What’s it like to work as a TeamHealth physician in the midwestern U.S.?
We recently spoke with Dr. Ryan Hays, MD, Chief of Medicine and Facility Medical Director for our Hospitalist Division at AdventHealth Shawnee Mission, about working with TeamHealth, and about the community he lives in and serves.
Tell us about the facility where you work.
Dr. Hays: AdventHealth Shawnee Mission is a 504-bed acute care hospital located in Merriam, Kansas, within the metropolis of Kansas City. We service mainly Johnson County Kansas and are affiliated with AdventHealth System based out of Orlando, Florida. Our facility has all subspecialties including Interventional Radiology, Cardiothoracic Surgery, Radiation Oncology, Hematology/Oncology with MD Anderson affiliation plus many more. The medical staff is very collegial and engaged within the hospital system. Our administrative team is very approachable and physician-friendly.
What do you enjoy most about your position as a Hospitalist at TeamHealth?
Dr. Hays: The flexibility in my work schedule allows for an excellent life-work balance. Being a husband and father to three beautiful girls, I have been able to have a fulfilling career as a physician and at the same time be there for my family. The support from TeamHealth along with their sound infrastructure and billing system allows me to focus on delivering the best care to the patients I serve while not having to fret overpayment collections and salary.
Tell us about the community you serve. What do you love most about it?
Dr. Hays: The community we serve is truly Midwestern. Patients are kind and appreciative of the care we provide and it’s easy to develop a rapport. AdventHealth Shawnee Mission is very active in community health education, supporting local theatre and much more. This brand helps the community understand the type of whole care they will receive when they are at our facility.
Tell us about your training, educational background and professional interests.
Dr. Hays: I was born and raised in a small town in south-central Nebraska. I graduated medical school from the University of Nebraska Medical Center in 2007 and finished my Internal Medicine training at the University of Kansas Medical Center in 2010. From there, I became Chief Resident and completed one year of Pulmonology/Critical Care Medicine before answering my calling to become a Hospitalist. I have been a Hospitalist at AdventHealth Shawnee Mission for nearly seven years and currently serve as Chief of Medicine and Facility Medical Director for our Hospitalist Division.
My interests include best practices in Hospitalist Medicine, documentation improvement, specialty collaboration, sepsis and critical care.
Tell us about your team at AdventHealth Shawnee Mission. What’s the team culture or dynamic?
Dr. Hays: Our Hospitalist team is a very tight-knit group. We all bring unique backgrounds and knowledge to the team and encourage each other to succeed. We embrace change and see it as an opportunity to improve how medical care is delivered to our community.
What kinds of opportunities can a physician on your team expect at AdventHealth Shawnee Mission and TeamHealth?
Dr. Hays: At AdventHealth Shawnee Mission there are many opportunities to become involved in the medical staff—from serving on different department committees to chairing committees, to leading performance improvement initiatives. The possibilities are endless! Our Hospitalist Division is frequently asked to lead new pilots and identify improvement processes within the hospital. This allows for numerous opportunities to improve leadership skills and collaborate with other colleagues.
Having TeamHealth’s resources has truly proven valuable. Their large network of clinicians, improvement specialists and administrative assistance allows us to network very easily and access the tools to deliver higher quality medical care. The leadership training development through TeamHealth also provides as an excellent resource to facilitate direction when starting a pilot project or leading a committee.
When you aren’t practicing at AdventHealth Shawnee Mission what’s your favorite place or activity in Mission, Kansas?
Dr. Hays: Living in Kansas City provides something for everyone! If you’re a sports fanatic, catch a soccer match with Sporting Kansas City at our fabulous Children’s Mercy Park, or a Nascar race at the Kansas Speedway. The Kansas City Chiefs are an electrifying NFL team to follow or watch MLB baseball at the ‘K’ with our World Champion Kansas City Royals!
Art is also very popular in our community with everything the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art has to offer, plus you can enjoy art and a beverage at First Fridays. The Sprint Center is a large venue that features many well-known musicians, artists and sporting events as well.
If you’re into shopping there are lots of shops in the revitalized downtown area of Kansas City and you can catch the trolley to your next destination or hit the Plaza or Crown Center.
Of course you can’t mention Kansas City without at least bringing up the topic of Bar-B-Q. We have many different restaurants to sample. Just ask any Kansas Citian and you’re sure to hear their favorite BBQ joint: the best is Kansas City Joes, my favorite of course!
We have open opportunities in hospital medicine in Kansas City along with openings for hospital medicine and emergency medicine throughout the Midwest and West! Join a team that supports you and recognizes your impact in providing excellent patient care. Not the right fit for you? TeamHealth has opportunities available nationwide!