A Decade of Difference
Ten years ago, a revolutionary idea took root in Omaha. What if healthcare wasn’t a frustrating maze of different offices, specialists, and disconnected appointments? What if, instead, you could go to one place designed to treat you, not just your symptoms? That was the promise of Think Whole Person Healthcare when it opened its doors in July 2015. A decade later, that promise has become a proven success story, transforming the healthcare experience for thousands of residents in Omaha.
This year marks not just an anniversary but a celebration of a healthcare model that has delivered better health, happier patients, and lower costs. Let’s dive into the ten-year journey of how think went from a bold idea to a nationally recognized leader.
It All Started with a Simple (But Radical) Idea.
Back in 2015, think set out to challenge a broken system. The founders were tired of fragmented care and wanted to build something new from the ground up, a place focused on well-being, easy access, and affordability. The core philosophy was simple: treat the “whole person.” Instead of just asking, “What’s wrong?” they started asking, “Why is it happening?” and examining the connections between a person’s physical, mental, and emotional health.
The mission was clear: to provide coordinated care that improves quality of life, keeps people healthy to lower costs, and creates a world-class workplace for the team, making it all happen.
A Building That Heals.
To bring this vision to life, think needed more than just a new clinic. They needed a new kind of building. The result is the award-winning, 150,000-square-foot facility on West Center Road, a structure designed by global architecture firm HDR to be a “clinical instrument” in its own right.
The design is genius. Public areas are open and welcoming, while “off-stage” corridors allow doctors and staff to collaborate seamlessly behind the scenes, breaking down the walls that usually separate different medical departments. The building is filled with meaning, with an exterior pattern on the glass facade inspired by the connections, or synapses, in your brain. Up close, this pattern appears as a collection of dots, but at a distance, the image gains clarity, and you perceive the network of connections. Additionally, the building features a stunning central atrium with a distinctive “rose window” structure. It is a wooden sculptural element that runs up through all seven levels of the center, referencing the decorative windows used in 17th-century churches. It was crafted from 20,000 lengths of Douglas Fir, molded into a fluid, natural shape. It’s a space that feels both high-tech and deeply human.
Every detail is designed around the patient. Exam rooms are big enough for family members. Microphones in the ceiling let doctors have a natural conversation with you while a scribe documents everything from another room, freeing the physician to focus entirely on you. The building even won design awards in its very first year, demonstrating that the space itself played a key role in the innovation.
The Secret Sauce is Better Care for Less.
So, how does think deliver on its promises? The engine behind the model is its status as an Accountable Care Organization (ACO), one of the first in the state of Nebraska.
Here’s what that means for you. In a traditional system, doctors get paid for every test and procedure they do. An ACO, however, gets rewarded for keeping its patients healthy and its costs down. When think provides high-quality care that reduces overall healthcare spending (think fewer ER visits and hospital stays), it shares in the savings, creating a system where your doctor’s goal is the same as yours: to keep you healthy.
And the results are staggering.
- #1 in Nebraska: Think is the top-performing ACO in the state in the Medicare Shared Savings Program for quality and cost savings.
- #2 in the Nation: It ranks second nationally in the Medicare Shared Savings Program for quality and cost savings.
- 22% Lower Costs: The average cost for a Medicare patient at think is 22% lower than the national average.
How do they do it? By seeing patients more frequently, an average of four times a year compared to the national average of two, they practice proactive, preventative care that catches problems early. This approach has earned major endorsements, including a partnership with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska, whose leadership noted that “Think has been leading the way in changing how health care is practiced in Nebraska,” said Dr. Joann Schaefer, BCBSNE executive vice president. “The independent primary care model plays a key role in think’s success. By treating the whole person, in a coordinated effort, think has been able to improve the quality of care and reduce costs. With Clarkson’s help, we hope to expand upon what we’ve started.”
Your One-Stop-Shop for Health.
Over the last decade, think has built a true “circle of care” under one roof. What started with 24 primary care doctors has grown into a comprehensive team of over 300 professionals.
Today, patients can see providers for Primary Care, Behavioral Health, Dermatology, Podiatry, Physical Therapy, and much more, often in the same building on the same day. With its own lab and imaging services, you can often get test results before you leave the building. Think even added a walk-in clinic (ThinkQuick) and aesthetic services with thinkrestore.
For specialized care, such as oncology or orthopedics, think partners with top-tier independent groups, including Nebraska Cancer Specialists and OrthoNebraska, bringing their clinics directly into the think building. With these partnerships, it means your cancer specialist or orthopedic surgeon is part of the same coordinated system, working directly with your primary care provider.
The Next Chapter, Think Goes West.
After a decade of perfecting its model, think took its biggest step yet. On August 1, 2024, the organization expanded, integrating the respected Omaha Family Medicine practice to create a new think clinic in West Omaha.
CEO Jason Doll explained that after nine years of proven success, the organization was “ready to bring our model to the wider community”. The partnership was a natural fit, with Omaha Family Medicine’s founder, Dr. Charles Stoner, stating, “Our philosophies regarding patient care are aligned. think is best in class”. This expansion is the first true test of the original vision to create a healthcare “prototype” that could be replicated, proving that the think system of better, more affordable care can work anywhere.
The Verdict from the Community.
Ultimately, the real proof is in the patient experience. Online reviews and testimonials are filled with praise for the convenience and quality of care.
- One patient loves that you can “get a bunch of your needs taken care of all in one place.”
- Another was amazed to get their blood work results “just as they walked into the doctor’s office to discuss them.”
- People describe the staff as “personable,” “caring,” and “good listeners”.
Official accolades back this positive feedback. In 2022, think was named the best Family Physicians Clinic by the Omaha World-Herald’s “Omaha’s Choice Awards” and the top Private Practice Medical Clinic by Omaha Magazine’s “Best of Omaha” awards.
Think’s commitment to Omaha extends beyond its walls. The organization partners with Clarkson College to offer reduced tuition to employees and their families, investing in the next generation of healthcare workers. It also sponsors a vital health screening program for Omaha’s firefighters and provides training programs for students, cementing its role as a true community partner.
A Decade of Promises Kept.
When think launched in 2015, it promised to change healthcare in Nebraska. Ten years later, the evidence is in. They did it. They built a facility that enables better care, an operating model that delivers higher quality at a lower cost, and an integrated system that has earned the trust of the community it serves.
As it celebrates its 10th anniversary, think isn’t just a local success story. It’s a blueprint for the future of American healthcare —a future that’s more coordinated, proactive, and focused on the whole person. Happy anniversary, think! Here’s to the next decade of transformation.
Conclusion
Think is an Accountable Care Organization (ACO), which means that our doctors work together to see an individual’s entire scope of health, preventing unnecessary procedures and medical errors through miscommunication. By offering a wide variety of specialties directly on the think campus, we are able to take care of our patients in a way unlike any other healthcare option in the Omaha metro area. If your doctor can keep you under our roof, they will. This means your record is shared between all of your think providers, and helps us control quality and costs by keeping your care in our circle of services.
To learn more about the complete list of our healthcare services, visit our Services page online and meet your think Provider by visiting our Meet Your Doctor page. Visit our self-scheduling page or give us a call at 402.506.9000.
