MedExcellence moves headquarters to Northwest Arkansas amid physician shortage

MedExcellence, a nationwide physician recruiting firm, has relocated its headquarters from Pennsylvania to Northwest Arkansas and opened a Springdale office, spearheaded by health care leader Diana McDaniel, the company announced Tuesday (Aug. 27).

The firm looks to address a physician shortage in Arkansas and the heartland region.

McDaniel, a former Arkansas hospital executive, is the firm’s new managing partner. Last year, she left Arkansas Children’s Northwest to start Prosper Med, a health care consulting firm. She said she maintains her consulting firm alongside this launch. Prosper Med continues to work on consulting projects in health care business development, startup of new medical practices and strategic health care growth.

According to MedExcellence, McDaniel has identified Northwest Arkansas as a growing region that needs additional recruitment resources, which is why MedExcellence chose to relocate to the area. Running the firm from the heartland allows it to leverage resources and develop partnerships to address the physician shortage.

“Access to care, “McDaniel said, “can only be improved through strategic efforts to bring more physicians to the area. My Arkansan heart is full at the prospect of growing health care in our state, attracting top medical talent to meet both immediate and long-term needs.”

The physician shortage is a statewide issue. According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, Arkansas has 224 doctors per 100,000 people, or 72 less than the national average. Regional growth has made it challenging for residents to receive “local, affordable care,” the release shows.

“The lack of specialty care providers also poses a significant economic challenge, costing Northwest Arkansas $1 billion annually as patients seek care out-of-state.”

“While expanding graduate medical education will grow the physician pipeline in the long term, the region urgently needs an influx of physicians to meet current demands,” McDaniel said.

MedExcellence has 10 staff nationwide, including four in Northwest Arkansas, where its headquarters is now. The firm has opened an office at Har-Ber Meadows, 6801 Isaacs Orchard Road, Suite 214, in Springdale. Cathy Davis, vice president/market recruitment, has been tapped to lead market recruitment for the region.

“I am thrilled to be working alongside Diana and to be part of an exceptional team where I can further build and strengthen relationships with health care organizations across Arkansas and the region,” Davis said. “This is a unique opportunity to collaborate with industry leaders and innovative partners, ensuring that we bring top talent to the communities we serve while supporting the growth and excellence of health care nationwide.”

MedExcellence is the state’s only national physician recruiting and locum tenens firm, according to the company. The physician-founded firm has more than a decade of experience in workforce and recruitment planning. It covers every region of the United States for the recruitment of physicians, advanced practice nurses, nurse anesthetists and physician assistants.