Conversations about healthcare have the ability to spark different emotions in people. Some patients have incredible experiences with their physicians, while others lack the trust and understanding they desire from theirs. The leadership of Ascentist Healthcare acknowledges these conflicting feelings, which has led them to approach healthcare from a patient-centric point of view.
Dr. Doug Cowan, president and CEO, launched Ascentist after leading a successful ear, nose and throat physicians’ group in Lees Summit. A Kansas City native and University of Kansas graduate, Dr. Cowan built a background in private medicine and medical missions, which molded his perspective on what excellent healthcare should be–one of these pillars being access.
“Our expectation is to expect better care,” he said. “Once they're in the door, I think it's a totally different experience because of how efficient we are with getting them to a much better place.”
“As you look at a lot of other systems or practices, there are really long waits. Our expectation is that if there is any urgency to the scenario, we find a way to get them in,” Dr. Spencer Eagan said. “I think really being patient forward is what defines our organization. We really try to do what is best for the patient.”
Dr. Eagan is an executive partner and plastic surgeon at Ascentist Health Care with a background in employed healthcare. He grew up in Lawrence, Kansas and is a fellow Jayhawk. He and Dr. Cowan met on the soccer field and formed a bond they quickly realized is due to their shared belief in patient centric healthcare.
“The combination of our backgrounds makes us a lot stronger and more nimble,” Dr. Eagan said. “We try to create an environment that doesn't feel medical, and I think a lot of it is the caring nature of our staff and providers. I think one of the big reasons why we're here today is the culture Doug set from top to bottom.”
“We always knew that we'd be working together because we're very like minded, we care a lot about patients, we care a lot about our staff, we care a lot about doing the right thing. It was a natural fit,” Dr. Cowen said.
Together, with Chief Medical Officer Dr. Chad McClintick and their incredible team of providers, Dr. Cowan and Dr. Eagan have seen Ascentist Healthcare grow into one of Kansas City’s most trusted and widely recognized healthcare organizations. With over 20 specialties and 18 locations throughout the metro area, it continues to expand at a rapid pace.
Because of the vast areas of expertise within the organization, providers have learned to collaborate exceptionally well across specialty lines. As friends on the job and outside of work, the Ascentist culture has emphasized trust in one another since day one, all for the sake of the patients.
“We have docs that have been practicing in certain specialties for 30 years, who totally change how they look at certain problems,” Dr. Cowan informed. “For example, we're treating chronic cough in a very unique way. We have a pulmonologist, analogist, GI physician, and ear, nose and throat–all in the same space. We're finding things that people have had for 20 years and fixing them. The collaboration, the communication and the trust among the providers has been amazing.”
Ascentist leadership has created an environment where patients feel the freedom to be authentic in their needs, transparent with their questions and safe in their expectations. While it has required much work and investment to get to this place of success, Dr. Cowan and Dr. Eagan are motivated to continue that growth, not for the sake of finding more success, but to better serve the people they have the pleasure of calling their patients.
“It honestly doesn't feel like work, because you're building something you're proud of. I had a patient today, two years out from breast cancer. I always tell my patients that's really the mark where you're back to yourself. Seeing a patient like that made my day. We do it for happy patients. We do it to solve problems,” Dr. Eagan said.
“There's not one person in our executive team or organization who cares about their individual legacy,” Dr. Cowan said “It's just treating people the way that you would want to be treated, continuing to try to take it to the next level and being willing to change to make things better. Ultimately, caring about people is what makes you a really good leader.”
Learn more about the providers who work with Ascentist Healthcare and the specialties they offer: ascentist.com/