It’s hard to believe that it’s been one year since achi was officially launched. At the time, I never could have predicted the twists and turns ahead. Ten days prior to the launch I had a calendar full of scheduled meetings, two presentations at conferences, and a bright outlook. Then within a 48-hour time frame, it was like watching dominoes successively tumble as every single thing fell off of my calendar for the next two months.
There was so much uncertainty surrounding everything in life. Suddenly I was faced with a world where no external meetings were taking place and all of the entities I would normally partner with were in crisis mode. On one hand, terms like health inequities and social determinants of health became mainstream phrases, but on the other hand, very few companies had the time or resources to strategically address them.
The challenge for achi became how to pivot a business that had barely started. With no meetings on the horizon, I had time to research a lot and look at ways to be relevant in this new environment. Slowly, I was able to reach out to new contacts and learn about other programs and services. As time went on, I became connected with others doing amazing work and new programs and ideas emerged. I began to develop an even greater passion to help serve those vulnerable populations, especially older adults.
I look back on the last 12 months and see so many lessons learned, but also continued blessings. I gained a better understanding of what it feels like to make choices on things I previously took for granted. With no paycheck or income as a family for 6 months, we were on a strict budget, experienced what it was like not to have health insurance, and questioned daily if I was really doing the right thing. It was a step of faith every day and I am so thankful for the experience. It also gave me a glimpse into the lives of millions of people and the choices that they face, but at the same time, it showed me how blessed I was. I had a safety net that most others did not – a savings account that could weather the loss of income, an understanding of the COBRA insurance rules in case we had a severe medical incident, and an amazing network of colleagues that had opportunities available if I chose to go in a different direction. These options are not available to so many others, and it gave me greater empathy and appreciation for the decisions that others make.
And here we are, one year later. After a rocky start, things have begun to settle into a new rhythm. Business started to pick up and we hired a part-time employee. We developed a new partnership and launched the Tellegacy program, established a collaboration with Vivid-Pix, explored data analytics with Front Health, and created presentations for large corporations and Medicare Advantage plans. We’re also getting back into service projects and living out our foundational values of working with and supporting non-profits serving our communities.
Although this isn’t a path I ever thought I’d choose, I am so thankful for the opportunity and the blessings that starting achi has brought. I’m sure that the upcoming year will be filled with a whole new set of challenges, but we’re ready to face them one day at a time. We look forward to continued growth in the year ahead and to changing even more lives in our communities.
Here's to another year - let's get started!
About achi
achi is a holistic care management company that lowers overall expenses by actively engaging people and connecting them to organizations to address the social determinants of health. Through innovative partnerships, cross-sector collaboration, and creative solutions, we equip organizations across multiple industries to educate the people they serve and connect them with resources to improve their lives from the ground up. By partnering with health systems, educational institutions and corporations, achi empowers lasting transformation in individual lives— resulting in an overall healthier population and data to transform our healthcare payment models. To learn more about achi and its mission, visit www.achi.solutions.