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Interview With Mark Iorio, CEO of Colorado Springs Health Partners

Posted on: Monday, 27 February 2006, 03:02 CST

By Anonymous

You may not see Mark Iorio wearing a white lab coat with a stethoscope stuffed in the pocket, but he knows how to keep a physicians' network in good health.Iorio is CEO of Colorado Springs Health Partners, a group of 90 Colorado Springs physicians. As the city has grown, so has CSHP, which was formed nearly 60 years ago by six World War II veterans who were doctors.Today, the organization numbers some 700 employees, including physicians and their support staff, at 11 locations.Iorio took time recently to tell CSBJ about himself and his business.Organization: Colorado Springs Health Partners P.C.Position: Executive vice president/chief executive officerHometown: Shoreham, N.Y.How long have you lived in Colorado Springs: 10 yearsEducation: Master's degree in health services administration, Sage College, Albany N.Y.; bachelor's degree in psychology, State University of New York - OneontaA few words about your company: Formed in 1946, Colorado Springs Health Partners represents a proven health care strategy where physicians combine to form a large group medical practice. By closely collaborating in one medical group, which includes many specialties, physicians are able to provide better coordinated and more comprehensive care for patients. Recent accomplishments: During the past six years, we have consolidated CSHP's primary care services across the region into several large, well-placed primary care centers. The group sold its 40-year old medical center downtown so it could build a larger medical center on the southeast corner of Fillmore Street and Centennial Boulevard. Biggest career break: Being offered an opportunity to become a medical practice administrator for a group of 12 physicians in upstate New York. We were able to grow that practice to 35 physicians in six years, which eventually led to CSHP's offer for the position of vice president of operations/COO in 1996. The toughest part of your job: Managing the expectations of 90- plus physicians and 600 employees simultaneously. Unfortunately, medical group practices operate on thin margins compared to other large health care companies. Growing the practice, keeping up with technology and making sure everyone is paid at or above the market is always a major focus. Someone you admire: President Theodore Roosevelt. This is a man who, despite facing great personal tragedies, was unafraid to meet great challenges, willing to take risks for the greater good, cared much about people in need and above all, maintained his sense of humor.About your family: Two beautiful daughters, Allison, 19, and Julie, 15. I lost a wonderful son, Nathan, to Werdnig-Hoffman disease in 1994, who would have been 12 years old.Something else you'd like to accomplish: I'd like to teach at the college level some day, gaining an opportunity to share what I have learned about health care, business planning and operational management. I'd also like to start a new business.How your business will change in the next decade: The biggest challenge we will face will be the Medicare crisis. As the baby boomers move into the health care system in record numbers, physicians, patients and other health care entities will need to adjust their expectations. The cost of care will increase; the availability of physician care will likely decrease. We will need to work even harder to find ways to provide more care, more efficiently and more cost effectively. What book are you currently reading? The Fifties by David Halberstam.What is the one thing you would change about Colorado Springs? I would like to see the downtown area more developed and vibrant with more residential options and more retail services.

(Copyright 2006 Dolan Media Newswires)

Source: Colorado Springs Business Journal, The

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