Synolo Wellness offers a fresh take on healthcare, driven by Nurse Practitioner Kristi Jones in the small community of Hensley, Arkansas. After years of working within the traditional healthcare system and facing her own health challenges, Kristi realized that the conventional approach, focused solely on pharmaceuticals, was not enough.

Her journey into functional medicine began in 2017 when she was diagnosed with an autoimmune condition. Faced with a healthcare system that offered little beyond medication, Kristi took matters into her own hands.

Her research led her to the Institute of Functional Medicine (IFM), where she found an approach that treated the root causes of illness rather than just the symptoms. Over three years, she completed a rigorous certification process, investing $35,000 of her own money to gain the knowledge needed to reverse her autoimmune condition and help others facing similar struggles.

“I quickly realized that the healthcare system was broken, offering only pharmaceuticals with no real solutions for recovery,” Kristi said. “This pushed me to do my own research, and that’s when I discovered the Institute of Functional Medicine, which offered a completely different approach to treating chronic health conditions, autoimmune disorders, and hormone imbalances.”

Kristi started offering her services part-time through telehealth. However, as demand for her services grew, she realized it was time to open a full-time clinic.

This decision was not without challenges, as Kristi lacked experience in the business side of running a healthcare practice. That’s when she turned to the Entrepreneurship Team at Communities Unlimited (CU) for support.

Getting to know my patients better and asking the right questions made me realize I couldn’t do that effectively in primary care under the insurance model,” Kristi said.

With CU Management Consultant James Custer, Kristi analyzed profit and loss and developed financial projections to assess various billing models. She discovered that operating as a cash-based clinic, rather than dealing with insurance billing, was the most profitable and sustainable option.

In addition to financial planning, Kristi and James developed a Business Model Canvas to outline the clinic’s operations, identify the target demographic, and determine the necessary resources for success. Kristi also hired a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) to manage the bookkeeping, gaining valuable financial literacy insights through her collaboration with CU.

The result of this collaboration was a well-thought-out plan for Synolo Wellness. Confident in her business model, Kristi signed a lease for her clinic space on August 1st, 2024. After a week of setup with family and friends, she welcomed her first patients for in-person visits — a significant milestone for Synolo Wellness, which had primarily operated as a telehealth service until then.

“The weekly meetings with him were helpful, especially since I was initially scared to take this step. But with each meeting, we grew more confident that it could work. I’m so excited to now bring people into the space and provide in-person care after years of virtual visits.”

For Kristi, opening the clinic is more than just a business venture; it’s a mission to fill the gaps in the current healthcare system. She believes many people in Arkansas are searching for more comprehensive and personalized care than what the traditional system offers.

“Our healthcare system needs people like me to fill the gaps for those who aren’t getting better in the traditional setting,” Kristi said. “I’m thrilled to bring this type of healthcare model to our state and offer something new for those who need more than what the conventional system can provide.”