San Diego Senior AdvisorVitas Healthcare Corporation of California is a Medicare-certified hospice based at 9655 Granite Ridge Drive, Suite 300 in San Diego, CA 92123. It has been certified since 1992. It cares for about 609 patients on an average day, making it one of the larger hospices in the area. It scores 10 out of 10 on Medicare's Hospice Care Index; the California average is 8.3. Family caregivers rate it 3 out of 5 stars. The index flags 4 areas where it is worse than the California average, starting with gaps in nursing visits longer than 7 days.
What is Vitas Healthcare Corporation of California's Medicare record?
| Hospice | Vitas Healthcare Corporation of California |
|---|---|
| Address | 9655 Granite Ridge Drive, Suite 300, San Diego, CA 92123 |
| Phone | (858) 499-8901 |
| Medicare provider number (CCN) | 051597 |
| Ownership | For-Profit |
| Medicare-certified since | 11/13/1992 |
How does Vitas Healthcare Corporation of California score on Medicare's Hospice Care Index?
Vitas Healthcare Corporation of California scores 10 out of 10 on the Hospice Care Index, which counts how many of ten visit, discharge and staffing indicators a hospice meets. Against the California average it is better on 2 of the indicators below and worse on 4.
| Indicator | Vitas Healthcare Corporation of California | California average | U.S. average | vs. California |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gaps in nursing visits longer than 7 days (lower is better) | 77.1% | 58.9% | 52.4% | Worse |
| Patients discharged alive within 7 days (lower is better) | 14.6% | 5.4% | 7.3% | Worse |
| Patients discharged alive after 180 days or more (lower is better) | 33% | 42.7% | 37.4% | Better |
| Live discharge followed by a hospital stay and readmission to hospice (lower is better) | 12.7% | 6.5% | 8.5% | Worse |
| Live discharge followed by death in hospital (lower is better) | 3% | 1.9% | 2.1% | About the same |
| Nurse minutes per routine home care day | 18.3 min | 30.4 min | 19.9 min | Worse |
| Share of skilled nursing minutes given on weekends | 11.1% | 13.7% | 9.6% | About the same |
| Patients visited by a nurse in the last 3 days of life | 97.6% | 83.6% | 89.3% | Better |
Separately, 96% of its patients received all seven recommended care steps at admission (California average 93.4%) and 58.5% were visited by a nurse or social worker on at least two of their last three days (California average 20.4%).
What do families say about Vitas Healthcare Corporation of California?
81% of family caregivers said they would definitely recommend Vitas Healthcare Corporation of California; the California average is 82%. The survey goes to the family member who was the main caregiver, after the patient has died.
| Survey question | Vitas Healthcare Corporation of California | California average | U.S. average | vs. California |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team always communicated well | 76% | 79% | 82% | Worse |
| Team always provided timely help | 67% | 73% | 78% | Worse |
| Team always treated the patient with respect | 88% | 89% | 91% | About the same |
| Right amount of emotional and spiritual support | 91% | 89% | 91% | About the same |
| Patient always got help for pain and symptoms | 74% | 75% | 76% | About the same |
| Caregivers rated the hospice 9 or 10 | 78% | 80% | 83% | About the same |
| Would definitely recommend the hospice | 81% | 82% | 85% | About the same |
Where does Vitas Healthcare Corporation of California deliver care, and to whom?
55% of vitas healthcare corporation of california's care is delivered at home and its largest patient group by diagnosis is stroke (36%). It has provided levels of care beyond routine home visits, such as continuous care at home or inpatient stays, in the last three years.
| Where care is delivered | Share of patients |
|---|---|
| At home | 55% |
| In assisted living | 36% |
| In a nursing facility | 8% |
| In a hospital | 1% |
| Primary diagnosis | Share of patients |
|---|---|
| Stroke | 36% |
| Cancer | 20% |
| Other conditions | 16% |
| Heart and circulatory disease | 14% |
| Dementia | 8% |
| Respiratory disease | 7% |
Which San Diego-area ZIP codes does Vitas Healthcare Corporation of California serve?
Vitas Healthcare Corporation of California tells Medicare it serves 92 ZIP codes in San Diego County.
- 91901
- 91902
- 91905
- 91906
- 91910
- 91911
- 91913
- 91914
- 91915
- 91916
- 91917
- 91932
- 91935
- 91941
- 91942
- 91945
- 91950
- 91962
- 91977
- 91978
- 92003
- 92007
- 92008
- 92009
- 92010
- 92011
- 92014
- 92019
- 92020
- 92021
- 92024
- 92025
- 92026
- 92027
- 92028
- 92029
- 92036
- 92037
- 92040
- 92054
- 92056
- 92057
- 92058
- 92059
- 92061
- 92064
- 92065
- 92067
- 92069
- 92070
- 92071
- 92075
- 92078
- 92081
- 92082
- 92083
- 92084
- 92086
- 92091
- 92101
- 92102
- 92103
- 92104
- 92105
- 92106
- 92107
- 92108
- 92109
- 92110
- 92111
- 92113
- 92114
- 92115
- 92116
- 92117
- 92118
- 92119
- 92120
- 92122
- 92123
- 92124
- 92126
- 92127
- 92128
- 92129
- 92130
- 92131
- 92134
- 92139
- 92154
- 92173
- 92672
What should you ask Vitas Healthcare Corporation of California before choosing it?
Ask how often the nurse visits
77.1% of Vitas Healthcare Corporation of California's patients went more than seven days without a nursing visit at some point, against 58.9% across California. Ask for the planned visit schedule in writing and who decides when it changes.
Ask what happens in the first week
14.6% of its live discharges came within a week of enrollment (California average 5.4%). Ask what the admission visit covers and how they confirm hospice is the right fit before enrolling.
Ask how a crisis at home is handled
12.7% of its live discharges were followed by a hospital stay and a return to hospice (California average 6.5%). Ask who comes to the house in a symptom crisis and how fast.
Ask how fast they can admit
Ask how soon after the call a nurse can come out, including evenings and weekends, and how quickly medications and equipment arrive.
Which other hospices serve San Diego, CA?
- Anchor Hospice & Palliative Care — Hospice Care Index 10 of 10
- Bristol Hospice - San Diego — Hospice Care Index 10 of 10
- Comfort and Peace Hospice — Hospice Care Index 10 of 10
- Sharp Hospicecare — Hospice Care Index 10 of 10
- Silverado Hospice San Diego — Hospice Care Index 10 of 10
- Suncrest Hospice San Diego — Hospice Care Index 10 of 10
All Medicare-certified hospices in San Diego County
Last verified: November 2026, against the Medicare hospice data release dated 2026-08-07.
Common questions
Is Vitas Healthcare Corporation of California Medicare-certified?
Yes. Vitas Healthcare Corporation of California is certified by Medicare under provider number 051597 and has been since 1992.
What is Vitas Healthcare Corporation of California's Hospice Care Index score?
10 out of 10 in the current Medicare data. The California average is 8.3.
How large is Vitas Healthcare Corporation of California?
It cares for about 609 patients on an average day.
