Nursing Services

Each patient of Hillcrest Community Hospice is assigned a nurse case manager to address the patient's medical needs under the direction of the patient's attending physician. The nurses are licensed by the State of Texas and have been specially trained in hospice care. This training includes specific emphasis on pain management techniques. The initial nursing admission visit will include: 

• Explanation of services and insurance coverage  
• A complete physical examination  
• Review of the patient's medical history  
• Pain assessment and symptom management   
• Development of initial plan of care   
• Discussion of Hospice Election and Informed Consent  
• Discussion of Living Will/Advance Directives.

The frequency of subsequent nursing visits will be determined by the nurse's assessment of the patient's needs. Nursing visits will include skilled care, assessment and skilled instruction/education to teach the patient's caregiver(s) how to perform basic care tasks. 

These may include: 

• Catheter care  
• Wound care   
• Skin and mouth care   
• Use of various medical equipment   
• Administration of medications.

The nurse will develop a plan of care for nursing and nursing assistant visits. An on-call nurse is always available to the patient and family to address concerns after regular office hours and on the weekends. Information regarding when and how to contact the on-call nurse will be given to the patient and family at the time of admission. The on-call nurse will access the rest of the team as needed.