Healthy Outcomes: The role of the CFO within healthcare provider organizations

On this episode of Healthy Outcomes, our host Mark Ross interviews Phil Ryan, a recently retired CFO with nearly 40 years of healthcare financial management experience, about the healthcare provider industry, the role of the CFO and Board of Directors in a healthcare provider organization and financial sustainability of healthcare provider organizations.  

Topics of discussion include:  

• The role of the CFO in a healthcare provider organization and how this position has evolved over the years 
• The importance of the relationship between the CFO and other members of the management team in a healthcare provider organization 
• The role of the board of directors in a healthcare provider organization and the skill sets needed to create an efficient and effective board 
• The challenges faced by healthcare provider organizations in today’s operating environment 
• Financial sustainability for a healthcare provider organization, including enhancing/diversifying revenues, controlling expenses, etc.  
• The importance of healthcare providers “controlling what they can control” to sustain their organizations into the future 

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About our guest

Phil Ryan, CPA 

Phil Ryan is a retired hospital CFO and has nearly forty years of experience in healthcare financial management. In March 2021, he retired as the Executive Vice President and CFO of The Guthrie Clinic. Prior to his tenure at Guthrie, he was the Senior Vice President and CFO at Crozer Keystone Health System. 

Phil’s background in the healthcare industry includes exposure to multi-state markets, including both metropolitan and rural markets.  In addition to his thirteen years of experience as a CFO, Phil was responsible for external/internal financial reporting, treasury management, investor relations, government relations and labor relations, as well as activities related to mergers and acquisitions (M&A). Phil has also presented at Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA) and other industry conferences on a variety of healthcare finance related topics.