Ferrell-Duncan chief prepares to retire

In March, the multispecialty clinic will endure another change as its chief administrator retires.

Charles McCracken, executive director of Ferrell-Duncan Clinic Inc., will retire at the end of March after 20 years with the clinic. His successor – Tom Babik, administrator of a 60-physician group in Bowling Green, Ky. – will start March 5, allowing the clinic a few weeks to ensure a smooth transition.

“I’ve gotten to the point in my career where I’m ready to retire,” McCracken said.

“I’ve been with the group for 20 years. I can financially retire, and it’s something that my wife and I have been looking forward to, and we’re ready,” he added.

It’s been a long road for the clinic, started in 1946 by Drs. Thomas Ferrell and Robert Duncan in the Medical Arts Building at Pershing Street and South Avenue. Now the clinic, which employs 100 physicians representing 22 different specialty areas, is housed in a 180,000-square-foot, five-story facility at 1001 E. Primrose St. and has three Springfield satellite clinics, as well as outreach facilities in Bolivar, Branson, Houston, Lebanon, Monett, Mountain View, Osceola and West Plains.

Dr. David Zolfa-ghari, president of the executive committee that chose McCracken’s successor, said McCracken’s leadership was integral to the clinic’s growth.

“Charles has been the cornerstone of the clinic,” Zolfaghari said. “He has been one of the guiding forces of Ferrell-Duncan Clinic as it has expanded, and his business skills and management skills will be missed.”

During McCracken’s 20-year tenure, the clinic moved to Primrose and expanded the facility from three to five stories, adding more than 100,000 square feet of space. The clinic also more than tripled its roster of physicians, from 27 to 100.

Health system alliance

One major change for the clinic came in 1996, when it formed a partnership with CoxHealth. Ferrell-Duncan Clinic is part of the Cox insurance network; CoxHealth owns the building and the clinic’s equipment and employs nonmedical staff. Ferrell-Duncan’s physicians are self-employed and have a voice in the governance of the CoxHealth, including representation on its board of directors.

Bob Ferguson, CoxHealth vice president in charge of Ferrell-Duncan operations, said the partnership is beneficial for both sides.

“The professional services agreement (between Ferrell-Duncan and CoxHealth) allows a self-employed, large physician group to be part of an integrated health system and have a voice in the governance of the system,” Ferguson said.

The clinic is governed by an eight-member executive committee selected by the physician owners.

The committee meets monthly, and committee members serve three-year terms.

The executive committee chose Babik to fill McCracken’s post following a national search.

McCracken said the executive director’s job involves meeting the needs of Ferrell-Duncan’s physicians.

“My responsibility is dealing with employment of the physicians,” McCracken said, “so recruitment is a big issue; compensation is an issue.”

McCracken said he also is responsible for the physicians’ benefit packages – disability, health, dental and life insurance and retirement plans.

Ferrell-Duncan Timeline

1946 – Drs. Thomas Ferrell and Robert Duncan form Ferrell-Duncan Clinic in downtown Springfield at Pershing Street and South Avenue

1950s – The clinic adds its third and fourth physicians

Early 1960s – The practice moves to a new 8,000-square-foot facility on Sunshine Street

1986 – The practice, now with 27 physicians, moves again, to its present location, 1001 E. Primrose St.; at that time it was three stories and comprised 62,000 square feet

1996 – The clinic forms partnership with CoxHealth, joining the Cox network

2007 – The facility, now five stories and 180,000 square feet, is home to 100 doctors and 120 nurses