CLEVELAND, Ohio — A national network of primary care clinics focused exclusively on seniors is expanding rapidly into Greater Cleveland, offering a model of health care that rewards prevention over procedures.<\/p>\n
ArchWell Health,<\/a> founded in 2021, opened its first local centers this fall in Parma, Brook Park, Eastlake and Maple Heights. Another was set to open this week in Westlake, with four more coming soon to Cleveland Heights, Euclid and two Cleveland neighborhoods \u2014 Lorain Avenue and Kinsman Road.<\/p>\n ArchWell\u2019s healthcare model emphasizes wellness and social determinates of health when treating its patients, who are people 60 and up who use Medicare Advantage. <\/p>\n Like ArchWell\u2019s focus on wellness, integrative health looks at the whole person and factors that may be influencing their health, such as lifestyle, genetics, behaviors and beliefs, said Dr. Victoria Maize,<\/a> executive director of the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine, and a professor of medicine, family medicine, and public health at the University of Arizona.<\/p>\n Maize is board certified in integrative medicine, which is especially important for seniors.<\/p>\n Physicians who practice integrative medicine make recommendations based not only on conventional medicine, but also factors such as sleep, stress and exposure to environmental chemicals, Maize said. <\/p>\n As people age, behaviors have a significant effect on how well they age and how long they live, she said. Social connections and muscle strength are some behaviors that affect the health of older Americans.<\/p>\n A 1960s study that tracked adults in California asked them about whether they smoked and if they exercise and whether they were at a healthy weight, how much they slept and how much alcohol they drank. Strong social connections were found to influence longevity, she said. <\/p>\n Research has shown that many Americans are lonely. \u201cThat is an important factor that\u2019s often left out of when we look at people and take care of them,\u201d Maize said.<\/p>\n A 2023 advisory titled \u201cOur Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation\u201d by U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy emphasized the severe health risks associated with social isolation and loneliness. Lacking social connection increases the risk of premature death to levels comparable to smoking <\/a>15 cigarettes daily, Murthy said.<\/p>\n As we age, our bodies naturally use muscle. Physicians are beginning to access patients\u2019 muscle strength through a series of questions about the difficulty of carrying 10 pounds, walking, rising from a chair and climbing stairs. <\/p>\n Muscle strength involves exercise and eating the right amount of healthy protein, such as from fish, poultry and legumes, Maize said. Protein requirements change as people age. <\/p>\n ArchWell targets area\u2019s aging population<\/p>\n Staying healthy and avoiding hospital stays are what ArchWell Health is about. <\/p>\n The healthcare company, which operates more than 70 clinics in 11 states, plans to reach 100 by early 2026. Six of its Cleveland-area sites are repurposed former retail buildings, such as Rite Aid, CVS and Save-A-Lot stores.<\/p>\n ArchWell Health targets patients are people 60 and older enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans. Its mission \u2014 and business model \u2014 is to keep them healthy, independent and out of hospitals. The company is built on what\u2019s known as value-based care, where providers are paid for outcomes rather than the number of services performed.<\/p>\n \u201cIf we keep people out of the hospital and out of the ER, keep them healthy and doing well, then in this business model we actually do well financially,\u201d said Dr. Don Goddard, ArchWell\u2019s president and national director of primary care. He is not related to the late Cleveland weatherman Dick Goddard.<\/p>\n Under this approach, ArchWell receives Medicare reimbursement based on how many hospitalizations the government expects its patients to have in a year. If hospital visits are lower than expected, ArchWell keeps the remaining funds. \u201cYou don\u2019t do well in this business unless your patients are doing well,\u201d Goddard said.<\/p>\n The clinics\u2019 design reflects that philosophy. Instead of sterile exam rooms and long waits, ArchWell centers look and feel more like community gathering spaces. Patients \u2014 called \u201cmembers\u201d \u2014 can stop by for bingo, karaoke, movie days or adult coloring. The social atmosphere combats loneliness, a major health risk for older adults, while allowing staff to spot potential problems early.<\/p>\n At the Maple Heights clinic, which has nearly 50 members, staff recently helped a patient secure a long-delayed nebulizer after repeated emergency room visits for breathing issues. With her medication finally accessible, the patient can now focus on managing her diabetes, said Misha Fuller, the clinic\u2019s manager. \u201cSomething so small can make a huge difference,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Fuller said caregivers are now prioritizing flu and COVID-19 vaccinations as respiratory virus season begins. \u201cThis is the most rewarding work \u2014 keeping people healthy and out of the hospital, and helping extend their life spans,\u201d Fuller said.<\/p>\n Cuyahoga County\u2019s aging population underscores the need for such clinics. The share of residents 65 and older rose from 15.5% in 2010 to 19.6% in 2022, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. ArchWell typically seeks out neighborhoods with large senior populations but too few primary care doctors.<\/p>\n Each ArchWell care team includes physicians, nurses, case managers and social workers who coordinate everything from transportation and nutrition to managing chronic diseases. Appointments can last from 20 to 60 minutes \u2014 far longer than the national average of 18 minutes, according to a 2023 study. Physicians personally call patients who fall ill or are hospitalized, and every discharged patient is expected back in the office within three days.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re trying to take care of seniors with a lot of needs,\u201d Goddard said. \u201cTo keep them healthy and out of the hospital, we have to address everything that\u2019s affecting their health.\u201d<\/p>\n Goddard is a Northeast Ohio native who previously practiced in Chardon and served as an administrator at University Hospitals.<\/p>\n Similar networks \u2014 including Oak Street Health, part of CVS Health, and ChenMed \u2014 have also bet on value-based care for older adults. Oak Street operates at least four Cleveland-area locations, while ChenMed has clinics in Maple Heights and Columbus.<\/p>\n For ArchWell, profitability depends on prevention. Most patients, Goddard said, appreciate the extra attention \u2014 though a few occasionally tire of all the check-ins.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019ll say, \u2018I don\u2019t need to be called all the time,\u2019 because we\u2019re always checking in,\u201d he said. \u201cBut the majority love all the attention they get and the follow-up we do on their medical needs.\u201d<\/p>\n If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. 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