Healthcare access matters
Discover stories of whole-person specialty care.
Before starting treatment with AndHealth, Keith was using injectable medication, but it was becoming less and less effective. His mobility continued to decline and he says he “couldn’t even hold a cup of coffee.”
Keith’s symptoms:
Keith’s determination and AndHealth’s comprehensive approach has transformed his life. Daily movement has helped to prevent joint stiffness and lower stress levels. “My health is tremendously better. I’d say my condition has improved by 80%. I can walk up and down stairs without my knees hurting, my hands don’t hurt, I sleep better and overall I just feel better!”
“I get to be old, but I don’t have to feel old.”
Keith
Before Phyllis received her diagnosis, life felt like a constant struggle. “I did very little. Stayed at home, stayed in bed. I was basically a homebody, going to church and staying home the rest of the time,” Phyllis shares.
Phyllis’ symptoms:
After a few weeks of working with her AndHealth care team, Phyllis started noticing improvements. “I could actually feel my body wasn’t aching as much. I could jump out of bed with just about a straight back,” she says. With less pain and more energy, Phyllis says she “felt rejuvenated!”
“To them I’m not just a patient, I’m a person. And they truly do care. I matter.”
Phyllis
“When I was diagnosed with RA, I quit all activities. I really missed being there for my grandkids because I’d say, “no, I’m hurting too bad.”
Sallie’s symptoms:
Her provider and health coach has helped her hit her daily movement goals in order to prevent joint stiffness. “I’ve been working on my nutrition and sleep. My care team gives me motivation. Having daily and weekly goals that I can accomplish and show my provider makes me more accountable. And I like that.”
“Not only did I want to prove to myself that I can do it, but I want to prove to my care team that I’m more willing to try things and keep moving.”
Sallie
Photos and video by Columbus, Ohio-based documentary photographer, Tariq Tarey.
Measured using clinically-validated PASI scoring system
Measured using clinically-validated DAPSA scoring system
Measured using clinically-validated BASDAI scoring system
Measured using clinically-validated DAS28-CRP scoring system
Lower Lights Health, one of central Ohio’s largest community health centers (CHCs), provides essential care to over 14,000 patients across central Ohio. As a trusted provider of whole-person care, Lower Lights Health delivers services for primary care, women’s health, vision, dental, behavioral health, pharmacy, and nutrition – all on a sliding fee scale. However, when patients required specialty services, they would need to be referred to outside health systems where they’d run into barriers like cost, transportation, and months-long wait lists.
Lower Lights Health knew its patients preferred receiving all care directly at their CHC, where they had developed trusted relationships with their staff and providers. They also knew that for every patient they were currently supporting there were countless others in the community still in need of care. For those reasons, Lower Lights Health partnered with AndHealth to offer specialty care and specialty pharmacy services to the communities they serve, within the care setting its patients trust, and all on the same sliding fee scale.
Location: Columbus, OH
Specialties added: Dermatology and Rheumatology
Launch date: October 2023
“Lower Lights is all about delivering whole-person care, so we chose AndHealth to expand access to specialty care and chronic disease management. Our partnership will help us ultimately improve health outcomes for the underserved.”
Tracy Cloud, CEO
Lower Lights Christian Health Center
On average, the time between contract signing and seeing the first specialty patient is 90 days.
New patients from AndHealth, relative to the health center’s existing patient census.