Healthcare access matters

Discover stories of patient-first specialty care.

Keith
Don
Keith
ANDHEALTH PSORIATIC ARTHRITIS PATIENT: KEITH

“Everyone should have access to care like this.”

Navigating life through constant pain

In 2014, Keith was diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis. Pain took over his daily tasks, whether he was at work, being physically active, or just trying to hold his cup of coffee.

When he was originally diagnosed, he started on a biologic medication right away, but the effects of the medication only lasted around 2 years. At that point, his pain started to increase again and his mobility started to decrease.


An active approach to managing his PsA

In 2023, after dealing with years of pain, Keith decided it was time to take control of his health. “I’ve tried to manage it, but have been unsuccessful.” He admitted habits, like his typical diet, that contributed to the pain he was feeling. He knew he needed to make a change, and found AndHealth.

He challenged himself to fully participate in the program and actively make changes to positively impact his future.

“I get to be old, but I don’t have to feel old.”

Keith

While working with AndHealth, he learned that it’s not just about managing symptoms, it’s about being an active participant in his own healthcare.


AndHealth’s impact

Keith’s determination and AndHealth’s comprehensive approach has transformed his life. “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!”

Keith’s Results

20%

improvement in mental health

33%

reduction of joint pain


Don
ANDHEALTH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS PATIENT: DON

“My future is bright and I have no pain.”

Don’s journey

About 5 years ago, Don received a call from his doctor and learned that his RA factor was high. He was referred to a rheumatologist, where he was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. He immediately thought the worst as he learned how this autoimmune disease can progress.


Becoming an architect of his own health

He searched for a comprehensive approach to help manage his symptoms and found AndHealth. He quickly learned that in order to be successful, he needed to be the “architect of his own health.” During his very first call, he dove into his symptoms and his attempts at managing his RA. He met with a team of experts for lab testing and to learn about nutrition and stress triggers.


No more chronic pain

Today, Don says he feels fantastic! “Right now, my RA factor is normal, my inflammation is normal, my symptoms are very mild, I have more energy and my joints aren’t aching as much. I’ve gained so much by working with AndHealth.”

“Having access to care means the world. Having care so close to home is special.”

Don

Don’s Results

65%

reduction in overall inflammation

30%

reduction of joint pain


ANDHEALTH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS PATIENT: LESLEY

“I have big plans for the future.”

Diagnosed at a young age

When Lesley was only 16, she was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. As a 4-sport athlete, the news was devastating. The doctor told her she would need ongoing surgery, which only made her more confused and felt like her diagnosis was “a big chain of limitations”.


Autoimmune unpredictability

Managing life with RA meant a lot of pills, a lot of worry, and not knowing what each day would bring. Mobility and unpredictability made planning any activity, especially travel, a challenge. Lesley tried lifestyle changes, holistic nutrition, different specialists and orthopedic surgery. She ran into limitations, like wait times and limited insurance acceptance. “For 37 years, I’ve been trying to get better. I’ve seen specialists, but it takes 7 or 8 months to get in to see them… I worked with a holistic nutritionist, but couldn’t afford it for long because they don’t take insurance.”


AndHealth transformation

After just 4 months with AndHealth, Lesley’s life changed. She went from depending on a motorized scooter to walking on her own to get to her classes. She doesn’t have to constantly rely on several medications. She learned her body can heal on its own and that she is in control and shaping her own future. She even has plans to travel to Slovakia to visit her grandfather’s homeland!

Lesley is getting better and better every day.

“Today my condition is under control, instead of it controlling me.”

Lesley

Lesley’s Results

22%

improvement in mental health


Photos and video by Columbus, Ohio-based documentary photographer, Tariq Tarey.

Better clinical outcomes with whole-person treatment

81%

improvement in skin condition for psoriasis patients

Measured using clinically-validated PASI scoring system

39%

improvement in joint health for psoriatic arthritis patients

Measured using clinically-validated DAPSA scoring system

28%

improvement in ankylosing spondylitis patients

Measured using clinically-validated BASDAI scoring system

25%

improvement in joint health for rheumatoid arthritis patients

Measured using clinically-validated DAS28-CRP scoring system

COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER CASE STUDY


AndHealth

Partnering with AndHealth gave this health center the tools to treat specialty cases and expand their patient population

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.

“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

Health center profile


Location: Columbus, OH

Specialties added: Dermatology and Rheumatology

Launch date: October 2023

Outcomes for our partners

Access

100%

All referred patients are able to be seen by our specialists within 7 days of their referral, compared to an average of 180+ days.

Successful implementation

90 days

On average, the time between contract signing and seeing the first specialty patient is 90 days.

Community patients

2:1

New patients from AndHealth, relative to the health center’s existing patient census.

Hear from our featured partners

“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

Tracy Cloud, CEO, Lower Lights Christian Health Center
Tracy Cloud, CEO, Lower Lights Christian Health Center

“At Jane Pauley Community Health Center, our objective is to create healthy communities through world-class care and by building on key partnerships with organizations like AndHealth. Offering specialty care and specialty pharmacy directly through our centers is an important step to solving the specialty care access crisis and brings more options for convenient, affordable specialty care to the communities we serve.”

Marc Hackett, CEO
Jane Pauley Community Health Center

Marc Hackett, CEO, Jane Pauley Community Health Center
Marc Hackett, CEO, Jane Pauley Community Health Center

“I’ve told [other FQHC leaders] that if they partner with AndHealth, they’re going to look forward to the implementation process. Our staff have had an incredible experience working with the AndHealth team. FQHCs are often sold on an idea or product and the company has not been able to provide what was promised. AndHealth has under promised and over delivered.”

Peggy Anderson, CEO
Third Street Family Health Services

Peggy Anderson, CEO, Third Street Family Health Services
Peggy Anderson, CEO, Third Street Family Health Services
Jane Pauley Community Health Center

AndHealth radically improves access + outcomes for specialty care