Christopher Rural Health Planning Corporation is partnering with AndHealth in an effort to expand access to specialty medical care for patients in Southern Illinois.
The partnership, announced Wednesday at the Illinois Primary Health Care Association’s annual conference in Peoria, marks AndHealth’s expansion into Illinois. Christopher Rural Health will be the company’s first community health center partner in the state.
Through the program, Christopher Rural Health patients will have access to specialists in rheumatology, dermatology and neurology through AndHealth’s specialist team and participating specialty practices in the region.
The program will also provide disease-management services, including care navigation, health coaching, nutritional support and assistance with prior authorizations and appointment scheduling. Specialty pharmacy services are expected to be added over the next year.
Christopher Rural Health operates 16 clinics across Southern Illinois, including locations serving rural communities where specialty care can require lengthy travel. The organization says its patients currently wait an average of four to six months to see some specialists.
Christopher Rural Health President and CEO Kim Mitroka said the partnership could reduce those delays.
“We’re excited about the partnership with AndHealth and bringing specialty care to our patients who have historically had to wait four to six months for these services,” Mitroka said.
AndHealth says similar programs at community health centers in Ohio and Indiana have reduced specialist wait times from several months to typically a matter of weeks.
The Illinois Primary Health Care Association has also entered into an agreement recommending AndHealth to its member community health centers as a preferred partner for specialty care and specialty pharmacy services.
Christopher Rural Health will begin connecting existing patients with the new program in phases over the coming months.