RIVERCITY
HOSPICE
AND MRS.
JANET MONTAGNE-CEO
BRINGING A CHANGE IN PERCEPTION ABOUT
HOSPICE CARE
“Hospice is not just
about cancer. It’s a benefit that helps those with heart, lung and kidney
disease, and those who have lost a significant amount of weight that is
unexplained. Hospice is such an underused benefit that people simply haven’t
taken advantage of in South Texas. We value and respect the diverse and rich
culture and history in South Texas and are trying to educate people on the
hospice model of care that brings families and communities together….” Janet Montagne, CEO, Rivercity Hospice
Mrs. Janet Montagne has provided care for decades to people
in need throughout Texas and created hundreds of jobs. Her company Rivercity Hospice came to South
Texas over a year ago to provide the care that many in our community
desperately need- particularly with chronic, debilitating and terminal
illnesses. Often, because of a lack of resources, the seriously ill must receive treatment away from their home,
family, and in an unfamiliar environment.
They often unfortunately die in a nursing home or hospital unnecessarily
and alone.
We interviewed Mrs. Janet Montagne, the CEO of Rivercity
Hospice services covering half the counties in Texas, to learn more about
hospice and to educate our readers:
What
is Hospice?
Mrs.
Janet Montagne: “Hospice is a compassionate,
patient-centered approach to medical care and support for people at the end of
life and their families. It is care focused on maintaining dignity, increasing
quality of life, and providing comfort, including pain and symptom control.
Hospice recognizes that every person's experience will be different and the
hospice team creates a plan of care according to the individual needs and
wishes of each patient. Hospice staff members are available at all times, 24
hours a day, 365 days a year. It is the mission of hospice staff to walk
side-by-side with patients and offer support, not only for any physical
symptoms, but for emotional and spiritual needs, as well. This support extends
to family members, and hospice helps them cope with their own unique emotional
and spiritual concerns. Many
people think that hospice means that you have given up or stopped fighting-this
is not correct. Many people need the help, and the compassion and the services,
when dealing with a severe illness that could potentially be terminal as
assessed by your physician and enhances
the quality of your life in order to have control and dignity. People with Alzheimers Disease, stroke, lung,
kidney and heart problems all can benefit. ”
What Services are provided by Rivercity Hospice?
Ms. Janet Montagne:
“Rivercity
Hospice treats the physical, emotional, spiritual and social needs of the
patient and their family. Our family of healthcare providers, clergy and social
workers provide and coordinate palliative services in the patient's home,
wherever home may be. We extend our services into Assisted Living Facilities,
Nursing Facilities and Residential Care homes as well as the patient's private
home. Our team at Rivercity Hospice will
coordinate the care and treatment of the patient by providing nursing services,
pharmaceuticals, medical supplies and medical equipment necessary to meet the
needs of the patient's terminal illness as ordered by the physician. We are focused on managing the illness to ensure
the patient is comfortable. This is accomplished by working closely with the
family members and caregivers to ensure they have the resources and essential
knowledge to meet the patient’s needs. We are available for you and your family
24 hours a day, 7 days a week and are committed to the patient and their
family.”
This
sounds expensive. How do the poor,
elderly, and even children and their families afford these extensive services?
Mrs. Janet Montagne:
“Hospice care is a covered benefit under Medicare, most private insurance
plans, HMOs and managed care organizations. Hospice is also available through
Medicaid. While each hospice has its own
policies concerning payment for care, it is a founding principle of Rivercity
Hospice to offer services based upon the patient's need. For those with economic hardship and having
difficulty obtaining services, Rivercity Hospice Foundation was created to
address the needs of patients who have no resources available to them. The
contributions received are earmarked for the communities from which they came.
Each fundraiser ensures that we come closer to meeting the needs of another
patient. We are dedicated to the 106
counties in Texas that we service and want to do everything we can to deliver
compassionate and dignified care. We
believe that all patients who are eligible for hospice, should receive hospice.
After all, this is the time when quality of life matters most.”
What
is Rivercity Hospice’s philosophy on care and what is your mission statement?
Mrs. Janet Montagne:
We believe that each patient's life experience is unique - many of the
problems, coping strategies and emotions are not. Our specialized experience
can help patients and their families accept the life limiting illness, and
effectively address the frustrations and seek personal motivation, peace and
comfort. Our mission is to
professionally managed Hospice care provides our patient with a comfortable,
dignified and supportive experience. Utilizing continuity of care allows for an
earlier hospital discharge and provides the patient an opportunity to live the
rest of their life the way they choose .... at home with family and friends.
We
believe in the basic right of all patients to competent nursing care. Much can
be accomplished medically, physically, psychologically and socially to enable
patients to lead a more comfortable and functional life. A hospice care plan is
designed for each patient utilizing insight from the family, our nurses,
hospice team and in conference with the physician.
What
Makes Hospice Different?
Mrs. Janet Montagne:
“Hospice
focuses on pain and symptom control that enable the patient to live as fully
and comfortably as possible. Hospice
treats the person, not the disease. The
hospice interdisciplinary team cares for the medical, emotional, psychological,
and spiritual needs of the patient and family. Hospice neither hastens nor
postpones death: it affirms life and understands that dying is a natural part
of the cycle of life. Hospice care is
provided at home, including nursing homes and assisted living residences -
wherever home is. For hospice patients
and their families, help is just a phone call away, 24 hours-a-day, seven days
a week. Even after the death of the
patient, hospice continues to care for the family by providing grief
counseling.”
Are
you reaching the Hispanic as well as as African American, White and Asian
populations with hospice services here in South Texas?
Mrs.
Montagne: Absolutely. One of the ways we are educating the public
is through television, radio and social media in both English and Spanish.
We’ve partnered with Lopez Broadcasting
to reach the Mexican American community as well as other cultures. We respect
the Hispanic community and understand how important family and having that
support is for all cultures. We
understand that people want and need care at home so their families can be
close by. The emerging babyboomer population also will demand and expect care
tailored to their needs. This upcoming
senior population will want the same care in their home as they can receive at a
hospital. Times are changing and healthcare and Rivercity are responding to
those expectations. We are reaching out
to the community door to door, and even provide our care to people in nursing
homes. We also teach people that you can have home health and hospice at the
same time. We encourage any groups whether they be seniors, church groups,
hospitals or nursing homes and day care to give us a call and we will be glad
to put on a learning seminar any time. I
am excited about employing bilingual healthcare providers and working with the
community. We love the people of South Texas and after a year or more of hard
work in this area have proven our commitment to being a business that can make
a difference in the Coastal Bend area.
Thank
you for taking the time to speak with us and educate all of our readers,
especially the Mexican American culture here in South Texas that may have had
some preconceived notions about hospice care.
Mrs. Janet Montagne:
“I’d
like to thank your publication for allowing me to provide some information to
the community on how we are ready and able to help. It is a privilege to be in
the Coastal Bend and help those who need it the most and help ease their pain
and suffering through our team approach.”
How
can people reach you if they have more questions?
Mrs. Janet Montagne:
“They
can call any time to our agency at 361-882-5900, 24 hours per day or visit us
at rivercityhospice.com or email us at info@rivercityhospice.com or visit us on Facebook/ Rivercity Hospice.”
ALZHEIMERS
DISEASE? CANCER? SEVERE LUNG, HEART, KIDNEY OR UNEXPLAINED WEIGHT LOSS
PROBLEMS? CONTACT RIVERCITY HOSPICE TODAY TO LEARN MORE: 361-882-5900