Health questions and concerns often arise outside the doctor’s office.
They come while standing at the kitchen counter, looking at a new bottle of medication. They come on the drive home from an appointment, when someone suddenly remembers what they meant to ask. They come a week into a new health goal, when the original plan no longer feels realistic.
Those everyday moments are what Clarence Health was created to address. The free app gives adults a place to talk through health questions, organize medications and appointments, prepare for medical visits and create personalized plans for the things they are trying to manage.
Clarence Health founder Andy Lozier knows how much of health care happens outside a clinic. He has managed chronic conditions since childhood and later supported his father through his own health challenges.
“People may only have a limited amount of time with their clinicians, but they are managing their health every day,” Lozier said. “Clarence was created to give them a place to ask questions, get organized and figure out what to do next.”
Clarence works through conversation. Users can type or talk to the app in the same way they might explain a situation to a friend.
Someone might ask how to prepare for an upcoming appointment, talk through questions about a new medication or ask for guidance building a healthier routine.
A person managing diabetes might use Clarence to organize meals, activity and questions for a doctor. Users can also add photos of medication labels, test results and screens from other health apps.
Clarence explains the information in everyday language and can provide more insights and guidance on what to do day to day. It can also provide medication reminders and notifications about potential drug interactions.
The purpose is not to replace a health care professional. Clarence does not diagnose conditions, and it is not meant for emergencies. Instead, the app is designed to make the time between appointments feel less confusing and less overwhelming.
One of its newer features is Personalized Plans.
People often know what they want to improve, but they are not always sure how to begin. A person may want to become more active, take medications more consistently, improve eating habits or better manage a chronic condition. Those goals can sound simple until they have to fit into work schedules, family responsibilities and daily life.
To create a plan, a user tells Clarence what they are trying to accomplish. The app asks about the person’s situation, preferences and challenges, then breaks the goal into smaller actions.
A plan to become more active would look different for someone who enjoys walking than it would for someone with limited mobility or an unpredictable schedule. Clarence can check in on progress and adjust the plan when something is not working.
“We did not want to give everyone the same generic checklist,” Lozier said. “The plan should fit the person’s real life. And when life changes, the plan changes to fit their needs.”
A lot of people find the app useful before a medical appointment. Clarence can help users talk through symptoms, changes and concerns ahead of time, then organize that information into a list they can bring with them.
Clarence also includes a companionship component. Users can talk through what is on their minds, reflect on how they are doing or look for encouragement when staying on track becomes difficult.
“Sometimes people need information, and sometimes they simply need a place to work through what they are thinking,” Lozier said. “Both can matter when someone is trying to take care of their health.”
For people living in and around Mansfield, balancing health needs with work, caregiving and everyday responsibilities can be challenging. Having another source of support between appointments may make that work feel more manageable.
Getting started does not require having the perfect question. A user can begin by describing an upcoming appointment, a medication concern, a health goal or something that has simply been weighing on their mind.
For many people, that first conversation is as simple as: “Here is what I am dealing with. Where should I start?”
Clarence Health is based in Columbus, OH and available free through the Apple App Store and Google Play. To learn more, visit clarencehealth.com/app.
