IntegraCare Now Offers Hospice Care in Abilene, Texas

Posted on February 27, 2012 by admin

GRAPEVINE, TX – February 24, 2012 – IntegraCare Holdings, Inc.^™, a visionary provider of Home Health, Hospice and Community Services, today announced that on February 23, 2012 it closed the acquisition of the Sears Methodist Hospice Division. Sears Methodist is a trusted provider of hospice services in Abilene.

Chris Gerard, CEO of IntegraCare, noted, “IntegraCare’s geographic footprint and company values, as well as culture, overlap with those of Sears Group in meaningful ways, supporting our shared belief in clinically- appropriate, quality, cost-effective healthcare to patients and residents of the Abilene community throughout the continuum of their post-acute healthcare.”

IntegraCare and Sears Methodist have an agreement to help facilitate a smooth transition for Sears Methodist patients and employees alike. “We look forward to joining forces with Sears Methodist Hospice in Abilene and having their Hospice Division join the IntegraCare team. Within the last 60 days, Sears Methodist and IntegraCare partnered to transition Sears Methodist’s home health patients to IntegraCare, which was seamless given the fact our Home Health Division currently operates in 43 other communities in North, Central and West Texas,” commented David Hagey, President of IntegraCare. “We retained all of the Sears Methodist Hospice employees so, coupled with Home Health and Private Duty, we have employed more than 50 employees who look forward to servicing the Abilene community.”

Cheryl Harding, an administrator of Sears Methodist, stated, “On behalf of Sears Methodist’s Hospice team, we are very excited to become a part of IntegraCare’s Hospice Division. The transaction provides a solid fit for the Sears Methodist’s high quality hospice platform. I firmly believe that our hospice patients, as well as our employees, will benefit from the combined resources and talent of both companies.”

Headquartered in Grapevine, Texas, IntegraCare is a visionary provider of home health, hospice and waiver services, specializing in a diverse range of services targeted at assisting patients to sustain and enhance their quality of life through a continuum of care. Founded in 1998, the company has grown to include 44 home health locations serving over 140 counties and 10 hospice locations, serving over 110 counties.

IntegraCare’s vision is to provide the best hospice care available, and by combining Sears Methodist and IntegraCare’s Hospice Divisions, the Company expands its hospice service area from over 95 counties to more than 110 counties and will provide care to more than 300 patients.

For additional information, visit our web site at www.integracarehh.com.

A Story of Encouragement…

Posted on October 17, 2011 by admin

The story is told of an overworked nurse who escorted a tired young man to her patient’s bedside. Leaning over and speaking loudly to the elderly patient, she said, “Your son is here.” With great effort the patient’s unfocussed eyes opened, then flickered shut again.

The young man squeezed the aged hand in his and sat beside the bed. Throughout the night he sat there holding the old man’s hand, praying for and with him and whispering words of comfort.
By morning’s light the patient had died. The nurse stepped over to the young man’s side and began to offer sympathy — but he interrupted her.

“Who was that man?” he asked humbly.

The startled nurse replied, “I thought he was
your father!”
“No, he was not my father,” he answered.
“I never saw him before in my life.”
“Then, why didn’t you say something when I
took you to him?”
“I realized he needed his son and his son
wasn’t here,” the man explained. I sensed that he needed me — so I
stayed and prayed for him.”

Ministry is different for everyone. This unknown young man lived the gospel by giving of his time to someone he had never met before and left before anyone could hear his name. I’m sure his ministry to this one man received a standing ovation in heaven while here on earth no one knew.

Are You Disaster Ready?

Posted on September 26, 2011 by admin

Hurricane Irene caused 1 million people to be without power for days. A disaster can strike at any time, whether an accidental house fire or a natural disaster.

Be prepared to handle each of these situations?

The best thing you can do to prepare for any disaster, according to the American Public Health Association (APHA), is to have a stockpile stored in an easily accessible place that should remain dry. Use storage containers with lids and label accordingly. A disaster may leave you without electricity, clean water and other necessities for days or longer. The APHA recommends checking your stockpile twice each year when you reset your clocks for daylight savings.

Stockpiles should include:

 Three-day supply of non-perishable food and water (one gallon per person per day)

 Emergency supplies such as flashlight, batteries, radio, matches, utility knife, cash, garbage bags, whistle, fire extinguisher, extra keys and IDs, local maps, etc.

 First aid kit with common over-the-counter remedies, supplies such as gauze and bandages, and necessary prescription drugs

 Food, water and supplies for your pet, if necessary

 Personal items, such as glasses or contact lens supplies, diapers and baby supplies, sleeping bag or blanket for each person, change of clothes for each person, jacket and cold weather items for each person if applicable, moist towelettes and other personal hygiene items

Also, keep important documents, such as birth certificates, marriage certificates, insurance policies, passports, Social Security cards, banking information, prescription information, etc., together in a safe place for fast access.

Harmonica Playing Leads to Better Breathing

Posted on September 14, 2011 by admin

I came across this article on how patients with breathing diseases are using harmonicas to improve their lung function. Patients wil lung cancer, chronic pulmonary obstruction (COPD) even asthma are taking up harmonica playing to improve their breathing and decrease overall shortness of breath.

Read Full Article…

Let us know what your thoughts are on this subject.

IntegraCare is Honored as a Home Care Elite’s Top Agency

Posted on September 1, 2011 by admin

: IntegraCare Home Health Locations Honored as one of HomeCare Elite’s Top Agency.

IntegraCare is honored to have the following locations honored to make Home Care Elite’s top agency list:

IntegraCare Home Health Services, Inc.

Bedford, Parent Graham

Bowie Jacksboro

Breckenridge Mineral Wells

Bridgeport Olney

Corsicana Stephenville

Dallas Waxahachie

Denton Weatherford

Gainesville

IntegraCare of Texas, LLC (Cisco)

IntegraCare of Wichita Falls, LLC

The HomeCare Elite™ is the compilation of the most successful home care providers in the United States. This market-leading review names the top 25 percent of agencies in quality of care, quality improvement, and financial performance. We are very honored at this recognition and work hard to maintain quality care for not just our patients but also their families.

IntegraCare Gainesville joins TEAMS Medical Group for a Fan Drive for the Needy!

Posted on September 1, 2011 by admin

As the temperatures continue to stay above 100 in the Dallas/Ft.Worth area. We ask that you keep your fellow residents in mind. That is why IntegraCare in Gainesville has joined up with TEAMS to collect fans for the needy! Below is a list of locations you can drop off a fan for donation. If you cannot drop it off, you may contact Shari Kuykendall in our Gainesville office and she will make arrangements to pick up your donation.

IntegraCare is proud to be a part of this fan drive and to date has collected 75 fans.

You can bring your donations to the following locations:

IntegraCare Home Health, 1019 E California, Gainesville
76240 (940) 612-2255

Gainesville Health and Rehab, 1900 O’Neal,
Gainesville (940) 665-2826

River Valley Health and Rehab, 1907 Refinery Road
(940) 665-0072

Angels Care Home Health 214 E California,
Gainesville (940) 665-0944

Dementia patients benefit from hospice care…

Posted on August 11, 2011 by admin

When dementia patients receive hospice care, family members are more likely to report that loved ones’ needs were met in their final days and more likely to provide a higher quality of care rating, research shows.

Read Full Article…

IntegraCare Opens New Office in Palestine

Posted on August 5, 2011 by admin

TX – August 5, 2011 – IntegraCare will host an open house and ribbon cutting ceremony on August 11th to celebrate the opening of its new Home Health office in Palestine, TX located at 800 N. Church St., Ste. C. We are honored to receive the welcome we have from the community and are excited about the opportunity to serve its families. The Palestine Chamber of Commerce will arrive at 11am for the ribbon cutting and refreshments will be served from 11am – 2pm.

This event will allow the community to meet the IntegraCare Palestine Home Health staff:

Connie C. Turner Account Executive

Vicki Maxwell White BSN/Clinical Manager

Dawn Freeman LVN/Scheduling Coordinator

Jennifer Johnson LVN