Podcast Summary: Scaling Laboratory Services for Growth at Brown University Health

Podcast: Becker’s Healthcare Podcast
Guest: Christopher Birx, Vice President of Laboratory and Support Services, Brown University Health
Host: Laura Darda
Date: March 7, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode spotlights the complexities and opportunities in scaling laboratory services during rapid organizational growth. Christopher Birx discusses the integration of new hospital sites into Brown University Health, the operational and strategic priorities of the laboratory department, and how ambitious leadership can drive value and patient care through expansion—particularly in ambulatory services.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Introduction & Background

[00:45 - 02:41]

• Christopher Birx introduces himself as VP of Laboratory and Support Services, Brown University Health.
• Overview of Brown University Health: An academic health system headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island, originally Lifespan, formed from multiple hospital acquisitions, and rebranded after acquiring two Steward Health facilities in 2024.
• Birx’s own trajectory: From microbiologist to leader at major health centers including in New York and Philadelphia, joining Brown in 2023.

2. Most Impactful Initiative: Integrating Massachusetts Facilities

[02:54 - 04:03]

• The major initiative since 2024 was integrating acquired Massachusetts campuses (from Steward Health), especially harmonizing systems:
  • Transitioning from separate Laboratory Information Systems (LIS) and financial software.
  • Moving away from third-party professional billing towards in-house, standardized billing.
• Major focus areas: Ensuring proper billing, correct CPT coding, and aligning revenue cycle processes between legacy and new sites.
  • Quote:
    “The real strategic initiative that we led was integrating them from a lab perspective...making sure that the bills are going out, that they're being done appropriately, that the CPT codes are matching, that revenue cycle is in true alignment...”
    — Christopher Birx [03:21]

3. Lessons Learned During Integration

[04:38 - 06:19]

• Unexpectedly strong engagement from acquired staff: “The people capital. And when I say that is that they were very excited for change.” [04:41]
• Challenges addressed:
  • Infrastructure (IT and asset management)
  • Addressing declining lab volume in some areas
  • Building partnerships across legacy and new sites
  • Careful decisions about which lab services to bring in-house vs. outsource
• Iterative reinvestment: Brought more work in-house when it made sense, reinvested the resulting savings to further improve infrastructure.

4. Strategic Priorities for 2026

[06:33 - 08:46]

• Overarching theme: Growth.
  • Evaluating new markets, especially in ambulatory and hospital settings in Massachusetts and beyond.
  • Picking up outreach and ambulatory services previously divested by Steward.
  • Cross-functional alignment between business development and laboratory operational capacity.
  • Contractual due diligence and infrastructural investment are central to scaling.
• Quote:
  “As ambulatory grows, so does the patient capture in the patient service center settings. And then on top of that, being able to...fulfill those tests more timely, efficiently get them out and have that relationship from a supportive customer service standpoint...”
  — Christopher Birx [07:34]

5. Biggest Challenge: Bandwidth

[09:11 - 11:02]

• Birx underscores that capacity, or “bandwidth,” is the defining challenge ahead.
  • Need to match expanded clinical footprint with backend lab processing capability.
  • Strategy now includes rigorous assessment of current lab volume, readiness to scale, and contemplating new lab builds or offsite facilities.
• Quote:
  “Bandwidth. Bandwidth. I'll just stop there.”
  — Christopher Birx [09:11]
  • Importance of understanding, “Do we need to look at being a freestanding laboratory? Do we need to move off campus?... it’s all about bandwidth and the ability to scale up.” [10:23]

6. Data-Driven Decision Making

[11:32 - 12:51]

• Use of external consultants and internal benchmarking platforms like Premier (similar to Vision).
• Weighing market dynamics, local competition, and financial benchmarks to identify growth opportunities that align with Brown’s margins and investment returns.
• Dual focus required due to acquisition of “formerly bankrupt Steward” facilities—balancing high-performing legacy assets with turnaround investment needs.
  • Quote:
    “We always are looking for our return on that.”
    — Christopher Birx [12:49]

7. Focus on Ambulatory Services for Future Growth

[13:19 - 14:27]

• Brown Health was underrepresented in ambulatory care prior to 2023.
• Recent moves: Acquisition of Coastal (large primary care group) and Steward's ambulatory assets.
• Ambulatory is now seen as key to continuous, integrated care and sustainable lab business growth.
  • Quote:
    “For us, the ambulatory setting is really the hotbed and where we really want to invest in.”
    — Christopher Birx [13:52]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Value of Staff Buy-in:
  “What we really gained were the people capital...They were very excited for change.”
  — Christopher Birx [04:41]

• On Growth Strategy:
  “The big priority that I'm focused on in 2026 is growth and being, making sure the growth opportunities are aligned with what we are wanting to do on the long term public strategy.”
  — Christopher Birx [08:46]

• On the Hardest Challenge:
  “Bandwidth. Bandwidth. I'll just stop there.”
  — Christopher Birx [09:11]

Structure and Flow

• The conversation is rich in practical detail, with Christopher Birx focusing on transparent leadership, operational realities, and the importance of alignment between growth aspirations and actual laboratory throughput.
• Tone is progressive but clear-eyed, with an emphasis on process, the realities of post-merger integration, and leveraging data to drive decisions.

Timestamps for Major Segments

• Introduction & Brown Health Background: [00:45 - 02:41]
• Key Initiative: Massachusetts Acquisition Integration: [02:54 - 04:03]
• Lessons & Challenges from Integration: [04:38 - 06:19]
• 2026 Priorities & Vision: [06:33 - 08:46]
• Biggest Challenge: Bandwidth: [09:11 - 11:02]
• Data Analysis & Decision Making: [11:32 - 12:51]
• Ambulatory Growth Focus: [13:19 - 14:27]

Conclusion

This episode gives an inside look at scaling laboratory services amid significant organizational change. Christopher Birx shares candid insights into integrating new sites, focusing on data-informed growth, and the realities of capacity management. His emphasis on strategic investments, bandwidth, and the critical ambulatory sector illustrates how labs can be powerful engines of value and care continuity in health systems.