ArchWell Health to Open Four Locations in St. Louis Area for Delivering Primary Care to Medically Underserved Seniors

Centers located in St. Louis, Ferguson, and Overland lead nationwide expansion

ST. LOUIS, MO (September 16, 2021) — Senior adults in St. Louis will soon have access to four innovative primary health centers focused on meeting the needs of the medically underserved. ArchWell Health is a new healthcare company providing an advanced model of holistic primary healthcare services to Medicare-eligible seniors with the St. Louis locations among the first in a planned national rollout.

The initial St. Louis area center to open, ArchWell Health of Ferguson, is located at 199 North Florissant Road. A grand opening event will be held Thursday, September 23, which will be quickly followed by the grand openings of ArchWell Health centers located at:

• ArchWell Health of North Kingshighway at 1315 Aubert Avenue in St. Louis
• ArchWell Health of South City at 4650 Chippewa Street in St. Louis
• ArchWell Health of Overland at 9150 Overland Plaza in Overland

The St. Louis area centers are among the first in the United States to be opened by ArchWell Health.  The company will be opening centers in several states this fall.

The centers deliver an advanced, senior-only care model in state-of-the-art facilities to neighborhoods lacking access to quality primary care.

The company’s goal is to provide seniors access to excellent healthcare and healthy living options, irrespective of their economic situation. ArchWell Health centers will focus on providing comprehensive primary care for seniors enrolled in 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.

Dr. Michael Lipp, Chief Medical Officer, said ArchWell Health’s centers in the St. Louis area 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, social workers, nutritionists, and more.

Each center’s physicians will have significantly fewer patients than the current national average, ensuring they have more time with the patient to solve their individual health challenges. The physicians and their care teams are specifically trained to care for seniors, who have more challenging health conditions than the general population, and a high rate of chronic conditions. Patients at ArchWell Health will receive care that is well coordinated, as compared to the fragmented care that many seniors experience today.

“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 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 to leading a healthy life.”

“We conducted extensive research in markets nationally, and we found a real need for these holistic services in the St. Louis communities that we are opening centers. We are excited about the opportunities to serve seniors here.”

ArchWell Health’s plan has been developed 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. “ArchWell Health’s primary care doctors caring for our patients will be supported by social, nutritional, and behavioral health services in each center.”

ArchWell Health will add hundreds of employees by year end 2021, increasing to more than 1,400 by end of 2023 as additional centers open.

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 work together will 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

Contact: Julie Voss Catron, 314-726-5511 or info@archwellhealth.com