EngageMED's 30th Anniversary

Brad Harper Jeff Erwin

CFO EVP, Revenue Integrity

Next year marks a milestone in our organization’s history—EngageMED’s 30th anniversary. It’s a moment to reflect on how far we’ve come, honor the challenges we’ve overcome, and celebrate the successes that have shaped us into the organization we are today.

Our story begins in the mid-1990s, a time when physician practice management companies were rapidly emerging across America. Against this background, Little Rock Family Practice Clinic and St. Vincent Infirmary, deeply connected through years of collaboration, sought to create something distinct. In late 1994, a unique venture that stood out from the rest was launched: Arkansas Physician Management, Inc. (AMPI). Unlike typical practice management companies of the time, APMI was physician-driven and majority physician-owned, ensuring that those closest to patient care held the reins. Starting in January 1995 with Little Rock Family Practice as its sole client, APMI quickly grew, welcoming several practices such as Dr. Charles Barg, Dr. Dennis Davidson, Otter Creek Family Clinic, and Stotts & Tilley Family Clinic by the end of its first year.

Those early years were challenging but full of promise, marked by a steep learning curve and relentless effort to meet client needs while expanding the organization. The physicians, along with the APMI team, worked tirelessly to not just survive but thrive under a new business model. By 1998, St. Vincent’s acquisition of the Doctors Hospital, along with its employed physicians, gave APMI the boost it needed to establish a strong foundation. This acquisition was also the beginning of the CHI St. Vincent Medical Group.

Over the next two decades, APMI steadily grew into a leader in revenue cycle management, known for delivering efficient and effective results to its clients. By 2017, the team had expanded to 275 coworkers. That same year, discussions began with CHI St. Vincent about forming a larger partnership. After navigating several challenges, the merger was finalized in June 2018, combining CHI St. Vincent Medical Group’s clinic operations and finance teams with APMI’s revenue cycle and finance teams. With this merger, APMI was rebranded as EngageMED.

This merger combined two high-performing teams with an unprecedented level of experience both in terms of years and diversity, creating an organization capable of offering full-service healthcare practice management, consulting, practice startups, and more. With the addition of a robust People Services team and over 350 employees from CHI St. Vincent Medical Group, EngageMED’s capabilities and impact expanded dramatically. Later that year, the addition of Little Rock Diagnostic Clinic further solidified EngageMED’s role as a leader in healthcare practice management.

In 2020, just as EngageMED was poised to launch a potential new growth strategy in California, the COVID-19 pandemic brought the world to a halt. Faced with the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, EngageMED’s team demonstrated remarkable innovation and adaptability. They transitioned seamlessly to remote workflows, managed an increased workload, and ensured uninterrupted service, embodying the values of integrity, respect, innovation, and service during a critical time. Their resilience and commitment ensured the uninterrupted delivery of essential services, showcasing the strength of EngageMED’s values in the face of adversity.

Today, as we approach our 30th year, EngageMED continues to evolve, focusing on improving operational efficiency and exploring new growth opportunities. What began as a small venture with a team of fewer than 75 coworkers has grown into a thriving organization. Today, EngageMED supports over 500 providers across Arkansas and California, with a dedicated team of more than 1,200 coworkers.

This anniversary is not just a celebration of our company’s growth but also a heartfelt tribute to the incredible coworkers, past and present, whose dedication and hard work have driven our success. We honor the visionary leaders, physicians, and hospital administrators who have guided us through our journey. Your trust and partnership have been the foundation of our achievements, and we are profoundly thankful for the opportunity to continue supporting your vital work. We are equally grateful to our clients and the communities we serve, whose trust and partnership have been essential to our journey.

As we reflect on 30 years of service, we reaffirm the core values that have shaped EngageMED—integrity, respect, innovation, and service. These principles guide our every action, driving our commitment to empower clients, foster collaboration, and strengthen the communities we serve. Looking ahead, we remain full of promise and potential, just as we were in 1995. Together with our clients, coworkers, and partners, we will continue to live out these values, embrace new opportunities, and ensure that EngageMED thrives for decades to come. As we celebrate this milestone, we look forward to continuing to build on our legacy with integrity, respect, innovation, and service as our guide. Here’s to the next 30 years of growth, partnership, and excellence!