INTEGRIS Hospice House in Oklahoma City: Residential Palliative Care for Patients in Advanced Illness
INTEGRIS Hospice House is an inpatient facility dedicated to comfort-focused care for patients with life-limiting illnesses, located in Oklahoma City and managed by INTEGRIS Health, the state's largest health system. Unlike home-based hospice or hospital end-of-life units, it functions as a small residential setting where patients spend their final days in private rooms with family present, supported by a multidisciplinary team trained specifically in symptom management and transition-of-care planning.
What the Hospice House Actually Is
The Hospice House operates as a 12-bed residential unit, not a hospital ward. Patients admitted here have already chosen hospice care, meaning they have a prognosis of six months or less and have shifted from curative to comfort-focused treatment. The setting is intentionally home-like: private rooms allow families to stay overnight, visiting is unrestricted, and routines accommodate personal wishes rather than institutional schedules. Staff includes nurses, aides, social workers, chaplains, and physicians trained in end-of-life care. Referrals come from INTEGRIS hospitals, primary care physicians, and existing INTEGRIS Hospice clients who need temporary or ongoing inpatient care.
When Patients Transition to the Hospice House
Admission occurs when a patient can no longer be safely managed at home or when family caregivers need respite. Common scenarios include uncontrolled pain or breathing distress, family exhaustion, or lack of home support infrastructure. The facility also accepts patients in crisis from INTEGRIS hospitals who need immediate stabilization within a hospice framework rather than continuing acute care. Patients may stay for a few days (respite), weeks, or their final days, depending on prognosis and family choice.
Services and Cost Structure
The Hospice House provides 24/7 nursing care, medication management, dietary support, bathing and hygiene assistance, and spiritual counseling. Pain and symptom control is the clinical priority; the team adjusts medications and treatments to maximize comfort rather than extend life. Bereavement support extends to families for up to one year after death. Specific daily charges run approximately $400 to $600 per day, though the exact cost depends on acuity and services rendered. Medicare and most commercial insurance plans cover inpatient hospice care at a flat daily rate; verify your plan's hospice benefit and any prior authorization requirements with INTEGRIS before admission.
How It Compares to Other Oklahoma City Hospice Options
Oklahoma City residents have access to several hospice providers: INTEGRIS Hospice (the in-house option), Encompass Health Hospice, and Amedisys Hospice operate inpatient facilities or partner with local hospitals for end-of-life care. The key distinction is that INTEGRIS Hospice House is owned and staffed by INTEGRIS Health, meaning patients already within the INTEGRIS system have streamlined clinical continuity; hospital records, existing providers, and care preferences transfer without gaps. Patients with deep ties to OU Medicine or Mercy Hospital might find those health systems' hospice partners more natural. If a patient needs inpatient hospice care but has no prior INTEGRIS relationship, Encompass Health offers a separate hospice facility with independent medical direction. For those preferring home-based hospice with visiting nurses and volunteers, all three providers offer that option, which is typically less expensive and allows patients to remain in their own environment, though it demands more from family caregivers.
Who the Hospice House Suits, and Who It Does Not
The Hospice House is right for patients with unstable symptoms, minimal family support at home, or families approaching caregiver burnout. It works for patients who value professional monitoring around the clock and a home-like setting over hospital machinery. It does not suit patients still pursuing curative treatment or those with a prognosis beyond six months. It is not appropriate for patients whose families can manage adequate home care with visiting hospice services; home hospice is less expensive and preserves autonomy for those medically stable enough to remain at home.
What to Expect on Arrival
Admission begins with a palliative care assessment by a physician and nurse, reviewing the patient's medical history, current medications, symptom profile, and family goals. A social worker discusses logistics, insurance, and bereavement resources. The care plan is then tailored to the individual, with the understanding that it will adapt as needs change. Families receive a tour of the facility, information about visiting and overnight stay policies, and direct phone numbers for nursing staff.
Hours, Location, and Logistics
The INTEGRIS Hospice House operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Visiting is unrestricted, and family members may stay overnight in patient rooms. On-site parking is available. The facility is part of INTEGRIS Health's broader network; for the specific address and directions, contact INTEGRIS Hospice at (405) 949-3110 or ask your physician for a referral with contact information.
The Hospice House fills a specific role in Oklahoma City's end-of-life care landscape: it bridges the gap between home and hospital for patients and families who need professional expertise, continuity within the INTEGRIS system, and a compassionate residential environment at life's end.
