Allentown Senior AdvisorSt Luke's Hospice is a Medicare-certified hospice based at 240 Union Station Plaza in Bethlehem, PA 18015. It has been certified since 1989. It cares for about 207 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 Pennsylvania average is 9. Family caregivers rate it 4 out of 5 stars. It is better than the Pennsylvania average on 2 of the index's visit and discharge indicators.
What is St Luke's Hospice's Medicare record?
| Hospice | St Luke's Hospice |
|---|---|
| Address | 240 Union Station Plaza, Bethlehem, PA 18015 |
| Phone | (484) 526-1100 |
| Medicare provider number (CCN) | 391535 |
| Ownership | Non-Profit |
| Medicare-certified since | 03/30/1989 |
How does St Luke's Hospice score on Medicare's Hospice Care Index?
St Luke's Hospice 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 Pennsylvania average it is better on 2 of the indicators below and worse on 0.
| Indicator | St Luke's Hospice | Pennsylvania average | U.S. average | vs. Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gaps in nursing visits longer than 7 days (lower is better) | 41.7% | 42.3% | 52.4% | About the same |
| Patients discharged alive within 7 days (lower is better) | 9% | 8.7% | 7.3% | About the same |
| Patients discharged alive after 180 days or more (lower is better) | 32.1% | 36.4% | 37.4% | Better |
| Live discharge followed by a hospital stay and readmission to hospice (lower is better) | 6.4% | 8.4% | 8.5% | About the same |
| Live discharge followed by death in hospital (lower is better) | 3.2% | 2.1% | 2.1% | About the same |
| Nurse minutes per routine home care day | 15.2 min | 14.4 min | 19.9 min | About the same |
| Share of skilled nursing minutes given on weekends | 11.7% | 7.9% | 9.6% | Better |
| Patients visited by a nurse in the last 3 days of life | 95.4% | 92.8% | 89.3% | About the same |
Separately, 100% of its patients received all seven recommended care steps at admission (Pennsylvania average 95.5%) and 54.6% were visited by a nurse or social worker on at least two of their last three days (Pennsylvania average 59.9%).
What do families say about St Luke's Hospice?
87% of family caregivers said they would definitely recommend St Luke's Hospice; the Pennsylvania average is 85%. The survey goes to the family member who was the main caregiver, after the patient has died.
| Survey question | St Luke's Hospice | Pennsylvania average | U.S. average | vs. Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team always communicated well | 83% | 82% | 82% | About the same |
| Team always provided timely help | 80% | 79% | 78% | About the same |
| Team always treated the patient with respect | 92% | 92% | 91% | About the same |
| Right amount of emotional and spiritual support | 91% | 91% | 91% | About the same |
| Patient always got help for pain and symptoms | 78% | 77% | 76% | About the same |
| Caregivers rated the hospice 9 or 10 | 84% | 83% | 83% | About the same |
| Would definitely recommend the hospice | 87% | 85% | 85% | About the same |
Where does St Luke's Hospice deliver care, and to whom?
61% of st luke's hospice's care is delivered at home and its largest patient group by diagnosis is cancer (29%). 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 | 61% |
| In a nursing facility | 18% |
| In assisted living | 13% |
| In a skilled nursing facility | 6% |
| In an inpatient hospice unit | 2% |
| Primary diagnosis | Share of patients |
|---|---|
| Cancer | 29% |
| Other conditions | 23% |
| Dementia | 16% |
| Heart and circulatory disease | 16% |
| Respiratory disease | 11% |
| Stroke | 6% |
Which Allentown-area ZIP codes does St Luke's Hospice serve?
St Luke's Hospice tells Medicare it serves 57 ZIP codes in Allentown and Lehigh, Northampton and Carbon counties.
- 18013
- 18014
- 18015
- 18017
- 18018
- 18020
- 18030
- 18031
- 18032
- 18034
- 18036
- 18037
- 18038
- 18040
- 18042
- 18045
- 18049
- 18051
- 18052
- 18053
- 18055
- 18059
- 18062
- 18063
- 18064
- 18065
- 18066
- 18067
- 18069
- 18071
- 18072
- 18078
- 18079
- 18080
- 18083
- 18085
- 18086
- 18087
- 18088
- 18091
- 18092
- 18101
- 18102
- 18103
- 18104
- 18106
- 18109
- 18210
- 18229
- 18230
- 18232
- 18235
- 18240
- 18250
- 18255
- 18343
- 18624
What should you ask St Luke's Hospice before choosing it?
Ask what the family is expected to do
Hospice supports the family caregiver; it does not replace one. Ask how many aide visits a week are typical and what happens overnight.
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.
Ask where inpatient care happens
When symptoms cannot be managed at home, hospice provides short inpatient stays. Ask which facility they use and how far it is from the family.
Which other hospices serve Bethlehem, PA?
- Advantage Home Health and Hospice — Hospice Care Index 9 of 10
- Family Pillars Hospice Inc — Hospice Care Index 8 of 10
- The Care Team Hospice — Hospice Care Index 6 of 10
All Medicare-certified hospices in Allentown and Lehigh, Northampton and Carbon counties
Last verified: November 2026, against the Medicare hospice data release dated 2026-08-07.
Common questions
Is St Luke's Hospice Medicare-certified?
Yes. St Luke's Hospice is certified by Medicare under provider number 391535 and has been since 1989.
What is St Luke's Hospice's Hospice Care Index score?
10 out of 10 in the current Medicare data. The Pennsylvania average is 9.
How large is St Luke's Hospice?
It cares for about 207 patients on an average day.
