Ridgefield Visiting Nurse Association
A hospice in Ridgefield, Connecticut 06877
27 Governor Street, Ridgefield, Connecticut 06877. (203) 438-5555.
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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
- 4of 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 7 hospices serving ZIP code 06877 had 2.5.
The last inspection on record was on Aug 30, 2024: a reaccreditation 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 30, 2024: reaccreditation 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, 380 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. (L530) This standard was not met as evidenced by clinical record review, document review and interview. In 1 of 19 (5%) clinical records reviewed it was revealed that the agency did not ensure the medication (drug) profile included all of the patient’s current prescription medications, specifically oxygen. Document 2: Medication Profile (Policy No. 2-004, last revised November 2020) stated in part, “Patients receiving medications administered by the organization will have a current, accurate medication profile in the clinical record. Upon admission to hospice, the admitting nurse will initiate a medication profile to document the current medication regimen, including name, dose, strength, route, frequency, date and time of administration. During subsequent home visits, the medication profile will be used as a care planning and teaching guide to ensure that the patient and family/caregiver, as well as other clinicians, understand the medication regimen. This includes, but will not be limited to: A. Using the medication profile to evaluate the use of the drugs in the home setting. B. Using the medication profile to teach purpose of medication, dosages, routes, administration times, side effects, and contraindications. C. Using the medication profile as a communication tool for other clinicians involved in care.” Clinical Record 1: The patient elected the hospice benefit on 07/27/2024 with a diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The initial comprehensive assessment (07/27/2024) documented the patient had dyspnea with minimal exertion but refused the oxygen. The initial plan of care orders (07/27/2024) included an order for oxygen 2-4 liters via nasal cannula PRN (as needed) dyspnea. The medication (drug) profile, effective from 07/27/2024 to current, did not include the prescribed oxygen. Personnel Record 1: On 08/30/2024, the administrator/clinical director confirmed that the oxygen had not been listed on the drug profile, but it has since been added. The administrator/clinical director reported that while the oxygen was ordered it was not being used and that was the reason it was not on the medication profile.”
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Label dispose storage drugs (42 CFR 418.106(e)(1))
The inspectors’ words, 333 words
“It is required that drugs and biologicals are labeled and stored in accordance with state law and regulation, as well as accepted standards of practice. At a minimum, labels include directions for use, including route, rate, frequency, and method of administration, expiration date and cautionary instructions. This standard was not met as evidenced by clinical record review, interview and observation. In 1 of 3 (33%) home visit observations, in which medication bottles were observed, it was revealed that the agency did not ensure that all medications were labeled in accordance with accepted standards of practice. Home Visit 3: The patient elected the hospice benefit on 07/16/2024 with a diagnosis of heart failure. Per the clinical record and the home visit observation the patient was alert and oriented. During the home visit observation, on 08/28/2024, the RN (personnel record #6) was completing the medication reconciliation when she picked up an unmarked baggy with white pills and said to the patient “you still have the Tylenol in the baggy?” The patient said, “yes, I just tell people what it is.” The RN further reported that during the last visit the patient could not find the lid for the medication bottle, so she placed the pills in the baggy. The patient lived alone and self-administered the medications but reported that she does have paid caregivers that come approximately four days a week and she mentioned a granddaughter that also stopped by. The patient reported that at times the caregivers or the granddaughter will assist with handing her medications. Without any label there was no way to confirm that the pills were Tylenol, what dose they were, or what the expiration date was. Personnel Record 1: During an interview, on 08/30/2024, the administrator/clinical director agreed that while the patient was currently self-administering the medications no other caregiver would be able to know that the baggy contained Tylenol. It was reported that the hospice ordered a new bottle to be delivered to the patient to rectify the issue.”
The one inspection in the last three years
| Date | Visit | What the record says |
|---|---|---|
| Aug 30, 2024 | Reaccreditation inspection by the Community Health Accreditation Partner | 2 deficiencies cited |
Is it certified?
- Medicare-certified hospice since Nov 16, 2018.
- Ownership: non-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): 14.7 nurse care minutes per routine home care day, 11.2% of skilled nursing minutes at weekends and a visit near death for 96.5% of patients who died.
- Where its patients were cared for (Jan 1, 2024 to Dec 31, 2024): 60% at home, 29% in assisted living, 11% in a skilled nursing facility.
CMS, Hospice Provider Data. Released Aug 26, 2026. Updated quarterly.
| Measure | This provider |
|---|---|
| Nurse care minutes per routine home care day | 14.7 min |
| Skilled nursing minutes at weekends | 11.2% |
| Visits near death | 96.5% of patients who died |
Who owns it?
- 24 owners or officers are people: Theresa Santoro (corporate officer, 100%); Daniel Carter (corporate director, 0%); Randy MD Sewald (managing employee (on the payroll), 0%); Theresa Santoro (managing employee (on the payroll), 0%); Jennifer Phelps (corporate director, 0%); Stanley H Kessler (corporate director, 0%); Joyce C Ligi (corporate director, 0%); Urs Furrer (corporate director, 0%); Mary E Walker (corporate director, 0%); Kenneth F Marici (managing employee (on the payroll), 0%); Jean Robinson (corporate director, 0%); Dean Miller (corporate director, 0%); Keri A Linardi (managing employee (on the payroll), 0%); Ward J Mazzucco (corporate director, 0%); Tiffany Sanders (managing employee (on the payroll), 0%); Thomas F O’grady (corporate director, 0%); Daniel J O’brien (corporate director, 0%); William G Wyman (corporate director, 0%); Kerry Ann Ducey (corporate director, 0%); Andrea Gartner (corporate director, 0%); Jill Bornstein (corporate director, 0%); Edward K James (corporate director, 0%); Christopher Joyce (corporate director, 0%); George Bittmann Barth (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.
What do families say?
- Family caregivers rate it 4 of 5 in CMS’s survey (Oct 1, 2023 to Sep 30, 2025): 84% rated it 9 or 10 out of 10, and 85% would definitely recommend it.
- CMS’s Hospice Care Index: 9 of 10 (Jan 1, 2023 to Dec 31, 2024).
- 95.24% of patients were assessed on all seven of CMS’s measures at the start of care (Oct 1, 2024 to Sep 30, 2025); 69.1% 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 | 4 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 7 hospices CMS’s data show serving patients in ZIP code 06877, where this hospice’s office is, the middle number of deficiencies cited in the last three years was 2.5; 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 |
|---|---|
| Ridgefield Visiting Nurse Association This hospice | 2 |
| Visiting Nurse & Hospice of Fairfield County, Inc. | 11 |
| Regional Hospice | Not given |
| Vitas Healthcare Corporation Atlantic | 2 |
| Compassus - Greater Connecticut | 0 |
| Constellation Home Care | 14 |
| Athena Home Health & Hospice | 3 |
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.