Specialized Support for Texas Oncology Patients

Palliative care is a multidisciplinary specialty that supports patients with serious illness by improving quality of life throughout the course of their disease. It can be introduced at any point after diagnosis, and the patient can continue to receive curative or disease-directed treatments.

Community Healthcare of Texas and Providence Hospice provide in-home palliative care through Nurse Practitioner and Physician Assistant visits. Through this specialized program, we work closely with Texas Oncology to ensure patient needs are addressed, allowing them to stay safely at home while managing the symptoms, pain, and stress of a serious illness. 

Medicare and most insurances cover the cost of in-home visits by a licensed practitioner – minus any deductibles and co-payments. At the admission visit, the Palliative Care Services team will develop a care plan and discuss any out-of-pocket expenses.

Hospice care supports patients with a life-limiting illness and a prognosis of six months or less. Care prioritizes symptom management, comfort, and emotional and spiritual support for both the patient and family.

Community Healthcare of Texas and Providence Hospice interdisciplinary teams develop patient-centered plans of care and provide 24/7 clinical support. Medications, DME, and supplies related to the hospice diagnosis are included, and hospice services are typically covered in full by Medicare, Medicaid, and most private insurance plans.

Our hospice program includes four levels of care to support patients across settings and changing needs:
• Routine Home Care
• Continuous Home Care
• General Inpatient Care (GIP)
• Respite Care

Communication with the Texas Oncology team is maintained throughout the course of care to support alignment with goals and provide updates as needed. Have confidence that your referral to the Community Healthcare of Texas or Providence Hospice will be a seamless transition, allowing your patient and their family to focus on their priorities, their wishes, and what they still hope to achieve in life.

The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) Facts and Figures Hospice Care in America report found that the median length of stay for hospice care was only 18 days, even though Medicare can cover six months, and more if medically necessary. At the same time, family evaluations of hospice care remain high and often include comments like “I wish we had known about hospice sooner.” An earlier referral to Community Healthcare of Texas or Providence Hospice makes life easier for you, your patient, and their family.

Benefits of Making an Earlier Referral to Community Healthcare of Texas:

• Intensive pain and symptom management, which eliminates or reduces unnecessary hospitalizations/ER visits.
• Medications, DME, and supplies are provided at 100% when related to the terminal diagnosis, making the patient more compliant with their treatment plan.
• Community Healthcare of Texas orders medication refills, which means you and your staff will receive fewer calls and have more time to spend with other patients.
• Family support and education relieve caregiver stress and exhaustion, which decreases demands on your time.
• Your patient and their family can benefit from a full range of programs and services, including 24-hour access to care, psychosocial programs, volunteer services, and grief counseling during illness and up to 13 months after the patient’s death.
• When your patient and their family receive symptom control and emotional and spiritual support, their quality of life improves, as does their satisfaction with all of their medical providers.

At Community Healthcare of Texas, we offer an extensive range of FREE resources on a variety of topics for hospice and palliative care patients, their families, and healthcare professionals. 

• Advanced Cancer Care Resource Guide
  This comprehensive guide is for people living with cancer and their caregivers. It includes valuable information for symptom management, self-care tips, dietary recommendations, and much more. 
• Hospice and Palliative Care Patient Education Guide (DFW area)
  A comprehensive guide for Community Healthcare of Texas patients and their caregivers in the DFW area. Information includes when to choose a hospice or palliative care, myths vs. facts about hospice, understanding advance directives, and much more.
• Hospice and Palliative Care Patient Education Guide (Waco area)
  A comprehensive guide for Providence Hospice patients and their caregivers in the Waco area. Information includes when to choose a hospice or palliative care, myths vs. facts about hospice, understanding advance directives, and much more. 
• The Gift
  This tool helps you outline your personal information and wishes. It is designed to provide your family with basic information about your assets, liabilities, and personal desires when you cannot convey it. It also includes a detailed checklist for survivors after the death of a loved one.
• Grief Care Services
  A Community Healthcare of Texas specially designed program that provides support for all members of a family, including grief support groups, individual counseling, and an annual service of remembrance.

Additional resources are available at www.chot.org/resources-support/patient-and-family-resources.