Accelerated Care Solutions (ACS) and Lotus Pharmacy have both been named to the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal’s 2026 Fast 50 list, recognizing the fastest-growing privately held companies in the Twin Cities. For Lotus, the recognition marks its second consecutive year on the list, following a No. 1 ranking in 2025.

Both companies are also LeadingAge Minnesota Business Partners, connected through a shared commitment to addressing the evolving needs of senior care providers.

While their services differ, their stories reveal a common thread: meaningful growth driven by listening to providers, identifying gaps in care, and developing innovative solutions to meet those needs.

Responding to an Evolving Industry

Senior care has experienced significant changes in recent years. Staffing shortages, increasing resident acuity, and growing demands on clinical teams have challenged providers to find new ways to deliver consistent, high-quality care.

For ACS, those challenges created an opportunity to rethink after-hours and weekend clinical support.

Founded in January 2023, ACS provides nurse triage services for assisted living, memory care, and skilled-nursing communities. Its model connects frontline caregivers with experienced registered nurses during evenings, weekends, and holidays, providing real-time clinical guidance while allowing onsite nurses much-needed time away from work.

As the needs of senior living communities have evolved, so has ACS’s approach.

The company developed TriaTech, its proprietary technology platform, to support consistent clinical decision-making and provide communities with greater visibility into after-hours care. By capturing and analyzing clinical data, ACS helps providers identify opportunities for staff training, quality improvement, and earlier intervention.

For Lotus Pharmacy, innovation has taken a similarly practical approach.

Founded in March 2020, the Plymouth-based company is Minnesota’s first and only woman-owned long-term care pharmacy, serving assisted living communities, skilled nursing facilities, and group homes.

Lotus has built its growth around personalized service and a commitment to making pharmacy support easier for already stretched care teams.

“No two communities are alike. Each has its own residents, staffing, and way of working, so we don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all approach,” said Jill Lytwyn, Founder and CEO of Lotus Pharmacy.

That philosophy has led to streamlined pharmacy onboarding, expanded quality assurance processes, and new services such as providing diabetic testing supplies and continuous glucose monitors alongside residents’ medications.

Though their innovations differ, both companies share a belief that supporting caregivers ultimately strengthens the care residents receive.

Growing Through Relationships and Collaboration

Beyond their individual success, both companies point to the value of industry relationships in shaping their growth.

For Lotus, being a LeadingAge Minnesota Business Partner has created opportunities to connect with provider leaders and better understand the challenges facing aging services.

“LeadingAge Minnesota creates that space, and we’re proud to be part of it,” said Lytwyn, emphasizing the importance of collaboration between providers and industry partners.

ACS has experienced similar benefits through its involvement with LeadingAge Minnesota, including its participation as a LeadingAge Minnesota Solutions vendor.

According to Mike McGuire, Co-Founder and CEO of Accelerated Care Solutions, that relationship has helped strengthen awareness and credibility while creating opportunities to give back through support for scholarships and other initiatives benefiting the senior care workforce.

These connections reflect the broader value of a collaborative senior care community, where providers and business partners can share insights, develop solutions, and work toward common goals.

Recognition that Reflects a Larger Purpose

For both companies, Fast 50 recognition represents more than business growth. It reflects the dedication of their teams and the trust of the communities they serve.

Lotus credits its employees for building a company from the ground up during one of the most challenging periods in senior care history.

ACS similarly attributes its success to the willingness of providers to embrace new approaches to longstanding workforce and clinical challenges.

“For us it has always been about supporting those who support seniors,” said Lori McGuire, Co-Founder and COO of Accelerated Care Solutions.

As Accelerated Care Solutions and Lotus Pharmacy celebrate their 2026 Fast 50 recognition, their success offers an encouraging example of what is possible when innovation, collaboration, and a commitment to senior care come together.

Their growth is worth celebrating, but the impact behind that growth is what matters most.