By Tiffany Johnson
As a nurse and the parent of a child with Lowe syndrome, I sometimes joke that I’m not just a mom. I’m also a case manager, researcher, insurance specialist, and full-time advocate. Between doctor’s appointments, school meetings, insurance paperwork, Medicaid waivers, and keeping track of medical records, there’s always something that needs attention.
We originally started using Citizen Health because it securely brings all of Andy’s medical records together in one place. That alone has been a huge help. Instead of searching through binders or logging into multiple patient portals, everything is organized and easy to access whenever we need it.
Then Citizen Health introduced Ari, its AI advocate, and I quickly realized this was much more than a place to store medical records.
As Andy gets closer to adulthood, we’ve been navigating Georgia’s NOW and COMP Medicaid waivers, SSI, transition IEPs, psychological evaluations, and adult disability services. It can feel overwhelming, and I was constantly worried about missing an important step.
One of my first experiences with Ari completely changed my expectations. I needed help understanding where we were in the waiver process, and Ari actually called our regional DBHDD office, spoke with a representative, gathered the information we needed, and sent me a real-time transcript of the conversation. Instead of spending hours on hold or wondering if I had asked the right questions, I had clear answers and knew exactly what to do next.
Since then, Ari has helped me understand complicated applications, explain confusing forms in plain language, organize documents for Andy’s transition into adult services, and even draft responses describing why services like respite care and behavioral consultation are so important for our family. It has also helped me find local resources, including adaptive recreation opportunities and Special Olympics programs.
What makes Ari different is that it doesn’t just answer questions, but it also helps get things done. Because it understands Andy’s medical history through Citizen Health, the guidance feels personalized instead of generic. It saves me time, reduces stress, and helps me stay one step ahead.
Nothing can replace Andy’s physicians or the professionals who care for him. But Citizen Health and Ari have become valuable members of our care team. I originally signed up to organize Andy’s medical records, but Ari has become the feature I didn’t know we needed. It has given me more confidence that I’m not missing something important and more time to focus on what matters most: being Andy’s mom.
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