For most people, leaving the hospital means going home to rest, recover, and regain strength. But for some in Tarrant County, “home” isn’t an option for recovery.
That’s where the JPS Health Network Recuperative Care Program steps in. It is a program established to bridge the gap between hospital care and full recovery and ensures that healing doesn’t stop after a patient is discharged.
“Listen to the people here, they know what they’re doing. Use the help. It’s there for you.”
Recently recognized under the Integrated Clinical Care Model of Medical Respite Care, the program meets national standards for providing coordinated, compassionate care to patients experiencing homelessness.
“This program gives patients a place to truly recover,” said Jill Stafford, Practice Manager at JPS Medical Home True Worth. “Healing doesn’t happen overnight, and it’s nearly impossible without a safe, stable environment.”
Through partnerships with community organizations like the Presbyterian Night Shelter and the Salvation Army, JPS is able to extend care beyond the walls of the hospital. It offers this initiative, meeting patients where they are and surrounding them with the support they need. Across multiple shelter locations, patients receive a bed and access to a dedicated care team that includes a provider and nurse delivering hands-on medical care in a setting designed for recovery.
Each patient begins with a clinical assessment and a personalized care plan. The team works to manage chronic conditions and coordinate follow-up appointments. These efforts help remove the barriers that usually stand in the way of the healing process, as transportation, medication access, and maintaining ongoing communication with specialists can be difficult; the Recuperative Care Program guarantees that no one falls through the cracks.
For patients like Tony Jameson, that support has made all the difference. After multiple hospitalizations, surgeries, and the loss of stable housing, Tony faced a difficult reality: recovering from serious medical conditions without a place to rest.
“Being in the hospital takes a lot out of you,” Jameson said. “When you don’t have a home, you don’t have a place to rest, how do you get your strength back?”
Through the Recuperative Care Program, Tony was given a place to stay with a team that was committed to helping him through his recovery. With regular wound care, medication support, and guidance in managing his diabetes, he began his healing journey, both physically and emotionally.
“I would be in a lot worse shape without this program,” Jameson said. “They’ve helped me overcome things I didn’t think I could.”
That kind of support also plays a critical role in improving health outcomes across the community. With a provider available 24/7 and frequent check-ins from nursing team members, many concerns can be addressed early, which reduces frequent emergency room visits and prevents hospital readmissions.
Stafford describes this as a model built in patient care and connection.
While JPS focuses on the medical side of recovery, shelter partners provide stability and support for daily living, creating an environment where patients can rest, heal, and begin to rebuild their lives.
“This is truly a team effort,” Stafford said. “It takes strong partnerships to make something like this work, and our community partners are essential to that success.”
For Jameson, that sense of support is what helped him work toward healing.
“Listen to the people here, they know what they’re doing,” Jameson said. “Use the help. It’s there for you.”
Every day, programs like Recuperative Care show what’s possible when healthcare extends beyond traditional settings, helping patients recover with the support, dignity, and care they need to move forward.
For patients like Jameson, having a place to recover can change everything. The JPS Foundation helps support programs like Recuperative Care so more patients can heal safely after leaving the hospital. Find out more at: https://jpshealthnet.org/foundation/Donate-Now.