CIRCLES of Care: How Our Values Shape Deacon Health’s Path Forward
By Kyle Cooksey, President & CEO, Deacon Health
Leading a healthcare company means making decisions in an environment that’s constantly shifting. Regulations change, margins tighten, and new models of care emerge. In the middle of all that, it’s easy to get distracted by the noise. But what keeps us grounded at Deacon—and what I’m most proud of—is that our mission, vision, and values give us a clear direction. They remind us why we exist, how we show up, and what we’re working toward every single day.
Our Mission
At its core, Deacon’s mission is simple: to lead healthcare forward, through compassionate, connected care—empowering patients, aligning teams, and delivering sustainable outcomes.
For us, this isn’t just a statement on paper. Compassionate care means we never lose sight of the person behind the patient ID. Connected care means we bring together the fragmented pieces of a healthcare journey into something cohesive and supportive. And sustainable outcomes mean we’re not chasing short-term wins. We’re building models of care that improve lives while making financial sense for hospitals, payers, and ACOs.
Our Vision
If the mission defines what we do today, the vision defines what we’re striving toward: to rearchitect healthcare into a connected, value-based system where patients thrive, care is intelligently coordinated, and every decision drives better outcomes.
We chose the word rearchitect very intentionally. Healthcare needs a new foundation. Patients deserve to thrive, not just recover. Providers deserve tools and processes that allow them to practice at the top of their license. And payers deserve models that align incentives instead of pulling them apart. That’s the system we’re working to build, step by step.
Our Values: CIRCLES
Living out that mission and vision requires more than strategy. It requires a shared set of values that guide our culture and our actions. At Deacon, we call them CIRCLES:
- Compassionate, Connected Care
We put people first. Data and technology are powerful, but empathy and relationships are what make care truly healing. - Integrity & Transparency
Trust is everything in healthcare. We say what we mean, do what we say, and keep our promises to patients, partners, and one another. - Relentless Innovation & Agility
The challenges in healthcare are too big to be solved with static solutions. We experiment, iterate, and adapt until we find better ways forward. - Customer Focus & Empathy
Every solution we design starts with listening. Patients and partners are the ones living with the challenges, so their voices drive how we respond. - Leadership with Accountability & Lightheartedness
Leading with humility means listening, serving, and owning our outcomes while celebrating wins together, and making space for joy. - Equity & Humility
Healthcare disparities are real, and reducing them is part of our responsibility. We believe the best ideas come from those closest to the work, not just those with the loudest voices. - Solidarity (One Team)
Our success depends on working as one team—across roles, across departments, and alongside our partners. Collaboration isn’t optional; it’s how we win.
These values shape how we hire, how we collaborate, and how we measure our success. They keep us honest when we say we’re building something different.
Perspective is Paramount
The healthcare system is at a crossroads. New regulations like CMS’ TEAMare accelerating the shift to value-based care. Hospitals and payers are under immense pressure to do more with less And patients (who should be at the center) are often left trying to navigate it all alone.
That’s why perspective matters. At Deacon, our mission, vision, and values aren’t marketing copy. They’re the compass that directs how we empower patients, support providers, and build solutions that drive meaningful change. And because these values are lived, not just stated, they’ve attracted like-minded, mission-driven organizations that want to partner with us.
When I think about the future of healthcare, words fail to express how proud I am of the clarity and conviction with which our team is moving forward. We know who we are. We know what we stand for. And we’re committed to building a system where patients, providers, and payers can thrive together.
Want to know why I’m so passionate about this work? Check out my story.