Rick Birkner
Broken Arrow,Oklahoma
Summary
Transformational Chief Executive Officer with expertise in strategic planning, financial management, and team leadership. Drives productivity and efficiency by fostering collaboration and innovation. Skilled in navigating complex business environments to achieve organizational goals through effective communication and decisive problem-solving.
Overview
38
38
years of professional experience
Work History
Chief Executive Officer
Tulsa Center for Behavioral Health
Tulsa, Oklahoma
06.2025 - Current
- Leading the project completion for a 106-bed inpatient psychiatric hospital. Project is over $90 million. Developing the relationship and collaborating with leadership of Oklahoma State University Medical Authority, Oklahoma State University Medical School, community donors, and various state commissioners on the completion and service delivery. Eliminated $17 million in change orders.
- Developed strategic plan using collaborative framework to align organizational goals.
- Assessed operational leadership and implemented changes to enhance key roles.
- Restructured Quality Department functions to enhance efficiency.
- Engaged community leaders to identify and implement program improvements.
- Tulsa Center for Behavioral Health is a Joint Commission Accredited 56 inpatient bed psychiatric hospital having two residency training programs from Oklahoma University and Oklahoma State University. It is a facility with the Oklahoma Department of Mental and Substance Abuse Services.
Adjunct Faculty College of Health Sciences
Oral Roberts University
Tulsa, Oklahoma
02.2025 - Current
- Designed and delivered engaging learning experiences for students in Population Health 340, enhancing understanding of key concepts.
Principal Consultant
CJ7 Group
Lenexa, Kansas
01.2023 - Current
- Managed and directed proposal response for Mosaic Life Care's acquisition of Liberty Hospital, overseeing financial model and operational strategy development for a transaction valued over $200 million.
- Developed strategies for medical group positioning, merger and acquisition, and value-based care program management for healthcare systems.
- Conducted strategic and market analysis for BJC Health System regarding merger with Saint Luke’s Health System, enhancing decision-making for integration with Kansas City medical group.
Interim Senior Vice President/Chief Operating Officer
WittKieffer-CalvertHealth Medical Center
Prince Frederick, Maryland
01.2024 - 11.2024
- Eleven-month assignment where I provided interim leadership for all nursing units, emergency room, perioperative services, ancillary services, environmental services, pharmacy, dietary, plant operations, information systems, lease/property management for seven medical office buildings, security, quality and performance improvement.
- Lead operational improvements in environmental services, food services and security. Decreased expenses by 5% and increasing productivity by 31% in environmental services. Reduced operating expenses in food service by 22%. Reduced security expenses by 15%.
- Reorganized nursing leadership, enhancing performance metrics for quality, staff engagement, patient experience, turnover, and throughput.
- Implemented robotic surgical program and established robotics steering committee to oversee program success and integration.
- Developed request for proposal process for replacement of anesthesia services. Collaborated with Chief Medical Officer and physician leadership. Selected a new anesthesia service provider. Developed plan for service transition.
- Developed capital projects approval process aligned with strategic plan, prioritizing and approving projects valued at $30M, including MRI upgrade, family birthing center renovation, and women’s health practice and lab renovation.
- Administrative member of the Board of Directors and the following Board of Directors Committees: Finance, Joint Quality and Innovation and Planning and Marketing. Presented monthly to Board of Directors and Committees on strategic objectives and operational performance.
- CalvertHealth Medical Center is an 80 licensed bed community hospital. Total net patient revenue is over $180 million. Budgetary responsibility $150 million.
Chief Operating Officer
Liberty Hospital
Liberty, Missouri
07.2018 - 01.2023
- Accountable for the multispecialty medical group, perioperative services, ambulatory surgery center, cardiovascular service line, imaging services, business development, rehabilitation services, population health strategy, and strategic planning.
- Led the multispecialty medical group and developed dyad model governance structure, new compensation model, strategic growth plan and developed population health department. Collaborated with payors on HCC coding compliance and reduction of medical loss ratio.
- Achieved 25% increase in provider productivity through targeted initiatives.
- 67% increase in top box scores for patient experience.
- 20% increase in primary care visits.
- 23% increase in revenue from independent practices.
- 47% increase in risk revenue.
- Developed and mentored the leadership of the perioperative services team. Performance improvements included increased safety, reduced labor expenses, increased case volume, implemented a dyad model administrative and physician led governance team and robotics steering team.
- 45% increase in monthly case volume.
- 75% increase in productivity metrics.
- 100% improvement in safety record.
- 45% improvement in robotic utilization.
- 20% decrease in turnover time.
- 40% improvement for first case on time starts.
- Developed and mentored cardiovascular services leadership, resulting in increased revenue, reduced supply expenses, and successful implementation of new cath lab.
- 27% increase in revenue.
- 33% reduction in cardiac rhythm device products expense.
- 15% increase in new patient visits.
- Led integration of multigenerational community, including 60-bed skilled nursing facility, 54 apartment assisted living and memory care facility, and wellness center, enhancing financial performance and quality.
- 50% reduction in expenses.
- 22% increase in skilled nursing revenue.
- 45% increase in assisted living revenue.
- Developed the relationship with University of Missouri Health Care, an academic medical center, for the joint delivery of orthopedics.
- 24% increase in orthopedic surgical cases.
- 27% increase in orthopedic visits.
- 27% decrease in joint impact expense.
- Partnered and collaborated with physician leadership: Chief of Surgery, Medical Director Cardiothoracic Surgery, Chief of Anesthesia, Chief Medical Officer, Medical Director of Cardiology and Dean of Orthopedic Surgery, University of Missouri.
- Actively involved with the Board of Trustees. Attended monthly meetings. Presented on strategic plans and obtained approval for growth, surgical and imaging projects.
- Organizational leader for 204 licensed bed, Level II Trauma Center. Net revenue $285 million. Budgetary responsibility for $189 million.
President Kansas City Market Division
Mosaic Life Care
St. Joseph, Missouri
07.2016 - 07.2018
- Organizational leader for Kansas City Market Division. As the market president responsible for strategy and execution, financial, service, quality, and safety goals for an ambulatory network of primary and specialty care practices, imaging centers, ambulatory surgery centers and a clinically integrated network.
- Established vision and targets for market, surpassing objectives for financial performance, patient experience, MSSP ACO quality goals, expense reduction, and surgical volume growth.
- 99.6% achievement of ACO measures.
- Achieved 93rd percentile rank for patient experience.
- 22% increase in surgical volume.
- 5% increase in hospital net patient revenue.
- 26% increase in imaging volume.
- 28% reduction in expenses.
- 11% increase in primary care visits.
- Created a physician governance framework to improve guidance for population health strategy.
- Led division at Mosaic Life Care St. Joseph, a 352-bed, Level II trauma center recognized with Malcolm Baldrige Award and affiliation with Mayo Clinic Care Network.
Vice President of Operations
Mercy Health System
Springfield, Missouri
02.2012 - 07.2016
- Vice President of Operations Adult Medicine Integrated Clinical Services (ICS) March 2014- July 2016
- Led adult medicine integrated clinical services business unit alongside triad administrative and physician leadership team, overseeing primary care, hospital-based specialties, on-site practices, Level I trauma emergency department, skilled nursing long-term care facility, urgent care, and ACO/Medicare Advantage/Population Health Strategy. Initiated projects to reduce ED left without being seen rate, admit decision to depart time, and enhance outreach market referral patterns. Held P&L responsibility of $250 million.
- Vice President of Operations Hospital-Based Specialties February 2012-March 2014
- Partnered with physician chair in dyad leadership role to guide hospital-based specialty practices, focusing on strategic and tactical planning, improving outreach market referral patterns, interdepartmental mediation, compensation modeling and management, and physician recruitment and development. Mentored interns and engaged in various committees.
- Mercy Health System-Springfield is an 886 licensed bed Level I trauma and burn center, Level III NICU regional referral center having a medical group with over 850 physicians.
Vice President of Operations
Esse Health
St. Louis, Missouri
08.2008 - 02.2012
- Led the operations of a 28-site independent multispecialty care practice with 115 providers and its own Medicare Advantage insurance product called Essence with 16,745 full risk members. Budgetary responsibility $75 million.
- Developed strategic and tactical plans for practice operations, on-site laboratory, imaging center, and purchasing, enhancing operational efficiency and service delivery.
- Collaborated as a member of the Joint Operations Committee with Essence to address Medicare Advantage plan expenses, claim issues, plan benefit design and compliance.
- Developed the coding and compliance department. Collaborated with payors and OIG on HCC coding compliance. Improved documentation and coding 35%. Improved the risk score 11%.
- Developed the RFP process for replacement EMR. Developed implementation process including physician dyad leadership and modifications to support HCC compliant documentation and point of care decision making.
- Built the chronic care team. Collaborated with clinical staff and physicians on chronic condition management including heart failure and diabetes.
- Integrated pharmacists with primary care physicians, optimizing patient medication management and promoting collaborative care.
- Built physician and advanced practitioner recruitment department, achieving 15% provider growth within one year through targeted strategies.
Practice Administrator
Memorial Health University Physicians
Savannah, Georgia
10.2006 - 08.2008
- Led practice operations for primary care, trauma surgery, pediatric surgery, OB/GYN, GYN oncology, surgical oncology, physical medicine and rehab, and physician residency clinics, ensuring efficient service delivery.
- Recruited OB/GYN physician and expanded practice locations. Increased revenue 15%.
- Expanded pediatric surgery practice 50% through recruitment.
- Reduced chemotherapy infusion costs 35% for GYN oncology practice.
- Developed compensation model for surgical oncology physicians, aligning incentives with performance and practice goals.
- Created advanced practice provider compensation model for OB/GYN, enhancing recruitment and retention strategies.
Director of Operations/Employer Services
PRORehab, pc
St. Louis, Missouri
04.1999 - 09.2006
- Directed operations for 23-site outpatient physical, occupational, and hand therapy practice, optimizing service delivery across locations.
- Expanded clinic locations from 12 to 22, driving 84% revenue growth.
- Developed the worker’s compensation consulting service line. Grew consulting revenue 43%.
- Developed plan for the reduction of accounts receivable resulting in a 40% reduction of the outstanding accounts receivable balance.
- Developed integration plan for voice-activated dictation system, achieving 65% reduction in dictation expenses.
Executive Director
Physical Therapy Provider Network, L.L.C.
St. Louis, Missouri
05.1996 - 04.1999
- Developed network of independent physical and occupational therapy practices across three states for direct contracting with payors, generating revenue through membership fees.
- Negotiated payor contracts with United Healthcare, HealthLink, Blue Cross Blue Shield, PHCS and MultiPlan.
- Established quality assurance and credentialing departments to improve operational standards and ensure compliance.
- Developed claims processing department to streamline reimbursement processes.
- Recruited 30 practices in Missouri, Iowa and Kansas.
Network Manager
HealthScope Benefits
Little Rock, Arkansas
04.1993 - 05.1996
- Developed and managed rural health care networks for Fortune 100 companies, resulting in reduced healthcare costs.
- Managed 7 plan boards in collaboration with board physicians and local facility human resources, developing population health strategies to optimize utilization of inpatient and outpatient services, referral patterns, and drug costs.
- Collaborated with Emerson Electric performance team to turnaround underperforming plans, developing and executing strategies for two Wisconsin plans to meet budget.
- Managed health care plans to consistently operate within 3% of budgetary limits.
- Participated in the development of case pricing for heart and orthopedic surgery. Collaborated with plan boards for the referral process.
- Advised clients on health care benefit design.
Director of Environmental Services
Baptist Memorial Hospital DeSoto
Southaven, Mississippi
05.1988 - 08.1990
- Established and operated the environmental services department for a newly built hospital in the Baptist Memorial Hospital System in Memphis, Tennessee.
- Executed plan that led to hospital opening 2 months ahead of schedule.
- Created policies, procedures, and training plan for department to establish operational standards.
- Developed plan to reduce incidental needle sticks by 47%.
- Performed 23% under budget.
- Developed the capital equipment purchasing plan.
- Recruited and onboarded staff members to enhance departmental performance.
- Chaired the Safety Committee.
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Political Science
Oral Roberts University
Tulsa, OklahomaTulsa, Oklahoma
Master of Health Administration -
Saint Louis University
St. Louis, MissouriSt. Louis, Missouri
Skills
- Strategic planning and visioning
- Operational performance
- Financial modeling
- Healthcare management
- Change management
- Project management
- Corporate governance and board governance
- Risk management
- Market access and expansion
- Mergers and acquisitions
- Relationship management
Community And Board Affiliations
- ACHE Member
- Clay County Economic Development Council Advisory Board Member
- Northland Chamber of Commerce Advisory Board Member
- Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce CEO Roundtable Member
- MPACT Health Clinical Integrated Network Board Member
- Veritas Christian Academy Board Member
- Mission Trip Volunteer to Mexican cities of El Terrero, Juarez and Matamoros
- Volunteer for Agape Pamoja in Kansas City
Timeline
Chief Executive Officer
Tulsa Center for Behavioral Health
06.2025 - Current
Adjunct Faculty College of Health Sciences
Oral Roberts University
02.2025 - Current
Interim Senior Vice President/Chief Operating Officer
WittKieffer-CalvertHealth Medical Center
01.2024 - 11.2024
Principal Consultant
CJ7 Group
01.2023 - Current
Chief Operating Officer
Liberty Hospital
07.2018 - 01.2023
President Kansas City Market Division
Mosaic Life Care
07.2016 - 07.2018
Vice President of Operations
Mercy Health System
02.2012 - 07.2016
Vice President of Operations
Esse Health
08.2008 - 02.2012
Practice Administrator
Memorial Health University Physicians
10.2006 - 08.2008
Director of Operations/Employer Services
PRORehab, pc
04.1999 - 09.2006
Executive Director
Physical Therapy Provider Network, L.L.C.
05.1996 - 04.1999
Network Manager
HealthScope Benefits
04.1993 - 05.1996
Director of Environmental Services
Baptist Memorial Hospital DeSoto
05.1988 - 08.1990
Bachelor of Arts - Political Science
Oral Roberts University
Master of Health Administration -
Saint Louis University