Frequently Asked Questions
 
 

For Texas Medical Center & Dallas Metroplex Patients

WHAT IS THE COMPASSIONATE TOUCH PROGRAM?
Compassionate Touch began as a humanitarian outreach program of Lifeline Chaplaincy in June of 1997. It was inspired by Dr. Bill Love, Lifeline Chaplaincy's first Director of Development. He knew first-hand that many of the Texas Medical Center patients came to Houston without adequate financial support for non-medical needs such as housing, meals or parking. Compassionate Touch is a non-profit organization which provides emergency funding for hotels, food, or parking to patients who find themselves stranded or without resources in the Texas Medical Center.

WHAT ARE THE AREAS OF FUNDING?
The basic areas of funding are:
· Housing - up to five consecutive nights at a hotel near the Texas
Medical Center
· Meal Tickets - redeemable at the Texas Medical Center hospital cafeteria. Amount given is accessed on a case-by-case basis by Compassionate Touch personnel.
· Parking - 5 or 30- day parking card are issued depending upon the need. Also, parking tickets are awarded on special circumstances.

ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL AREAS OF FUNDING?
When funds are available we assist with:
· Rent assistance
· Utility Bills
· Groceries
· Airline & Bus Tickets
· Car Payments
· Cash
· Gift Certificate

HOW OFTEN CAN I RECEIVE ASSISTANCE FROM COMPASSIONATE TOUCH?
Funding is awarded on a one-time lifetime basis per patient. Patients hospitalized at one of the Texas Medical Center hospitals are eligible to apply for funding.

WHAT ARE THE CRITERIA FOR FUNDING?
Compassionate Touch assists patient and families in need without regard to:
 · Race
· Gender
· Type of disease or injuries
· Age
· Geographical origin
· Ethnicity
· Religious Preference

ALL WE ASK IS …..What Is The Need?

HOW ARE THOSE NEEDS ASSESSED?
Demonstration of need is accessed by the Texas Medical Center Hospital Social Worker.
Your social worker will help determine if you qualify for Compassionate Touch funding.


WHAT TEXAS MEDICAL CENTER HOSPITALS ARE SERVED THROUGH COMPASSIONATE TOUCH?
· Ben Taub General Hospital
· Baylor Medical Center
· Harris County Psychiatric Center
· Quentin Mease Hospital
· The Methodist Hospital
· St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital
· Texas Children's Hospital
· M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
· Memorial Hermann Hospital - Medical Center
· Texas Institute for Rehabilitation and Research (TIRR - Medical Center)
· Park Plaza Hospital
· Kindred Hospital
· Shriner's Hospital
· Veteran Affairs


HOW DO I CONTACT MY SOCIAL WORKER
Go to the Social Services Department at your hospital and ask for the social worker assigned to you. Every patient is assigned a social worker at the Texas Medical Center hospital where you are receiving your care.


IS THERE A FORM TO FILL OUT?
Compassionate Touch applications are located in most of the Texas Medical Center Social Services Department. The patient or their family member/caregiver may contact their social worker to fill out an application for funding through the Compassionate Touch program at Lifeline Chaplaincy. If the patient is in a hospital room, he/she may contact the nurse's station and request that their social worker be paged to their hospital room.

WHAT ARE THE STEPS FOR THE PROCESSING OF THE APPLICATION?
· Once the application is filled out completely, the social worker will fax the application to Lifeline Chaplaincy.
· All applications are processed according to the date and time received.
· If funds are available, then the application will be processed within a twenty-four hour work-day turnaround.
· Compassionate Touch personnel will contact the social worker once the application has been processed and funded.
· The social worker will contact the patient / family member or caregiver regarding the funding decision.

WHO DO I ADDRESS ALL MY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS TO?
All questions should be directed to your social worker regarding any concerns or changes with your application or funding request. Your social worker will contact Compassionate Touch to address any questions or concerns you might have.

 
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