UPMC Enterprises, Redesign Health Launch Glimmer Health to Transform Chronic Pain Management in Primary Care

What You Should Know: 

– Glimmer Health, a new company designed to empower primary care physicians with effective and comprehensive chronic pain management solutions, was officially unveiled today by UPMC Enterprises and Redesign Health. This marks the second innovative healthcare company funded and launched through the partnership between the venture capital arm of UPMC and the New York-based company creator.

– Glimmer Health aims to address the significant burden of chronic pain, which affects one in four American adults, by equipping primary care physicians – the frontline for these patients – with an evidence-based platform and dedicated support.

The Overwhelming Challenge of Chronic Pain for Primary Care

Chronic pain is a pervasive issue in the United States, with nearly 70 million adults experiencing clinically significant pain that compels them to seek treatment, most commonly from their primary care physician. Conditions like low back pain and arthritis-related pain are the most frequent culprits, often leading to substantial disability, lost work time, and unnecessary suffering. Effectively treating chronic pain typically requires a complex, multimodal approach that can include physical or occupational therapy, medication, integrative medicine, interventional procedures, and mental health care – a significant undertaking for already overburdened primary care practices.

“Primary care physicians are overburdened and under-resourced, making it incredibly difficult to manage the complex and nuanced care needed to treat patients with chronic pain,” said Alissa Meade, founder and CEO of Glimmer Health. “Glimmer Health removes the management burden, allowing primary care physicians to focus on partnering directly with their patients to secure enduring pain relief and achieve their health goals.”

Introducing Glimmer Health: An Evidence-Based Support Platform

Glimmer Health offers a platform rooted in the pioneering work of UPMC’s world-class network of pain management clinics. It provides primary care physicians with comprehensive pain assessments and suggests tailored, multimodal treatment plans for each patient.

Beyond the initial planning, Glimmer Health extends the reach of primary care practices by providing specialty pain care and behavioral health resources that seamlessly integrate with existing teams. This includes Glimmer nurse practitioners who support the primary care providers in managing patients with chronic pain, as well as care managers and social workers trained in pain management. These professionals offer seamless care coordination and regularly consult with patients to ensure adherence to care plans and effective pain relief.