A Conversation With ... Phil Readinger

My responsibilities primarily involve conducting research, feasibility studies and various analyses for potential new service offerings, market trends, clinical technologies and things along that line. I’m also responsible for the Certificate of Need process for CoxHealth. That’s the process health care entities have to go through with the state of Missouri … basically to get approval to build a new hospital or to purchase equipment that costs in excess of a million dollars.

I also assist with formulating business plans throughout the health system and provide information and research to any area that’s looking for resources or information within a particular area.

What’s the process involved when there are new treatment options or technology to consider for CoxHealth?

Ideas or suggestions generate typically from our physicians or other clinical staff or clinical administration.

Then, either a department director or administrator will initiate the business-planning process through its oversight committee, by presenting an analysis of the project itself, whether it’s new technology or a new procedure … and include information on general market trends, what’s going on in the industry as a whole, and then also, focus in with an analysis on how this is being addressed – if it is at all – locally.

Obviously, an essential part of it is, “How will this particular process or equipment improve patient care?” That’s the focal point. How will it be different or an improvement over what’s currently being done for our patients?

They would also present an implementation timeline to show what procedures would be necessary to make this happen … how long it would potentially take, how it could affect other areas within the hospital or health system.

Of course, part of it must be, too, a plan that describes the various financial aspects of the proposal … and what is the best way to acquire it.

What are some areas in which there are now a lot of new options?

There always seems to be new technologies or enhancement to existing technologies in the area of imaging, particularly as it may apply to a certain area, such as cardiovascular services on an outpatient basis.

The outpatient market is where there’s just tremendous growth, because obviously, it’s in the interest of all parties – the patient in particular – if they can get as much done or diagnosed on an outpatient basis and not have to have admissions to the hospital.

What are some of the key innovations added at CoxHealth in the last year?

What’s been done in the Martin Center, which is our imaging and diagnostic center, has truly been a tremendous asset and addition to all of the services offered, again because it enhances the outpatient opportunity.

Recently, the creation and centralization of services pertaining to women and children with the new Turner Center really has been an important step, and that will continually be developed. I think, coming up, when CoxHealth builds – and it’s moving along very well in our planning process, and a lot of due diligence has gone into the development – our new emergency department (on the south campus), that will really incorporate a lot of state-of-the-art patient care processes.

You have only been with CoxHealth for nine months. How did you get to this point in your career?

I had lived in Springfield previously. My wife is from Springfield, and she grew up here. When we got married, we moved away and lived in the St. Louis area for the past 11 years but had an opportunity to come back, and with the family connections, that was appealing.

I had actually spent most of my career in St. Louis in the insurance industry, and went back to school for a graduate degree in health management. As I was completing that degree, the opportunity came up for us to move back to Springfield. My health management degree is from Lindenwood University in St. Charles, and I also have an MBA from the University of Missouri-St. Louis.

After completing an internship with the BJC health care system in St. Louis, we moved down here. Through some networking and making contacts wherever I could, I found out about this health care planner position, which is new for CoxHealth. So I’m a new person in a new position, which is very exciting.

Tell us about your family.

I’ve been married to Dina for 11 years. We have four kids – my older kids are my step-kids, but I consider them every bit my kids. Britany is 17, Koby is 15, then we have 3- year-old twin boys, Ethan and Christopher.

Interview by Maria Hoover.