Education for a Healthy Future
   Part of LifeCare’s mission is to help educate the next generation of health care professionals. Practicum training, classroom space, and scholarships are all part of this commitment. LifeCare works with all area high schools and many post-secondary education facilities in orientating students to the field of medicine. In 2008, LifeCare invested over $50,000 to support educational efforts as a way of ensuring a quality workforce for the future. Roseau High School student Ashley Millner is proficient at taking blood pressure checks, which she learned through her training at LifeCare Medical Center.

Trusted Partnerships
   Community partners are critical to helping LifeCare improve the health and well being of the region. Together, LifeCare and its partners combine resources to positively influence a greater number of people.    One example of such a partnership is between LifeCare and the Roseau Fire Department.   As a safety measure, LifeCare EMS has agreed to respond to all structure fires in its primary service area. In turn, the fire department is dispatched to vehicle accidents that need patient extraction. This mutual agreement is a true benefit to the local community.

Community Care: A Helping Hand
   LifeCare recognizes that circumstances arise where a patient is simply unable to pay a hospital bill. In these situations, LifeCare offers a program called Community Care, in which LifeCare forgives the bills of deserving families and individuals who meet set income guidelines. Great appreciation has been voiced by many who received a helping hand from this program. In 2008, LifeCare granted over $150,000 in Community Care.

A Healthy Awareness
   LifeCare employees know the importance of educating the public about disease and related health risks.
   Heart disease, women’s health issues, obesity, and diabetes are just a few of the conditions affecting the region.
   LifeCare continues to find new ways of reaching out to its neighbors with its goal of helping people with chronic diseases learn to manage their condition and live a healthier life.
   The Diabetes Walk/Run is only one example of the way LifeCare reaches out to the community. In 2008 more than 200 people participated in this countywide event. This year’s sixth annual Walk/Run (above) was held May 2 and attracted over 350 participants, making it the single largest turnout to date.

Absorbing Bad Debt
   LifeCare Medical Center funded nearly $765,000 in bad debt in 2008. Bad debt is defined as services for which payment is expected but not received. In some cases, these patients may have qualified for Community Care or financial assistance but refused to complete the required applications. 

Leadership in Public Health
   Protecting the community is a critical responsibility of all local businesses and it is something LifeCare takes seriously. Some of the ways LifeCare aides the community include being involved with community emergency preparedness, providing health outreach, and patient advocacy. LifeCare is committed to collaborating with many public agencies including law enforcement, area emergency management, fire departments, schools, Roseau County Posse, Salvation Army, and the American Red Cross.

Community Outreach
   LifeCare believes in strengthening the community. Sometimes this means providing care outside LifeCare’s facilities. LifeCare employees touch many lives through community outreach programs. They provide education, health screenings, even physical labor on some projects. Other ways of reaching out include industry health fairs, Health Talks, heart and cancer education, parish nurse training, exercise programs, grocery store tours, Chamber projects, civic events such as Operation Smile, Special Olympics, Safety Week, plus other events that allow LifeCare to interact with the public.

Funding Essential Services
   LifeCare’s commitment to community needs is exemplified by its contribution to subsidized services. In 2008, LifeCare absorbed over $2.5 million in costs in order to sustain services that rely on funding from other sources, in particular the Medicaid program. These departments include Home Health Care, Hospice, Public Health, and LifeCare’s two nursing homes; Roseau Manor and Greenbush Manor. The new Greenbush Medical Park now under construction is important to the community and will enable our seniors to remain close to loved ones.