Hospital Case Study
EASTAR Health System
(formerly Muskogee Regional Medical Center)
Muskogee Regional Medical Center (MRMC) in Muskogee, Oklahoma, is a shining example of how Capella
Healthcare follows through on its commitments, significantly enhancing resources and improving the level of
care available in a community.
Serving the community since 1922, MRMC was publicly-owned by the City of Muskogee and the Muskogee
Medical Center Authority. Like many mid-size independent community hospitals across the nation, MRMC was
struggling to operate in today’s ever-changing healthcare environment – due in large part to limited access to
capital resources and
specialized management
expertise.
Commitment
On April 1, 2007, Capella
entered into a 40-year longterm, pre-paid lease of MRMC
with the Hospital Authority.
The pre-paid lease payment of
$120 million was used to
create a Community
Foundation that today funds
important programs related to healthcare and other community needs on an ongoing basis. With a mission to
make a real difference, the City of Muskogee Foundation was established to develop, support, promote, and
improve programs and facilities relating to education, arts, culture, community revitalization and beautification,
social services, health care, economic development, infrastructure, housing and recreation for the City of
Muskogee and surrounding areas and to improve the quality of life of residents of Muskogee. To read more
about how the City of Muskogee Foundation is making a real difference, visit their website at
www.CityofMuskogeeFoundation.org. In 2013, more than $3.8 million was granted to a variety of organizations,
including the City of Muskogee’s Housing
Rehabilitation program, Parks and Recreation
(parks improvement), Muskogee County Transit
and an Occupational Therapy Program at
Northeastern State University. For a complete
list, click here>>
Additionally, as part of the lease agreement, Capella made commitments including, but not limited to:
 The funding of future capital expenditures;
 Assurances that all patients in need of care will be treated regardless of ability to pay;
 Maintain all service levels offered;
 Adoption of existing contracts;
 Employment of all active employees;
 Highly competitive employee benefit package;
 Adoption of the existing Medical Staff Bylaws, subject to legal review; and
 Ongoing physician recruitment
From Then to Now
Since Capella’s partnership, the hospital has grown into a multi-campus health system. Following the purchase of
Muskogee Community Hospital in 2012, the organization changed its name to EASTAR Health System, to
better reflect its growth and new identity as a comprehensive 320-bed two-campus health system serving all of
Eastern Oklahoma. The EASTAR Main campus (formerly Muskogee Regional Medical Center) was one of the
first hospitals established in Oklahoma, and has grown to become one of the state’s largest and most
comprehensive facilities. In addition to its nationally accredited cancer program, the hospital is also certified as a
Level III Trauma Center and Primary Stroke Center. The EASTAR East campus (formerly Muskogee
Community Hospital) opened in 2009 as the first hospital in the nation to earn LEED-Gold for New
Construction. This recognition of energy efficiency and design allowed this facility an opportunity to improve
environmental quality through green planning, design, and construction as well as operations and maintenance
practices.
Additionally, significant tax dollars now benefit the community. In 2013, approximately $2.9 million in property,
sales and other taxes were paid through these two hospitals which helped support the city, county and state.
Recent Accomplishments
EASTAR Health System continues to make outstanding progress as part of the Capella Healthcare family.
Recognizing their significant accomplishment, the hospital was awarded a HealthStream “Excellence Through
Insight” award for improvement in physician satisfaction (2012). And they’ve been invited to be a part of
Oklahoma State University’s Community Hospital Rotation. The goal of the program is to immerse medical
students in a more rural setting, exposing them to a variety of specialties, in an effort to encourage them to
practice in these areas after medical school. EASTAR was a chosen as a facility in which the OSU medical
students could get high-quality training says Vicky Pace, Program Director. “Our students must be able to do a
lot and see a lot. And when we visited with physicians, they were excited about this opportunity. It takes more
than one doctor, and (the hospital) has a variety of specialists available as well as enough volume to give the
students the hands-on experience we require. (EASTAR Health System) has a lot to offer,” she said.
To learn about the most recent achievements, check out some of their most recent news, which includes:










Hospitals join together to create EASTAR Health System
Merger of hospitals to bring changes
Muskogee Community Hospital now part of Muskogee Regional as lease is finalized
MRMC Earns HealthStream “Excellence through Insight” Award for Physician Satisfaction
Doctor’s Personal Touch, Newest Technology Making a Difference in Cancer Care
$1.2 Million Emergency Department Renovation Completed
MRMC Adds $3.5 Million Novalis TX® Radiosurgery System
Lean Healthcare Initiative Improves ED Patient and Staff Satisfaction, Shortens Wait Times
MRMC Designated as a Level Three Trauma Center
MRMC Earns Quality Respiratory Care Recognition in National Program
Community Involvement
Building on a long tradition of service, the EASTAR Health System Auxiliary and Volunteers continue to have a
tremendous impact on the hospital, its patients, visitors and the community. In the past, they’ve provided
hundreds of thousands of dollars in nursing scholarships, purchased new electric transportation vehicles to assist
patients and visitors to and from the parking lot, and built children’s play centers for waiting rooms and
wheelchairs. They helped build and now maintain the Memorial Healing Garden at the entrance of the main
campus, dedicated to patients and visitors. In 2012, the Auxiliary gave 24,615 hours of service, including more
than 2,300 from the Junior Volunteers.
The Auxiliary also recently presented the 30th annual “Let’s Play Hospital” program for approximately 800 firstgraders. The program is designed to alleviate fears of children who would need to come to hospital for surgery.
To read more about this and see photos of Well Wabbit, the hospital’s mascot, check out this article in the
Muskogee Phoenix.
The hospital also continues its impressive community involvement and support. Check out these latest
newspaper features:



MRMC Recognized One of Top Ten Donors in Impressive Community Giving Campaign
Hospital receives Community Service Award of Excellence at 14th Annual Business & Industry Awards
EASTAR Health System honored by Oklahoma Regents for Higher Education
Here’s a more detailed overview of progress during the first two years of our partnership.
First Six Months Accomplishments
After just six months, MRMC had completed or was in the process of completing the following:






Technology, Systems & Process Assessment – At the outset of Capella’s partnership with MRMC, we spent
a lot of time assessing the current operations and technology processes and assets of the hospital to determine
what should continue, and what could be augmented by Capella’s systems.
Physician Recruiting Plan – Based on a thorough physician needs assessment, MRMC created a plan –
alongside the medical staff and Board of Trustees – to recruit 50 physicians over five years. The plan focuses on
the following specialties: internal medicine, interventional cardiology, general surgery, neurosurgery, vascular
surgery, OBGYN, pediatrics, neurology, ENT and orthopedics.
Consolidation of Outpatient Services – In response to physician interest in selling physician-owned outpatient
service centers, Capella acquired an imaging center and an MRI center. This brought the services performed
there seamlessly under MRMC ownership and operations.
Development of Cardiac Services – Already equipped for diagnostic services related to cardiology, growth of
cardiac services was an immediate opportunity for MRMC. Within months, Capella was able to add a triple
board certified interventional cardiologist and initiated cardiac catheterization services.
Increased Purchasing Power – As a Capella hospital, MRMC was given immediate access to HealthTrust
Purchasing Group (HPG) for the procurement of supplies and equipment. In the first year, MRMC saved
significantly on the same supplies they would have purchased through their former GPO.
Community Involvement – Capella adopted all of MRMC’s local charitable and community relationships. In
addition, in August 2007, Capella presented a $25,000 donation to partially fund the new Muskogee Parks &
Recreation Swim & Fitness Center, to help promote community wellness.
One Year Accomplishments
At the one year mark, MRMC had completed or was in the process of
completing the following:


Physician Recruitment – Capella invested $1.5 million in physician
recruiting over the first year, resulting in 10 new physicians.
Nursing Recruitment & Local Partnerships – MRMC signed 30
newly recruited nurses. In response to the local nursing shortage,
MRMC also established (or strengthened) relationships with area
nursing schools.
Most notably, MRMC initiated an innovative local partnership with
Bacone College, whereby MRMC funds 20 annual nursing scholarships
and staffs the Chair of the Department of Nursing at Bacone. In
exchange, the Chair serves part-time at MRMC as Associate Chief
Nursing Officer, while recipients of the scholarships commit to fulltime employment at MRMC for a period of time upon graduation.
This creative partnership received national attention within the
healthcare industry.







Equipment & Technology Investment – Capella identified an overall need for upgrades to MRMC’s
diagnostic technology, allowing for faster and more accurate diagnostic imaging. The investments made in Year
One and Year Two in this area include: MRI, a 64-slice CT scanner and a Picture Archiving and Communication
System (PACS).
Technology, Systems & Process Integration – During the first year, management was focused largely on
systems integration, making sure all MRMC departments were equipped with what they needed to seamlessly
connect with Capella and sister hospitals. This involved months of not only on-site physical installation of
technology, but perhaps more importantly, the necessary training courses and tools for employees and physicians
to learn the processes.
Emergency Department Improvements – One key issue at MRMC was overcrowding and wait-times in the
MRMC ED. To address this issue, Capella re-opened ER South and implemented new processes that helped the
MRMC ER team to drastically cut length of stay times in half to 2 hours, 10 min (2007 National Average: 4 hrs,
5 min and Oklahoma Average: 3 hrs, 23 min)
On-site Air Transportation Services – In the spring of 2008, MRMC
Facility Improvements
added onsite Air Evac helicopter services for its ER, in order to serve a
In Year One, Capella
range of 400 miles.
completed the $35 million,
Managed Care Contract Negotiation – Capella was able to improve
78,000-square-foot West Side
payment rates from several managed care payers, including exclusivity
Expansion, which was begun
provisions. The focus on strengthening relationships with payers that were
and funded in 2001 prior to
previously adversarial resulted in turning them into partnerships for
the Capella Lease. Capella
improving care and reducing out-migration of business.
also invested $5.2 million in
Creation of MRMC Women’s Center – To meet the growing need for
infrastructure improvements,
women’s services in the Southeast Oklahoma region, Capella recruited a
such as a fire suppression
new OBGYN to open The Women’s Center at MRMC, a single-care
sprinkler system and two-pipe
obstetrics / gynecology facility providing comprehensive medical expertise
to four-pipe heat/air
from birth to menopause to female aging issues.
conversion.
Active Auxiliary – Building on a long tradition of giving, the MRMC
Auxiliary continues to have a tremendous presence and impact on MRMC
and its patients. In 2007-08, the 172 active members raised $106,902 and spent $84,195 on nursing scholarships,
new electric transportation vehicles to assist patients and visitors to and from the parking lot, children’s play
centers for waiting rooms and wheelchairs. In spring of 2008, with the help of the MRMC Auxiliary, a Memorial
Healing Garden was created and dedicated for patients and visitors at the entrance of the hospital.
Learn more about the hospital’s passion for excellence, see testimonials from patients, and check out the
hospital’s latest awards by visiting their website at www.EASTARHealth.com
Visit Capella Healthcare’s YouTube Channel or the website (CapellaHealthcare.com – Hospital Partnerships
section) to hear interviews with physicians and board leaders as well as CEO Kevin Fowler.

Muskogee Regional Medical Center leaders discuss the benefits of the partnership their hospital has with
Capella Healthcare. “The involvement with Capella has been very beneficial for MRMC, and has
included access to capital (new equipment has been purchased, items we only dreamed about before),
new services launched, new physicians recruited… we’re providing access to care we just didn’t have
before,” said Dr. Jay Gregory, a General, Thoracic and Vascular Surgeon who represented the hospital
on Capella’s National Physician Leadership Group and is now EASTAR’s Chief Medical Officer.

"It's access to capital, it's access to people, it's access to programs and leadership training and
involvement by physicians that we've not had in the past,” he said. “You can also see tremendous
changes in patient satisfaction and physician satisfaction surveys... We've made a lot of progress already
and we're going to make more in the future.

Says Board Vice-Chair Darrell Hamby: "I think one of the original apprehensions might have been that
Capella would just come in and take control of the hospital and simply run it. That's not been the case...
there's been a $25 million expenditure in equipment... and you can really see changes in MRMC ...from
the front door to the patient rooms."
To learn more about Capella Healthcare:
Visit our website at www.CapellaHealthcare.com
Visit or subscribe to our YouTube Channel at
www.YouTube.com/CapellaHealthcare
Follow us on Twitter at
www.Twitter.com/CapellaHealth
Follow us on LinkedIn