Today we’d like to introduce you to April Soto
Hi April, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Becoming a doctor has been a lifelong dream for me. I enjoy getting to know my patients and hearing their stories. Everyone has a tale to tell and listening is an important part of medical care. Working for a large hospital system for 13+ years allowed me to cultivate my abilities and develop skills in caring for a wide variety of patients. After those 13+ years, I felt like I wanted to expand and grow in new ways.
Opening my practice in August of 2023 was another realized dream come true. I enjoy listening to my patients and having my own practice allows me to do so without rushing patients. I started out small and am still small but steadily have been growing and have also expanded my office space.
I am where I am today because of perserverance, committment, creativity, a sense of humor, drive, being comfortable with the discomfort associated with growth, family support, a wonderful mentor and business partner, my amazing husband Chris, a strong faith and love.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The road has been beautiful but not smooth. I have needed to use parts of my brain never used before. Thinking in terms of cost effective medical care has always been a part of my repertoire but now I also need to consider this while making sure I keep my doors open. The patients I serve need me to stay afloat in order to continue to care for them. Learning the laws and legal structure surrounding the medical practices is important.
An important lesson has been to not to try to offer too many services nor expand too quickly. Doing a few things well is important. Taking some of that pressure off, and no longer feel the need to be all things to my patients, has been soothing to my soul. The fact that I can refer to the specialists and other medical centers allows patients to recieve the care they deserve while allowing me to focus on the needs I am able to support.
I have also learned that creativity is essential. Being able to take things seriously but myself not too seriously is important. It has also been refreshing to recognize that I am the final decision maker in the business practice and being able to trust my own intuition has been powerful. There have been course corrections needed along the way and I take those as lessons and experience.
Exercising healthy boundaries has been highly important. Being clear with communication facilitates healthy relationships. I believe that with patient care, making decisions as a team with them is empowering. What I have learned is that patients appreciate me taking care of myself because then it means I can better take care of them.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
LALIM Health has 2 main aspects to it. The first is Direct Primary Care. This is a subscription based model where patients pay a flat monthly fee for access to in person or virtual visits along with texting, emails and phone calls. The difference between this and concierge care is the fee structure where Direct Primary Care tends to be more accesible. One can think about this with the anology of automobile insurance. We typically do not use our auto insurance for regular maintenance such as oil changes, tire rotations and reserve that for higher cost services. And the beauty of this is that if we regularly maintain our vehicles, this can oftentimes prevent the need for bigger ticket items and services. The same can be said for our human bodies. If we regularly maintain and engage in preventative services, we oftentimes can prevent hospitalizations and need higher level of care. Direct Primary Care can save money, time and reduce the burden of suffering. One of the he greatest predictors of patient outcomes is their relationship with their provider. With Direct Primary Care, relationships based on trust and care are key components. Patients are listened to and supported while not being rushed out the door. There are no hidden fees with Direct Primary Care and we at LALIM Health have the core values of transparency and patient safety at the forefront. There are no additional copayments for these visits and high quality care as transparent pricing and patient safety are our cornerstones.
LALIM Health also offers psychedelic treatment services with Ketamine along with Breathwork for those needing emotional and mental support from challenges life has given them. These treatments can help support patients experiencing PTSD, anxiety and depression to name a few. Initial consultation for medical clearance is approx 60-90 minutes and the journeys are scheduled for 3 hours.
We are able to spend time with patients with initial Direct Primary Care visits approximately 90 min-120 minutes and follow up visits 30-60 minutes. We all need to be heard, valued and listened to and we pride ourselves in that at LALIM Health.
We also pride ourselves in offering quicker access to visits without having to wait for weeks for the next available appointment. This is revolutionary medicine where patients and working as a team with them is prioritized.
At LALIM Health, we believe that patients can connect with their own inner healer and can heal themselves. We are here to facilitate, witness and provide information to support patients in making the best decisions for themselves.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
Studies have shown that those who feel lucky are indeed lucky. We are exctremely lucky at LALIM Health. We feel tremendous gratitude for every patient that trusts us with their care. Every moment is a luxury and those spent with patients are magnificent and powerful. We are all part of a collective conscious and we can support each other in healing and creating a beautiful life.
Pricing:
- Direct Primary Care: Tier one: $99 enrollment and $200 monthly. Initial visit is $299 and then $200/month subsequently. No contracts and this is month to month.
- Direct Primary Care: Tier 2: home visits or higher level of care for those who require more visits than once every 6 weeks: $99 enrollment $599 initial visit and then $500/month subsequently
- Ketamine and Breathwork Services $500 for medical evaluation and $1000 for the Ketamine or Breathwork treatment/journey. For subsequent treatments/journeys $1000
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.lalimhealth.com
- Instagram: lalimhealth
- Facebook: aprilsotomd
- Other: tiktok: lalimhealth
