Hospice Care Services

Knapp Medical Center's Hospice Care Services provides a special kind of caring for people with terminal illnesses and their families.

Hospice care is available to terminally-ill patients who are no longer under treatment for cure of their disease and are aware of their diagnosis. The program focuses on providing a comfortable and supportive environment for a person whose life may be measured in months instead of years.

A team of professionals - doctors, nurses, chaplains, social workers, therapists, dieticians, volunteers, and others work together to address the physical, psychological, social and spiritual needs of the patient and family.

Hospice is primarily a concept of care, not a specific place of care. The environment created by our teams helps both the terminally ill and their families come to terms with the transition from life to death.

KMC Hospice Care Services Offer:

• Coordination with the patient's doctor
• Skilled nursing
• Chaplains
• Volunteers
• Bereavement
• Aides
• Dietary
• Social Services
• Physical Therapy
• Occupational Therapy
• Speech Therapy

Hospice Offers

Patient and family care:

• Works with the patient's doctor to provide physical comfort for the patient by relieving and controlling pain, nausea, and other symptoms.
• Provides emotional support for the patient and family.
• Spiritual support.

How to Receive Hospice Care Services

Referrals may be requested by a patient, physician, family member, discharge planner, social worker, friend, neighbor, nurse or clergy.

Admission Criteria

• The patient's physician must provide confirmation of the patient's terminal illness.
• Limited life expectancy - usually measured in months instead of years.
• Patient must live in Knapp Medical Center service area from La Feria to McAllen and from Edinburg to Santa Rosa.

Cost of Hospice Care Services

For patients with Medicare Part-A, and Medicaid, services are reimbursable, which means we take care of the paperwork. Many private insurance carriers will pay sizable portions of hospice costs. Check your medical insurance policy to see what your particular policy will cover towards hospice care for you or a loved one.

Call your insurance agent or contact Knapp Medical center at 956-973-1879. The Hospice Care Services staff will be happy to discuss funding options with you.

Certification

KMC Hospice Care Services is accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations.

The Medical Director, an independent professional practitioner, is certified by the American Board of Hospice and Palliative Medicine.

(The Medical Director is a member of the KMC Medical Staff. All members of the Medical Staff are independent professional practitioners and are not employees of Knapp Medical Center.)