Podcast Summary: Becker’s Healthcare Podcast

Guest: Elizabeth Saylor, Chief Executive Officer, Phoenix Heart Vein Vascular
Host: Elizabeth Gregerson, Becker’s Healthcare
Date: January 27, 2026
Episode Focus: Navigating patient access, service expansion, and the future of cardiology care at Phoenix Heart Vein and Vascular

Episode Overview

This episode features an interview with Elizabeth Saylor, CEO of Phoenix Heart Vein and Vascular, a leading private cardiology group in the Phoenix area. Saylor discusses her organization's patient-first approach, recent efforts to expand access and improve the patient experience, and the key challenges and growth opportunities in cardiology heading into 2026.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Introduction to Phoenix Heart Vein and Vascular

[01:21 – 02:56]

• History & Reputation
  • Phoenix Heart Vein & Vascular has served the Phoenix area for 45 years as a private physician group.
  • Voted number one in greater Phoenix for several years.
• Locations & Services
  • Three main locations: Glendale, Avondale, Scottsdale, plus four satellite offices.
  • Proudly offer in-house testing at all main sites, comprehensive cardiology, office-based labs, and their own ambulatory surgical center (named Phase).
• Philosophy
  • Invests in state-of-the-art technology but emphasizes efficient, cost-effective care.
  • "At the end of the day we're really about delivering really high quality treatment so patients feel supported and cared for. Patience is the most important thing for our group."
    — Elizabeth Saylor [02:38]

2025: Focus on Patient Access & Experience

[03:19 – 05:04]

• Initiatives
  • Opened two new locations (Buckeye and expanded Avondale) to address rapidly growing demand and gaps in west Phoenix.
  • Upgraded phone system to ensure patients reach real people, boosting customer service and responding to past complaints.
• Results
  • Notable improvement in patient satisfaction:
    "We started having patients in the wait areas actually telling our physicians and our front staff how much we've improved... It's exciting for us."
    — Elizabeth Saylor [04:38]

2026 Priorities: Reducing Wait Times & Expanding Services

[05:30 – 06:14]

• Ambulatory Surgical Center Expansion
  • Growing their in-house surgical center, Phase, to reduce wait times and costs for patients.
  • Aim to enhance care coordination and provide high-quality treatment with fewer delays.
  • "We really want to reduce that wait time so we can get patients in sooner, so they can get the procedures that they need... to keep their costs low."
    — Elizabeth Saylor [05:34]

Challenges Ahead: Balancing Costs & Change

[06:33 – 07:09]

• Main Challenge
  • Maintaining low costs and high care quality amid rising healthcare expenses and constant industry change.
  • Adapting swiftly to new regulations, reimbursement changes, and technology.
  • "It feels like there's always something new daily... So keeping staff on their toes."
    — Elizabeth Saylor [06:53]

Opportunities for Growth & Innovation

[07:23 – 08:34]

• Meeting Demand
  • Anticipates continued growth in demand for cardiovascular care and aims to streamline patient care journeys.
• Collaborative Care
  • Focus on partnerships with primary care, podiatry, and potential expansion into metabolic care.
• New Capabilities
  • Exploring in-house ablations as a new service.
• Technology Investment
  • Ongoing investment in technology and incremental improvements for both staff efficiency and the patient experience.
  • "We're going to continue to invest in things such as technology and, you know, those smaller improvements that can still make big impact on how we operate."
    — Elizabeth Saylor [08:18]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Phoenix Heart's defining characteristic:
  "We provide comprehensive cardiology entirely in house... and we are really focused even though that we invest in that. We really do try to keep our costs and care efficient and effective."
  — Elizabeth Saylor [02:15]

• On the patient experience improvements:
  "We had it straight from the patients telling us that they could tell that we've worked really hard on those things."
  — Elizabeth Saylor [04:47]

• On healthcare's shifting landscape:
  "There's so many constant change within healthcare. So it feels like there's always something new daily, whether it's regulations, reimbursement, technology."
  — Elizabeth Saylor [06:41]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Intro & Overview: [00:47 – 02:56]
• 2025 Key Initiative (Access & Patient Experience): [03:19 – 05:04]
• Priorities for 2026 (Ambulatory Center Expansion): [05:30 – 06:14]
• Challenges Facing the Practice: [06:33 – 07:09]
• Growth Opportunities (Metabolic Care, Ablation, Technology): [07:23 – 08:34]

Tone & Style

Elizabeth Saylor’s tone throughout is warm, practical, and highly patient-focused. The conversation is pragmatic, centered on real-world service improvements, and demonstrates her commitment to both operational excellence and compassionate care.

For listeners seeking actionable insight into cardiology practice management and patient experience innovation, this episode offers a sharp, accessible look at how Phoenix Heart Vein and Vascular is navigating a dynamic healthcare landscape.