, home health agencies, hospitals and dialysis facilities, CMS writes deficiencies at two levels. Standard is the usual one; condition-level is the more serious, when a problem is serious enough that the provider doesn’t meet a whole condition of taking part in Medicare. Source: CMS, State Operations Manual. deficiency or CMS’s most serious finding: the place’s failure to meet a rule caused, or was likely to cause, serious injury, harm, impairment or death to someone in its care. Source: CMS; 42 CFR 489.3. on record in the last three years.
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.
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): 10.8 nurse care minutes per routine home care day, 3.1% of skilled nursing minutes at weekends and a visit near death for 100% of patients who died.
- Where its patients were cared for (Jan 1, 2024 to Dec 31, 2024): 9% at home, 91% in assisted living.
CMS, Hospice Provider Data. Released Aug 26, 2026. Updated quarterly.
| Measure | This provider |
|---|---|
| Nurse care minutes per routine home care day | 10.8 min |
| Skilled nursing minutes at weekends | 3.1% |
| Visits near death | 100.0% of patients who died |
Who owns it?
- 4 owners or officers are people: Ryan T Wood (managing employee (on the payroll), 100%); Holly Decker Carlson (owns 5% or more directly, 100%); Holly Decker Carlson (managing employee (on the payroll), 100%); Holly Decker Carlson (runs it (operational or managerial control), 100%).
- No private-equity firm among the owners CMS lists.
- No real-estate investment trust among the owners CMS lists.
CMS, Hospice All Owners and Hospice Enrollments. Released Sep 29, 2026. Updated quarterly.
What do families say?
- CMS gives no family caregiver survey rating: “The number of cases is too small to report Star Ratings.”
- CMS’s Hospice Care Index: 8 of 10 (Jan 1, 2023 to Dec 31, 2024).
- 100% of patients were assessed on all seven of CMS’s measures at the start of care (Oct 1, 2024 to Sep 30, 2025).
CMS, CAHPS Hospice Survey and Hospice Provider Data. Released Aug 26, 2026. Updated quarterly.
| Measure | Rating |
|---|---|
| Family caregiver survey ratingCMS star rating from its survey of patients’ family caregivers, 1 to 5 | Not rated |
| 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 threshold | 8 of 10 |
How does it compare nearby?
- Of the 60 hospices CMS’s data show serving patients in ZIP code 85086, where this hospice’s office is, the middle number of deficiencies cited in the last three years was 5; this one had 9.
CMS, Hospice ZIP Data. Released Aug 26, 2026. Updated quarterly.
CMS, QCOR hospice inspection reports. Released Oct 23, 2026. Updated quarterly.
| Place | Deficiencies, 3 years |
|---|---|
| Encore Hospice LLC This hospice | 9 |
| Agave Hospice and Palliative Care | Not given |
| Family First Hospice, Inc. | 13 |
| Copper Sky Hospice LLC | 4 |
| Hospice of the Valley - Central | Not given |
| Compassus - Phoenix | 1 |
| Thema Health Services | 0 |
| Emblem Hospice Central | Not given |
| Faith Hospice | 8 |
| Hospice of the West | 12 |
| Choice Hospice | 3 |
| Wings of Hope Hospice and Palliative Care, Inc. | 13 |
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
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Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Hospice General Information (yc9t-dgbk).
Released Aug 26, 2026 and checked Oct 27, 2026. Updated quarterly. Public domain (U.S. Government work).
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Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Hospice Provider Data (252m-zfp9).
Released Aug 26, 2026 and checked Oct 27, 2026. Updated quarterly. Public domain (U.S. Government work).
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Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, CAHPS Hospice Survey (gxki-hrr8).
Released Aug 26, 2026 and checked Oct 27, 2026. Updated quarterly. Public domain (U.S. Government work).
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Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, QCOR hospice inspection reports (Hospice Survey Reports - Oct 2021 through Sep 2026.xlsx).
Released Oct 23, 2026 and checked Oct 27, 2026. Updated quarterly. Public domain (U.S. Government work).
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Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Hospice All Owners (e983965e-1603-4cb8-82b5-c40090e380d1).
Released Sep 29, 2026 and checked Oct 27, 2026. Updated quarterly. Public domain (U.S. Government work).
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Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Hospice Enrollments (25704213-e833-4b8b-9dbc-58dd17149209).
Released Sep 29, 2026 and checked Oct 27, 2026. Updated quarterly. Public domain (U.S. Government work).
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Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Hospice ZIP Data (95rg-2usp).
Released Aug 26, 2026 and checked Oct 27, 2026. Updated quarterly. Public domain (U.S. Government work).
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.
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.