Saviors of Hope Hospice
A hospice in Bakersfield, California 93301
1527 19th St., Ste. 220, Bakersfield, California 93301. (661) 310-3500.
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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 mean3
- 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.
- Condition-level deficiency
- 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.
What did inspectors find?
20 deficiencies cited in the last three years
The middle of the 37 hospices serving ZIP code 93301 had 6.
The last inspection on record was on Dec 16, 2025: a follow-up inspection by the Accreditation Commission for Health Care.
3 deficiencies at condition level, the more serious of CMS’s two levels
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 Oct 2025. Most serious: Condition-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.
Oct 23, 2025: reaccreditation inspection by the Accreditation Commission for Health Care20 deficiencies
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IDG, care planning, coordination of services (42 CFR 418.56)
“Condition of Participation: Interdisciplinary Group, Care Planning, and Coordination of Services. L536”
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Medical director (42 CFR 418.102)
“Upon observation, there was no evidence the hospice designates a physician to serve as Medical Director which includes: There is not evidence of a physician designated by the hospice to assume the same responsibilities and obligations as the Medical Director when Medical Director is not available.”
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Clinical records (42 CFR 418.104)
“Condition of Participation: Clinical Records.”
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Arrangement with Other Facilities (42 CFR 418.113(b)(5))
“Upon observation, there was no evidence of contracts/agreements with other facilities/agencies/hospices to receive patients in the event the hospice cannot provide care to their patients during an emergency.”
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Rights of the patient (42 CFR 418.52(c)(1))
The inspectors’ words, 258 words
“Upon patient record review, 1 of 16 (Patient #1) did not have evidence that the patient has received effective pain management and symptom control from the hospice for conditions related to the terminal illness. Patient 1: Recent SN visit on 10/15/25 RN documents “Patient continues to complain of chest pain, mainly around the right rib area where the bone appears slightly protruded from an old fracture. He reports that pain in that area has become more intense recently. Pain assessment pain is described as Sharp and constant with intensity of “0”. On SN visit on 10/08/25, Pt reports persistent chest pain localized to right upper chest area, describing the pain as aching and sometimes sharp. States “Norco taken every 3 hours provides partial relief.” Also reports using marijuana to help control pain and improve relaxation.” On 10/22/25 during home visit, patient reports his goal for pain management is “0” holding up his hand to emphasize zero on 1-10 pain scale. Patient laughs stating “I guess I would have to be dead for my pain to ever be a zero.” Upon interview with SN, it is reported patient is resistant to use of Morphine for pain management. There is no evidence of discussion of options for pain management and patient reports taking additional OTC acetaminophen 500 mg tablets and marijuana to attempt to self manage pain. COS agency discussed pain and use of OTC medications and marijuana with Medical Director and plans made for further education with patient by medical director and goals of patient discussion for pain management.”
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Rights of the patient (42 CFR 418.52(c)(4))
“Upon patient record review, 1 of 16 (Patient # 13) did not have evidence that the patient chooses a health care provider, including an attending physician. Patient 13: There is not evidence of patient right to request an attending physician was respected. Family requested Dr. Claiborne on readmission at SOC on 11/10/24.There is not evidence that patient’s chosen MD was contacted to request to follow as attending physician. Patient discharged on 9/15/25 due to request to be seen by family physician.”
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Content of comprehensive assessment (42 CFR 418.54(c))
The inspectors’ words, 97 words
“Upon patient record review 1 of 16 (Patient #2) did not have evidence in the patient record that the comprehensive assessment identifies the physical, psychosocial, emotional, and spiritual needs related to the terminal illness that must be addressed in order to promote the hospice patient’s well-being, comfort, and dignity throughout the dying process. Patient 2: MSW visit 3/20/25 indicates visit made in person. MSW Narrative states “Patient not available to be assessed, will complete assessment once patient is available.” All areas remain blank on Psychosocial assessment as unassessed. There is no evidence of psychosocial assessment visit completion.”
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Content of comprehensive assessment (42 CFR 418.54(c)(4))
“Upon patient record review, 3 of 16 (Patient 3, 7,16) did not have evidence in the patient record that the comprehensive assessment takes into consideration the imminence of death. Patient 3: The comprehensive assessment completed at SOC on 3/19/25 does not indicate imminence of death documentation. Patient 7: The comprehensive assessment completed at SOC on 4/11/24 does not indicate imminence of death documentation. Patient expired within 12 hours. Patient 16: The comprehensive assessment completed at SOC on 5/3/25 does not indicate imminence of death documentation.”
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Content of comprehensive assessment (42 CFR 418.54(c)(6))
The inspectors’ words, 167 words
“Upon patient record review, 1 of 16 (Patient #1) 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 1: Upon home visit medication review, patient reports “I do not take Januvia and Metformin anymore. I only take Norco 10-325 mg every 3 hours and this Tylenol 500mg one tablet four times daily and I smoke marijuana to help with the pain and it helps me relax.” Agency medication list does not contain OTC Acetaminophen 500 mg or not to exceed 4gms in 24 hours or the use of marijuana. Corrected on site with updates to medication list and obtained orders to limit 24 hour dose of acetaminophen and discontinue meds no longer taking.”
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Content of plan of care (42 CFR 418.56(c))
The inspectors’ words, 119 words
“Upon patient record review, 2 of 16 (Patient # 7, 8) 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: The POC on 4/11/24 contains an order for Eliquis with no evidence of risk for bleeding on the POC. Patient 8: The POC on 10/6/24 contains an order for Plavix with no evidence of risk for bleeding on the POC.”
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Content of plan of care (42 CFR 418.56(c)(4))
The inspectors’ words, 150 words
“Upon patient record review, 1 of 16 (Patient # 1) 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: Upon home visit medication review, patient reports “I do not take Januvia and Metformin anymore. I only take Norco 10-325 mg every 3 hours and this Tylenol 500mg one tablet four times daily and I smoke Marijuana to help with the pain and it helps me relax.” Agency updated POC 10/16/25, contains orders for Januvia, Metformin, Norco 10-325mg every 3 hours prn, Acetaminophen 650mg rectal suppository every 6 hours prn. The updated POC does not contain orders for OTC Acetaminophen 500 mg or use of marijuana. Corrected on site with updates to POC and obtained orders to limit 24 hour dose of acetaminophen and discontinue meds no longer taking.”
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Review of the plan of care (42 CFR 418.56(d))
The inspectors’ words, 129 words
“Upon patient record review, 3 of 16 (Patient # 9, 11,12) 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 9: The POC contains an order for Eliquis with no risk for bleeding identified on POC. Patient 11: Discharge documentation and POC does not include post-discharge care documentation. Summary reports “revocation to seek more aggressive treatment and Son wants to send father to rehabilitation facility.” There is no evidence of planning to assist patient with placement in SNF and discharge planning. Patient 12: The updated POC on 9/4/24 contains orders for Clopidogrel and Aspirin daily with no evidence to assess or educate for risk of bleeding.”
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Coordination of services (42 CFR 418.56(e)(2))
The inspectors’ words, 125 words
“Upon patient record review, 2 of 16 (Patient # 1, 9) did not have evidence that the IDG ensures that the care and services are provided in accordance with the plan of care. Patient 1: The updated POC 9/18/25 contains an order for LVN visits twice weekly. There is no evidence of LVN visits made. Agency reports LVN has been off work and is on medical leave. POC visit schedule has not been updated. COS with updates to POC. Patient 9: On 9/28/24, SN documents malfunction of G-tube reported by the aide. “Checked residuals through gravity. Checked G-tube patency by injecting 5 ml water and working well. Verified placement. There is no specified orders for the G-tube care performed by SN on updated POC 9/18/25.”
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Coordination of services (42 CFR 418.56(e)(3))
The inspectors’ words, 187 words
“Upon patient record review 1 of 16 (Patient #2) did not have evidence that the IDG ensures that the care and services provided are based on all assessments of the patient and family needs. Patient 2: SN visit on 3/20/25 SN documents “death not imminent. Patient has not eaten any food and only takes sips of water. I informed the family that my regular visit schedule is once every two weeks as an RN, except in emergencies, and that Annalyn (LVN) visits once a week.” There is not evidence nurse educated family on physical signs of dying process or increased visit schedule to meet needs of family during dying process. In addition, on 3/21/25 the RN documents “On March 21, 2025, a friend of daughter contacted the on-call service at 1:30am to report the patient’s passing. The on-call team then reached out to the daughter to confirm the death. The patient was officially pronounced deceased by the RN at 1:55am. There is no indication of a RN in person visit completed to pronounce patient at time of death or post mortem care of deceased person at death.”
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Prevention (42 CFR 418.60(a))
“Upon observation and home visit, 1 of 1 (Patient 1) there was no evidence the hospice follows acceptable standards of practice to prevent the transmission of infections and communicable diseases, including standard precautions. Patient 1: Upon observation at home visit, the SN does not observe agency bag technique policy for infection control when SN reaches into clean area of bag with gloved hands after providing direct patient care without removing gloves and performing hand hygiene prior to entering bag.”
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Supervision of hospice aides (42 CFR 418.76(h)(1))
“Upon patient record review 1 of 16 (Patient # 9) did not have evidence documentation in the patient record that a Registered Nurse made an on-site visit to the patient’s home no less frequently than every 14 days to assess the quality of care and services provided by the hospice aide and to ensure that services ordered by the hospice interdisciplinary group meet the patient’s needs. Patient 9: There is no evidence of RN supervisory visits being completed for hospice aide after 8/25/24 through discharge 10/6/24.”
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Training (42 CFR 418.100(g)(3))
“Upon personnel record review, 4 of 13 (Personnel #2, 3, 4, and 6) 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 #2: Competency assessment is signed off by self assessment. Personnel #3: Competency assessment is signed off by self assessment. Personnel #4: Competency assessment is signed off by self assessment. Personnel #6: Competency assessment is signed off by self assessment.”
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Authentication (42 CFR 418.104(b))
The inspectors’ words, 243 words
“Upon patient record review, 6 of 16 (Patient # 1, 2, 5, 10, 11 and 14) 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 1: The SN 10/8/25 documents in SN visit note patient reports pain level as “0” and “Pt reports persistent chest pain localized to right upper chest area, describing the pain as aching and sometimes sharp”. Pain assessment indicates incorrect use of pain intensity scale. Corrected on site with corrected documentation. Patient 2: The SN documents at death visit on 03/21/25 “Pronounced by facility staff” and patient expired at his home. Patient 5: The initial comprehensive assessment on 2/17/25, SC indicates telephone call completed instead of an in-person comprehensive visit and documents in narrative “chaplain visited the patient and introduced himself.” Patient 10: Initial comprehensive assessment is not signed or dated by RN on 6/22/24, Initial Comprehensive SC assessment on 6/23/24 not signed and dated by SCP. Patient 11: SN documents incorrect hospice name in discharge summary on 02/14/24 “Family requested to discharge and provided family with Pure Love Hospice Inc contact number.” Patient 14: SN documents incorrect hospice name in discharge summary on 05/9/24 stating the patient/family is “Provided with contact number for Pure Hospice Inc.”.”
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Discharge or transfer of care (42 CFR 418.104(e)(2))
“Upon patient record review, 1 of 16 (Patient #11) 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 11: Summary reports “revocation to seek more aggressive treatment and Son wants to send father to rehabilitation facility.” There is no evidence the discharge summary was sent.”
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Discharge or transfer of care (42 CFR 418.104(e)(3))
The inspectors’ words, 117 words
“Upon patient record review, 4 of 16 (Patient #6,7,8,11) did not have evidence that the discharge summary includes all required information. Patient 6: Discharge summary does not include details including discharge orders, instruction, or status at time of discharge on 5/2/24. Patient 7: There is no evidence of a discharge summary. Patient 8: Discharge summary does not show evidence of details including discharge instructions, discharge orders, or status at time of discharge on 10/15/25. Patient 11: Discharge note states “Family requested discharge and provided family with Pure Love Hospice Inc contact number.” Discharge summary does not include post-discharge care documentation. Summary reports “revocation to seek more aggressive treatment and Son wants to send father to rehabilitation facility.””
All 2 inspections in the last three years
| Date | Visit | What the record says |
|---|---|---|
| Dec 16, 2025 | Follow-up inspection by the Accreditation Commission for Health Care | No deficiencies cited |
| Oct 23, 2025 | Reaccreditation inspection by the Accreditation Commission for Health Care | 20 deficiencies cited |
Is it certified?
- Medicare-certified hospice since Jul 1, 2022.
- CMS doesn’t list its type of ownership.
- Cited at 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. in the last three years: it didn’t meet a whole condition of Medicare’s rules.
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 37 hospices CMS’s data show serving patients in ZIP code 93301, 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 |
|---|---|
| Bakersfield Community Hospice, Inc. | 4 |
| Ararat Hospice Care, Inc. | 7 |
| Aasta Hospice | 21 |
| Solace Hospice Care Inc. | 5 |
| The Doctor’s Choice Hospice Health Care Inc. | 0 |
| Saviors of Hope Hospice This hospice | 20 |
| Vitas Healthcare Corporation of California | 1 |
| Hoffmann Hospice | 3 |
| Bristol Hospice - Bakersfield | 0 |
| Gentiva | 18 |
| Traditions Health | 2 |
| American Compassionate Hospice Care Inc. | 11 |
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.