Goldencare Hospice and Palliative Care, LLC
A hospice in Sandy Springs, Georgia 30328
1 Glenlake Pkwy, Suite 650, Sandy Springs, Georgia 30328. (855) 655-0500.
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The short answer
Record last released by CMS on Oct 23, 2026.
- 26 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?
26 deficiencies cited in the last three years
The middle of the 47 hospices serving ZIP code 30328 had 3.
The last inspection on record was on Sep 3, 2025: a follow-up inspection by the Accreditation Commission for Health Care.
2 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
26 deficiencies in 1 month of the last 36. Last cited Jul 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.
Jul 17, 2025: reaccreditation inspection by the Accreditation Commission for Health Care26 deficiencies
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IDG, care planning, coordination of services (42 CFR 418.56)
“Upon patient record review, 4 of 12 (Patient #4,5,6,10) did not have evidence in the patient record that the written plan of care is developed by the IDG, in consultation with the patient’s attending physician, which specifies the services necessary to meet the patient and family-specific needs identified in the comprehensive assessment as it relates to the terminal illness and related conditions. #4- There is no evidence of a plan of care in the patient’s chart. #5,6,10-The document titled plan of care only contains visit frequencies.”
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Organizational environment (42 CFR 418.100)
“Condition of Participation: Organization and Administration of Services.”
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Rights of the patient (42 CFR 418.52(c)(1))
The inspectors’ words, 111 words
“Upon patient record review, 1 of 12 (Patient #5) 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. #5-Patient was admitted on 08/08/24 for Stage IV lung cancer with metastasis. The record noted that the patient rated pain between 6-9, but no pain medication was ordered. On 08/11/24 the patient was discharged to a non-contracted hospital in respiratory distress and it was noted the patient was actively dying. The administrator stated that the medical director did not want to order pain medication until he could be sure that patient wasn’t going to go the ER.”
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Rights of the patient (42 CFR 418.52(c)(2))
“Upon patient record review, 9 of 12 (Patient #1,2,3,4,5,6,7,10,11) 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. #1,2,3,4,5,6,7,10,11 All referenced patient charts lack evidence of patient/family’s involvement in the development of plan of care.”
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Content of comprehensive assessment (42 CFR 418.54(c))
“Upon patient record review 4 of 12 (Patient #2,3,4,10) 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. #2,3,4-There is no evidence that of a psychosocial assessment as part of the comprehensive assessment. #10-There is not evidence of a psychosocial or spiritual assessment as part of the comprehensive assessment.”
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Content of comprehensive assessment (42 CFR 418.54(c)(6))
The inspectors’ words, 215 words
“Upon patient record review, 5 of 12 (Patient #1,3,4,5,7) 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 #1-The order for O2 2 lpm via NC prn to maintain O2 sats greater than 95% is not included on the medication profile. Remeron is listed twice, once for 7.5 mg q hs and then again for 15 mg tablets, take 7.5 mg q hs. There is a potential for duplication since both medications are listed as active. #3-The order for O2 2 lpm via NC is not included on the medication profile. #4-Albuterol HFA 1 puff q4h prn has no indication. #5-The order for O2 2-3 lpm via NC is not on the medication profile. The following topicals do not list a location for use: Clotrimazole .01mg 1% 1x day, Bacitracin 500u/gm topical 2x day, Triamcinolone 0.1% prn. The triamcinolone order also includes no indication. #7-The order for O2 2 lpm via NC for respiratory distress is not included on the medication profile.”
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Approach to service delivery (42 CFR 418.56(a)(1))
The inspectors’ words, 119 words
“Upon patient record review, 1 of 12 (Patient #5) did not have evidence that a Registered Nurse is designated to ensure continuous assessment of the patient and family’s needs and to coordinate activities with other members of the interdisciplinary group (IDG). The IDG must work together and is responsible for supervision of the care and service for each patient and family. #5-The record lacks evidence that the RN provided continuous assessment. The patient had no visits between admission and discharge. The patient went to the ER in respiratory distress and was admitted to the hospital actively dying per the record. The initial nursing assessment noted a stage 2 pressure ulcer with no specific details and no wound care orders.”
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Plan of care (42 CFR 418.56(b))
“Upon patient record review, 9 of 12 (Patient #1,2,3,4,5,6,7,10,11) did not have evidence that the hospice follows the individualized plan of care developed in in collaboration with the attending physician (if any), the patient or representative, and the primary caregiver in accordance with the patient’s needs if any of them so desire. #1,2,3,4,5,6,7,10,11 - All referenced patient charts lack evidence that a plan of care was developed for the hospice to implement/follow.”
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Plan of care (42 CFR 418.56(b))
“Upon patient record review, 9 of 12 (Patient #1,2,3,4,5,6,7,10,11) did not have evidence that each patient and family received education and training provided as appropriate to their responsibilities for the care and services identified in the plan of care. #1,2,3,4,5,6,7,10,11 - All referenced patient charts lack evidence of the patient and family had identified responsibilities on the plan of care.”
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Content of plan of care (42 CFR 418.56(c))
The inspectors’ words, 93 words
“Upon patient record review, 9 of 12 (Patient #1,2,3,4,5,6,7,10,11) 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. #1,2,3,4,5,6,7,10,11 All patient charts lack evidence of patient/family goals and interventions based on problems identified in the assessments.”
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Content of plan of care (42 CFR 418.56(c)(3))
“Upon patient record review, 9 of 12 (Patient #1,2,3,4,5,6,7,10,11) 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 measurable outcomes are anticipated from implementing and coordinating the plan of care for each patient by using data elements identified by the hospice and is used as part of the Hospice’s QAPI program. #1,2,3,4,5,6,7,10,11 All referenced patient charts lack evidence of measurable outcomes.”
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Content of plan of care (42 CFR 418.56(c)(4))
“Upon patient record review, 9 of 12 (Patient #1,2,3,4,5,6,7,10,11) 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. #1,2,3,4,6,7,10,11-All referenced patient charts lack evidence of medications listed as part of the plan of care orders. #5-There are no orders for the Stage 2 wound identified on the initial nursing assessment. In addition, there are no medications listed on the plan of care orders.”
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Content of plan of care (42 CFR 418.56(c)(5))
“Upon patient record review, 9 of 12 (Patient #1,2,3,4,5,6,7,10,11) 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 equipment and supply needs. #1,2,3,4,5,6,7,10,11- All referenced patient charts lack evidence of equipment and supplies as part of the plan of care.”
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Content of plan of care (42 CFR 418.56(c)(6))
“Upon patient record review, 9 of 12 (Patient #1,2,3,4,5,6,7,10,11) did not have evidence that the plan of care included IDG’s documentation of the patient’s or family’s level of understanding, involvement and agreement with the plan of care. #1,2,3,4,5,6,7,10,11 All referenced patient charts lack evidence of the patient/family’s level of understanding, involvement and agreement with the plan of care.”
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Review of the plan of care (42 CFR 418.56(d))
“Upon patient record review, 9 of 12 (Patient #1,2,3,4,5,6,7,10,11) 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. #1,2,3,4,5,6,7,10,11 -All referenced patient charts lack a revised plan of care with updates and progress towards goals.”
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Coordination of services (42 CFR 418.56(e)(2))
“Upon patient record review, 1 of 12 (Patient #1) did not have evidence that the IDG ensures that the care and services are provided in accordance with the plan of care. #1-The nursing frequency from the SOC to present is ordered for 1 x wk. SN visits on 12/1/24, 12/29/24, 02/16/25, 04/13/25, 04/20/25, 06/01/25, 06/08/25 were all made via video call with no telehealth orders. The visits from 2/16 and 6/1 noted a missed visit within the same week for “transportation and weather issues.””
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Prevention (42 CFR 418.60(a))
“Upon observation and home visits, 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. #1-Nurse did not perform hand hygiene prior to touching patient or prior to entering her nursing bag to remove equipment.”
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Counseling services (42 CFR 418.64(d)(1))
The inspectors’ words, 124 words
“Upon patient record review, 3 of 12 (Patient #10,11,12) did not have evidence the hospice offers bereavement counseling that includes: • Making bereavement services available to the family and other individuals in the bereavement plan of care up to 1 year following the death of the patient. Bereavement counseling also extends to residents of a SNF/NF or ICF/IID when appropriate and identified in the bereavement plan of care • Ensuring that bereavement services reflect the needs of the bereaved • Development of a bereavement plan of care that notes the kind of bereavement services to be offered and the frequency of service delivery. #10,11,12-There is no evidence of a bereavement plan of care. There are handwritten monthly reports that state the bereaved declined services.”
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Hospice aide assignments and duties (42 CFR 418.76(g)(2))
“Upon patient record review 1 of 12 (Patient #7) 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 #7-Aide visits are ordered 3x week on plan of care dated 09/11/23. There is no evidence that any aide visits were completed.”
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Governing body and administrator (42 CFR 418.100(b))
“Upon observation, there was no evidence the hospice is directed by a Board of Directors/governing body which assumes full legal authority and responsibility for the operation of the hospice. The agency demonstrated a lack of administrative oversight as evidenced by the absence of individualized plans of care for each patient, a failure of the medical director to provide effective oversight and direction of pain and symptom management, incomplete election of benefit forms, and an overall deficiency in organizational supervision and accountability.”
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Training (42 CFR 418.100(g)(3))
“Upon personnel record review, 1 of 11 (Personnel #9) did not have evidence that a skills competency assessment, specific to each discipline had been conducted for all personnel including volunteers initially during orientation. #9-The MSW skills assessment dated 6/19/24 is not conducted by a peer, it is a self assessment.”
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Initial certification of terminal illness (42 CFR 418.102(b))
The inspectors’ words, 103 words
“Upon patient record review, 1 of 12 (Patient #2) did not have evidence that the medical director or physician designee provides written certification that it is anticipated that the patient’s life expectancy is 6 months or less if the illness runs its normal course. The physician must consider the following when making this determination: • The primary terminal condition • Related diagnosis • Current subjective and objective medical findings • Current medication and treatment orders • Information about the medical management of any of the patient’s conditions unrelated to the terminal illness #2-There is no evidence of physician narrative in the patient’s chart.”
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Content (42 CFR 418.104(a)(2))
“Upon patient record review, 3 of 12 (Patient #3,4,6) 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 #3-Date of election on EOB is blank. #4-Date of election on EOB is blank and is not signed by the patient/caregiver or hospice representative. #6-Date of election on EOB is blank.”
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Personnel qualification (42 CFR 418.114(b)(5))
“Upon personnel record review, 1 of 11 (Personnel #7) did not have evidence all Occupational Therapy Services are provided by a qualified licensed Occupational Therapist (OT) in accordance with the state’s Occupational Therapy Practice Act and the hospice’s policies and procedures and/or job descriptions. #7 There was no OT file for review at survey, unable to verify a licensed Occupational Therapist.”
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Criminal background checks (42 CFR 418.114(d)(1))
“Upon personnel record review, 1 of 11 (Personnel #7) did not have evidence the hospice obtained a criminal background check on all contracted individuals who have direct patient care and access to patient records. #7 There was no OT file for review at survey to provide evidence of a criminal background check being completed.”
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Multiple locations (42 CFR 418.116(a))
“Upon observation, there was no evidence the organizational chart matches the hospice’s information submitted to CMS and/or State licensing agencies for ownership and management personnel. The administrator on the current organizational chart was not updated with the state of GA between surveys.”
All 2 inspections in the last three years
| Date | Visit | What the record says |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 3, 2025 | Follow-up inspection by the Accreditation Commission for Health Care | No deficiencies cited |
| Jul 17, 2025 | Reaccreditation inspection by the Accreditation Commission for Health Care | 26 deficiencies cited |
Is it certified?
- Medicare-certified hospice since Jul 20, 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): 25% at home, 56% in assisted living, 19% in a nursing facility.
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 47 hospices CMS’s data show serving patients in ZIP code 30328, where this hospice’s office is, the middle number of deficiencies cited in the last three years was 3; this one had 26.
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 of Georgia | 10 |
| Sovereign Hospice | 4 |
| Ennoble Care | 0 |
| Lotus Blossom Hospice and Palliative Care, LLC | 5 |
| Avion Palliative & Hospice Care, LLC | 0 |
| Goldencare Hospice and Palliative Care, LLC This hospice | 26 |
| Wellstar Community Hospice | 13 |
| Hospice Atlanta | 15 |
| Pruitthealth Hospice and Palliative Care-Atlanta | 0 |
| Gentiva | 10 |
| Gentiva | 17 |
| The Weinstein Hospice | 5 |
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.