Beech Medical Group, Inc., an integrated health solutions company that contracts with large employers, state agencies and insurance companies to improve patient outcomes while reducing healthcare costs, has been named to Entrepreneur Magazine’s 360 List of the “Best Entrepreneurial Companies in America” The Mesa based business ranked 108 out of 360 companies nationwide.
This is the second award for the company this year. In August, Beech joined Inc. Magazine’s prestigious list of the “5000 fastest-growing private corporations in America.”
Honorees for Entrepreneur Magazine’s 2016 “360 List” were selected based on the results of a comprehensive study of independently owned companies and scored on the major pillars of entrepreneurship: Innovation, Growth, Leadership and Impact.
“It is an honor to be recognized as one of the best entrepreneurial companies in America,” said Beech CEO Michael Sumner. “To receive this distinction is a testament to the success of our healthcare model and our dedication to providing continuity of care for our patients while lowering costs for our clients.”
The company integrates medical services through comprehensive patient management that includes the coordination and delivery of in-home and outpatient services, communications with healthcare providers and the monitoring of patient outcomes through technology and team meetings to assess the patient and provide advanced care, including hospice services, if needed.
This approach, says Sumner, “Helps us to proactively direct care each step of the way. By knowing when a patient is improving or declining we can provide the appropriate services more quickly and efficiently. This lets us respond faster to give better care and also prevent hospital readmissions which reduces healthcare costs.”
Sumner, along with Jo Sumner, Beech’s Chief Operations Officer, designed the healthcare model which offers integrated home health, case management and home care services when they were owners of Beech Nursing and Care Agency in the United Kingdom. After selling the profitable company in 2008 the Sumner’s decided to bring their business plan to the United States in 2009.
“Most healthcare companies in the U.S. follow a method referred to as a “silo of care” where patients see multiple providers for physical therapy, home care and other needed services. When this happens communications suffer and often results in duplicated test and other redundancies in care or providers miss important signals about a patient’s health,” said Sumner.
He adds that, “In Europe, integrated care is more common – and I feel much better – as it allows you to manage care as a patient’s health changes. We call our business model a hybrid in that we feel we combine the best aspects of UK and US health practices.”
The company currently employs a medical director, 55 full time employees, 250 caregivers and 80 skilled care providers and provides services throughout Maricopa County, part of Pinal County, Florence, Eloy and Coolidge, as well as the Gila River Indian Community. Beech also signed an agreement with Cochise County in July of 2016 that will double their case management department and they are looking to hire about 20 more staff.
The rapidly expanding company contracts with hospitals, physician groups, insurance companies, private employers and state programs.
Beech opened a new outpatient hospice division at their headquarters at 2017 E. Adobe Street in January of 2016. According to Sumner the addition of the hospice “made sense” in terms of meeting the long term needs of patients.
“Hospice meets a growing need and is part of our concept that provides a continuum of care for our patients. The need for caregivers and health services is increasing dramatically as our population ages. We look forward to growing to meeting that need,” Sumner said.
The company is planning to open an out of state office in 2016 and Primary Care services in 2017. They are also seeking larger office space in the Mesa area.
