What happens when immediate medical care isn’t available in a moment of need? A sudden illness, a serious injury, or a child’s high fever can quickly turn into a crisis if the right care isn’t accessible. Without urgent care services, families are often left waiting for hours in crowded emergency rooms or delaying treatment altogether. This adds worry and stress but also makes conditions worse, sometimes even life-threatening. That’s why urgent care has become such a critical need—it offers quick, affordable, and reliable help when every minute matters.
At the forefront of this mission is Steven Cantrell, President and CEO of MedEx and MacKen Associates Healthcare Consulting, who leads with a vision that combines business discipline with compassion at the heart of healthcare. Overseeing strategy, finances, and daily operations, he keeps patient-centered care as the company’s guiding principle.
Under his leadership, MedEx has grown from serving just 5–6 patients a day with $35,000 in monthly revenue to more than 30 patients daily and over $150,000 monthly, driven largely by community trust and word-of-mouth referrals. His “people-first” framework has redefined urgent care into an experience centered on comfort, dignity, and kindness, transforming clinics into welcoming spaces that build trust and reassurance. From opening in the middle of COVID-19 to becoming a trusted community name, Steven has shown how strong leadership can deliver measurable growth and meaningful impact, proving that urgent care can be compassionate and accessible when people come first.
The Birth of MedEx Urgent Care
Steven Cantrell’s journey into healthcare began at a young age after a serious accident left him determined to help people the way he once needed help himself. That experience sparked a lifelong commitment to improving care. Years later, after going through a difficult experience at a local urgent care center, he realized that people deserved something better—an insight that inspired him to establish MedEx. Along the way, pivotal moments shaped his path, including witnessing how healthcare had shifted from focusing on patients and families to being driven largely by profits. These lessons fueled his passion for building care models that put people first, ensuring that quality, compassion, and access remain at the center of every decision he makes.
Physician Challenges and Shifting Care Models
With more than two decades in healthcare leadership, Steven has faced many challenges, often from within the organizations themselves. Senior leaders were often resistant to change, even when transformation was urgently needed, and many physicians found it difficult to adapt to new care models or lacked the business perspective to see the bigger picture. Limited resources and financial constraints added to the difficulty, while hesitation to think beyond traditional methods slowed progress.
Steven Cantrell addressed these challenges by building trust through transparency, basing decisions on data and patient outcomes, and creating alignment between clinical priorities and business goals. One of his biggest lessons has been that true transformation happens only when people are engaged where they are, their concerns are heard, and they are shown that change is not about taking away what they value but about creating a stronger and more sustainable future for patients and providers.
Every Decision is a Chance to Learn and Grow
Steven Cantrell’s leadership philosophy is built on leading by example and fostering a true team approach. He surrounds himself with leaders whose strengths complement his own, creating a well-rounded and effective team.
He sets clear expectations:
- Do your job
- Ask questions when you need clarity
- Bring at least one possible solution when presenting a problem
This approach promotes accountability, problem-solving, and forward thinking. He believes no decision is ever truly “bad,” because each one creates opportunities for learning and progress. Open debate among leaders is welcomed as long as it stays constructive. This philosophy has shaped a culture of collaboration, respect, and continuous improvement, supporting MedEx’s operational strategies and driving practical, patient-centered innovations.
Rapid Revenue Growth
MedEx was founded with a mission to provide excellent service and truly patient-centered care.
Although its opening was delayed by a year due to COVID, the center quickly gained momentum:
- Initial revenue: $35,000/month
- Current revenue: $150,000+/month
- Patient visits: 5–6/day → 30+/day
- Growth driven by: word-of-mouth and community engagement
- Digital outreach: primarily via Instagram and facebook
By treating every patient with respect and compassion, MedEx has built trust as a true community-first urgent care, a foundation that continues to drive its growth and lasting impact.
Innovation Rooted in People-First Care
At MedEx, innovation is built around one clear focus—people. The brand was created on the values of respect, compassion, and making every patient and their family feel cared for the moment they walk in. Instead of the traditional sterile and transactional urgent care setting, MedEx offers an open and welcoming environment. Patients and families are greeted with complimentary snacks, coffee, water, and other beverages to make their visit more comfortable.
A core value of “being nice always” guides how the team treats patients and each other, creating a culture of kindness and hospitality. These thoughtful choices improve the overall experience, build trust, reduce stress, and encourage patients to return and recommend MedEx to others. This “people-first” approach has become the company’s true strength, redefining what urgent care can and should feel like.
Balancing Growth, Finances, and Compassion in Healthcare
Steven Cantrell balances strategic growth, financial sustainability, and high-quality patient care by surrounding himself with a strong team while personally managing key areas such as financial oversight, contracting, and daily operations. This hands-on approach allows him to keep the organization financially stable while ensuring that patient-centered care always comes first. Alongside his role at MedEx, his work as a healthcare consultant for startups, turnarounds, and strategic development keeps him closely connected to best practices in value-based and managed care. He applies these insights directly to MedEx, shaping decisions on growth and operations with financial discipline and a deep commitment to patient well-being.
By combining careful oversight with a people-first philosophy, he has created a model that supports sustainable expansion while delivering the compassionate care the community deserves.
Mentoring the Next Generation of Healthcare Professionals
Steven has shared his insights across multiple platforms, shaping how healthcare organizations approach growth and value-based transformation:
- NIH, Oklahoma: Discussed non-clinical leadership in healthcare
- NIH, Washington, D.C.: Spoke on EHR selection and implementation
- TIPAAA: Addressed challenges in moving to EHR systems
- Various other venues: Shared strategies for sustainable growth and operational alignment
Through these engagements, he mentors professionals and promotes alignment between operations and patient-centered outcomes.
A Future Where Care and Growth Go Hand in Hand
Steven believes the healthcare industry is heading toward a major transformation in the next 3–5 =years. With CMS recognizing that managed care can sometimes cost more than traditional Medicare, and many health plans exiting markets due to financial losses, the system is under growing pressure. At the same time, a “profits before people” mindset is discouraging future investment as returns continue to shrink. Together, these challenges point to a fundamental reset in how care will be delivered and financed.
At MedEx and through his consulting work, Steven Cantrell is preparing to navigate these changes by staying true to a people-first model—prioritizing patient care, building trust, and adapting operations to remain financially strong while providing real value to communities. He sees the coming years as an opportunity for organizations like MedEx to prove that sustainable growth and high-quality care can go hand in hand when people remain at the center of every decision.
True Leadership In Healthcare Begins With Passion
Steven Cantrell believes that true leadership in healthcare begins with passion—loving what you do, because most of your waking hours are spent at work. At the same time, he stresses the importance of setting clear limits to maintain balance, whether that means not answering calls outside set hours, fully disconnecting during holidays to recharge, or carving out dedicated time for family despite a demanding schedule.
For him, balance is not about splitting time equally but about being intentional so that work, family, and personal renewal all receive the attention they deserve. Extending this philosophy to the next generation of healthcare leaders, he advises them to never stop moving, because healthcare itself never stands still. He encourages continuous learning, flexibility in the face of change, and a deep commitment to staying connected to patients. By listening to people’s needs and letting their voices guide decisions, Steven believes leaders can overcome challenges, create a lasting and meaningful impact in healthcare.
Featured on Close Up Radio
Steven Cantrell’s story and impact have been featured across respected platforms, each highlighting a different side of his leadership and vision:
- In a feature on Close Up Radio – Part 1, Steven shared his personal journey and the inspiration behind founding MedEx.
- In Close Up Radio – Part 2, he discussed MedEx’s growth, leadership philosophy, and how a people-first approach is shaping the future of urgent care.
- Marquis Who’s Who recognized Steven for excellence in healthcare operations, highlighting his commitment to combining innovation with compassion.
A New Standard for Urgent Care Excellence
Steven Cantrell’s top priority for MedEx over the next 2–5 years is to carefully grow and expand its unique model of truly customer-focused urgent care. Rather than using a one-size-fits-all approach, this model relies on thorough research to ensure the right patient needs align with the right community, making expansion strategic and thoughtful. His vision is to replicate MedEx’s proven success in selected markets, demonstrating that urgent care can be sustainable and deeply patient-centered. Through this approach, he aims to set a new standard for urgent care—one where operational excellence and innovation are always balanced with respect, compassion, and service that puts the community first.
Steven Cantrell’s 5 Impactful Business Lessons
- Put People First: Focusing on patients, employees, and the community builds trust and long-term success.
- Lead by Example: Set the tone, foster collaboration, and encourage accountability.
- Keep Learning: Stay curious, flexible, and open to new ideas in a constantly evolving industry.
- Balance Growth with Compassion: Success and financial stability should never compromise quality or care.
- Turn Challenges into Opportunities: Every problem is a chance to innovate and improve when approached thoughtfully.
