Anyone can create a resume that lists their qualifications and job history. Putting together an inventory of achievements typically attempts to impress prospective employers. In Guy Feist’s case, his resume tells a story.
His 25+ years in the healthcare industry are marked by the victories you could expect to find on a typical resume. He is a co-founder and partner of Fifth Avenue Healthcare Services, the largest credentialing IPA in the Midwest, Primoris Credentialing Network, and a co-founder and President of Fifth Avenue Agency. He has been an expert speaker for IPAA, HFMA, and MGMA members. Guy’s reputation for solving medical malpractice problems at reduced costs continues to create ripples in his professional life, affecting each team member he leads.
Guy has also created risk purchase groups for IPA, ACO, CIN, and MCOs to optimize purchasing power, risk management, and claims mitigation. He has launched insurance programs for large health systems that sought to improve their unified defense. Additionally, Guy has been responsible for completing loss portfolio transfers of failing risk retention groups and self-insured programs with premiums of $8 million+.
But what do these accomplishments mean? Are they simply milestones or hints toward more extraordinary things? This Fifth Avenue Spotlight on Guy Feist covers his education and journey to Fifth Avenue Healthcare Services as Co-Founder and Partner, as well as Co-Founder and Partner Fifth Avenue Agency, Primoris Credentialing Network, and 5ACVO, revealing that his resume has a much deeper meaning than others.
One Educated Guy
You have to start somewhere. Guy Feist began laying the foundation for his career at Oklahoma State University. He obtained a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, majoring in Finance and minoring in Accounting, Economics, and Statistics.
Since 1890, the institution has provided not only accessible learning opportunities but also promoted traditional values. Education is more than learning facts and figures. It is about building character and doing what is right. It is about dreaming big but being convinced to push through adversity to see those dreams become a reality.
Oklahoma State University’s finance majors have many career paths ahead of them. They can pursue jobs in corporate finance, commercial banking, portfolio management, and more. Guy set his sights on other prizes. With a firm foundation to work off, Guy became a licensed insurance agent in Accident, Health, Life & Variable Annuities.
The Road to Fifth Avenue
A Solo Run
In 1993, Guy founded Guy C Feist Agency, experts in Life, Accident, Medical Malpractice, Property, and Casualty Insurance. Over the next decade, Guy grew more than his reputation as a shrewd businessman. He learned as he went. He saw what worked and used it to his company’s advantage. He saw what did not work and sought solutions to overcome those obstacles. He guided countless physicians through a volatile medical malpractice insurance market.
One Step Closer
In 2003, Guy and his father, Mr. James Feist, started Fifth Avenue Agency. Mr. Feist had plenty of insurance experience by this time. He acquired his MS in Marketing from Oklahoma State University and his MBA from the University of Oklahoma. In addition, he received his insurance license in 1968. He also held designations as a Charted Financial Consultant and a Charted Life Underwriter. As a Charted Financial Consultant, Mr. Feist could give financial advice on taxes, wealth management, and insurance. As a Charted Life Underwriter, he demonstrated excellence in understanding life insurance underwriting concepts and life insurance law.
It was only natural that the father and son would eventually team up. It was also apparent that their expertise and experience would push Fifth Avenue Agency to the forefront of Oklahoma’s malpractice insurance solutions.
The Premier Destination
In 2010, Guy met Joe Spann and Brad Bond at a Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) conference. Joe and Brad were the founders of the Physician Management Assistance Group, a company that provided credentialing through a new delegated model. The men shared similar visions for the future of health care. They sought to offer physicians progressive services to help them do their jobs unencumbered by administrative red tape.
It was only a matter of time before the companies they headed joined forces to fulfill their ambitions. The Feists’ Fifth Avenue Agency deftly handled malpractice insurance with unique knowledge. Joe and Brad’s Physician Management Assistance Group performed credentialing via its innovative system, creating a buzz in the industry. The business leaders understood that medical malpractice underwriting and credentialing services were risk management practices that shared the same data, asked the same questions, and served the same clients. Both sides became a perfect match.
The newly-formed Fifth Avenue Physician Services united the healthcare management prowess of the Physician Management Assistance Group with the exclusive customer service of Fifth Avenue Agency. The merger created unparalleled cooperation, offering their clients more options and revolutionary speed.
Fifth Avenue Physician Services launched in approximately 40 states. Leveraging new relationships and an integrated network, the company evolved its medical professional liability insurance, credentialing, and provider enrollment solutions to meet its clients’ burgeoning demands, fulfilling expectations at each step.
Guy, James, Joe, and Brad guided Fifth Avenue Physician Services, nurturing the company into an industry leader. Their humility and expertise eventually brought about even more changes that benefited the company and its clients.
In 2017, the company underwent a name change. Now known as “Fifth Avenue Healthcare Services,” the company sought to promote itself as offering a wide range of services. The websites for each company’s three brands were renovated, signaling the start of the next exciting chapter.
Fifth Avenue Healthcare Services comprises Fifth Avenue Agency, 5ACVO, and Primoris Credentialing Network. Having this family of companies under one banner means a healthcare provider can use 5ACVO to be credentialed, Primoris to be enrolled on a health plan, and Fifth Avenue Agency to obtain medical professional liability insurance. Each company can use the same data to accomplish these tasks, which could take weeks or, in some cases, months to complete.
Smarter Credentialing
5ACVO simplifies the credentialing process for its 6,000+ clients. Paring the conventional 52 credentialing steps to 6, 5ACVO practices smarter credentialing. Its highly-effective team focuses solely on credentialing, ensuring providers are quickly and accurately served per industry standards. Speed is essential since it allows providers to start working and billing as soon as possible.
Simpler Provider Enrollment
Primoris Credentialing Network has streamlined the often lengthy provider enrollment process. The company can enroll a provider in multiple health plans and network options via plans application through delegated contracts. Gone are the days when a provider had to complete an application for each health plan they were interested in. This administrative simplicity lets them begin billing sooner.
Better MPLI
Fifth Avenue Agency does what it always has: help providers find affordable and proper medical malpractice insurance. However, now they can use their parent company’s credentialing data and technology to cut costs even further. Although it might appear simple, Fifth Avenue Agency’s unbiased system can influence their clients’ rates, possibly lowering them.
Fifth Avenue Agency’s MPLI solutions range from traditional medical malpractice coverage to self-insured solutions. Its team of MPLI experts has a combined 385+ years of industry experience. They know how important receiving the most affordable and effective insurance can be for any provider. They also know how to adapt to the often-changing medical malpractice insurance landscape. Laws frequently change. However, the need for coverage does not. Fifth Avenue Agency has become a life changer for the providers it serves.
Moving Forward
The following years found Guy and the other company leaders tirelessly working to improve their reputation as the one solution healthcare providers should think of when they need medical professional liability insurance, credentialing, and provider enrollment. Moving forward under the leadership of Guy, James, Brad, and Joe has created momentum that continues to build to this day.
Fifth Avenue Healthcare Services continually earns awards and recognition for its accomplishments.
The Aster Awards
The Aster Healthcare Awards acknowledge the best healthcare marketing campaigns. Fifth Avenue Healthcare Services and its family have won several Aster Awards:
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- 2022 Aster Healthcare Awards: Gold Award, in recognition of Fifth Avenue Healthcare Services’ healthcare credentialing blog
- 2021 Aster Healthcare Awards: Bronze Award, in recognition of Primoris Credentialing Network’s website
- 2021 Aster Healthcare Awards: Silver Award, in recognition of 5ACVO’s website
- 2021 Aster Healthcare Awards: Silver Award, in recognition of 5ACVO’s “Credentialing: Before & After” credentialing campaign
The Healthcare Advertising Awards
The Healthcare Advertising Awards, or the Healthcare ADAwards, also salute the best healthcare advertising efforts in the United States. Fifth Avenue Healthcare Services has won:
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- 2022 Healthcare ADAwards: Silver Award for our healthcare blog
- 2021 Healthcare ADAwards: Silver Award, in recognition of 5ACVO’s “Credentialing: Before & After” credentialing campaign
- 2021 Healthcare ADAwards: Merit, in honor of Fifth Avenue Healthcare Services’ website refresh
NCQA Credentialing Accreditation
Being honored for our marketing efforts is excellent, but we want to be recognized for why we get up every morning. NCQA Credentialing Accreditation is a mark of excellence that signifies we are a trusted partner of the credentialing community. The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) evaluates how well health plans and physicians provide care. They use their data to create guidelines for the healthcare field to follow. NCQA identifies organizations that best follow its standards. Under Joe, Brad, Jim, and Guy’s watch, Fifth Avenue Healthcare Services earned NCQA Credentialing Accreditation, solidifying it as one of the major players in the credentialing arena.
Team Loyalty
Those awards might look good in Guy’s trophy case. However, he might appreciate his Fifth Avenue team more. The most recent Fifth Avenue Healthcare Services Summit celebrated the company’s achievements and its long-serving members. Twelve team members were honored for having 10+ years of service with our company. Their loyalty bears truth to Guy’s unwavering commitment to them and the work they do.
A Family Affair
Working with family has its rewards. Trust is crucial when navigating any business field. You should feel confident when relying on your colleagues. Guy seems to know that helping healthcare providers is more than business as usual. It is a family affair.
Guy works with his dad, James Feist, co-founder and Chairman of Fifth Avenue Healthcare Services and Fifth Avenue Agency. In addition, Guy works with his sister, Amy Simon, Director of Client Relationships with Fifth Avenue Healthcare Services and Fifth Avenue Agency. The family connections do not end here. Guy works with his daughter, Karly Yunker, CSS, Fifth Avenue Agency. The proud father also cherishes his other children, Zac, Jackson, Cannon, and Mia, who left this world far too early but continue to be celebrated by everyone who loved her.
Other Pursuits
Guy spends time with his family when he is not attending to his professional duties. He also volunteers for worthwhile causes, being a former Area Director of Special Olympics, a Founder and Past President of OK Foster Wishes, and a former Vice President of OK Warriors Wrestling Foundation. He also loves fly fishing in the mountains.
Guy keeps his finger on the pulse of his industry and business by maintaining membership in the Chamber of Commerce, Independent Insurance Agents Association, Healthcare Financial Management Association, Medical Group Management Association, and Free Market Medical Association.
More Than a History
Years pass. Names change. Resumes grow. However, Guy Feist’s dedication to family and business does not waver. His light helps ensure that the future will be just as bright, if not more so. We at Fifth Avenue Healthcare Services thank him for recruiting a fantastic team and pushing us to realize that what we do can make a positive difference to everyone around us.
More information about Fifth Avenue Healthcare Services
Fifth Avenue Healthcare Services is a NCQA Credentialing Accredited family of healthcare companies. Sister companies include 5ACVO (credentialing and primary source verification specialists), Fifth Avenue Agency (MPLI and medical malpractice insurance specialists), and Primoris Credentialing Network (credentialing and provider enrollment specialists with 54+ health plan and network provider enrollment options).
Fifth Avenue Healthcare Services originally published this article here. For information on Fifth Avenue Healthcare Services, please visit FifthAvenueHealthcareService.com or Contact Us.
