Amedisys Hospice of Dalton
A hospice in Dalton, Georgia 30720
1510 North Thornton Avenue, Suite 200, Dalton, Georgia 30720. (706) 259-2518.
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The short answer
Record last released by CMS on Oct 23, 2026.
- 7 deficiencies cited in the last three years
- 4of 5 family caregiver rating
- 10of 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?
7 deficiencies cited in the last three years
The middle of the 19 hospices serving ZIP code 30720 had 2.
The last inspection on record was on Jan 10, 2025: an initial 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
7 deficiencies in 1 month of the last 36. Last cited Jan 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.
Jan 10, 2025: initial inspection by the Accreditation Commission for Health Care7 deficiencies
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Content of comprehensive assessment (42 CFR 418.54(c)(6))
The inspectors’ words, 138 words
“Upon patient record review, 3 of 19 (Patient #1,5,7) 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: There is evidence in the medical record of a wound order on 12/12/24 with Bacitracin. Bacitracin is not on medication sheet. Patient #5: Observed during home visit, Lorazepam is on the hospice medication profile was not on facility medication sheet. Patient #7 Observed during home visit, Ibuprofen on hospice medication profile was not on patient home medication sheet. Patient discontinued the medication in November, 2024”
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Content of plan of care (42 CFR 418.56(c)(4))
“Upon patient record review, 2 of 19 (Patient #4,6) 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 #4: There is an order for wound care on 12/16/24. The order does not include who will change the dressing or how often. Patient #6: Nurse notes on 12/31/24, “patient has blisters on back. Blisters have broken, wife is putting betadine on blisters”. There is no order for treatment.”
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Review of the plan of care (42 CFR 418.56(d))
The inspectors’ words, 179 words
“Upon patient record review, 4 of 19 (Patient #1,2,4,6) 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 #1: There is evidence in the medical record, nurse notes on 12/10/24, Edema 2+ bilateral legs and new order for Lasix and Spironolactone. There is not a plan of care update for edema.. Patient #2: There is evidence in the medical record, patient had covid in previous benefit period as documented on physician CTI and Nurses RN assessment 10/15/24. There was not a plan of care update for COVID. Patient #4: There is evidence in the medical record, patient started on antibiotic on 12/16/24 for 7 days and then on 12/23/24 there was an order for Cephalexin daily for UTI prophylaxis. There was not a plan of care update for infection. Patient: #6: There is evidence in the medical record, patient started on nebulizer treatment on 12/20/24, there is not a plan of care update for inhalation treatment.”
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Coordination of services (42 CFR 418.56(e)(3))
“Upon patient record review 1 of 19 (Patient #4) 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 #4: There is evidence in the medical record of a note by the Chaplain patient indicating a request for PT and the status of DME . Note states MSW will follow up. There is no documentation of coordination with the RNCM regarding Physical therapy or the status of DME.”
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Hospice aide assignments and duties (42 CFR 418.76(g)(1))
The inspectors’ words, 197 words
“Upon patient record review, 2 of 19 (Patient #2,3) 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 #2: Aide plan of care on 11/4/24, lists assist with shower chair every visit and assist with bed bath every visit. Task is not specific. Additionally, the patient is on aspiration precautions on the plan of care and this does not appear on the aide plan of care. Patient #3: patient is on aspiration precautions on the plan of care and this does not appear on the aide plan of care.”
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Hospice aide assignments and duties (42 CFR 418.76(g)(2))
“Upon patient record review 1 of 19 (Patient #8) did not have evidence documentation in the patient record that a hospice aide provides services that are: • Ordered by the interdisciplinary group • Included in the plan of care • Permitted to be performed under state law by such hospice aide • Consistent with the hospice aide training Patient #8: The aide plan of care indicates shave weekly. The week of 12/23/24, the aide shaved the patient both visits.”
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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. There is evidence in the Volunteer Cost Savings Report equals less than 1 percent of total patient care hours. (Corporate PIP in progress)”
The one inspection in the last three years
| Date | Visit | What the record says |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 10, 2025 | Initial inspection by the Accreditation Commission for Health Care | 7 deficiencies cited |
Is it certified?
- Medicare-certified hospice since Dec 18, 2006.
- 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): 16 nurse care minutes per routine home care day, 8.3% of skilled nursing minutes at weekends and a visit near death for 97.7% of patients who died.
- Where its patients were cared for (Jan 1, 2024 to Dec 31, 2024): 74% at home, 24% in assisted living, 2% in a nursing facility.
CMS, Hospice Provider Data. Released Aug 26, 2026. Updated quarterly.
| Measure | This provider |
|---|---|
| Nurse care minutes per routine home care day | 16.0 min |
| Skilled nursing minutes at weekends | 8.3% |
| Visits near death | 97.7% of patients who died |
Who owns it?
- Amedisys Holding LLC owns 100% directly since Dec 19, 2006.
- 11 owners or officers are people: Marcus Macip (corporate director); Kimberly Seymour (corporate officer); Bridget R Kaigler (managing employee (on the payroll)); Bridget R Kaigler (runs it (operational or managerial control)); Joni Babineaux (corporate officer); Peter Psenicka (managing employee (on the payroll)); Peter Psenicka (runs it (operational or managerial control)); Kristina J Braud (managing employee (on the payroll)); Kristina J Braud (runs it (operational or managerial control)); Jeanne Shingleton (corporate officer); Joshua Lee Proffitt (corporate officer).
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unitedhealth Group Incorporated | Owns 5% or more through other companies | 100% | Aug 14, 2025 |
| Amedisys Inc. | Owns 5% or more through other companies | 100% | Dec 19, 2006 |
| Amedisys Holding LLC | Owns 5% or more directly | 100% | Dec 19, 2006 |
What do families say?
- Family caregivers rate it 4 of 5 in CMS’s survey (Oct 1, 2023 to Sep 30, 2025): 86% rated it 9 or 10 out of 10, and 87% would definitely recommend it.
- CMS’s Hospice Care Index: 10 of 10 (Jan 1, 2023 to Dec 31, 2024).
- 99.62% of patients were assessed on all seven of CMS’s measures at the start of care (Oct 1, 2024 to Sep 30, 2025); 85.3% 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 | 10 of 10 |
How does it compare nearby?
- Of the 19 hospices CMS’s data show serving patients in ZIP code 30720, where this hospice’s office is, the middle number of deficiencies cited in the last three years was 2; this one had 7.
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 |
|---|---|
| Hamilton Medical Center- Hospice | 2 |
| Amedisys Hospice of Dalton This hospice | 7 |
| Heartlite Hospice | 0 |
| Eternal Faith Hospice and Palliative Care | 6 |
| Family Hospice | 3 |
| Adoration Hospice | 0 |
| Compassus-North Georgia | 0 |
| Hearth Hospice | 13 |
| Pruitthealth Hospice-Calhoun | 1 |
| Transitions Hospice, Inc. | 0 |
| Affinis Cartersville | 0 |
| Affinity Hospice | 0 |
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.