Iora Primary Care focuses on care, not fees, to help seniors live happier, healthier lives

Imagine a world where older patients get the kind of care that helps them to be their best, healthiest selves. These patients aren’t rushed through appointments and sent to specialists for tests they don’t fully understand. Instead, they receive longer appointments including coaching and counseling to build their confidence about how to take better care of themselves.
It’s the kind of care older Americans are increasingly seeking, especially as they become more sophisticated about preventive care.

The care that senior patients get is important to Colorado, despite its reputation for being a “young” state. Colorado’s 32 percent increase in the 65-plus age category from 2000 to 2010 was the fourth fastest growth rate in the nation, according to Colorado State Demography Office. The office also says that Baby Boomers in Colorado, those born between 1946 and 1964, are forecast to increase the state’s 65-plus population by 150 percent from 2010 to 2030.

There is a new primary care practice in Colorado that focuses on the kind of patient care described above. Massachusetts-based Iora Health believes in putting patients first simply because it’s the right thing to do. Under the Iora Primary Care brand, Iora builds primary care practices to meet the specific needs of the communities it serves, and in Colorado, its three new practices are designed for Humana’s Medicare Advantage senior members.  These Colorado practices – in Glendale, Lakewood and Arvada – have integrated health care teams of doctors, Health Coaches, behavioral health specialists.

Ultimately, Iora Health’s goal is simple: To restore humanity to health care by doing whatever it takes to help patients live happier and healthier lives. It seems a simple goal that should be shared by all health care providers. But Iora is unique in that it has broken away from our country’s addiction to –fee for serviceÓ when providing health care, replacing it with a flat-fee, value-based model. This is –concierge-levelÓ care at no extra cost.

An example of the impact this has can be seen in the story of a 65 year-old-gentleman who became a patient several months ago. Prior to Iora, he had a procedure had gone wrong, and had lost all trust in the health care system. He’d been on more than a dozen medications and stopped taking all of them, and his blood sugar and blood pressure readings were dangerously elevated. The Iora team spent his first appointment explaining what was happening to him and the risks and benefits of treatment. They started him on just one medication and over the next months, his Health Coach worked closely with him, supporting and encouraging him to log his sugars and blood pressure. After four months, the patient began the daily logging and through this and ongoing conversation, he learned how his medications and diet impacted his health. This gentleman is thrilled with his care team, and his blood sugars and blood pressure are now completely under control. After years of being told what to do by doctors without success, this patient was able to make a change in his life because his care team engaged him and helped him believe he could do it.

Iora works hard to provide the care, guidance and support to help all of our patients make the changes they need to live their best life.

Coffee open house for Iora Primary Care

Coffee open house for Iora Primary Care. Please join us for coffee and light snacks, tour our new office space-created to truly complement the patient experience and learn how Iora Primary Care is transforming health care.
When: 11/19/2015 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Where: Iora Primary Care
1692 Wadsworth Blvd.
Lakewood, CO 80214