Robert T. Higgins
Lansdale,PA
Overview
41
41
years of professional experience
1
1
MBA
1
1
Nationally Registered Paramedic
1
1
Professional Registered Nurse
Work History
Director - PennSTAR Flight Team
University of Pennsylvania Health System
01.1996 - Current
- Promoted from Flight Nurse to Program Director in 1997 to assume clinical, financial, and operational responsibilities for traditional hospital-based rotor wing air medical services and dedicated communication center. Provide strategic and tactical leadership to a staff of 140 nurses, paramedics, EMTs, and Communication Technicians operating six (6) helicopters and four (4) ambulances, contractual oversight of pilots and aircraft mechanics. Budgetary responsibility $8 million dollars. Flight Nurse & Paramedic delivering critical care to acutely ill adult & pediatric populations.
- Business Development & Program Expansion
- Contract management and oversight Medical Transportation contracts for the UPHS enterprise entities including emergency, non-emergency & paratransit.
- Designed, developed, negotiated, and successfully implemented a Flight Network business model, and successfully negotiated and operationalized a total of three (3) additional rotor aircraft with two (2) regional non-affiliated health systems in the greater Philadelphia area. These expansions have undergone several successful multi-year contract renewals.
- Developed and implemented a “coopetition” model with a competing University Health System which added a co-branded medical helicopter to the UPHS fleet which generated a 6% increase in net revenue.
- Implemented and integrated two (2) licensed Critical Care Transport Ambulances to vertically integrate additional transport modalities and support expanded clinical diversity.
- Established and operationalized the first regional Emergency Medical Service Public-Private Municipal Partnership for delivery of EMS serving population of 45,000 households. Service is budget neutral, operates without subsidy, and has resulted in a 60% increase in patient flow to UPHS.
- Re-engineered & redesigned the Communication Center to improve patient flow, enhancing clinical intake and throughput of critically ill patients from referring hospitals, and supporting various clinical initiatives of UPHS. This process has expedited the transport process and produced clinically significant time reductions in critical cardiac and neurological/neurosurgical interventions.
- Successful launches of multiple high-acuity clinical transport programs supporting UPHS service-line initiatives for the critical care team including VV & VA ECMO, Impella, STEMI, and Thrombectomy cases.
- Financial Management/Improvement
- Executed revenue collection improvements by outsourcing medical program’s Billing & Collections processes resulting in an average 19% improvement in net revenue collections per transport in the first year and reducing DRO by 12%.
- Improved compliance by assuring the completion and storage of documentation related to medical necessity and liability waivers.
- Optimized efficiencies in various vehicle deployments through peak demand analysis.
- Integrated and cross-trained critical ambulance clinicians into dual-role functionality improving employee engagement and transport mode utility.
- Budget design, analysis, operation and management responsibility for nine (9) business accounting units.
- Designed and created interactive Operational and Financial Dashboards to simplify data analysis, trending, resulting in improved reporting and statistical visibility.
Director of Operations
American Medical Response
01.1992 - 01.1996
- Publically traded (NYSE: AMR) emergency & non-emergency patient transport company in the United States. Responsible for clinical, operational, and financial management functions of the Pennsylvania and Delaware State EMS, Critical Care, Advanced Life Support (ALS), and non-emergent transport operating divisions consisting of five (5) sites with 200+ employees. Annual budget of $28 million.
- Activities and Accomplishments
- Ensured successful and efficient daily deployment of 40+ ambulances performing 911 EMS, Critical Care, and Basic Life Support patient transport in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware.
- Assisted in organized labor negotiations and contract management.
- Ensured continuous optimization and efficiency of ambulance deployment through System Status Management and dynamic deployment
- Conducted sales presentations and contract negotiations with senior leadership of multiple hospitals and other healthcare providers.
- Performed due diligence and acquisition assessment activities.
- One of five (5) Directors nationally selected to receive the company’s Excellence in Leadership Award.
- Established and managed the first private operated and accredited EMT and Paramedic Training Academy in Pennsylvania.
- Administered numerous municipal EMS contracts.
ICU/Flight Nurse-Paramedic
Hahnemann University Hospital
01.1985 - 01.1996
Director-Pre-Hospital Care
Mercy Health Corporation
01.1989 - 01.1992
Education
Masters of Business Administration (MBA) - Health Care Management
Eastern University - Graduate School of Management
Philadelphia, PABachelor of Science - Emergency Service Administration
Drexel University (formerly Hahnemann University)
Philadelphia, PAProfessional Registered Nurse - undefined
St. Francis Hospital School of Nursing/Mercer County Community College
Trenton, NJNationally Registered Emergency Medical Technician - Paramedic
Bucks County Emergency Medical Services Training Center
Doylestown, PASkills
- Achieved clinical excellence by implementing data analysis strategies Improved aviation and patient safety standards through targeted initiatives Drove fiscal stewardship and created effective database dashboards Negotiated contracts that enhanced service delivery and delivered compelling executive presentations Strengthened client relations and maintained high levels of financial accountability Delivered successful project management and refined billing and collection processes Optimized hospital processes to elevate patient care quality
Certification
Nationally Registered Paramedic
Pre-Hospital Registered Nurse (Pennsylvania)
EVOC
Advanced Cardiac Life Support
Pediatric Advanced Life Support
CPR
Prehospital Trauma Life Support
Summary
Knowledgeable leader with proven history of leading high-performing teams and executing strategic initiatives that drive organizational growth. Successfully directed cross-functional projects that resulted in significant process improvements and operational efficiencies. Demonstrated leadership and communication skills in fostering collaborative environments and delivering impactful results.
Timeline
Director - PennSTAR Flight Team
University of Pennsylvania Health System
01.1996 - Current
Director of Operations
American Medical Response
01.1992 - 01.1996
Director-Pre-Hospital Care
Mercy Health Corporation
01.1989 - 01.1992
ICU/Flight Nurse-Paramedic
Hahnemann University Hospital
01.1985 - 01.1996
Masters of Business Administration (MBA) - Health Care Management
Eastern University - Graduate School of Management
Professional Registered Nurse - undefined
St. Francis Hospital School of Nursing/Mercer County Community College
Nationally Registered Emergency Medical Technician - Paramedic
Bucks County Emergency Medical Services Training Center
Bachelor of Science - Emergency Service Administration
Drexel University (formerly Hahnemann University)