Who We Are: PARTNERS IN CARE

History
     PARTNERS IN CARE is a community organization dedicated to improving care of the seriously ill in El Dorado County. The services we offer are the culmination of the combined efforts of many people and organizations concerned with the knowledge, access and understanding of supportive programs for patients and their families.
     Like many coalitions around the country, PARTNERS IN CARE started as a grassroots effort inspired by Bill Moyer’s series about life-threatening illness, "On Our Own Terms." We formed several committees to address our community’s needs regarding end of life issues. One of the committees wrote a series of articles for the local paper and other local publications. Another group led town hall meetings based on the Moyer documentary and developed a Speakers Bureau. A third committee developed and directed a time-limited support group for frail elderly people.
     A fourth committee focused on seriously ill members of El Dorado County who appeared not to have access to a full range of medical and supportive-care services. Perhaps they were not eligible for hospice, or their condition was not imminently life-threatening. After studying the problem and observing how other communities had addressed similar concerns, the group decided to form a support service for patients and families as well as a palliative consultation service for physicians. The Speakers Bureau, a community education branch of the program, became a natural adjunct.
     In September 2000 the committee submitted a proposal to The California Endowment, and a 3-year grant was awarded in February 2001. The funds allowed PARTNERS IN CARE to begin offering services free of charge to the community. Through donations, fund-raising drives and support from Marshall Hospital and Snowline Hospice, we are able to continue to serve our community as an independent, non-profit organization.
    While hospice serves those who are terminally ill, have six months or less to live, and are no longer seeking aggressive, curative treatments, our program can serve any patient regardless of prognosis, treatment, or expected outcome.
     PARTNERS IN CARE’s Board of Directors represents the community and oversees our efforts to provide educational activities and further develop and refine our program and services to better serve the people of El Dorado County. (Return to list)

Our Board of Directors