Hospice of the Valley earns top national honor for patient care

AZ Big Media
Sept. 9, 2026
by Lin Sue Flood

Hospice of the Valley has been recognized with the 2026 Hospice Honors Elite Award for exceptional patient care and family support. Notably, this distinction was achieved by every one of the agency’s home and inpatient care teams serving Maricopa and Pinal counties, Tucson and surrounding communities. The prestigious award is based entirely on feedback from families who received care from a hospice provider.

“We are deeply humbled by this recognition, which belongs to the families who allow us into their homes during an incredibly vulnerable time. This honor is a direct reflection of their trust,” said Hospice of the Valley CEO Debbie Shumway. The agency served more than 28,000 patients and families last year across all programs. “We are grateful for our compassionate teams and their commitment to providing the highest standard of care.”

MatrixCare, the organization that presents the awards, analyzes data from the Medicare hospice survey, which measures all aspects of patient care and family support. To earn the program’s highest designation, Honors Elite, a hospice provider must score above the national performance benchmark on all 22 measures, including communication, symptom management and timely support.

Founded by a small group of volunteers in 1977, Hospice of the Valley is Arizona’s largest hospice and the only nonprofit hospice in Maricopa County. Last year, it provided nearly $19 million in unreimbursed care and community programs, turning no one away for lack of financial resources.