LANSING, MI (March 14, 2025) – The Michigan Center for Rural Health (MCRH) has selected four rural communities to participate in the Cultivating Comfort: Enhancing Palliative Care in Rural Michigan, a rural-focused initiative aimed at expanding and strengthening palliative care services. This project is funded by the Michigan Health Endowment Fund and is being implemented in partnership with Stratis Health. The selected communities are:
- Marlette Regional Hospital - Marlette, MI
- Hillsdale Hospital - Hillsdale, MI
- Three Rivers Health Homecare and Hospice - Three Rivers, MI
- Kalkaska Memorial Health Center - Kalkaska, MI
Palliative care improves quality of life and quality of care for those with serious illness and complex care needs and their families/caregivers. It customizes treatment to meet the needs of each person, such as those with multiple chronic conditions, a long-term cancer diagnosis, or the frail elderly. This whole person care seeks to relieve pain, anxiety, and other symptoms, as well as provide emotional and spiritual support, so people can live more comfortably with their illnesses. Studies have shown that palliative care can increase patient satisfaction and reduce 30-day rehospitalizations and emergency department visits.
"Ensuring access to quality palliative care in rural Michigan is critical to supporting patients and families facing serious illness," said Amanda St Martin, Hospital Programs Manager, "By working with these four communities, we are building sustainable solutions that will enhance care quality and provide compassionate support to those in need."
This initiative supports the development of rural community-based palliative care programs that build on local strengths to meet the unique needs of each community. Through this work, each participating community team will develop and implement action plans to create or enhance local palliative care services. These efforts will improve symptom management and strengthen family-clinician relationships, ensuring more comprehensive and compassionate care for those facing chronic illnesses.
This project marks Phase 2 of MCRH’s palliative care efforts, building upon the foundational work completed in Phase 1. The initial phase included a statewide environmental scan to assess palliative care needs and resources in rural Michigan, as well as the creation of the Rural Palliative Care Advisory Council. This council played a key role in developing recommendations that are now guiding the implementation of this next phase.
As Michigan’s State Office of Rural Health, MCRH plays a key role in enhancing healthcare access and quality for rural residents. This project is part of MCRH’s broader efforts to foster partnerships among nonprofit organizations, healthcare providers, hospitals, government agencies, and academic institutions to strengthen rural health services in Michigan.
To learn more about MCRH’s initiatives and available resources, visit our website, and find additional information on rural palliative care efforts in Stratis Health’s Rural Community-based Palliative Care Resource Center .