Patricia Kappas-Larson

Dr Kappas-Larson is a nurse practitioner whose clinical expertise and interest is in geronotology. She has is known for her work supporting the adoption of evidence-based health care practices by nurse care managers and advanced practice nurses. She has developed innovative educational programs to meet the learning needs of nurse case managers ,advanced practice nurses , and nursing leaders responsible for the delivery of care to adults 65 years and older living in diverse settings. Her leadership led to the development of an online proprietary learning environment known as the Evercare Univerisity. Her doctoral work was focused on the design of a clinical care coordination program that would address gaps in care for the elderly confronted with increasing health challenges relative to aging and yet desiring to remain independent and active part of their community.

Additionally, as past Senior Vice President of Public Affairs and Community Relations for Ovations, a division of UnitedHealth Group, Pat Kappas-Larson has galvanized public support for nurse-driven care models while strengthening the voice of nursing in key policy discussions. Her leadership has helped open doors for nursing in Congressional forums where national health care decisions are made. Her trailblazing contributions to care delivery have helped reshape health care nationally and internationally.

Kappas-Larson’s innovative work in practice and systems transformation has extraordinary impact on the health of people living with long-term conditions and generates substantial cost savings for the health care system. She has been instrumental in the design and testing of care models for those with complex needs, including people with end stage renal disease, the frail and the elderly. During the course of this work she has had the opportunity to engage with the long-term care community including the design and negotiation of contracts for services that would support the innovative practice. She also has helped redefine the role of nurses within the Medicare program and more recently established her own consulting business to provide opportunities for nurse practitioners and to inform policy makers about the vital role that nurses can play in the redesign of the health care system. This work builds on her history of being a catalyst for public-private partnerships that are inclusive of relationships with the nursing community.

Prior to joining UnitedHealth Group, Kappas-Larson worked at the Minneapolis Veterans Hospital. During her tenure there she was a direct care provider ,developed expertise in the management of long-term, complex conditions , and was a leader in the design of new programs She has over thirty years of clinical and leadership experience and now owns and operates Transformative Solutions a nursing affairs consulting company.