Submitted by PeaceHealth
Your health might not always be top of mind, but it can certainly get your attention.
Maybe you were looking forward to going out with friends — then, ugh, you have really low energy — and you just know you can’t make it.
If you have a condition like diabetes or COPD, it can sometimes get in your way of doing what you want or need to do.
PeaceHealth offers a care management program called Flourish to help people with chronic conditions have more good health days than bad.
Benefits of the program
The goal of Flourish is to help you gain confidence in managing your health.
Care managers, usually nurses or social workers:
- Help you learn about your condition(s) and steps you can take to keep feeling your best.
- Coordinate care, such as getting referrals, setting appointments or having prescriptions filled.
- Match you with services and resources such as access to medical supplies, help with food or housing, or support for mental health concerns.
- Make regular check-ins, for about a year, to see how you’re progressing toward your health goals.
Over the past few years, Flourish has helped hundreds of people gain the knowledge and skills to live healthier — even with a chronic condition.
One patient shared this about her experience with Flourish: “I feel that my needs and concerns are not only listened to and valued but also met as much as is possible. Having a great medical care team to work with, especially to someone like me who has multiple health issues, is a rare find in this day and age. I wouldn’t trade any of them for the world!”
How it works
Your primary care provider (PCP) will help you see if you’d benefit from the Flourish program. If you would, your PCP will start the process to get you enrolled.
Medicare and insurance cover most of the cost for Flourish. If coverage or costs are a concern, PeaceHealth also offers financial aid.
Once you’re enrolled, you’ll be matched with your care manager. They will work with you and your PCP to map out strategies for reaching your goals.
Health goal setting
What kind of goals? It depends on your condition(s).
For example, if you have diabetes, one goal might be to get physically active for 20 minutes every day. This can help you keep blood sugar levels in check, build muscles or lose weight.
If you have COPD, a goal might be to change your approach to meals or mealtime habits. Eating a healthy diet can help you keep up your strength.
Working with a care manager can help you make decisions about how to achieve your goals.
Radu Ivan, NP, a PeaceHealth primary care provider in Bellingham, Washington, says his patients with complex conditions sometimes find it difficult navigating all the tests, appointments and other care needs without the help of the Flourish team.
Because care managers check frequently with their Flourish patients, providers get timely updates on changes in condition, medication side effects or other health concerns without the patient having to schedule a visit.
“Our patients feel supported, encouraged and motivated by the Flourish team to achieve their care goals. This relieves their anxiety and increases treatment adherence,” says Ivan.
How to sign up
Talk with your PCP about your interest in the Flourish program. You need to be a PeaceHealth patient and have a referral from your primary care provider to enroll.
If you need a PCP, visit this page to see a list of PeaceHealth providers accepting new patients.