Hospice
Not All Hospices Are The Same. Ask For Us By Name.
When you or a loved one is facing a serious illness, Kaweah Health’s Palliative Care team is with you every step of the way. Palliative medicine is a specialty that focuses on providing physical, psychological, and spiritual support for patients and their families. Palliative care is provided to any patient, at any age and stage of the disease process, and can be provided alongside other standard medical care.
For patients nearing the end of their lives, hospice care is the appropriate plan of care. Hospice is a subspecialty of palliative medicine that focuses on patients with a life expectancy of six months. Anyone can self-refer to hospice by calling Kaweah Health Hospice at (559) 733-0642. Please ask for a baseline assessment.
All forms of palliative care are delivered by an interdisciplinary team that work, hand-in-hand, with patients and their families to ensure they receive quality care and support throughout the process. Watch the video to learn more.
Mission Statement
The mission of Kaweah Health Hospice is to provide physical, emotional, social, and spiritual support to terminally ill patients, as well as their families and loved ones, while assisting patients and families to live with dignity and comfort as they cope with end of life issues.
In 1990, only 5 percent of hospices were for-profit. Today, for-profits dominate the field, representing 63 percent of all hospices.
As nonprofits, the Nonprofit Hospice Coalition of Northern California, we are driven not by shareholder value, but by exceptional care that is consistent with patient goals, values and preferences.
The difference matters. A study published by JAMA Internal Medicine, quoted in The New York Times, concludes that enrolling with a nonprofit may lower the risk of being discharged from hospice three weeks before death. A recent Yale University Study and a Washington Post analysis found that patients in nonprofit programs were twice as likely to receive a full range of services and care, compared to those in for-profit programs.
We work together: innovating, advocating, and collaborating. We learn from each other, share best practices, and help each other improve care. We are a crucial safety net for the most vulnerable patients in our communities.
Contact Information:
Kaweah Health Hospice
402 W. Acequia Avenue
Visalia, CA 93291
(559) 733-0642
- Kaweah Health Hospice is a not-for-profit hospice that has been providing end of life services in Tulare County and Kings County for over 35 years.
- We serve both adult and pediatric patients and we are partners in the We Honor Veterans program.
- Our team of physicians and registered nurses (RNs) are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to provide expert management of pain and other symptoms.
- Physicians, RNs, social workers, spiritual counselors, and other members of our team support and honor the patient and family goals of care.
Donate to The Kaweah Health Hospice Foundation
Learn more about the Kaweah Health Hospice Foundation.
Pediatrics Concurrent Care
Learn more about Hospice's Pediatric Concurrent Care.
Volunteer with Hospice
Learn more about our volunteer program.
Grief Support Events
C.U.B.S. (Children Undergoing Bereavement Support)
If you have any questions, please call us at (559) 733-0642.
Award Winning Care
Dr. Ryan Howard Recognized by Donor Network West
Dr. Ryan Howard recently received Donor Network West Foundation’s President’s Award for his extraordinary dedication and leadership in advancing the life-saving mission of organ donation.
Dr. Howard specializes in hospice and palliative medicine at Kaweah Health. Palliative care manages symptoms and stress in serious illness, often alongside treatment. Hospice is palliative care for terminal patients focused solely on comfort.
“I humbly accepted the award, but in all honesty the majority of the credit for my success is attributable to the wonderfully capable and compassionate, incredibly dedicated, hospice and palliative medicine team members at Kaweah Health,” Dr. Howard said.
Dr. Howard and the Kaweah Health Hospice and Palliative Care Team consistently ensure that each patient’s voice, values, and wishes remain central during some of the most difficult moments families face.
“Their ability to thoughtfully bridge palliative care with donation discussions ensures families feel supported, informed, and never rushed, allowing hope and healing to remain present even in moments of profound loss,” said Dr. Janice Whaley, President and CEO of Donor Network West. “Dr. Howard and the palliative care team have elevated the standard of care at Kaweah Health. Their work not only supports families through end-of-life decisions, but also helps transform loss into legacy.”
Donor Network West is a nonprofit organ procurement organization with headquarters in northern California and northern Nevada. The President’s Award is a prestigious recognition reserved for individuals whose exceptional contributions and transformative impact on organ, eye, and tissue donation merit distinction beyond the other award categories.
