Lindner Center of HOPE President and COO Named Business Courier Health Care Hero

Mason, OH, April 22, 2021 – Lindner Center of HOPE president and chief operating officer, Paul R. Crosby, MD, was named a winner in the annual Business Courier Health Care Heroes awards in the Manager category on April 22, 2021.

As President and Chief Operating Officer(COO) of Lindner Center of HOPE (LCOH), Dr. Paul R. Crosby is responsible for oversight of compliance and quality activities; oversight of the medical staff office; oversight of EMR (Epic) modification and optimization, and liaison between Information Technology, Health and Information Management and clinical staff. Dr. Crosby is also responsible for the development and implementation of clinical and strategic initiatives as a member of the executive team and oversight of the Research Institute at LCOH. Dr. Crosby leads strategic innovation of clinical programs to keep pace with advancing medical science and to maintain viability of business aspects amid rapid changes in the market. He also works to establish and nurture symbiotic relationships with the other entities within LCOH’s academic health system, academic department, and externally with non-UC Health entities. Dr. Crosby also participates in marketing and fundraising activities to brand and sustain the organization.

In addition to his administrative responsibilities, Dr. Crosby provides outpatient psychiatric consultation to children and families referred from around the country.  He treats the entire range of psychiatric symptoms with particular expertise in the assessment and treatment of ADHD and the conditions that frequently accompany it such as anxiety disorders, mood disorders, learning disabilities, and substance use disorders.  In 2010, he founded the Center for Attention Disorders at LCOH to consolidate and coordinate LCOH’s efforts related to this illness.  Over the years, he has provided care in many of LCOH’s service lines, including residential services, inpatient adolescent services, and partial hospital programs. He also guided the creation of a unique 3.5-day outpatient comprehensive diagnostic assessment program for children and adolescents.

Dr. Crosby is a Health Care Hero because he rose up as a true leader in the face of a crisis, continuing to prioritize helping patients, while balancing the demands of implementing processes and procedures that would address a public health threat.

At the onset of the pandemic, mental health programs around the country were discharging patients, shuttering programs and decreasing access for people despite the level of need. Sadly, the pandemic was contributing to exacerbated existing mental health and addiction symptoms and new onset of significant mental illness. Dr. Crosby led the leadership team at LCOH to respond quickly and safely to the elevated health safety needs of all on campus, while recognizing the ongoing and increasing need for mental health treatment.

Under Dr. Crosby’s leadership, new protocols and procedures were evaluated and implemented based on current data and public health recommendations. He established an oversight team to share the various newly identified leadership needs. The team worked on the tasks of implementing and communicating ongoing and yet changing recommendations and practices, acquisition of cleaning and personal protective equipment and other necessary supplies, modifications to programs and services, adjustments to physical plant, and updates to policies impacting staff, patients and visitors. He also led the rapid launch of telepsychiatry services to outfit a newly remote outpatient practice with virtual visit options. He consistently communicated with all levels of the communication and encouraged open dialogue at all levels to ensure clarity and buy-in.

Dr. Crosby’s steadfast approach to overcoming all obstacles with a proactive and swift-moving team allowed LCOH to continue to save lives (even more than ever) and alleviate suffering caused by mental illness, even during the height of the pandemic. Remarkably few positive cases have set foot on the campus of LCOH, staff/provider layoffs and furloughs were avoided, as well as pay reductions and significant capacity reductions.

Amongst national peers in the mental health field, LCOH took a lead and became a model in its COVID response under Dr. Crosby’s leadership. LCOH also took a local leadership role in educating the public about mental health during a shared trauma such as a pandemic, through media interviews, presentations to local business leaders and community outreach.

Most recently, Dr. Crosby has led LCOH’s pandemic response including coordination of communications, establishment of safety best practices, rapid conversion to telehealth, and avoidance of staff or provider layoffs/furloughs, pay reductions, or capacity reductions.

Heath Care Heroes is the Business Courier’s recognition of those who have made an impact on health care in our community through their concern for patients, their research and inventions, their management skills, their innovative programs for employees and their services.