Steve P. Sanders, DO, MBA, CPE, FACOI, FACPE
Steve P. Sanders, DO, MBA, FACOI, FACPE, FACP
Personal
Residence
9640 South Winston Avenue
Tulsa, OK 74137–4835
Telephone
(918) 488-6053 (Business)
(918) 704–3652 (Cellular)
Fax:
(918) 488-6627
Email:
spsanders@saintfrancis.com (Business)
spsanders1@mac.com (Personal)
Twitter:
@spsanders1
Education
Masters of Business Administration, with honors, 1994
Oklahoma City University, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Internal Medicine Board Certification, 1991
American Osteopathic Board of Internal Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
Internal Medicine Residency, 1987-1990
Tulsa Regional Medical Center, Tulsa, Oklahoma
Rotating Medical Internship, 1986-1987
Tulsa Regional Medical Center, Tulsa, Oklahoma
Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, 1986
Oklahoma State University, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Tulsa, Oklahoma
Bachelor of Science, Criminal Justice Studies, 1977
University of Tulsa, Tulsa, Oklahoma
Physician Licensure
Missouri — Active
Illinois — Inactive
Texas — Active
Oklahoma — Active
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Steve P. Sanders, DO, MBA, CPE, FACOI, FACPE
Board and Committee Memberships
Board of Directors, CommunityCare Managed Healthcare Plans of Oklahoma,
Inc., 2014–Present
Board of Directors, MyHealth Health Information Exchange, 2014–Present
Clinical Quality Committee, MyHealth Health Information Exchange, 2014
Tulsa Committee on Foreign Relations, Inc.
Credentials Committee, Saint Francis Hospital, 2009-2011
Chair, Clinical Protocol Committee, Saint Francis Hospital, 2007–2009
Clinical Documentation Improvement Committee Leadership Team
Saint Francis Hospital, 2008–Present
American College of Osteopathic Internists, Professional Practice Advisory
Council, 2004
Carondelet Health Long Term Care Facilities, Board of Directors, 2006
Leawood Kansas Chamber of Commerce, 2006
Oklahoma Carrier Advisory Committee, 2001–2002
Tulsa Regional Medical Center, Board of Directors, 1994
Tulsa Osteopathic Medical Society, Board of Directors, 1992, 1993, and 1996
Professional Certifications and Affiliations
Fellow, American College of Physicians
Fellow, American College of Osteopathic Internists
Fellow, American Association for Physician Leadership
Certified Physician Executive (CPE), Certifying Commission in Medical
Management, American Association for Physician Leadership
Affiliations: American Osteopathic Association, American College of Osteopathic
Internists, American College of Physicians, American Association for Physician
Leadership
Career Experience
December 2013 to Present
Saint Francis Health System
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Vice President Medical Affairs
Reported to the Senior Vice President Clinical Services,
Saint Francis Health System
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Accomplishments
Medical Director for the Saint Francis Health System Employee Health Services
Serve on the Board of Directors for the MyHealth Information Exchange
Serve on the Board of Directors for CommunityCare Managed Care Plans of
Oklahoma, Inc.
Health system Medical Director for the Comprehensive Primary Care Initiative
(CPCI)
Chair of the Physician Advisory Council
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Steve P. Sanders, DO, MBA, CPE, FACOI, FACPE
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Warren Clinic clinical lead for the implementation of the EPIC electronic health
record
June 2013 to November 2013 UnitedHealth Group
Tulsa, Oklahoma
United Clinical Services Market Medical Director –
Oklahoma
Reported to the Senior Vice President Clinical Services
UnitedHealth Group serves more than 80 million individuals worldwide with
health benefits and services. The company has operations in all 50 states in the
United States and 20 other countries worldwide. Their 2012 revenues were $110.6
billion. They have a Fortune 500 company ranking at number 22. The company
was named the World’s Most Admired Company in the Insurance and Managed
Care sector for 2010, 2011, 2012, by Fortune magazine. The company is a
member of the Dow Jones Industrial Average.
2006 to 2013
Warren Clinic
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Internal Medicine
Warren Clinic is a physician medical group in Northeast Oklahoma with over 340
physicians in 40 different practice locations. Warren Clinic is affiliated with the
Saint Francis Health System.
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Accomplishments
Pilot office within the Saint Francis Health System for the implementation of
NextGen electronic medical record
Practice site received five-star rating in 2009, 2010 and 2011 by Press Ganey
survey
Personal patient satisfaction score of 96% by Press Ganey Survey
NCQA Level 2 Certified Patient Centered Medical Home
Practice selected for CMS CPCI Initiative
2005 to 2006
Carondelet Health
Kansas City, Missouri
Chief Medical Officer
Reported to the President and Chief Executive Officer, Carondelet
Health
Carondelet Health is a Catholic not-for-profit two-hospital system composed of
St. Joseph Medical Center in Kansas City, Missouri and St. Mary’s Medical
Center based in Blue Springs, Missouri, with combined gross operating revenues
of over $369M. In FY2005, there were 229,022 patient days, 33,814 inpatient
admissions and 258,000 outpatient visits with a combined medical staff of 983
physicians and 2,454 FTEs. Additionally, in FY2005, there were approximately
70,066 Emergency Department visits, 10,976 surgical procedures and 2,689
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Steve P. Sanders, DO, MBA, CPE, FACOI, FACPE
births. Ascension Health, the 3rd largest Catholic healthcare system in the U.S
with over 67 hospitals in 20 states and Washington D.C. and over $11B in
revenue, owns Carondelet Health.
Responsibilities
Full-time senior administrative position with operational responsibility for
departments including Medical Quality Assurance, Performance Improvement,
Case Management, Carondelet Care Resources (Carondelet Medical Equipment
and Home Care Services), Medical Staff Recruitment and Retention, Medical
Staff Services including credentialing and marketing, Orthopedic Surgery
Residency Training Program and Continuing Medical Education. Senior
administrative director for the Clinical Effectiveness Program (CEP) teams with
accountability for twelve part-time medical directors. Vice President for
Carondelet Long Term Care Facilities, Inc. Position holds accountability for
oversight of Carondelet Manor, Villa St. Joseph and St. Mary’s Manor, three long
term care facilities within the greater Kansas City area. Serve as member of the
Carondelet Health Senior Leadership and Operations Team.
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Accomplishments
St. Joseph Medical Center was cited in 2005 by the New York Times as one of
the top five hospitals in the U.S providing evidence-based treatment for 100% of
patients presenting with acute myocardial infarction.
St. Joseph Health Center was cited in Modern Healthcare (11/14/05) as the top
hospital in Kansas City (and the only hospital in the Ascension Health system) for
hip and knee replacements, scoring 99.14% in the CMS pay-for-performance
demonstration project
Recently received an award from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
(CMS) for achieving 1st decile scores in three out of four CMS/Premier/HQI core
measures in 2005 for St. Joseph Medical Center and one out of three measures for
St. Mary’s Medical Center. This also resulted in increased reimbursement from
CMS of over $100,000
Senior Administrative liaison for establishing the first osteopathic orthopedic
surgery residency-training program in conjunction with the Kansas City
University of Medicine and Biosciences at St. Mary’s Medical Center.
Responsible for ensuring the requirements of the OPTI Program and the Centers
for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) are completed and maintained successfully.
Restructured the Carondelet Specialty Care Network, a for-profit physician
recruitment platform for developing outreach clinical practice sites, to provide
one source recruitment, contracting and financial management.
Developed the Carondelet Health outreach referral program to extend health care
system services to over a 150-mile primary and secondary service area.
Member of the Board of Directors for the Carondelet Long-Term Care Facilities,
Inc.
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Steve P. Sanders, DO, MBA, CPE, FACOI, FACPE
2002 to 2005
Blessing Hospital/Blessing Corporate Services
Quincy, Illinois
Senior Vice President Medical Affairs and Chief Medical Officer
Reported to the President and Chief Executive Officer, Blessing
Hospital
Blessing Hospital is a not-for-profit 434-licensed bed community-based hospital.
In 2004, there were 74,410 patient days and 14,433 admissions inclusive of the 20
bed Skilled Nursing Unit, with a medical-dental staff of 229 physicians.
Additionally, in 2004, there were approximately 40,814 Emergency Department
visits, 8,549 surgical procedures and 1,129 births. In 2002, Blessing Care
Corporation acquired Illini Community Hospital, a Critical Access Hospital, in
Pittsfield, Illinois.
Responsibilities
Full-time senior administrative position with operational responsibility for total
departmental budgets of $4.1M and 103 FTEs. Reporting departments include
Quality Management, Organizational Improvement, Health Information
Management, Care Management, Clinical Documentation Management Program,
Medical Staff Services, physician recruiting/contracting and the East Adams
Clinic. Senior administrative lead for coordinating the Southern Illinois
University Family Practice Program with Blessing Hospital and member of the
Board of Directors for the sports medicine fellowship program. Senior
administrative director for eight part-time medical directors. Senior member of
the hospital and corporate parent Executive Leadership and Operations Team.
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Accomplishments
Quality initiatives led to Blessing Hospital being named as one of five recipients
in Illinois to receive the “Distinguished Hospital Award – Patient Safety” for
2004 by HealthGrades, Inc.
Revised the quality management program that fundamentally changed the medical
staff and Board of Trustees quality committee structures. Incorporated evidencebased medicine and patient safety guideline recommendations to meet the Joint
Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) National
Patient Safety Goals and the Institute of Healthcare Improvement’s “100,000
Lives Campaign.”
Led the medical management team that helped the organization achieve a 94% on
the 2002 JCAHO resurvey. This was after the organization was cited with 31 Type
I findings from their JCAHO survey in 2001.
Led the Quality Management team in the development of the Quality
Improvement Plan for our newly integrated cancer program. Achieved a 96% on
the accreditation survey of our Cancer Center by the American College of
Surgeons Commission on Cancer. The Cancer Center is currently ranked in the
top 27% of cancer centers in the United States.
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Steve P. Sanders, DO, MBA, CPE, FACOI, FACPE
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Developed a “Balanced Scorecard” to establish quality benchmarks for the
organization that will be monitored by the Board of Trustees.
Reduced the discharge not final billed (DNFB), from medical record coding and
analysis, by 83% (11 days to 1.90 days) in 2004.
Implemented a Clinical Documentation Management Program estimated to result
in incremental revenues of over $1.4M in 2004.
Led the Care Management team to deliver over $800,000 in yearly cost savings
through reduced length of stay (LOS)
Provided senior leadership to implement clinical transformation initiatives
resulting in increased revenues or cost reductions of over $8.0M by 2004.
Implemented, throughout the health system, a computerized clinical information
system (Eclipsys SXA 3.6), with physician order entry. The clinical information
system successfully went live in January 2005. Led the team with accountability
for developing the clinical information system knowledge-based rules and alerts,
developing clinical pathways and physician order sets. Led the initiative for
implementing decision support.
Assisted the steering committee with implementing the Heart &Vascular Center at
Blessing Hospital. For the first time, this brought the availability of open-heart,
thoracic surgery and interventional cardiology to the western edge of Illinois.
1999 to 2002
PacifiCare of Oklahoma, Inc.
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Vice President Health Services and Medical Director
Reported to the PacifiCare of Oklahoma General Manager
PacifiCare of Oklahoma is a for-profit Fortune 200 Health Maintenance
Organization (HMO). From 1999 to 2002, it had over 91,000 commercial members
and 31,000 Medicare+Choice (Secure Horizons) members. The PacifiCare HMO
was the largest and most profitable health plan in the state of Oklahoma during
that time. Generated over $380M in revenues in 2000, producing $24
million (8%) operating profit, where the industry standard is 3%. PacifiCare of
Oklahoma represented 31% of the PacifiCare Health Plan revenue and 25.3% of
the profit, becoming the most successful business within the PacifiCare Health
Services parent company.
Responsibilities
Full-time administrative operational responsibility for the department of Medical
Services with a departmental budget of $4.7M and 48 FTEs. Responsible for
development of utilization management programs encompassing two HMO
products.
Accomplishments
 Led the development of new referral authorization oversight and
catastrophic case management programs, as the contracting methodology
changed from global capitation to shared risk. This resulted in a 33%
reduction in acute days PTMPY for commercial members and an 18%
reduction in acute days for senior members.
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Steve P. Sanders, DO, MBA, CPE, FACOI, FACPE
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1997 to 1999
Streamlined provider and facility credentialing, reducing working days
required from 90 days to less than 45 days.
Led the implementation team for successful National Committee for
Quality Assurance (NCQA) “Excellent” accreditation of both the HMO
commercial and Medicare+Choice Secure Horizons plans for Oklahoma
in July of 2000 (final score of 74.6 out of 75.0).
Developed a health improvement program, “Matters On Maternity,” that
was published as a best practice in pregnancy management in the
Pfizer/NCQA Quality Profiles in 1999.
Quality improvement activities and customer service initiatives resulted in
PacifiCare of Oklahoma’s receipt of the Award of Excellence for “Best of
the Best HMOs – 1999” from the UltraLink 6th Annual National
Satisfaction Survey of over 500 health plans.
Served on the PacifiCare Southwest Region (Texas and Oklahoma)
medical management committee where we developed case management,
disease management and utilization review protocols for commercial and
senior members.
Participated as the Oklahoma representative on the national (corporate)
PacifiCare Health Systems (PHS) Pharmacy and Therapeutics committee.
We established and refined the PHS drug formulary for the commercial and
senior product plans in nine states.
Member of the PHS corporate Technology Assessment and Guideline
committee. We had responsibility for reviewing and approving new
medical technology and treatment guidelines for determining national
benefit coverage guidelines.
Saint Francis Health System
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Vice President Utilization Management and Medical Director for
CareMed Alliance, Inc.
Reported to the President, CareMed Alliance, Inc.
Saint Francis Health System is a 900-bed, three-hospital catholic health care
institution with revenues of over $450M and 1,500 FTEs.
Responsibilities
Full-time administrative responsibilities for utilization management, case
management, medical economics analysis and quality initiatives at the health
system level for over 100,000 managed care lives. Matrix management
responsibility for Care Management division (500 FTEs, $20M budget), including
home health, hospice, outpatient infusion company, durable medical equipment
company, HealthZone physical performance facility, case management, social
services, and occupational medicine.
Accomplishments
 Responsible for the initial start-up of CareMed Alliance, Inc., a jointventure subsidiary Management Services Organization (MSO) of the health
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Steve P. Sanders, DO, MBA, CPE, FACOI, FACPE
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1995 to 1997
system, encompassing over 200 primary care physicians and 700
specialists.
Developed health system utilization management programs encompassing
two global-risk products.
Developed and recruited the first Hospitalist program at Saint Francis
Hospital. Developed policies and procedures including physician
performance review tool and bonus program for the Hospitalist Service.
Increased Hospitalist physician client list from 15 to 73 in seven months.
The Hospitalist program demonstrated a 41% reduction in length of stay
and average 23% reduction in ancillary charges for five major DRGs.
Co-team physician leader of pharmacy medical action plan team resulting
in estimated yearly cost savings of $501,000.
Reengineered medical admission process for the Skilled Nursing Facility
resulting in single page referral process.
Physician champion for congestive heart failure, disease management
initiative.
Redesigned Saint Francis Hospital’s role in the University of Oklahoma
College of Medicine internal medicine residency program.
Springer Clinic, Inc.
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Medical Director
Reported to the President, Springer Clinic
Springer Clinic was a 90-physician multi-specialty group practice with over
49,000 HMO commercial and senior members and over $50M in annual revenues.
Over ten clinical sites in the greater Tulsa metropolitan area and physicianinvestor owned ambulatory surgery center.
Responsibilities
Approximately 80% of time devoted to responsibilities for the Department of
HMO Services including concurrent review, case management, quality assurance
and retrospective review. Committee responsibilities: Quality Resource
Management (Chair), Finance, PacifiCare Quality Assurance (Chair), Patient Care
Committee (Chair), Medical Information Management (Chair), Strategic
Planning, Risk Management, CQI Steering Team. Approximately 20% of time
devoted to maintaining a clinical internal medicine practice.
Accomplishments
 Created on-going interpretation and updating of medical policy and
procedures. Team Leader responsible for full three-year re-accreditation
by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC).
 Authored utilization management plan meeting NCQA criteria.
 Co-authored physician peer review policy and procedure.
 Reengineered HMO utilization management department and procedures
resulting in savings of three FTEs. Developed and implemented dual
hospital systems for commercial and senior products.
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Steve P. Sanders, DO, MBA, CPE, FACOI, FACPE
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1990 to 1995
Developed a Hospitalist program that successfully lowered senior product
days per 1,000 in one hospital network from 1,300 to less than 700;
commercial days per thousand were lowered from 260 to 130.
Lowered Medicare-risk DME pmpm expenses by 13%. Lowered Medicarerisk home health pmpm expenses by 62% over one year.
Member of senior management negotiating team for capital partner
relationship (Springer MSO).
Director of Urgent Care facility and developed business plan for enhanced
marketability. Accountable for physician recruitment and retention.
Green Country Physicians Group, Inc.
Tulsa, Oklahoma
President and Chairman of the Board
Green Country Physicians Group was Oklahoma’s first group practice without
walls. Began with 15 physicians and grew to 45 physicians with over twelve
different practice locations in three years.
Responsibilities
Maintained full-time internal medicine practice while providing operational
leadership for management services and health plan operations.
Accomplishments
 Initiated the first globally capitated managed care product at Tulsa
Regional Medical Center with PacifiCare of Oklahoma for both
commercial and senior membership.
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Initiated and conducted merger negotiations with Springer Clinic, Inc., a
multi-specialty group practice, resulting in completed merger on 9/95.
 Maintained a full-time internal medicine practice, providing
comprehensive diagnostic and therapeutic clinical services.
Faculty Positions
1991–1999
Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Internal Medicine
University of Oklahoma College of Medicine, Tulsa, Oklahoma
1990–1991
Associate Professor of Internal Medicine
Oklahoma State University, College of Osteopathic
Medicine, Tulsa, Oklahoma
Professional Publications and Presentations
Covenants of the Medical Neighborhood: How Primary Care Physicians and Specialists
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Steve P. Sanders, DO, MBA, CPE, FACOI, FACPE
can “Choose Wisely.” Transforming Healthcare: Surfing the Tsunami of Change.
Oklahoma Center for Healthcare Improvement, October 24, 2014.
Sanders, SP. “The Silent Request.” Blood and Thunder: Musings on the Practice of
Medicine, University of Oklahoma 2011.
Sanders, SP. “Rooted in Caregiving.” Medical Econ, 2011;88:68.
Sanders, SP. “EMR and the Falling Patient.” The Health Care Blog.com, January 21,
2011.
Sanders, SP. “CAHPS measures are as important as profit and loss for hospitals.”
KevinMD.com, November, 17, 2010.
Sanders, SP. “The Gift.” Blood and Thunder: Musing on the Practice of Medicine,
University of Oklahoma 2010.
Sanders SP. “A view from the other side.” Fam Pract Manag, September/October
2008;15:14.
Sanders SP. “Day 2: What’s Right In Health Care: 365 Stories of Purpose, Worthwhile
Work and Making a Difference.” Studer Group, 2007
Sanders SP. “Denial of hospitalization for headache.” Headache, 1999;45:448.
Sanders SP. “The future of physician groups in integrated delivery systems.” JMCM,
1997;2:24.
Sanders SP. “The best thing I could do for dad: stop being his doctor.” Med Econ,
1997;21:138. (Medical Economics Writing Contest, Grand Prize Winner, 1997)
Sanders SP. “This is proper management?” Hosp Pract, 1997;32:25.
O-Yurvati AH, Laub GW, Sanders SP, et al. “Reduction in pulmonary microvascular
pressure following cardiopulmonary bypass: beneficial effects of dobutamine. Int Surg,
1995;80:231.
Yurvati AH, Sanders SP, Dullye LJ, et al. “Antiarrhythmic response to intravenously
administered magnesium after cardiac surgery.” South Med J, 1992;85:714.
Sanders SP. “Minicomputer software programs aid critical care.” J Am Osteopath Assoc,
1991;91:312.
Olivencia-Yurvati AH, Sanders SP. “Sulbactam-induced hyperpyrexia.” Arch Intern
Med, 1990;150:1961.
Archer RL, Grogg SE, Sanders SP. “Mucoepidermoid bronchial adenoma in a 6-year-old
girl: a case report and review of the literature.” J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg, 1987;94:452.
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Steve P. Sanders, DO, MBA, CPE, FACOI, FACPE
Professional Continuing Education
American College of Physician Executives (ACPE) — Over 305 hours leading to Certified
Physician Executive (CPE) designation by the Certifying Commission in Medical
Management. Courses included:
Informatics and Meaningful Use of Electronic Health Records
Physician in Management I
Physician in Management II
Principles of Medical Management
Managing Transition
Three Faces of Quality
Managing Physician Performance
Managing Change
The Certifying Commission in Medical Management Tutorial
Health Care Finance
Health Law
Healthcare Financial Analysis & Cost Management
2000 Executive Leadership Focus
Round Table Session I – Keeping your Fingers in the Market
Round Table Session II – Evaluating Managerial Performance
2001 Fall Institute CEO Program
2002 Spring Institute Leadership Skills for Medical Staff Officers
Conflict Management and Multidimensional Problem Solving
Building the Extraordinary Health Care Organization
Strategic Sources of Power and Influence
ACPE
ACPE
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ACPE
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ACPE
ACPE
ACPE
ACPE
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ACPE
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Strategies for Success — National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA)
Strategic Public-Sector Negotiations Program — John F. Kennedy School of
Government, Harvard University
Leadership Conference for Trustees, Physicians, and Executives — Governance Institute
Executive Leadership Conference — Voluntary Hospital Association (VHA)
Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) 2004 PreSurvey Update for VSS Participants — VHA
VHA Mid-America
Physician Leadership Meeting — VHA
Ascension Health Leadership Institute — St. Louis University
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