The Madrone Care Network is a community-based specialty Palliative Care program serving Del Norte, Humboldt, Mendocino, Lake, Santa Clara, Shasta, Siskiyou, and Trinity Counties. Community-based means we visit you in your home or community, in person, or by video conference.

Our goal is to decrease your stress and improve your quality of life. Our team is made of – physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, registered nurses, community health workers, social workers, chaplains, volunteers and patient care coordinators.

Our History

In 2012, a team was formed to develop an inpatient palliative care program at Adventist Health Ukiah Valley Hospital. The administration realized there was a need for a community-based Palliative Care program. They supported sending a group to North Carolina to meet and learn from established Palliative Care specialists. The team spent many hours planning for a successful, community-based, palliative care medical practice. Upon the team’s return to Ukiah, the development of the new practice began. For bandwidth and resource availability reasons, the Hospital made the decision to separate from the program.

Determined to find a solution, the team reached out to Resolution Care in Humboldt County, and their Chief Financial Officer, Steve Franey, who agreed to support the development of this service in our area, and after two years the organization, Mendocino Care Network, was ready to become independent. Physician Assistant Lynn Meadows reached out to the West Business Development Company, and they provided invaluable small business support. With two employees, loans from friends and family, and endless commitment and passion, Mendocino Care Network planted its roots in a tiny office at DFM Car Stereo in Ukiah and opened their doors to patients in December of 2019.

Changing its name to Madrone Care Network and receiving support from Partnership HealthPlan of California—the Medi-Cal insurer in Mendocino and Lake Counties—the patient census slowly and methodically began to grow. At the end of Calendar 2023, this thriving practice has grown to employ 38 people and care for over 130 patients.

Madrone Care Network continues to look after people all over northern California with a vision to provide the best possible home- based palliative care to those living with serious illnesses in our community.

The Madrone Way

The Madrone Way is a patient and family-centered approach to the delivery of Palliative Care services that is provided collaboratively by a passionate and compassionate multi-disciplinary team, in a holistic, respectful, flexible, and competent manner. This approach is grounded in the organization’s culture and values; quality care, patient empowerment, and diversity, equity and inclusion. Our goal is sustainability while focusing on the needs of patients, caregivers, and the community.

We are committed to Team wellbeing, which is vital to the delivery of quality care. The Madrone Way is to honor our commitment to walk with patients as they live the remainder of their lives. Service expansion and evolution is based on patient, partner, and community needs, with growth based on resource availability, capacity, and staff wellbeing. The organization’s legacy is sustained by staff development and growth, and successful recruitment of team members that are aligned with MCN’s culture and values, and passionate about providing Palliative Care to the patients and
communities we serve.