Caring & Helping Hearts Hospice
A hospice in Palm Desert, California 92211
41865 Boardwalk, Suite 216, Palm Desert, California 92211. (760) 469-4003.
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The short answer
Record last released by CMS on Oct 23, 2026. We couldn’t read Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ list since Oct 27, 2026: qcor.cms.gov now refuses our reader. This record is as of then.
- 20 deficiencies cited in the last three years
- Not rated family caregiver rating
- Not available 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?
20 deficiencies cited in the last three years
The middle of the 53 hospices serving ZIP code 92211 had 6.
The last inspection on record was on Jun 19, 2025: 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
20 deficiencies in 1 month of the last 36. Last cited Jun 2025. 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 19, 2025: reaccreditation inspection by the Accreditation Commission for Health Care20 deficiencies
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Notice of rights and responsibilities (42 CFR 418.52(a)(1))
“Upon observation, there was no evidence that during the initial assessment visit in advance of furnishing care, the hospice provided the patient and/or family with verbal (meaning spoken) and written notice of the Patient’s Rights and Responsibilities in a language and manner that the patient understands. Patient 3: On 3/14/24 the patient was admitted to hospice, consents were not signed with caregiver/family members. Pt. was unresponsive at the time of admission, there is no evidence of documentation about why consents were not reviewed and signed.”
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Notice of rights and responsibilities (42 CFR 418.52(a)(2))
“Upon patient record review, 1 of 7 (Patient #3) did not have evidence that the hospice informed and provided written information to the patient concerning its policies on advance directives, including a description of applicable state law. Patient 3: On 3/14/24 the patient was admitted to hospice, consents were not signed with caregiver/family members. Pt. was unresponsive at the time of admission, there is no evidence of documentation about why consents were not reviewed and signed.”
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Notice of rights and responsibilities (42 CFR 418.52(a)(3))
“Upon patient record review, 1 of 7 (Patient #3) did not have evidence that the hospice obtained the patient’s or representative’s signature confirming that they received a copy of the Patient’s Rights and Responsibilities. Patient 3: There is no evidence in the patient record that the patient received a copy of the Patient’s Rights and Responsibilities. There are no forms or evidence in the EMR.”
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Exercise of rights/respect for proprty/person (42 CFR 418.52(b)(3))
“Upon patient record review, 1 of 7 (Patient #3) did not have evidence that if a state court has not adjudged a patient incompetent, any legal representative designated by the patient in accordance with state law may exercise the patient’s rights to the extent allowed by state law. Patient 3: On 3/14/24 the patient was admitted to hospice, consents were not signed with caregiver/family members. Pt. was unresponsive at the time of admission, there is no evidence of documentation about why consents were not reviewed and signed.”
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Rights of the patient (42 CFR 418.52(c)(2))
“Upon client record review, 1 of 7 (Patient #3) did not have evidence that the plan of care included IDG’s documentation of the patient’s or families level of understanding, involvement and agreement with the plan of care. Patient 3: On 3/14/24 the patient was admitted to hospice, consents were not signed with caregiver/family members. Pt. was unresponsive at the time of admission, there is no evidence of documentation about why consents were not reviewed and signed.”
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Rights of the patient (42 CFR 418.52(c)(4))
“Upon patient record review, 1 of 7 (Patient #3) did not have evidence that the patient chooses a health care provider, including an attending physician. Patient 3: On 3/14/24 the patient was admitted to hospice, consents were not signed with caregiver/family members. Pt. was unresponsive at the time of admission, there is no evidence of documentation about why consents were not reviewed and signed, or that the a health care provider was chosen.”
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Rights of the patient (42 CFR 418.52(c)(5))
“Upon patient record review, 1 of 7(Patient #3) did not have evidence of the appropriate documentation for release of confidential information. Patient 3: On 3/14/24 the patient was admitted to hospice, consents were not signed with caregiver/family members. Pt. was unresponsive at the time of admission, there is no evidence of documentation about why consents were not reviewed and signed.”
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Rights of the patient (42 CFR 418.52(c)(7))
“Upon patient record review, 1 of 7 (Patient #3) did not have evidence that the patient received information about the services covered under the hospice benefit. Patient 3: On 3/14/24 the patient was admitted to hospice and consents were not signed with caregiver/family members. Pt. was unresponsive at the time of admission, there is no evidence of documentation about why the consents were not reviewed and signed.”
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Rights of the patient (42 CFR 418.52(c)(8))
“Upon patient record review, 1 of 7 (Patient #3) did not have evidence that the patient received information about the scope of services that the hospice will provide and specific limitations on those services. Patient 3: On 3/14/24 the patient was admitted to hospice, consents were not signed with caregiver/family members. Pt. was unresponsive at the time of admission, there is no evidence of documentation about why consents were not reviewed and signed.”
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Content of comprehensive assessment (42 CFR 418.54(c)(4))
“Upon patient record review, 5 of 7 (Patient #1,4,5,6,7) did not have evidence in the patient record that the comprehensive assessment takes into consideration the imminence of death. Patient 1,4,5,6,7: On the RN comprehensive assessment the RN did not take into consideration the imminence of death.”
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Content of plan of care (42 CFR 418.56(c))
“Upon patient record review, 1 of 7 (Patient #7) 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 7: There are no goals or interventions included in the POC for spiritual care.”
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Review of the plan of care (42 CFR 418.56(d))
“Upon client record review, 1 of 7 (Patient #7) did not have evidence that the IDG in collaboration with the attending physician reviewed, revised and documents the individualized plan as frequently as the patient’s condition requires but no less frequently then every 15 calendar days. Patient #7: On the IDG note for 5/13/25 the chaplain did not sign the IDG note to evidence collaboration with IDG to review and revise patient plan of care.”
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Hospice aide assignments and duties (42 CFR 418.76(g)(1))
The inspectors’ words, 189 words
“Upon patient record review, 2 of 7 (Patient #4,7) 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 4: On the aide plan of care there is an order for “feeding assistance, encourage fluids as tolerated if not contradicted”, there is not a frequency included in this order. Patient 7: On the aide plan of care there is an order “ Record bowel movements, encourage fluids as tolerated, if not contraindicated ” there is not a frequency included in this order.”
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Content (42 CFR 418.104(a)(2))
The inspectors’ words, 96 words
“Upon patient client record review, 1 of 7 (Patient #3) did not have evidence that each patient record contains: • Signed copies of the notice of patient rights in accordance with 418.52 • Signed election statement in accordance with 418.24 Patient 3: There is no evidence in the patient record that there is signed copies of the notice of patient rights, signed election statement, information on individual cost sharing for hospice services, notification of the individual’s right to receive an election statement addendum, information on the BFCC_QIO. The patient was admitted to hospice without consents signed.”
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Authentication (42 CFR 418.104(b))
The inspectors’ words, 129 words
“Upon patient client record review, 1 of 7 (Patient #7) 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 7: On the RN comprehensive assessment the RN documented, “During the hospital stay he was found to have hemoglobin”. This entry is not clear or complete. On the RN assessment 5/9/25, the entry is not complete and authenticated the document is not signed by the RN completing the visit. On the initial POC there are orders, “Admit to Hope Springs Hospice”, this is the incorrect admitting hospice agency.”
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Retention of records (42 CFR 418.104(d))
“Upon observation, there was no evidence that all patient records are retained for a minimum of six years from the date of the most recent discharge or the death of the patient, unless state law stipulates a longer period of time.”
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Discharge or transfer of care (42 CFR 418.104(e)(2))
The inspectors’ words, 114 words
“Upon client record review, 2 of 7 (Patient #5,6) did not have evidence that if a patient revokes the election of hospice care or is discharged from hospice in accordance with §418.26, the hospice must forward to the patient’s attending physician: • A copy of the hospice discharge summary • The patient’s clinical record, if requested Patient 5: On 9/9/24 the patient was transferred, there is no record of a copy of the patient clinical record or discharge summary being available to the attending physician. Patient 6: On 9/9/24 the patient was transferred, there is no record of a copy of the patient clinical record or discharge summary being available to the attending physician.”
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Ordering of drugs (42 CFR 418.106(b)(2))
The inspectors’ words, 94 words
“Upon patient record review, 1 of 7 (Patient #3) did not have evidence that if a drug order is verbal or given via an electronic transmission, it is given to a Registered Nurse, Nurse Practitioner, pharmacist, physician or other licensed individuals as designated by state regulations. The person receiving the order records and signs it immediately and has the prescribing person sign it in accordance with state and federal regulations. Patient 3: On the 3/14/24 there is a telephone order for medications and GT wound dressing. These orders are not signed by the physician.”
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Label dispose storage drugs (42 CFR 418.106(e)(2)(i)(C))
“Upon client record review, 1 of 7 (Patient #3) did not have evidence that the written policies and procedures for managing controlled drugs was provided and discussed. Patient 3: On 3/14/24 the patient was admitted to hospice, consents were not signed with caregiver/family members. Pt. was unresponsive at the time of admission, there is no evidence of documentation about why consents were not reviewed and signed.”
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Hospice plan of care (42 CFR 418.112(d))
The inspectors’ words, 100 words
“Upon client record review, 1 of 7 (Patient #4) did not have evidence that a written hospice plan of care is established and maintained in consultation with SNF/NF or ICF/IID representatives. All hospice care provided is in accordance with this hospice plan of care. Patient 4: On 4/22/23 the SN visited the patient, “facility stating the patient had pulled out his catheter” RN documented “deflated balloon, sterilized catheter, and readjusted length, then reinflated balloon with 10cc sterile water. Catheter care was provided”. There are no orders for a foley catheter on the POC or orders to care for the catheter.”
The one inspection in the last three years
| Date | Visit | What the record says |
|---|---|---|
| Jun 19, 2025 | Reaccreditation inspection by the Accreditation Commission for Health Care | 20 deficiencies cited |
Is it certified?
- Medicare-certified hospice since Mar 30, 2022.
- 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?
- CMS hasn’t published nursing time from Medicare claims for this hospice.
- Where its patients were cared for (Jan 1, 2024 to Dec 31, 2024): 100% at home.
CMS, Hospice Provider Data. Released Aug 26, 2026. Updated quarterly.
Who owns it?
- CMS’s ownership file has no owners listed for this hospice.
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 gives no Hospice Care Index for this hospice.
CMS, CAHPS Hospice Survey and Hospice Provider Data. Released Aug 26, 2026. Updated quarterly.
How does it compare nearby?
- Of the 53 hospices CMS’s data show serving patients in ZIP code 92211, where this hospice’s office is, the middle number of deficiencies cited in the last three years was 6; this one had 20.
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 |
|---|---|
| Gentiva | 14 |
| Bella Terra Hospice of the Desert | 4 |
| Suncrest Hospice Care | 6 |
| Caring & Helping Hearts Hospice This hospice | 20 |
| Allied Hospice & Palliative Care | 4 |
| Reliance Hospice, Inc. | 6 |
| Tranquility Sands Hospice, Inc. | 13 |
| Arizona Life Hospice | 0 |
| Verdugo Hospice Care Center | 0 |
| Family Hospice Care LLC | 0 |
| Serenity Hospice LLC | 6 |
| Bella Terra Hospice | 1 |
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.