Becker’s Healthcare Podcast Driving Growth and Expanding Access at Natchitoches Regional Medical Center with CEO Kirk Soileau
Dec 6, 2025
Kirk Soileau, CEO of Natchitoches Regional Medical Center, discusses his impactful leadership in transforming healthcare delivery. He reveals how patient encounters skyrocketed from 55,000 to 250,000 by expanding specialty services and recruiting subspecialists. Kirk details the shift towards outpatient care and investments in innovative technologies. He also addresses the unique challenges of recruiting rural specialists and the importance of advocacy in light of federal Medicaid changes. His insights on strategic planning and embracing change are particularly compelling.
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Rapid Growth By Expanding Specialty Care
- Kirk Soileau described growing patient encounters from about 55,000 to over 250,000 in 12 years by expanding services and medical staff.
- He attributed growth to adding specialists and increasing outpatient services rather than competing on geography.
Recruit Based On Local Care Gaps
- Ask your medical staff where care gaps exist and recruit to fill those specific subspecialty needs.
- Prioritize services patients currently leave town for to retain volume and grow revenue.
Outpatient Shift Enables Rural Transformation
- Flipping revenue mix from inpatient-heavy to outpatient-heavy enables rural hospitals to survive and scale.
- Investing in advanced ambulatory technology (robotics, cancer center) attracts patients and specialists alike.