About SSB Solutions
Helping healthcare organizations succeed through strategic guidance and expertise.
Our Core Value: Focus on the Physician Process
Our approach to engagements is frequently anchored by the physician process necessary to organize and advance clinical transformation across the enterprise. Our philosophy is that the clinical model drives the business model, and that success is out of reach without meaningfully engaging key physicians stakeholders. Our firm is frequently called upon to educate, engage and organize physicians to function as effective partners for a hospital or health system. Using seasoned consultants, SSB spends considerable time examining clinical, economic and organizational challenges impacting the engagement and cooperation of key physician stakeholders. We work diligently to identify and cultivate physician leaders, facilitate dialogue leading to mutually acceptable solutions and understanding among stakeholders, and ultimately help clients successfully adapt or migrate to new clinical, financial and structural models.
Industry Perspective
By understanding the different business and clinical perspectives of large employers, health plans, hospitals, physicians, vendors, suppliers, technology developers, entrepreneurs and investors, SSB has unique insight into the forces and dynamics that shape healthcare in America today. The firm draws from this broad exposure to formulate a balanced and far-reaching vision for where healthcare is headed, and how the likely changes will affect all the various parties. This vision and understanding enables SSB to see opportunities and potential pitfalls that others might miss.
Vision and Creativity
SSB's clients and partners turn to our firm for ideas and new direction. Our engagement teams tap comprehensive industry knowledge, experience and strategic talent to develop a deep understanding of clients' core challenges and barriers to action. We then apply our imagination and creativity to identify potential solutions. SSB is regularly recognized for "outside-the-box" thinking, "break-through" ideas, and "next generation" solutions.
Consensus Building
SSB has repeatedly demonstrated an exceptional ability to relate effectively with key constituencies; including physicians, administration, senior executives, board members, strategic partners, and investors. We work with all the key constituencies to forge agreement about the direction to pursue, and can then organize a process to ensure effective execution. SSB's team is especially strong in executive leadership skills, which can be applied in the form of project management or interim executive management.
Expert Contacts
SSB maintains close contacts with a vast network of highly-placed individuals inside government, in associations, and throughout the many sub-sectors of the healthcare industry, including hospitals, physicians, academic medical centers, research centers, health plans, vendors, suppliers, technology developers, medical device companies and other key players and participants in the sector. We frequently access this network to open doors and make connections that will benefit our clients and partners.
Discipline and Drive
Often, organizations look to SSB to energize their efforts to overcome operational inertia and make a quantum leap forward. Implementing new strategies can be particularly difficult for management teams that are consumed with existing operations, yet need to apply time and energy to new strategic priorities at the same time. Over the years, we have helped a number of clients maintain focus and discipline around new strategic initiatives. providing resources, discipline, drive and direction.
Interim Management
Frequently, organizations lack the internal executive resources needed for a new strategic initiative, and want the initiative to be developed further before permanent staff is hired. SSB resources can fill the gap, either as consultants or as interim or transition management. This can occur in a many different situations, from the mature organization implementing a new initiative to the start-up company that has not yet been funded.
Risk-Sharing
SSB wants to partner with its clients in every sense of the word, and is willing to consider sharing risk on selected projects. In consulting engagements, this may take the form of placing a portion of the compensation at risk, depending on performance. Or, it may involve paying a portion of the compensation in the form of equity. And in selected venture projects, SSB may provide a significant portion of its services in exchange for equity ownership.
Our Leadership
Jacque J. Sokolov, MD
Chairman and CEO
Dr. Sokolov leads SSB's four strategic business units—SSB Solutions, SSB Investment Funds, SSB Financial Services, and SSB Governmental Services—focusing on optimizing healthcare solutions, investment strategies, financial structures, and governmental contracting. He has been instrumental in transforming major healthcare organizations, including Humana Inc., Hospira, and Summit Health/CityMD. Dr. Sokolov holds a BA and MD from the University of Southern California, completed his internal medicine residency at the Mayo Graduate School of Medicine, and a fellowship in cardiovascular diseases/nuclear cardiology at the University of Texas-Southwestern Medical School.
Mitzi Krockover, MD
Senior Partner
Dr. Krockover is nationally recognized for her work in women's health. She served as Vice President of e-Health and Women's Health for Humana, where she was the chief healthcare strategist and spokesperson for women's health and health education. She directed programs like Humana Beginnings, a comprehensive prenatal program. Previously, she was the founding medical director of the Iris Cantor-UCLA Women's Health Center, contributing to UCLA's designation as a Center of Excellence in Women's Health by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Adam C. Powell, PhD
Senior Partner
Dr. Powell is a healthcare economist known for applying quantitative techniques to healthcare operations, quality, and technology. He has authored over forty peer-reviewed publications across various medical fields. Dr. Powell has taught Master's-level courses on topics such as health insurance, hospital finance, and health IT management at institutions including Boston University and Northeastern University. As a consultant, he has assisted organizations nationwide with quality assessment, workforce planning, and strategic development.
David M. Liff, MBA
Senior Partner Emeritus
David M. Liff brings extensive experience in healthcare management and strategic consulting. He has played a pivotal role in advising healthcare organizations on operational improvements and financial strategies. Mr. Liff holds an MBA and has contributed to various initiatives aimed at enhancing healthcare delivery and organizational performance.
Selected Clients
Hospitals and Health Systems
Adventist Health System (Florida)
Alegent Health (Nebraska)
Baylor Hospital (Texas)
Catholic Healthcare Initiative (National)
Cleveland Clinic (Ohio)
Dean Health System (Wisconsin)
Dignity Health (Arizona)
Fairview Health Services (Minnesota)
Mayo Clinic (Arizona)
MedCath Corporation (National)
Memorial Hermann Healthcare (Texas)
Mercy Health Partners (Ohio)
New England Baptist Hospital (Mass)
Phoenix Children's Hospital (Arizona)
Scottsdale Healthcare (Arizona)
Vanguard Health Systems (National)
Academic Medical Centers
University of Virginia Medical Center
Bowman Gray School of Medicine
University of Southern California
Doheny Eye Institute
Harvard/Beth Israel Hospital
Physician Organizations
American Medical Association
American Medical Group Association
Barrow Neurological Institute
Cleveland Clinic
Dean Clinic
Geisinger Clinic
Mayo Clinic
Summit Medical Group
Technology/Pharma/Device Companies
Adventis
EDS
General Electric
GlaxoSmithKline
Johnson & Johnson
Lucent
Merck
Payers
Anthem
CIGNA
Humana/Emphesys
Independence Blue Cross
Partners-In-Care
Public Sector
CMS
General Accounting Office
Health Ministry of Venezuela
International Monetary Fund
State of California/Dept. of Managed Care
The White House
World Bank