TCMH Hospice of Care Has 30-Year Anniversary in 2013

Texas County Memorial Hospital Hospice of Care is celebrating 30 years of service to the community in 2013.

Some of the TCMH Hospice of Care staff that provide patient care every day. Back row, left to right, Andrea Turner, LPN; Courtney Owens, Hospice of Care director and RN; Sandy Eaton, LPN. Front row, left to right, Sara McDaniel, social worker, and Andree Havens, aide.

“We have been and are the only locally based and operated hospice service in Texas County,” Courtney Owens, Hospice of Care director, explained.

According to Owens, Hospice of Care was the first hospice to open in the South Central Ozarks when it opened in 1983.

“The administration and board of trustees at TCMH saw a need to provide additional care for terminally ill patients in Texas County and the surrounding area,” Owens said, “Hospice of Care was established to provide the highest quality of life for the remaining time a terminally ill patient has.”

Owens was born at TCMH and raised in Cabool.  According to Owens, she and her staff—many of whom are also longtime residents of Texas County—take pride in providing hospice care to area patients.

“Many times, our staff members know the friends and family members of the patients we care for,” Owens said.  “It’s a privilege to be able to be a caregiver for our neighbors.”

Owens explained that despite the organization’s years of service in the community, misconceptions remain about hospice care.

“Many people think that hospice care is for people with cancer,” Owens said, “But hospice care is for anyone of any age with a terminal illness.”

According to Owens patients that are no longer seeking lifesaving treatments will seek hospice care.

“The focus of hospice care is on caring for, not curing, the patient by taking care of the individual rather than the disease,” Owens said.

TCMH Hospice of Care is the only area hospice with a medical director that is board certified in palliative care—Charlie Rasmussen, DO.

“Dr. Rasmussen is the physician for all of the patients in our care,” Owens said.

Rasmussen is a full-time family medicine physician at the TCMH Medical Complex in Houston.  He has been practicing in the county since 2007.

“Dr. Rasmussen’s palliative care board certification speaks to the high quality of care he wants to provide to all Hospice of Care patients,” Owens said, adding that Dr. Rasmussen “knows our patient demographics well”.

Hospice of Care provides a holistic approach in caring for the patient’s physical, spiritual and mental needs.  The Hospice staff also works closely with the patient’s family members and friends in creating a peaceful and high-quality experience for everyone as the patient nears the end of life.

Patients using the TCMH hospice service may have terminal illnesses such as cancer, heart disease, dementia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or other condition.  Usually, hospice care is reserved for patients that have been evaluated by a physician and found to have six months or less to live.

Most Hospice of Care patients receive care in their own home in Texas County or the surrounding area, but hospice care can also be provided in nursing homes and assisted living facilities.

“Sometimes our patients require hospitalization or the family may need a break from in-home care, so we have a private patient room at TCMH for our hospice patients,” Owens said.

The Hospice of Care staff includes Owens—the director and also a registered nurse; Rasmussen; an additional registered nurse; two licensed practical nurses; one social worker; one chaplain; one aide, and five volunteers.

Hospice of Care uses “a team approach” to provide care for hospice patients, according to Owens.

The physician oversees symptom management and end of life care; the nurses visit the patient’s home or other care setting; the aides provide care and assistance such as dressing, bathing or feeding the patient; the chaplain provides spiritual guidance and counseling; the social worker provides counseling and support, and the volunteers perform a variety of duties such as sitting with the patient or running errands for the family.

“Our hospice team provides care that extends beyond the patient to the family and friends of the patient,” Owens explained.  “Many times, the family or friends of the patient may want to talk with our chaplain or social worker, and we encourage that as part of our holistic approach to caring for the patient.”

The hospice holistic approach also recognizes that patient’s family member as the “center of care” for the patient, and Hospice of Care augments the family’s care circle with additional services such as in-home visits from numerous members of the hospice staff; end of life care by a physician; respite care; medication to control pain and symptoms; physical, speech or dietary therapy; medical equipment such as wheelchairs, oxygen and medical beds and bereavement care for the family.

Owens emphasized that Hospice of Care provides services to anyone regardless of their ability to pay.

“Medicare, Medicaid and private insurance may be used to pay for hospice care, and arrangement can be made for those without insurance,” Owens said.

Hospice of Care will work with patients to explain the various options available.  To receive reimbursement for hospice care expenses, the patient’s physician must certify that the patient is eligible for hospice services, and the patient seeking hospice care must agree to receive hospice care instead of treatments meant to treat or cure the illness.

Payment for some hospice services or items used by patients in hospice service comes from donations to the Hospice Memorial Fund which is administered by the TCMH Healthcare Foundation.

For many years Hospice of Care has hosted a large fundraiser each fall to raise money to benefit the hospice program and the patients in the program.

“Our community has been very generous in the support they have shown us over the years,” Willis said.  “We are very proud of the fact that donations made to Hospice of Care stay in our area and benefit terminally ill patients in our area.”

Owens also pointed out that patients choosing to use TCMH Hospice of Care are also supporting a local business.

“We have a 30-year history of providing hospice care in our community,” Owens said.  “With continued support from the area residents, we plan to provide local hospice care for another 30 years or more.”

Additional information about TCMH Hospice of Care is available by contacting them at, 417/967-1279.