James A. Deal (Jim), founder of Compassus, serves as Chief Executive Officer. Deal has worked in the health care services industry for more than 40 years. He began his career in the investor-owned hospital business as a regional executive.
Subsequently, as the CEO of multiple health care companies, Deal led the creation of a national network of diabetes treatment centers, was instrumental in leading, developing and operating the first 16 at-risk disease/care management contracts in the U.S., grew a regional high-end medical imaging business into a multi-regional provider, and led the restructuring, refinancing and growth of an organization focused on high-quality medical care and attendant cost of treating the frail elderly.
Ten years ago, Deal founded Compassus in partnership with Cressey & Company, a Chicago-based private equity firm. In 2014, he led the re-capitalization of Compassus when Formation Capital and Audax Private Equity replaced Cressey & Company as the company’s financial partners. Compassus has since evolved into the nation’s third-largest hospice provider and most recently expanded its services to include a range of out-patient post-acute care, including home health, palliative care and hospice. Compassus, with more than 4,500 colleagues and associated physicians, has more than 165 locations in 32 states.
Deal serves on the Board of Directors of AmSurg / Sheridan (AMSG), a leading national physician services provider and the leading physician office-based ambulatory surgery provider. He previously served on the Board of Directors for MedCath, the leading operator of cardiac specialty hospitals.
Deal earned a Master’s of Public Administration in Health Services Administration from the University of Arizona and a Bachelor’s of Business in Economics from Western Illinois University.