Owners of a local natural health clinic have taken a bold leap, expanding to create a centralised health hub whilst also venturing into the realm of pharmaceuticals, adding a compounding pharmacy to their already successful business portfolio.
At a time when health and wellness has never been more important, James and Emma Jensen, owners of Hello Health (formerly known as Australian Nutrition Centre), have stepped up to cater to the surging demand in the natural health space.
Since opening the doors to their clinic in Kirwan in 2014, the husband-and-wife duo, who are both Integrative Medical Practitioners and worked in community pharmacy prior to opening the clinic, have been dedicated to finding and holistically treating the root cause of people’s health issues.
Last year, the couple identified the opportunity to expand their offerings and provide services in conjunction with other allied health professionals, all under the one roof.
With this vision in mind, they signed a five-year lease for a building in South Townsville earlier this year, working alongside the owner to purpose-fit the premises and create a one-stop-shop for holistic health needs.
“We decided to expand the business after outgrowing our previous premises in Kirwan, and really saw the potential to establish a space to cater for all natural health needs in one location,” says James.
“We regularly work with a range of allied health professionals anyway, so having those services all under the one roof means clients are able to conveniently access all their natural health needs in one spot, saving them time, money and effort.”
Local physiotherapy business, The Physio House, was the first to move into the space, with plans for other allied health professionals, including a speech pathologist and an occupational therapist, to join in the future.
James says the rising demand for natural health solutions is what gave them the confidence to create the health hub and bring their vision to life.
“We’ve really seen an increase in people wanting natural health services and solutions in recent years, so we’re looking forward to using this health hub as a way to cater to this growing demand,” he continues.
“Our aim with the health hub is to provide holistic and integrative healthcare solutions that are personalised to each individual’s needs and ensure we can continue to help people treat the root cause of their issues, rather than just the symptoms.”
This surge in demand also saw the couple venture into new business territory in May when they acquired The Compounding Pharmacy on Charters Towers Road, which operates independently to Hello Health.
Prior to the handover, Emma, who oversees the operations of The Compounding Pharmacy, was trained by former owner and seasoned pharmacist Susan Samimi, who was a pioneer in the compounding space when she first established the business over a decade ago.
Emma says she is looking forward to continuing Susan’s legacy and servicing the North Queensland community, with clients spanning as far north as Cairns and west to Mount Isa.
“The importance of compounding cannot be overstated, as it allows us to customise the medications to the individual and meet the unique needs of each patient,” says Emma.
“This means that medications can be tailored to individual requirements, including custom strengths, dosage forms and flavours.
“Whilst it operates independently to Hello Health, it really does complement it. James and I have been able to work collaboratively with clients from across both businesses to provide fully tailored and holistic health solutions.
“For instance, he can refer clients from Hello Health to the pharmacy where I can make up exactly what they need.”
At the time of writing, The Compounding Pharmacy alone has witnessed a 30% rise in the number of prescriptions it has processed since the start of the year. Amidst the current drug shortage, compounding pharmacies across Australia have also been able to support community pharmacists and fulfil prescriptions as required.
“This increase in scripts is a testament to the growing interest and demand in natural medicine as a health solution,” continues Emma, who also noted an increase in their services at Hello Health.
“People are becoming more conscious of their health and are increasingly seeking out holistic solutions as an alternative to traditional medications.
“Compounding pharmacies’ ability to offer customised, personalised treatment solutions means they are well-positioned to continue to cater to this growing demand and assist with solutions to the current drug-shortage crisis that the sector is grappling with across the country.”
Looking ahead, the couple have no intention of slowing down anytime soon. In fact, they recently launched the first of their quarterly health talks at their new premises, with the goal of using education and awareness to empower individuals to take control of their own health journey.
“I think a good holiday is on the cards,” jokes James. “But in all seriousness, we are really excited to be able to work towards making natural health accessible for everyone through both Hello Health and The Compounding Pharmacy.
“It’s been a wild ride, but we’ve buckled ourselves in.”
Main image: James and Emma Jensen, Owners of Hello Health and The Compounding Pharmacy.
Image credits: Sonia Warrell – Hello Muse Photography
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