Navvis & Company History

Navvis Healthcare LLC was founded in 1990 by CEO Michael Farris in St. Louis, Missouri.  The name of the company was inspired by the spirit and drive of pioneering explorers Lewis and Clark, whose quest to NAVigate with VISion opened a vast and uncharted American wilderness to those who would soon follow.

Navvis was established to provide visionary strategic advisory services to health systems seeking more collaborative physician-health system relationships, better organizational efficiencies, and a stronger bottom line. Navvis consulting services include strategic counsel and planning for health system-physician alignment, partnering strategies and structures, service line development and growth, and facility development for healthcare organizations. To better meet the needs of its clients, Navvis Healthcare opened a second office in Orlando.

Dynamic Growth in Specialized Consulting Services

Over the years, the company has continued to add new services that respond to the realities of the marketplace. Recognizing the need for more specialized competencies in an increasingly complex health care environment, the company established an educational division to inspire clients with the confidence and bold thinking needed to achieve broad, sustainable results.

Innovative educational offerings have been created for board members/trustees, senior level executives, physicians, and health care leaders at all levels. Strategic planning programs are aimed at helping clients better develop and realize their vision for maximizing new business opportunities. Leadership cultivation programs combine Navvis vision with pioneering principles that organizations covet to develop highly capable and enlightened leaders.  The overarching philosophy is based on the tenet that every level of leadership must be aligned to ensure effective employee, physician and patient relationships and the overall success of an organization.

Collaboration Benefits Clients

Navvis Healthcare’s visionary leadership has kept the firm at the forefront of health care innovation and collaboration for over 20 years. Adept at recognizing unique opportunities, when they arise, Navvis completed a merger with The Strategy Group (TSG) of Norfolk, Virginia in June 2008. Founded in 1998 by CEO Karen Corrigan, the firm provides expert counsel on corporate vision, strategic planning, competitive positioning, brand-driven growth, business development and strategic marketing. TSG has worked with more than 200 health systems, hospitals and health industry clients in the development of organizational strategies, structures, brands, products, partnerships, marketing systems and leadership development.  In 2007, TSG launched the Innovator’s Studio™, a living laboratory that engages health industry leaders in leading edge research and innovation to bring revolutionary ideas to market.

Navvis and TSG were brought together in 2007 when both firms responded to an RFI for a large-scale planning engagement with WellStar Health System in Marietta, Georgia. WellStar recognized that The Strategy Group’s skill in corporate strategy and innovation, coupled with Navvis’ know-how regarding health system-physician integration, would be an invaluable combination. The system’s CEO asked if they would be willing to partner for the project. The two firms agreed and quickly found that there were significant synergies that delivered vastly enhanced value to the client.

Today, The Strategy Group is a subsidiary of Navvis & Company, as the firm is now known.  Mike Farris continues as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Karen Corrigan serves as President of The Strategy Group. The collective capabilities of Navvis and The Strategy Group bring a far greater breadth of expertise and immense value to clients in addressing the complex strategic issues facing health systems. Navvis & Company maintains offices in St. Louis, Orlando and Norfolk.

The firm’s core business focus continues to be the provision of professional consulting services to health systems, hospitals, physician organizations and other health care businesses and organizations.  For nearly two decades, Navvis has assisted health systems and hospitals in forging win-win physician partnerships and integration models by bringing executives and physicians to agreement around core ideals, rethinking traditional structures and creating new delivery models. Now, expanded practice capabilities will support health systems in addressing the challenges of a new era in health care:

  • Corporate strategy – Navvis’ acquisition of The Strategy Group™ extended the firm’s expertise in positioning, development and growth of diversified health systems.  Today, merged consulting capabilities support health systems in strategic planning to build future ready health systems, forge win-win physician partnerships, develop successful service line, post acute and ambulatory businesses, and create brand-driven growth and innovation.
  • Performance transformation – This new operating division will bring significant depth of expertise to support health systems in cost restructuring and operating systems to achieve and sustain superior performance.
  • Leadership and action learning – The Leadership practice will emphasize action learning to support health systems in developing the talent, structures and processes needed to successfully transform organizations, and building next generation leaders.

Another division, Navvis Development™ provides health care facility strategy, design, development, and management advisory services to help health systems achieve strategic growth objectives, build mutually-beneficial physician partnerships, and deliver a superior patient experience. 

Through continued innovation, vision and a passion to explore new territories within health care, Navvis & Company is remaining true to the spirit of Lewis and Clark.