Springfield Neurological adds $2.5 million center

The opening of SNI Imaging signaled a new era for Springfield Neurological Institute LLC. And former banker Brian Williams is leading the way.

The 2-year-old independent physicians group stepped up its equipment adding a $2.5 million imaging center May 12 and personnel to better compete in Springfield's neurological services market, SNI physicians said.

SNI's management group recruited Williams from The Bank to spearhead its new business plan, and named him president and CEO in December. He helped found The Bank in 1997 and last served as president of the Battlefield Road branch.

"I think having Brian on board is certainly a part of that new era," said Dr. Mark Crabtree, managing member for the group. "We needed someone with a lot more expertise in business management oriented towards the service side of our practice in the front office."

The management group comprises seven doctors: Crabtree, Thomas Briggs, Wade Ceola, John Ferguson, Charles Mace, Salim Rahman and Robert Strang.

Already under Williams' watch is the new imaging center opening, which boasts an MRI unit, a fluoroscopic system and a CT scanner.

"I've had a crash course in the last five or six months," Williams said of his new trade. "It's been interesting."

The niche

Equipment at the new facility, an extension of the neurosurgery clinic at 2900 S. National Ave., matches the neurological service units found at both Springfield hospitals, Williams said. "They're right in line with the level of care that could be provided at either one of the major (Springfield health) facilities," he said.

The clinic's niche is in brain, spine and nervous system treatment, including neck soreness, back pain, extremity numbness, ruptured discs, headaches, seizures and tumors, said Julie Hargus, chief technologist. The neurosurgery center draws patients from as far away as 100 miles, Williams added, and treats about 400 patients per week many of whom are referrals from other area physicians.

The imaging center is in response to patient demand and improves quality of care in the community, Hargus said.

"We want to make sure that we can (see) our people in a timely manner and have that same level of care that they would get if they did have their exams at either one of the hospitals," Hargus said.

The clinic strives to treat patients through conservative means. Williams said of the 20,000 patients a year, only 12 percent, or 3,000 patients undergo surgery.

"Our goal is to really try to treat people without surgery, conservatively through injections, pain management and therapy," he said.

The neurosurgery clinic operates under managed care contracts through St. John's Health System and CoxHealth, Williams said. However, the new options available through SNI Imaging are not currently covered by CoxHealth and St. John's insurance.

"What we're hoping is that at some point the hospitals will see the convenience to their patients and our patients to allow you as a (Cox or St. John's) insured to be able to use our imaging center," Williams said. "Right now we are fine doing Medicare, workman's compensation and a couple of other insurances.

"From their standpoint, we're taking revenues out of their systems. That was not the intent of why the center was being built. It was built mainly because the demand for neurosurgery in this area and for MRI imaging is only going to increase."

Striking similarities

In a career move that appears unusual on the surface, Williams has discovered some striking similarities from a business aspect.

"Patients want good, quality customer service and I'm used to providing that from banking. They want responsive service. They want a good quality product for a fair and affordable price," Williams said. "All of those things are the same as the banking industry."

Williams compares current health care financial issues to the constant fight bankers face with interest rates.

"With declining reimbursements in health care and rising expenses, it's the same double compression of your margins that you've got in banking with interest rates falling and the cost to get good people rising. There are a lot of similarities."

However, interest rates and Medicare reimbursement will eventually head in different directions, Williams said.

"We all know interest rates are going to go back up," he said. "In the medical field there is very little probability that Medicare is ever going to raise reimbursements."

Another correlation Williams points to is the battle for limited dollars.

"There is only so many dollars this country can put into the health care system," he said. "The pie can only be divided so many different ways," between hospitals, independent physicians groups and imaging centers.

Springfield's banking industry is not any different, he said, due to increased competition from the handful of start-up banks that emerged in the late 1990s, including The Bank.

Tapping the bank

The physicians at SNI were looking for a fresh business mind to run the organization. Williams was seeking a new challenge outside of banking.

Those goals converged as a result of Williams' serving as SNI's commercial loan officer at The Bank. The business relationship developed over four years, Crabtree said, and culminated with what he calls a "perfect fit" for SNI's long-term vision. The management group developed the president's position for Williams.

"In the long run (Williams) will have broad freedom to run the business side with our oversight, of course," Crabtree said. "Before, we sort of served his function. Now we are trying to function more as a board of directors and a managing partner.

"I think he is fully capable of mastering the medical business as well as he did the banking business. We are extremely pleased and happy to have him."