MSP Spotlight

Stephanie Russell – CPMSM, CPCS   Medical Staff Services
SwedishAmerican Health System, Rockford, Illinois

Colleague and contributing educator, Stephanie Russell, is our first Professional Spotlight on the Team Med Global website.

A leader in her industry with more than 25 years experience, Stephanie shares her knowledge and wisdom in the Medical Staff Services industry alongside Team Med Global's own, Donna Goestenkors, as part of the Competency Development Series. The collaborative efforts of this duo have educated medical staff services professionals on how to be the best in their field for the past 10 years. "Donna and I worked together through our shared professional associations dating back to 2001. This past year, our mission has been to collectively promote the mission of Team Med Global. Donna's visionary qualities keep her forward thinking about the possibilities of this profession.  Her enthusiasm keeps me pumped and challenges me to be a better MSP."

As part of her day job, Stephanie supports the medical staff structure at SwedishAmerican Health System. She says the best part about her job is that it changes every day. “I enjoy the challenge of the constant change in regulations by the regulatory body and determining creative ways to ensure compliance with the changes.   I enjoy the opportunity to work in a fast-pace environment that requires me to think on my feet and be a "fireman" on a lot of days.  I also have the opportunity to work with many different people; physicians, administrators, nurses, allied health professionals, attorneys and community members.”

Stephanie was instrumental in setting up the Credentialing Management Department at SwedishAmerican Health System, which started the first combined hospital and managed care credentialing process in the region. “With creation of this new department we also initiated service agreements for some health plans and a health clinic in the area to provide them credentialing services. Seven years later we combined the medical staff and credentialing departments which remain today.” 

Now both friends and colleagues, Donna Goestenkors says, “Stephanie is a fair, hardworking professional who is always willing to learn new things when it's needed as well as improving things by approaching challenges with a new perspective.  She has a positive attitude when approaching all of her tasks.  A true professional, Stephanie is action driven and consistently meets deadlines.  She, like me, is passionate about our industry and we sincerely want to help MSPs be their very best.”