Dr. Robert Prichard named head of St. Elizabeth Physicians
Dr. Robert Prichard, who has led St. Elizabeth Physicians for the last 11 months, can remove “interim” from his title as CEO.
Prichard, 57, got the nod as permanent chief executive of the third-largest doctor group in Greater Cincinnati from Garren Colvin, CEO of St. Elizabeth Healthcare.
Dr. Robert Prichard is CEO of St. Elizabeth Physicians as well as executive vice president and chief clinical integration officer for St. Elizabeth Healthcare.
“Bob is one of the most highly regarded and well respected physician leaders I’ve encountered in my career,” said Colvin, who has worked at Northern Kentucky’s dominant medical provider for more than 30 years. “Together, we will focus on the quality of care and the overall patient experience, and embrace innovations in how we deliver care to the community.”
Prichard replaces Dr. Glenn Loomis, who had been CEO of St. E Physicians since 2010 but stepped down after Colvin became chief executive of Edgewood-based St. Elizabeth Healthcare in June 2015.
St. Elizabeth Physicians, which trails only UC Physicians and TriHealth Physician Partners in size, serves more than 300,000 patients at 117 sites in Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana. Prichard will continue to oversee 346 doctors, 104 mid-level providers and more than 1,000 staff members.
“The development and growth of St. Elizabeth Physicians has been, and will continue to be, integral to St. Elizabeth’s ability to deliver high-quality patient care,” Colvin said.
Prichard, who had continued to serve as chief medical officer for St. Elizabeth Healthcare after being named interim chief executive of St. Elizabeth Physicians on July 31 of last year, will now also hold the titles of executive vice president and chief clinical integration officer.
In that dual role, Prichard will oversee the day-to-day strategic direction, operations, physician relations and alignment, and financial activities of St. Elizabeth Physicians while also helping St. Elizabeth Healthcare COO Gary Blank lead hospital clinical operations and activities.
“My immediate goal with SEP is to continue to build on our current foundation to improve patients’ experiences in the areas of quality and satisfaction and to improve the health of Northern Kentuckians,” Prichard told me.
“My new role will allow me to encourage alignment on issues that are important to SEP (doctors) as well as St. Elizabeth Healthcare so that we can press forward toward the goal of making Northern Kentucky one of the healthiest communities in the country,” Prichard said.
“My experience and my relationships with physicians in Northern Kentucky will allow me to work closely with our independent physicians on the St. Elizabeth medical staff to help optimize the role of all physicians at St. Elizabeth Healthcare,” he added.
Ultimately, he hopes to help St. E reduce the per-capita cost of health care in the region.
Prichard earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Kentucky in 1981, followed by a medical degree from UK. He joined St. Elizabeth in 1985 to study family medicine, completing his residency training in 1988.
He practiced medicine in Northern Kentucky until 1999, when he joined the Health Alliance of Greater Cincinnati as senior executive officer and president of Alliance Primary Care. The Health Alliance evolved into UC Health in 2010.
Prichard returned to St. Elizabeth in 2005 to serve as CEO of Summit Medical Group. St. Elizabeth Physicians was formed in January 2010 following the merger of Summit Medical Group and Patient First Physician Group, both of which were owned by St. Elizabeth Healthcare.
Sponsored by the Diocese of Covington, the health system operates St. Elizabeth hospitals in Edgewood, Fort Thomas, Florence, Owenton and Williamstown as well as a Covington ambulatory center and a Falmouth drug and alcohol treatment center.
Prichard lives in Villa Hills with his wife, Jackie, a retired educator.
Dr. Prichard is a graduate of Louisa High School class of 1977. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert L. Prichard, formerly of Louisa, KY.
