Powerful arguments and emotions continue to challenge the future of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The Supreme Court, partisan ideology, presidential elections, and deeply held convictions about the role of government will all make their mark. Most healthcare leaders, however, share a fundamental belief that healthcare transformation is happening now—driven by some of the same … Continue reading “Healthcare Is Transforming Regardless of What Happens to the ACA”
Author: John Koster
John is a healthcare author, teacher and board member. John and his coauthors Ram Charan and Gary Bisbee recently released their book; n=1, How the Uniqueness of Each Individual is Transforming Healthcare.
John is a board member of Sutter Healthcare, an integrated health system in Northern California. He is active in teaching physician leadership and advising healthcare technology innovators. His company, SOAS Healthcare Advisors, offers strategic advisory services to select clients in the broad healthcare sector.
John served as the CEO of Providence Health & Services until 2014. Providence is one of the largest health systems in the US, with over 67,000 employees and 34 hospitals serving five western states. In addition Providence operates a health plan serving 390,000 members, 475 medical clinics and numerous other non-acute services.
Dr. Koster joined Providence as chief medical officer in April 1997 and held several roles in system operations until appointed president and chief executive officer in 2003. Under his leadership Providence grew from $3.7 billion in revenue to $10.6 billion in 2012. He was selected as one of Modern Healthcare magazine’s 50 Most Influential Physician Executives in 2012.
Prior to joining Providence, Dr. Koster served as senior vice president of VHA, Inc. in Irving, Texas, a nationwide network of health care organizations and physicians. At VHA John developed and led programs for the development of integrated delivery systems, provider sponsored health plans, physician leadership and digital healthcare tools.
John held senior leadership positions at Presbyterian Healthcare Services in Albuquerque, New Mexico where he was responsible for medical group and health plan strategy. John was Senior Vice President of Rocky Mountain Healthcare Company in Denver, a regional BCBS plan. John was responsible for provider services; medical management and contracting, strategy and health plan startups in Colorado, Nevada and New Mexico.
His clinical practice was in emergency medicine and internal medicine. He is board certified in internal medicine.