Exciting things are happening at Becker's Healthcare. Stay
ahead of industry trends with the new Becker's
CFO plus Revenue Cycle podcast,
your go to source for insights from top
healthcare finance leaders. Tune in wherever you get
your podcasts.
And don't miss the tenth annual Health IT
plus Digital Health plus RCM conference, happening September
30 to 10/03/2025
in Chicago.
Join thousands of executives,
engage with industry leaders, and explore the future
of health care innovation.
Learn more about our upcoming events at beckershospitalreview.com.
See you there.
This is Laura Deirda with the Becker's Healthcare
podcast.
I'm thrilled today to be joined by Kevin
Green, president of Cook Children's Medical Center Prosper,
and doctor Tony Anani, chief medical officer at
Cook Children's Medical Center Prosper.
Kevin, doctor Anani, thank you so much for
joining us on the podcast today.
Laura, it's a pleasure. We appreciate the time
and the opportunity to speak with you.
Thank you. Absolutely.
Now I'm looking forward to our conversation and
really learning more about, some of the cool
things you're doing at Cook Children's. But before
we dive in, I'm wondering, can you talk
a little bit about what makes the health
system unique?
Absolutely. And once again, doctor Nani and I
wanna say how much we appreciate Becker's and,
Laura, you and your team and the opportunity
to speak with you all today and share
a little bit about our organization.
But, Community Children's Healthcare System, we're based out
of Fort Worth, Texas, and, we were founded
actually a hundred and seven years ago this
month. So we're celebrating our hundred and seventh
birthday. So, we started in 1918.
So been around for a little while.
We care for nearly two million patients annually,
serving children,
of course, across the state of Texas, but
also from all 50 states and countries worldwide.
So we have a very broad reach in
the kids we care for.
I would say Cook Children's is unique as
it's one of the few fully integrated freestanding
pediatric health care systems in the country. And
what this really means as as you think
about the health care system in our umbrella
is that in addition to the medical centers,
both Fort Worth and Prosper,
we also have our own health plan,
home health services, infinite position, and provider network
that we'll talk about for, later on.
But that is unique. And through this integrated
structure,
it allows us to provide,
patients and families with a seamless care coordination
across all these different,
aspects of the organization. So, you know, doctor
Anani will be able to speak to it
from a physician perspective. But when you think
about
a patient or family needing
access to emergency care, inpatient care, outpatient care,
home health needs, or, you know, our health
plan, all these things are,
provided and communicated and coordinated,
through one organization, one team,
that are all aligned around one purpose and
one promise, which is that child. So it's
very unique versus a fragmented organization.
Cook Children's has all that underneath our umbrella.
So we believe we're more able to provide
that preeminent experience,
for not only our patients, but our our
families.
That's amazing to hear. And, doctor Nani, is
there anything you want to add?
No. I think, Kevin, you know, was right
on.
In terms of, like, providing care for patients
to, think of it also having
our own, transportation,
services.
We have the Cook Health Foundation, which helps
to,
also fill the gaps.
And so, for example, you'll have a child
show up at Prosper,
with a brain bleed and needs to be
transported to,
mothership in Fort Worth. You know, having the
ability to, you know, get your helicopter out
here and move the child,
with seamless care in one system,
is,
you know, really cool. So very excited to
be part of
Cook Children's and, what we do for our
kids here.
Well, it's amazing to hear. And, you know,
really, really appreciate that perspective on all the
different ways you're able to serve the community.
Now I'm curious looking back in the last
year or so, what accomplishment are you most
proud of?
We have a a few. And as it
relates to Prosper,
so our medical center opened
January ninth of twenty twenty three. So we're
just a little over two years old.
But this past year,
our community,
named us our medical center as the number
one medical center for inpatient and emergent care.
And this recognition, especially for a new medical
center, which I'm not sure if you're familiar
with North Texas, but, especially the Northern region
that has a very competitive
marketplace.
I think this demonstrates the exceptional work,
that our team members do on a daily
basis to ensure that we're able to provide
our patients
and our families
both with excellent high quality care, but also
a unique and one of a kind positive
patient experience.
So that's something we're very proud of locally
at the medical center.
As it relates to the health care system,
we're proud to,
acknowledge that we've received several prestigious recognitions. A
couple of them being that Forbes this year
ranked Cook Children's Health Care System,
as the number one employer,
for large organizations.
And number three
oh, I'm sorry. For large organizations in the
health care category. So, obviously, very proud and
excited about that. But the number three overall
employer for best large employers.
So once again, I think great recognition
when you look at not only
the the care we provide and the way
the community experiences it, but from,
the employer and being an employer of choice,
that's something that we are very proud to
be a part of that. In addition, as
it relates to Newsweek,
we were included on the list of America's
greatest places to work for women
and,
a separate list of America's greatest workplaces.
So to be
included and considered on that Forbes list and
Newsweek,
that is something we are very proud of
as a as an organization.
That is extremely impressive, you know, and certainly
to have not only the clinical care side
and the quality,
that, you know, makes you a differentiator, but
also the workplace recognitions and especially for those
groups who sometimes have a really big challenge
in the workplace.
It's really cool to hear that you've been
able to do that. And I'm curious to
hear from you, Kevin, or doctor Nani as
well. What do you see as being giving
you the edge, or how are you able
to create this experience,
for patients as well as the caregivers that,
you know, makes Cook Children so unique?
So I I'll take that,
because,
you know, being a clinician, you know, you
go
to organizations or you work in different places
where there is a a sort of tension
between
the clinicians clinicians or clinical side
and, the administrative side of,
the system. But at Cook, that is
very minimal.
We work very closely together.
40%
of the,
system board is made up of clinicians,
and so that allows for
decisions that are made to be made in
a collaborative
fashion
such that we keep the focus
on the patient. Right? We keep the focus
on the child,
in front of us. And so that allows
for, you know, everybody to buy in
and roll in the same direction.
And so to Kevin's,
point, we've been able to achieve so much.
Again, because of that buying and because
of our pinky promise,
everything for the child. And so once we
are all aligned,
you know, with that regard, I think it's
it's easy,
to
know, to make this happen and enjoy coming
to work and, you know, enjoy creating an
environment that people wanna come into and continue
to do good work. And,
I'll let Kevin speak to the rest, but
I think just that,
that culture that we have here at Cook
is, is very unique.
That's amazing to hear, and thank you so
much for sharing with us. Now looking ahead,
where do you see some of the big
growth opportunities over the next twelve months or
so?
So I would say starting off, doctor Nani,
please feel free to jump in on this
one, but it would be to continue to
invest in services that allow us to bring
complex care
to our medical center.
So those first two years, we've really focused
on, you know, building our core services around
emergency care, our ICU, our inpatient, our surgical
services,
but now investing in more complex programs such
as
NICU or neonatal ICU,
trauma, bariatric services so that families historically who've
had to drive thirty, forty, fifty minutes for
this care now have access to this access
to it, right here in their own community.
So I think that would be one thing.
Doctor Nani, anything you wanna add?
Thank you, Kevin. And it's it's it's interesting
because, again, we've been able to
recruit talent,
and clinicians
that would love to practice at the top
of their license. And so, you know, over
the next,
couple of years, you know, the focus will
be to allow them achieve that, such that,
in short order, we'll be able to do
about 85%
of,
services that are,
mother ship in Fort Worth, you know, presently
does. And then we can kind of send
kids,
to Fort Worth only if, you know, they
need that quaternary
of really specialized,
you know, care.
We have,
two things that, you know, has already happened.
We have a exercise respiratory presenter, EXRC,
led by, doctor John Robertson.
It's one of a kind in the country.
This allows
children with, breathing issues during exercising
to be examined in real time. So they
run on the, treadmill,
he visualizes their vocal cords in real time,
to try and figure out, you know, what
the issue might be. And, this has been
well received, you know, in our community, and
it's helped,
a few of our,
adolescent athletes get better, at what they do.
As Kevin mentioned, we're starting our bariatric program,
and hopefully, in the next couple of years,
that will also be, recognized,
nationally.
Cook already does so much as a system.
We're very big on clinical,
research.
We
we have a neurology center, Jane and John,
John Justin Institute.
We have, like, renowned,
researchers.
Cook Children is one of the centers for
hypoxenolism
in the country,
with, doctor Thornton. And so we just commute
to build on that, build on what,
our our our past,
providers have done, and, we're very excited about
the future.
Thank you.
And, Laura, I think add one more point.
What we alluded to this earlier about our
physician networks. So in addition to the care
we provide within the four walls of the
medical center, an avenue that is just as
important,
is our ability to provide
access to our community on the outpatient setting.
So through that, specifically, our primary care network
and access to specialists. So in this market,
we've been able to establish a a wide
net of primary care
clinics, and we want to continue to invest
in that as North Texas really becomes this
hub.
I think they're saying over the next ten,
twenty years, it'll be, one of the largest
metropolitan areas in the country.
We wanna be able to ensure that,
families and children
not only have access to high quality
emergency care and inpatient care, but that wellness
care in their community. So we will continue
to invest in in building our primary care,
and specialty care network out in the community
so that our families only have to drive
minutes from their home to receive that same
high quality care. So that also is another
very important
program and something that we're focused on over
these next twelve months.
That is great to hear. And, you know,
I I know it'll be so amazing to,
continue to have this and and, provide that
type of services to a broader
swath of the community, to have a broader
primary care network and then being able to
provide the type of,
transportation
and access points that are needed. I'm curious
from your perspective, what are some of the
big challenges that you're anticipating?
I know some really amazing opportunities and growth
ahead, but what are those challenges that you're
navigating through?
Yeah. I think from
my perspective and lens, the big one of
the biggest ones is, workforce development and staffing.
So, you know, as we hear a lot
only doctor and I speak about it from
the medical staff and physician provider perspective, but,
you know, ensuring that as we continue to
grow both at the medical center and out
in the community that we're able to recruit
and hire
high quality health care professionals.
And I think we're fortunate as the culture
and the reputation of Cook is incredibly strong
where people from all throughout the country wanna
be a part of our institution.
And so we are fortunate there. But we
also one of the unique things about North
Texas is the collaboration
between,
different health care systems and also
our higher ed community.
So through our what we call our DFW
Hospital Council led by our president and CEO,
Steve Love,
and then the foundation president, Jennifer Miff,
they do such a great job bringing,
the large health care systems together
along with community leaders to say, how can
we continue to work together to provide,
investment opportunities? And what I mean by that
is,
relationships where
these higher ed institutions can go and build
their we'll just use pharmacy tech program or
radiology tech program or,
you know, name any any of those, especially
around techs right now, which are our RNs.
Right? So they can go and and,
create more facilities and and, be able to
bring in more students, knowing that there are
these employers in these health systems that are
committed to providing a pipeline to help build
that next workforce.
And so I think that's where,
through our,
DFW Hospital Council, we're able to work together.
And we're not just competitors. We are colleagues
and and we're peers, and we wanna say,
how can we collaborate to ensure that, we're
able to build up that next generation when
you think about workforce and staffing? So,
while at the same time, either retraining or
providing additional education to our current workforce
to ensure that they feel like they can
grow and and provide that great care.
So I think that's probably one of the
things that we think about most,
and why we're fortunate in North Texas to
have a lot of opportunity to work together.
Yeah. And,
you know, Kevin alluded to this, you know,
with pediatrics, which is where we sit,
you know, we're struggling with
matching, meaning,
less and less
medical students are going into pediatrics
as a primary,
subspecialty,
and that in turn affects
the subspecialties that we churn out. And so
Cook is trying very much so to,
get involved
and expose,
the medical students to a different type of,
pediatric experience. Right? A lot of them,
their only exposure
is the academic
medical centers or the academic,
medical hospitals, but showing them,
a different
type of practice, which is a stand alone,
children's hospital and letting them know that, you
know, you could still
practice,
medicine and enjoy it,
just as much as you would if you
are doing,
straight up academic,
medical practice. And, again, just trying to, you
know, produce as many pediatricians as we can,
to continue to provide care for the growing
population,
in North Texas and in The US. Thank
you.
It's amazing here. I I know so many
hospitals and systems are trying to figure out
that staffing piece as you mentioned and,
really getting into creative ways to do that.
And so it's very helpful to know how
you at Cook Children's have been thinking about
those things and then making sure you're retaining
and growing your staff internally as well. I
I really appreciate that. Before I wrap up
here, I'm I'm curious. What is the number
one thing that you're doing right now to
set up up Cook Children's for long term
success in the future?
No. Thanks for asking. I think kind of
alluding to the different topics we've talked about
throughout,
this conversation. We will continue to invest in
critical services,
ensuring that our communities,
have access to world class pediatric care for
their children, both on the inpatient and outpatient
settings, while at the same time,
focus on continuing to be an employer of
choice.
For Cook Children's,
with over 10,000 team members, we have maintained
a deep sense of purpose,
through the pinky promise that doctor Anani mentioned
earlier, which is everything for the child.
This promise has guided our health care system
for the last hundred and seven years.
And by continuing to live out that promise,
we truly believe that we will remain
a preeminent pediatric health care system for every
child and every health care professional
for the next hundred and seven years. And
I think, you know, as when you think
about that in our history,
where we've been, who we are today, and
where we're going,
it all
starts at the top.
And we are incredibly fortunate to be led,
by our president and CEO, mister Rick Merrill,
and other
key executives,
in our health care system being,
our executive vice president of hospital services, Nancy
Seichel,
our chief medical officer, doctor Jonathan Nedrillo, our
physician
president, doctor Matthew Zurich, and many others. So
to have that that consistency, that leadership, that
guidance, that support,
both on the administrative and physician side
and nursing side,
I think that is why
you
were able to not only provide this great
care, this great experience and this vision for
who we are and who we're gonna be.
So, really, it all starts at the top,
and we're very fortunate to have wonderful leaders,
guiding our institution.
Yeah. I couldn't have said it,
any better.
I think, again,
for Kevin and I, you know, starting up
our Prosper campus
and, you know, the amount of support we've
received from,
the center and our leaders, the mentorship,
that we've gotten, you know, and then paying
that forward.
Finding out what the needs of your community
is and, you know, being there,
to provide that for them so that, again,
nobody has to leave
where they, reside,
to get care, and then continually thinking ahead
about the next,
big thing,
and where health care is going and, you
know, kind of planning ahead, I think, has
been,
key for us. And so,
we're excited about the future. We're excited about,
our growth opportunities,
and,
thank you so much for, you know,
allowing us spend time to,
talk about
our health system,
and our our Prosper campus and what the
future holds for us. Thank you.
Absolutely. That's amazing to hear. Kevin, doctor Anani,
thank you so much for your time today.
This has been such a fun conversation, and
I look forward to connecting with you both
again soon.
Thank you, Laura. We're grateful for the opportunity,
as doctor Anani mentioned, to talk about Cook
Children's and our campus and Prosper specifically.
And, it's it's really been a pleasure. So
thank you for your time.