Health Care Unlimited, Inc. has had the distinct privilege of providing home care services to South Texas for over 30 years. During this time, we have held ourselves to the higher standards of the Joint Commission where we have earned national quality approval, as well as deemed status, and we have maintained this prestigious accreditation for the last 25 years. With branches in McAllen, Falfurrias, Harlingen and Laredo in addition to a site in Rio Grande City, HCU’s service area stretches across Texas’ 19 south-most counties.
At Health Care Unlimited, we pride ourselves on being a “one-stop” solution for home care. We offer a wide array of comprehensive services, including:
- Skilled Intermittent Nursing (home health care)
- Star+Plus Waiver Attendant Services
- Personal Assistance Services
- Private Duty Nursing (hourly skilled & personal care)
- Home Medical Equipment
- Home-based Case Management
- Home-based Disease Management Programs
- Psychiatric Nursing Program
- Transitional Care Program
- Long-Term Care Program
- Remote Patient Monitoring
We also specialize in Infusion Therapy, and we are one of the few home care companies in South Texas to offer our own Infusion Pharmacy Services.
In addition to our various services, we are also proud to have developed innovative programs for patients who have chronic conditions and diseases like Congestive Heart Failure. Disease management programs for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Diabetes are available as well. Our Hypertension, Wound Care, Fall Prevention, and Geriatric programs are already helping our patients improve. These comprehensive programs are aimed towards educating patients about their disease or condition process, increasing their quality of life, and preventing unnecessary hospitalizations. Our nurses monitor patients regularly and log vital patient information in the HCU Disease Program Booklet, which can be taken to the physician who can identify patterns in their health. Through education and supervision, our nurses can help to improve patient compliance to help facilitate proper treatment, which is a key factor in preventing acute episodes.
Health Care Unlimited has been recognized locally and nationally for our commitment to quality healthcare. We have been ranked for many years as one of the Top 500 Home Health Companies Nationwide by OCS HomeCare Elite and have received recognition for our efforts in promoting quality home care within South Texas from the National Association of Home Care and Hospice. HCU has also received excellence recognition by the Texas Medical Foundation (TMF) Health Quality Institute.
Our achievements are a direct result of the trusting relationships, support and service we provide to our physicians and patients. At Health Care Unlimited, our goal is to help our patients regain their independent lifestyle. We understand our role in transitional care and know that we help physicians facilitate the patient’s continuum of care from the practice or hospital to the home.
At the request of the 1,500 people that serve HCU, we would like the opportunity to be the home care provider of choice for you. We encourage you to ask questions, review our website and let us prove our value to you.
Health Care Unlimited, Inc. is following CDC guidelines for the care of its patients and employees. This is a rapidly evolving situation and information will be updated as it becomes available. We will continue to stay up to date according to the guidelines provided by DSHS and CDC.
The mission of Health Care Unlimited and its staff is to provide the highest quality health care services to its clients in the most effective, ethical and fiscally responsible manner possible to help its clients achieve the highest quality of life possible. Health Care Unlimited and its staff seek to utilize the most competent, innovative, and accessible services in a manner that respects and promotes its clients choices and best interests.
Health Care Unlimited and its staff commit to a rigorous alignment of its processes and practices that continue to ensure that HCU will practice home care as it should be done in the client’s best interests, with a multi-disciplinary staff of health care providers striving for constant excellence. HCU will be the employer of choice, offering a stable, innovative, caring, transparent, cohesive environment that values employees and their needs. HCU will be the provider of choice for home health care clients and for their primary care providers, as a trustworthy partner who provides competent, caring, compassionate, reliable, resourceful, and efficient services to help them become more successful in meeting their goals. HCU will be a partner of choice for payers by providing accurate, efficient, timely and reliable information about patient services and needs to help them meet their fiduciary responsibilities.
- Strive to be Best
- Professional
- Integrity
- Responsible
- Innovate
- Thorough
- Respect
- Empathize
- Above and Beyond
- Commitment
- Honesty
- Give the Best
- Lead
- Improve
- Devoted to customer requirements
- Empowered to own
Joseph Ramon, III is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Administrator and Chairman of the Board for Health Care Unlimited, Inc. Mr. Ramon has over 35 years of pharmaceutical experience that includes an extensive background in home infusion. He established Health Care Unlimited, Inc., a full home care company, in October 1990 and in 1998 the company became Joint Commission accredited. HCU has grown to four locations in South Texas offering services to nineteen county areas. Mr. Ramon is responsible for ensuring the quality and safe delivery of home health services and coordinating provision of health care agency philosophy and standards of home health care that are mandated and regulated by federal and state rules and regulations. Mr. Ramon is active in the day to day affairs of the organization. He leads the executive team in strategic planning and implementation. As Chairman of the Board of Directors he oversees the development of corporate goals and objectives. He is also actively involved in all marketing efforts and financial budgeting for the company.
As the Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Marisa Gallegos is responsible for providing critical financial and operational information to the CEO and make actionable strategy recommendations. Ms. Gallegos oversees long-term budgetary planning and ensure timeliness, accuracy and usefulness of financial reporting information. Additionally, Ms. Gallegos ensures that HCU adheres to all local, state, and federal reporting guidelines and safeguards the assets and continuity of company’s operation. Ms. Gallegos also oversees operations of our Durable Medical Equipment and Home Infusion Company—Century Medical.
Ana Solis serves Health Care Unlimited as Chief Compliance Officer (CCO) providing regulatory oversight in all areas including financial, operational and employment. She implements compliance and organizational standards through the development of policies and procedures. Ms. Solis is responsible for auditing patient and personnel records to ensure compliance with federal and state regulations. Additionally, Ms. Solis advises the Board of Directors and Senior Management on regulatory changes, audit findings and other compliance issues. Ms. Solis also supervises Health Care Unlimited’s Community Care Department which provides personal care services through Medicaid’s Personal Attendant Services and Star+Plus Waiver services.
As the Director of Skilled Nursing Services, Nilda Sanchez oversees the departments where clinicians are employed, such as Registered Nurses (RNs) and Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVNs) and supervises the care of all patients at Health Care Unlimited. Ms. Sanchez’s home care management experience spans Private Duty Nursing and Skilled Intermittent Care for seniors, adults, children and infants. Ms. Sanchez brings broad post-acute healthcare knowledge and over 27 years of experience working as an RN.
HCU is accredited by the Joint Commission with Deemed Status:
- Benefits of Accreditation
- Joint Commission-Accredited Home Health agencies have fewer hospital readmits as compared with other non-accredited or competitively-accredited firms
- Demonstrates a commitment to the highest level of patient safety and patient care
- Eases access to managed care contracts and third party payment, and encourages patient referrals
- Nationally acknowledged benchmark of quality
- Increases competitive edge
- Provides constructive educational opportunity
- Experienced surveyors offer valuable insights and compliance tips
- Dedicated Account Executives offer organization-specific services
- Enhances ability to attract and recruit top quality staff
- What is “Deemed Status?”
- Since June 1993, The Joint Commission has had the authority to deem home health organizations in compliance with all federal licensing requirements including the Medicare home health agency conditions of participation. Survey intervals, which may be one, two or three years, will be determined using CMS criteria. More frequent surveys may be necessary for an accredited home health agency that, for example, has had a change of ownership.
- Why is Joint Commission Accreditation Superior?
- Accreditation gives patients assurance that their service provider has met strict quality and capacity standards.
- HCU’s partners can rest assured that patient safety and satisfaction is a top priority because the Accreditation process helps to keep HCU staff focused on the quality and effectiveness of their services.
- Studies show that home care agencies that are accredited by the Joint Commission have better patient outcomes as well as fewer hospital readmissions.
HCU nurses provide high-quality patient care based on principles of sound clinical judgment and evidence-based practice guidelines. Our plan of care process is developed to focus on achieving patient self-autonomy, with constant input and coordination with the referring and the consulting physician. Our patients’ successes are a direct result of the care and service we provide to each of our patients. Our care and service is substantiated by patient and physician surveys. Patients like Ms. Garza say, “[HCU’s] nurses have always been respectful, courteous, and informative to our concerns and needs. They are very patient, careful and very knowledgeable. [I am] very blessed to have such caring nurses.” With comments like these, we know that our patients are satisfied with our nursing care. It’s no wonder that physicians refer their patients to Health Care Unlimited.
Health care is a highly volatile industry that is heavily regulated and is challenged by constant scrutiny. Our 30+ years of service and experience help us stay ahead of these changes. Our Chief Compliance Officer ensures that HCU is always up-to-date with the newest regulatory changes. This in-turn helps our staff continuously protect our patients and healthcare partners from the problems of compliance requirements that are unique to health care.
We pride ourselves on maintaining a high standard of ethics. HCU's strict admissions guidelines for home health ensure that all agency rules and regulations are enforced. Our clinicians are instructed and in-serviced on up-to-date changes and guidelines in home care. We make certain that our company and individual clinical credentials and certifications are active. HCU understands that admitting patients that do not meet these criteria endangers your medical licenses. When evaluating Medicare patients for admission, we thoroughly verify that the patient meets Medicare Guidelines for Admission by putting the patient through a two hour 200 point assessment.
- Service Leadership Highlights
- OCS Home Care Elite – Top Agency Nationwide – Several Years
- 34+ Years in Business
- 25+ Years accredited by The Joint Commission with Deemed Status
- Awards & Recognition
- UTPA-Border Health Office – Living Today, Looking Toward Tomorrow
- Hidalgo County Health & Human Services Department Public Health Emergency Response Division - Border Binational Health Week 2010
- Anodyne Neuropathy Care Center
- The National Association for Home Care & Hospice – National recognition for promoting quality home care within community, state and nation.
- Texas Nurses Association
- TMF Health Quality Institute – Reduction of 30-Day Hospital Readmission Rates – Care Transitions 2011
- TMF Health Quality Institute - Home Health Quality – Certificate of Excellence
- TMF Health Quality Institute - Statewide Home Health Quality Improvement – Recognition
- TMF Health Quality Institute - Upper Body Dressing – Recognition
- Home Health Quality Improvement National Campaign (HHQI) – Certificate of Excellence
- TMF Health Quality Institute - Reduced 30-day Hospital Readmission Rates – 5.8%
The goal of Health Care Unlimited’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program is to embrace responsibility for the company's actions and encourage a positive impact through its activities on the environment, consumers, employees, communities, stakeholders and all other members of the public sphere. Furthermore, HCU proactively promotes the public interest by encouraging community growth and development, and voluntarily eliminating practices that harm the public sphere, regardless of legality. HCU’s practice of CSR is deliberate in the inclusion of public interest into corporate decision-making and honors a triple bottom-line of people, planet and proceeds.
- HCU Hosted Health Fairs for Needy Communities
- Participation in Health Fairs
- Sponsorship of Health Care-Centered Events
Hosted by our Representatives, Professional and Clinical teams, HCU provides several in-several topics of interest. Topics very from compliance to proper use of home care and even ensuring proper capture of services for physicians utilizing home care services.
HCU supports several local, state and national health charities, foundations and school districts
- Children’s Make a Wish Foundation
- United Way
- American Red Cross
- RGV Food Bank
- The Salvation Army
- Feed The Children
- Feeding America
- Several School Districts and Universities in our area