Meet Ben Cripps
Ben Cripps is the Chief Compliance & Risk Management Officer, providing oversight of Compliance, Physician Contracts, Risk Management and the Security Services departments here at Kaweah Health. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Fresno Pacific University and a master’s in Health Care Management from Colorado Technical University.
As a young child, Ben aspired to be a pilot thanks to the movie Top Gun. While Top Gun continues to be one of his all-time favorite movies, Ben took a more grounded direction. Prior to joining the Kaweah Health family, Ben worked as a Public Accountant. As much as he enjoyed that role, he recalls “tax seasons were long and he wanted to work fewer hours.” Looking back now, Ben has learned that he left a busy season (a few months per year) for something more stable — consistently longer days.
Ben began his career at Kaweah Health in April 2005 as a Chargemaster Coordinator. In December 2006 he transitioned to a leadership role in Compliance as the Compliance Manager and was promoted to the Director and Chief Compliance Officer in February of 2017. Shortly thereafter, Ben was promoted to the Executive Team where he was also assigned oversight of the Risk Management and Security Services departments.
When asked what the most inspiring part of his job is, Ben says, “while I do not provide direct patient care, I have the ability to impact important patient safety and compliance initiatives that improve quality and patient satisfaction.”
Ben enjoys building relationships. Whether he is meeting with new employees on day one of orientation to educate them on the rules and regulations of Compliance; rounding on patients, talking to them and their families; partnering with physicians; or rounding on staff, he enjoys connecting with people and building meaningful relationships.
Ben’s family is rooted in the Central Valley. Ben, his wife, and his two daughters were born at Kaweah Health. Four generations of his family have worked for Kaweah Health. Ben’s oldest daughter has spent two summers volunteering in the Marketing Department. And, to carry on the legacy left behind by his grandmother Thelma Venturella, Ben joined the Hospital Foundation Board more than 15 years ago.
Ben’s faith plays an integral role in his life. He devotes much of his free time volunteering at his church, where he holds several positions. Ben has a passion for Christian music. He learned to play the drums at 8 years old, at the age of 15 he stepped on stage to join the worship band and continues to serve in this capacity to this day.
Although he gets to play fewer rounds each year, golf continues to be Ben’s favorite pastime. Ben started his golfing career spending his summers at Exeter Municipal Golf Course and eventually played gold on the Exeter High School and College of the Sequoias golf teams. He never misses the Kaweah Health Foundation Golf Tournament and one day hopes to play the famous golf courses in Scottland.