Vitas Healthcare Corporation Atlantic
A hospice in Middlebury, Connecticut 06762
199 Park Rd Extension, Middlebury, Connecticut 06762. (203) 437-3111.
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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.
- 2 deficiencies cited in the last three years
- 2of 5 family caregiver rating
- 9of 10 CMS’s Hospice Care Index
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?
2 deficiencies cited in the last three years
The middle of the 8 hospices serving ZIP code 06762 had 2.
The last inspection on record was on Aug 15, 2024: an initial inspection by the Community Health Accreditation Partner.
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
2 deficiencies in 1 month of the last 36. Last cited Aug 2024. 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.
Aug 15, 2024: initial inspection by the Community Health Accreditation Partner2 deficiencies
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Content of comprehensive assessment (42 CFR 418.54(c)(6)(i))
The inspectors’ words, 248 words
“It is required that the documented comprehensive assessment includes a drug profile that contains the patient’s current prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) drugs. The drug profile is updated per the hospice policy and procedure, but, at minimum, at the time of each comprehensive assessment and/or when new medication is added or changes are made to existing medication. This standard was not met as evidenced by clinical record review, document review, and interview. Agency policy “Standard- Obtaining Orders” (no date) stated in part, “E3 Ordering: All initial and refill medication dispense orders may only be ordered via the E3 app (application).” In 1 of 30 (3%) clinical records reviewed, the agency did not ensure that the patient’s medication (drug) profile contained all prescribed medications. Clinical Record 18: The patient elected the hospice benefit on 06/11/2024 with a diagnosis of chronic respiratory failure. The initial plan of care dated 06/11/2024 ordered continuous oxygen at 4 liters via nasal cannula. On 07/25/2024, the oxygen order increased to 5 liters continuously via nasal cannula. The drug profile, effective from 06/11/2024 to the present, did not include the prescribed oxygen. During an interview on 08/15/2024, the Patient Care Administrator stated that the patient’s drug profile was created by entering the medication into the E3 app and confirmed that oxygen should be included as a prescription medication. The PCA stated that the E3 system was used to enter all prescription and over-the-counter medications into the hospice pharmacy system to create the comprehensive medication (drug) profile.”
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Content of plan of care (42 CFR 418.56(c))
The inspectors’ words, 446 words
“It is required that each patient’s individualized written plan of care: reflects patient and family goals; [and] identifies planned interventions based on problems identified in the initial and updated comprehensive assessments. This standard was not met as evidenced by clinical record review and interview. In 1 of 30 (3%) clinical records reviewed, the agency did not ensure that the patient’s plan of care included planned interventions based on the problems identified in the comprehensive assessments. Clinical Record 6: The patient elected the hospice benefit on 12/21/2021 with a diagnosis of heart failure. The patient resided in an assisted living facility (ALF). The following RN notes were documented on the agency form “Plan of Care Review for Recertification” used for updates: on 05/29/2024, the RN documented “increased weakness, wheelchair dependent, fall 05/24/2024;” on 06/05/2024, “recent fall, missed chair;” on 06/19/2024, “recent falls (3 in 1 month). Education ongoing;” on 07/03/2024, “increased weakness, recent falls;” on 07/17/2024, “Stand and pivot. No ambulation. Hunched posture;” and on 07/31/2024, “Weak, stooped posture with bowed legs. Holds furniture to stand and pivot.” The RN focus visit dated 08/06/2024 documented, “follow-up related to report of fall… Per staff patient was attempting to stand and pivot independently and slid to floor onto buttocks...staff educated and recommendation to keep patient’s walker in a different part of room to reduce likelihood of attempt to get up independently.” The patient’s plan of care, initiated on 05/22/2024, documented the outcome and interventions “maintain safety” and “assess level of function…educate patient on body positioning and DME (durable medical equipment) use to prevent falls.” A clinical record review revealed no updated plan of care interventions and safety measures since 05/22/2024 to address the patient’s increased number and frequency of falls and promote patient safety. During an interview and a joint review of the plan of care, plan of care updates, and nursing visit documentation on 08/15/2024, the Patient Care Administrator (PCA) confirmed that the specific interventions and education provided to the patient and facility staff were not listed on the plan of care. The PCA and the General Manager confirmed that with the patient continuing to experience falls, the plan of care updates should have included additional interventions to promote patient safety. The PCA also reported that a call was placed to the patient’s RN case manager, who stated, “The facility won’t allow bed alarms or fall mats, but the patient does wear a neck pendant to call for help.” The PCA reported they were unsure why the plan of care did not provide the specific interventions but was sending the RN out today to visit the patient to identify all fall/safety-related interventions and update the plan of care.”
The one inspection in the last three years
| Date | Visit | What the record says |
|---|---|---|
| Aug 15, 2024 | Initial inspection by the Community Health Accreditation Partner | 2 deficiencies cited |
Is it certified?
- Medicare-certified hospice since Mar 29, 2005.
- Ownership: for-profit.
- 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): 19 nurse care minutes per routine home care day, 11.2% of skilled nursing minutes at weekends and a visit near death for 97% of patients who died.
- Where its patients were cared for (Jan 1, 2024 to Dec 31, 2024): 56% at home, 20% in assisted living, 21% in a nursing facility, 2% in a hospital, 1% in an inpatient hospice.
CMS, Hospice Provider Data. Released Aug 26, 2026. Updated quarterly.
| Measure | This provider |
|---|---|
| Nurse care minutes per routine home care day | 19.0 min |
| Skilled nursing minutes at weekends | 11.2% |
| Visits near death | 97.0% of patients who died |
Who owns it?
- Vitas Hospice Services, LLC owns 100% directly since Apr 27, 2001.
- 9 owners or officers are people: Kevin Mcnamara (corporate director, 33.3%); Laura Lusebrink (managing employee (on the payroll), 0%); Joel Wherley (corporate officer, 0%); Joel Wherley (corporate director, 0%); Alexander Fernandez (corporate officer, 0%); Michael Witzeman (corporate officer, 0%); Kuang-Wen Tsao (managing employee (on the payroll), 0%); Brian Judkins (corporate officer, 0%); Brian Judkins (corporate director, 0%).
- 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.
| Organisation | Role | Share | Since |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chemed Corporation | Owns 5% or more through other companies | 100% | Apr 27, 2001 |
| Comfort CARE Holdings Company | Owns 5% or more through other companies | 100% | Apr 27, 2001 |
| Vitas Hospice Services, LLC | Owns 5% or more directly | 100% | Apr 27, 2001 |
| Vitas Healthcare Corporation | Owns 5% or more through other companies | 100% | Apr 27, 2001 |
What do families say?
- Family caregivers rate it 2 of 5 in CMS’s survey (Oct 1, 2023 to Sep 30, 2025): 74% rated it 9 or 10 out of 10, and 76% would definitely recommend it.
- CMS’s Hospice Care Index: 9 of 10 (Jan 1, 2023 to Dec 31, 2024).
- 94.84% of patients were assessed on all seven of CMS’s measures at the start of care (Oct 1, 2024 to Sep 30, 2025); 58.7% had visits from a nurse or social worker on at least 2 of their last 3 days (Jan 1, 2023 to Dec 31, 2024).
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 | 2 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 threshold | 9 of 10 |
How does it compare nearby?
- Of the 8 hospices CMS’s data show serving patients in ZIP code 06762, where this hospice’s office is, the middle number of deficiencies cited in the last three years was 2; this one had 2.
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 |
|---|---|
| Vitas Healthcare Corporation Atlantic This hospice | 2 |
| Accentcare Hospice & Palliative Care of Conecticut | 0 |
| The Connecticut Hospice Inc. | Not given |
| Hartford Healthcare at Home | 0 |
| Masonicare Home Health and Hospice Inc. | 10 |
| Trinity Health of New England at Home | 3 |
| Compassus - Greater Connecticut | 0 |
| Constellation Home Care | 14 |
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.