ArchWell Health Formed to Deliver Comprehensive Primary Care to Medically Underserved Seniors

Nashville, TN (Feb. 16, 2021) — A new healthcare company, ArchWell Health^TM, has been formed to provide holistic primary healthcare services to Medicare-eligible seniors in medically underserved neighborhoods across the United States.

In an announcement made today, ArchWell Health outlined its plans to establish state-of-the-art neighborhood healthcare centers featuring an advanced, senior-focused care model.

The company’s goal is to provide seniors access to excellent healthcare and healthy living options, irrespective of their economic situation. Its centers will focus on providing comprehensive primary care for seniors enrolled in traditional Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans, with the goal of enabling members to live healthier lives by offering them a higher level of care and a more positive experience, all at a lower total cost.

ArchWell Health centers will be equipped to provide a new and differentiated level of primary care in the communities the company will serve. Each center’s physicians will have 6x fewer patients per panel than the current national average, ensuring they have more time to work with the patient to solve their individual health challenges. And, the physicians and their care teams will be specifically trained to care for seniors, who have more challenging health conditions than the general population, especially chronic conditions.

The company has 15 ArchWell Health centers already under development. All centers will be conveniently located in areas with large populations of seniors who have historically had limited access to quality primary care. In addition to the 15 centers under development and expected to open by the fall of 2021, the company plans to continue to open many more centers over the next several years.

ArchWell Health’s plan has been developed and will be delivered by a highly skilled management team with deep and broad healthcare experience in both provider and payor services.

Carl Whitmer, Co-Founder and CEO, said seniors experience better outcomes through greater continuity of care and a more thorough assessment of acute, chronic, and social determinant health needs.

“The healthcare needs of the senior population are often multi-faceted, so our goal is to establish long-term relationships to monitor and respond to physical and emotional needs for achieving the best quality of life,” Whitmer said. “The primary care doctors we work with will be supported by social, nutritional, and behavioral health services in each center.”

ArchWell Health will add hundreds of employees by the end of 2021, increasing to more than 1,400 by the end of 2023 as additional centers open in cities across the U.S.

Dr. Michael Lipp, Chief Medical Officer, said ArchWell Health centers will provide a more comprehensive level of care than the traditional primary care model, including transportation, 24-hour service and access to same-day appointments, specialty and ancillary services, on-site prescription medications, social workers, nutritionists, and more.

“Seniors often have complex medical and social issues, and a holistic approach to care will help address their individual needs,” Dr. Lipp said. “The centers will be a safe gathering place for seniors to connect socially and participate in activities such as exercise classes. We know how important social connection and staying active can be in this population.”

Whitmer noted that with the growing senior population Medicare expenditures continue to strain federal spending, and there is a growing need for focused and cost-effective care of aging Americans.

“There are approximately 70 million Medicare beneficiaries today, and about 10,000 Baby Boomers join the ranks of Medicare eligibility every day,” Whitmer said. “Medicare beneficiaries account for approximately 20 percent of national healthcare spending today, and this percentage is expected to increase.”

He said the company’s strategy of locating in underserved communities will help to deliver care where it is needed most. ArchWell Health intends to engage seniors in the communities where they live. Outreach teams will be active in community events and working with community groups, senior organizations, religious organizations like churches, and other organizations to reach seniors in need. In addition, ArchWell Health advisory boards will bring together local community members, including church leaders, aldermen, business leaders, and community groups to identify the challenges common to seniors in a local area. Dr. Lipp closed with, “We are thrilled to be bringing together a team of excellent, caring primary care providers to begin serving our patients in our communities.”

To find out more visit ArchWellHealth.com