Campbell Clinic's Chief of Staff Focuses on Culture, Reimbursement, and Growth

Dr. John Crockarell outlines his strategy to navigate challenges facing the Memphis-based orthopedic practice.

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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John Crockarell, MD, recently took on the role of chief of staff at Campbell Clinic in Memphis, Tennessee, inheriting a practice facing familiar challenges like post-COVID recovery, physician attrition, and shifting reimbursement models. His approach centers on fostering a stronger internal culture, strategic investments in outpatient facilities, and targeted recruitment to drive growth, particularly in the total joint replacement division.

Why it matters

As the healthcare landscape continues to evolve, orthopedic practices like Campbell Clinic must adapt to remain competitive and provide high-quality patient care. Dr. Crockarell's strategies to address physician burnout, optimize reimbursement, and capitalize on growing demand for specialized services offer insights for other practices navigating similar challenges.

The details

To address physician turnover, Dr. Crockarell is focused on building a stronger internal culture based on trust and collaboration, recognizing that the increasing administrative burden is a key contributor to burnout. The practice is also investing in administrative support staff and streamlining processes to alleviate the burden on physicians. On the reimbursement front, Campbell Clinic is leveraging its ownership of two surgery centers to shift more procedures to the outpatient setting, where facility fees can offset declines in physician reimbursement rates. The clinic is also 'right-sizing' its outpatient practice to maximize profitability. To drive growth, Campbell Clinic is actively recruiting both recent residents and experienced surgeons, particularly in the total joint replacement division, where demand is expected to continue rising.

  • Dr. Crockarell stepped into the role of chief of staff at Campbell Clinic in January 2026.

The players

John Crockarell, MD

The new chief of staff at Campbell Clinic in Memphis, Tennessee, who is tasked with navigating the practice through various challenges.

Campbell Clinic

A leading orthopedic practice in Memphis, Tennessee, that is focused on providing comprehensive care and remaining dominant in the local market.

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What they’re saying

“We've had some attrition...sometimes it's felt perhaps generational.”

— John Crockarell, MD, Chief of Staff (newsy-today.com)

“We own our two surgery centers, and the ability to move more and more of our practice into the outpatient setting has helped from a reimbursement standpoint.”

— John Crockarell, MD, Chief of Staff (newsy-today.com)

“We care for patients across the spectrum of orthopedic needs, and we do things that that aren't necessarily maybe wise choices from a profit and loss standpoint, but we feel like if we capture care of patients regardless of the complexity of their problems, that will help us to remain dominant in our market.”

— John Crockarell, MD, Chief of Staff (newsy-today.com)

What’s next

Campbell Clinic is actively recruiting both recent residents and experienced surgeons, particularly in the total joint replacement division, to meet the growing demand for these specialized services.

The takeaway

Dr. Crockarell's vision for Campbell Clinic's success focuses on fostering a strong internal culture, strategic investments in outpatient facilities to optimize reimbursement, and targeted recruitment to expand the practice's capabilities, particularly in high-demand areas like total joint replacement. By addressing key challenges head-on, the clinic aims to remain a dominant player in the Memphis market while providing comprehensive, patient-centered care.