Our Founder's Story

By Betty Rich, RPh | CEO & Co-Founder of Connected Health
Updated 10.15.26

I didn’t set out to start a healthcare company. I was just a frustrated patient—and a mom—trying to navigate a system that felt cold, confusing, and completely disconnected from the people it was supposed to serve.

Like many others, I experienced long waits, rushed appointments, and the overwhelming amount of paperwork that comes with traditional, insurance-based care. But what really stayed with me were the moments when I needed care for my children and couldn’t get it, simply because it was after 5 p.m. or on a weekend. Those were the moments that made me think, There has to be a better way.

As my own mother got older, I began experiencing an entirely different side of the healthcare system. I accompanied her to her medical appointments, helped manage her care, and saw firsthand just how disconnected things could be.

I remember one experience in particular that has stayed with me. At every appointment, someone would go through my mother's medication list and ask if she was still taking certain prescriptions. I would explain that one of her medications had changed and needed to be updated in her records. But at the next appointment, we would have the exact same conversation. And then again at the appointment after that.

Finally, out of frustration, I asked, "Why do you keep asking me this question if no one is actually making the change?"

It felt like someone was simply checking a box. The question was being asked, but was anyone really listening to the answer? And more importantly, if her medication list wasn't even accurate, how could her physician be properly reviewing her medications and making informed decisions about her care?

As a pharmacist, I understood just how important accurate medication records are, especially for older adults who may be managing multiple prescriptions and health conditions. But as a daughter, I was frustrated. I wanted to know that someone was paying attention to my mother's health, that her information was accurate, and that the people caring for her were communicating with one another.

It wasn't necessarily that the healthcare professionals didn't care. I knew many of them were doing their best within a system that often left little time for meaningful conversations and follow-through. But from the patient's perspective, it certainly didn't feel like anyone was taking ownership of her care.

Those experiences reinforced something I had been feeling for years: Healthcare shouldn't be a series of disconnected appointments. There needs to be someone looking at the bigger picture, someone who knows your history, listens to your concerns, and follows through.

Over time, that frustration turned into a calling. I didn't want to keep accepting the way things were. I wanted to create the kind of care I wished existed for my own family—one that put people first, prioritized relationships, and made it easier to stay healthy instead of just reacting when something went wrong.

That's how Connected Health was born.

From the start, our philosophy was simple: remove the red tape, take insurance out of the equation when it comes to the primary care relationship, and give doctors the time and space to truly care for their patients. We adopted a membership-based model that allows our team to focus on prevention and proactive care plans, not just quick fixes.

In traditional practices, doctors are often juggling thousands of patients. I knew we could do better. At Connected Health, we keep our patient panels intentionally small, and we surround our physicians with a dedicated clinical and administrative support team. This allows us to spend more time with patients, coordinate care, manage important details, and help ensure that concerns don't simply get lost between appointments.

And yes, that includes something as seemingly simple as keeping an accurate medication list. Because those details matter. Every question we ask should have a purpose, and every answer deserves our attention.

I believe your primary care doctor should be your advocate and someone you can genuinely count on. They should know your story, not just your chart. That's why we've built a collaborative model that connects patients with physicians, pharmacists, physical therapists, dietitians, chiropractors, and other professionals who can contribute to their care.

My goal today is the same as it was when I first started: to help people take back control of their health and feel empowered in their care.

Whether you're a parent trying to get care for your sick child, an adult managing your own health, or a son or daughter helping an aging parent navigate theirs, you deserve a medical team that listens, remembers, and follows through.

That's the kind of care I wanted for my family. And that's the kind of care we created at Connected Health.

‍

‍