It feels like things have come full circle after just finishing up a week serving at Back Bay Mission (BBM) in Biloxi, MS. This is where I first began to question my career path 10 years ago after working at BBM for a week. Although I thought it may lead me in a different direction, I never could have predicted the journey or that I would step away from the corporate world two years ago and enter the arena of business owners.
So much has changed in the last two years and every day feels like a roller coaster ride that can change in an instant, beginning with the excitement of launching a new business at the same time the entire world shut down in March 2020. The fluctuating highs and lows occurring simultaneously often leaves me with whiplash but has also helped me realize the incredible blessings that are always present. Although the first year proved challenging, this second year became even more so; however, the blessings grew as well.
This last year has taught me perseverance, trust, faith, and most importantly, hope. Hope allows me to see the bigger picture and not get stuck in the circumstances that seem unfavorable or obstacles that feel insurmountable. I’ve learned the importance of having a good network and support system and knowing who to go to when I need assistance. I also realized that my journey as a new business owner feels a lot like working with people on addressing social determinants of health (SDoH) issues.
Like running a business, addressing SDoH issues is complicated. We’re dealing with human beings, not numbers. The data analytics help us determine where to focus and concentrate our limited resources, but we must keep the person at the heart of everything we do. We’re about human care. It starts with learning someone’s story and helping them first see that their situations are not impossible and to look for creative solutions. It’s about developing a network of support, and ultimately, providing that sense of hope that allows someone to continue to make another step forward.
While I was in Biloxi, one of the non-profit leaders introduced me as her ‘matchmaker’. I hadn’t thought about that before, but it is an accurate description of what we do at achi. We focus on connecting the dots and bridging gaps to create stronger and healthier communities. Those communities represent patients, families, employees, and members. When we do this right, we not only positively impact individual lives, but we can also see the ripple effect through our communities in decreased expenses and turnover, and increased productivity and well-being.
So, has the roller coaster ride over the past two years been worth it? Absolutely! We’re building a great team that not only has technical expertise but has the heart and passion to help people. It can be hard work and progress can take a while, but the ultimate results are more than worth it. It’s a blessing to be a ‘matchmaker’ for both individuals and organizations and I look forward to another year of continued connections across communities.
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.