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Local Healthcare Provider Launches First-of-Its-Kind Palliative Care Program in Waco
A recent study from the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management found that two-thirds of patients living with a serious illness who could benefit from palliative care don’t get it. But, a local not-for-profit healthcare provider is working to change that for Waco patients and their families. Community Healthcare of Texas announced today the launch of its home-based palliative care program serving the Waco area.
For patients living with a serious illness like heart failure, COPD, dementia, or cancer, palliative care offers an extra layer of support. According to Dr. Joshua Wesley, Lead Medical Director for Community Healthcare of Texas, the new in-home program is a holistic model of care. Like the organization’s renowned hospice program, its palliative care program supports patients and their families by addressing their physical, emotional, and spiritual needs.
Understanding the difference between palliative and hospice care and the options can help patients and their loved ones make the most informed decisions regarding their illness. Unlike hospice care, which is for patients with a life expectancy of six months or less, palliative care is available for a patient at any stage in their illness. Additionally, palliative care patients can continue to receive treatments that may cure their disease.
“Our specialized palliative care team of physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, and social workers are committed to helping patients manage the symptoms of their disease while improving their quality of life,” said Dr. Wesley. “Our goal is to help patients enjoy time with their families and minimize the time they spend in a hospital or emergency room.”
To learn more about the Community Healthcare of Texas palliative care program in Waco, visit www.chot.org or call (800)804-0949.
About Community Healthcare of Texas
As the largest not-for-profit hospice and palliative care provider in Texas, Community Healthcare of Texas has cared for adult and pediatric patients throughout North Central Texas since 1996. Community Healthcare of Texas-Providence Hospice offers hospice care, palliative care, education, emotional and spiritual support, and grief care to families as they travel the path of serious and terminal illnesses. Community Healthcare of Texas serves patients and their families across 25 Dallas, Fort Worth, and Waco counties. Learn more at www.chot.org.
