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Steve Edwards, CEO; Laurie Duff, vice president of corporate communications; and Jake McWay, chief financial officer
Steve Edwards, CEO; Laurie Duff, vice president of corporate communications; and Jake McWay, chief financial officer

2012 Kings Winner: CoxHealth

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What started out as a simple frame duplex on Jefferson Avenue in 1906 has grown into the Springfield area’s largest employer, with 7,986 employees.

The health system has 489 physicians on staff and encompasses four hospitals – Cox North, Cox South, Cox Walnut Lawn and Cox Monett, according to Vice President of Corporate Communications Laurie Duff, who joined CoxHealth 23 years ago.

“We’re the largest employer in Springfield, and we have a huge impact on the families of those employees in the form of a paycheck every two weeks,” she says.

In 2008, during the economic downturn, the not-for-profit health system’s impact on the community became even more fully realized, and its challenges increased, Duff says.

“Initially, we thought of health care as recession-proof,” she says. “But then it hit (Springfield) and people lost their jobs – and with that, their health care coverage. They still needed health care services, but couldn’t pay for them and our bad debt increased rapidly.”

The U.S. Supreme Court upholding the individual mandate of President Barack Obama’s Affordable Care Act on June 28 is expected to help, Duff says.

“The good news is that with the Supreme Court’s decision, we believe at least that the funding mechanisms will be in place to help to take care of what hospitals are being expected to do,” she says.

CoxHealth posted 2011 revenues of more than $2.2 billion, with $596.6 million in revenues through May 31 and year-end projections of nearly $2.4 billion, Duff says. In June, officials with CoxHealth and Branson-based Skaggs Regional Medical Center signed a letter of intent to form a financial partnership that would allow Skaggs to maintain some independence but unify the organizations for purchasing, contracting and other business matters. After a due diligence period, the partnership, which requires approval by the Missouri attorney general, will be recommended for approval by the Skaggs Board of Trustees, perhaps by early fall.

Amid a rapidly changing industry, Duff says CoxHealth hasn’t lost sight of its focus on patient care.

“Being not-for-profit, we’ve always taken care of the patients regardless of their ability to pay. And we need to continue to be focused on making sure we’re there for them, making sure we try to do things proactively to improve their health,” she says.

CoxHealth also encourages healthy behaviors among its staff, with help from President and CEO Steve Edwards.

“Steve is a role model for our mission to improve the health of the community through education and research and encourages people to make healthy choices through his own example,” she says of the leader who has been with CoxHealth since 1992 and took the top post in January.  

Healthy employee choices enables CoxHealth to keep its insurance costs down and invest instead in preventive measures such as fitness centers and access to quality food in cafeterias, Duff says.

She notes that CoxHealth’s efforts to increase the number of childhood immunizations in southwest Missouri and its support of Children’s Miracle Network send a message about the locally owned and governed health system’s commitment to citizens of Springfield.

 “I think that they see … that we’re taking care of our friends and our neighbors. It’s a huge investment in improving accessibility and improving quality and safe care for their family and particularly their children,” Duff says.

Click here for full coverage of the 2012 Economic Impact Awards.


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