UCare Awards Stratis Health Funding for Rural Palliative Care Project

Published Wednesday, May 14, 2008
by Deb McKinley

UCare has awarded Stratis Health funding to build palliative care capacity in rural Minnesota. Stratis Health will be leading the initiative, in partnership with Transitions and Life Choices, the palliative care program of Fairview Health Services.

Palliative care is an approach to managing serious and advanced illness, centering on relieving suffering and improving quality of life for patients and their families. Palliative care customizes treatment to meet the needs of each individual, seeking to relieve pain, anxiety, shortness of breath, fatigue, nausea, loss of appetite and other symptoms and to provide emotional and spiritual support. Practitioners of palliative care help patients and their families understand treatment options, and facilitate effective communication among health care professionals, patients, and family members. This interdisciplinary care can be offered in a variety of health care settings: hospitals, long-term care facilities, or home.

Starting in fall 2008, as many as 10 rural Minnesota communities will be participating in an initiative to establish or strengthen palliative care programs in their communities. Palliative care is an emerging field that is new to many health care providers. It brings together the support systems that patients—along with their doctors and with their families—need to determine how to plan for the best quality of life.

"Palliative care is a win-win, patient-centered approach. First and foremost, it improves patient care by helping patients and their families plan for the best quality of life—however they chose to define quality for themselves," said Jennifer Lundblad, PhD, MBA, president and CEO, Stratis Health. "Studies have shown that palliative care has resulted in reduced health care costs, as patients often choose less invasive and less expensive treatment options when given enough information—and the choice."

Between 2000 and 2030, the percentage of Minnesotans over the age of 65 will increase from 12 to 21 percent. While 30 percent of Minnesotans live in rural communities, a disproportionate number (41 percent) are over the age of 65. Add to this a growing number of the elderly having multiple chronic health conditions, and palliative care will be more in demand over the next decades. If successful, Stratis Health’s rural palliative care project will be a model for implementing palliative care programs in rural areas throughout the country.

"Palliative care is becoming an increasingly important aspect of care for those with significant illness. It is an emerging field within the health care community, and one that offers individuals and families a focus on compassion, comfort, and peace of mind during very difficult times," said Barry Baines, M.D., senior vice president and chief medical officer, UCare. "We are proud to offer financial support to Stratis Health as it works to expand awareness across Minnesota of this valuable health care service."

UCare is an independent, non-profit health plan providing health care and administrative services to more than 140,000 members. UCare partners with health care providers, counties, community organizations, and other member-directed groups to create and deliver innovative health coverage plans. UCare addresses health care disparities and care access issues through its UCare Fund grants and a broad array of community initiatives.