Health care is and should always be personal. It’s about the relationship between the doctors, patients and their families. Unfortunately, I think the health care industry has forgotten about the importance of this relationship.
A transformation needs to happen to get us back on track – to once again, put the patient at the center.
Our Cause at Cambia is to – Serve as a catalyst to transform health care, creating a person focused and economically sustainable system. Palliative Care represents a microcosm of this type of transformation; its specialized medical care provided by an interdisciplinary team that offers an extra layer of support for people with serious illness. The goal is to improve the quality of life for the patient and the family by understanding and respecting patient choices and personal definitions of quality. It’s a shift in approach that I’ve heard compared to the birthing movement transformation of the 1970’s.
Most of us have had an experience with a family member or friend, who’s had a serious illness and we know that it can be a roller coast ride from the initial diagnosis until the very end. My family and I were on that roller coaster together when my mom was at the end of her life. I experienced firsthand what it was like not to be heard and more importantly for my mom’s wishes not to be met, to have her “do not resuscitate” sign on her door ignored.
We have the opportunity to play a meaningful role within a person’s life from the day they’re born until the day they die. We come into this world cherished and we should leave feeling the same way. The focus should be on ensuring their needs and values are listened to and understood, allowing people to live with dignity and a sense of control even when facing a serious illness.
For nearly a decade, the Cambia Health Foundation has invested more than $10M in grants nationwide, with the goal of advancing serious care access, awareness and quality. We’ve been inspired by what we’ve learned and have developed a deeper understanding of what’s needed.
You may have read today, that Cambia’s health plans will provide the industry’s most comprehensive palliative care program, a holistic system of serious illness care and services to our more than 2.2 million members.
At Cambia Health Solutions, we believe that palliative care is deeply personal and fundamentally rooted in respect for human life. It is an important catalyst for honoring patient choices and understanding personal definitions of quality, rather than merely focusing on the clinical aspects of serious illness. We believe that by advancing palliative care programs and principles, people will be better off in the experiences they have with our health care system, with their families and with each other. Because, this isn’t about a return on investment; it’s about a return on humanity.
