Christine McDonald

"The patient believes the care she has received from Hospice Brazos Valley is directly related to being able to survive," said Christine McDonald, community liaison for HBV.

The patient, whose name could not be released because of privacy concerns, is an example of several elements of hospice care.

First is that hospice certainly does not promise to make people live longer.But a physician's prognosis that a patient has less than six months to live, which is a requirement to be admitted to hospice care, is not the final word when it comes to end of life.

With November being National Hospice Month, HBV clinical director Tim Brown, bereavement coordinator Joan Serber and McDonald want the folks in their 17-county service area to become more familiar with what hospice does -- and doesn't -- do.

Christine McDonald,Community Liaison,

Christine McDonald Community Liaison