Phil Fogg, Jr., President and CEO of Marquis Companies, has devoted his life to transforming senior living. As a fourth-generation leader in long-term care, and in his role as secretary/treasurer and board member of the American Health Care Association (AHCA), Phil has carried on his family legacy rooted in advocacy and innovation.
Under his leadership, Marquis Companies has grown into a premier senior living provider for families across the United States, and through his role as an advisory board member at Incite Strategic Partners, Phil continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible in senior living. His insights and strategic direction have helped to shape Incite’s approach to innovation and have empowered senior living communities to achieve greater operational and care efficiencies.
A Legacy of Leadership in Senior Living
Growing up in a family that has deep roots in the long-term care industry, Phil Fogg, Jr. was practically born into the profession. Working in his father’s facility doing dishes and general housekeeping at age 13, he was able to see his father and grandfather’s commitment to advancing the industry first-hand, and witness their passion to identify impactful solutions to the challenges that faced senior care. These experiences and early exposure formed a strong foundation that has defined his career path and enabled a philosophy of innovation with a focus on solving problems rather than just finding them.
“I grew up in this industry, and it’s in my DNA,” Phil shares. “My family’s legacy has always been about contributing to the future of senior care, not just talking about its challenges. That’s the mindset I bring to my work each day.”
A commitment to leadership has guided Phil in founding multiple companies that serve seniors and the professionals who care for them. Marquis Companies, created in 1989, provides a full spectrum of senior living options. He also founded Consonus Healthcare in 2004, expanding services to include rehab therapy and pharmacy solutions. While both companies continue to flourish, Phil remains grounded in his mission of serving seniors while leading the charge for innovative solutions.
Identifying Solutions for Today’s Senior Living Challenges
The senior living industry has always balanced tight margins and complex reimbursement models, but today, operators grapple with additional complex challenges. According to Phil, “Wage inflation and the growing workforce shortage that began during the COVID-19 pandemic have created unprecedented pressures on the industry. With 65-70% of expenses typically tied to wages, managing non-wage costs has become absolutely critical.”
To address the ongoing labor crisis, Marquis has turned to international recruitment efforts, bringing in registered nurses from countries like Mexico to fill crucial roles. Additionally, Phil relies on Incite Workforce Solutions powered by SnapCare, a platform designed to minimize the use of costly staffing agencies by centralizing workforce management. The platform helps senior living communities build a more sustainable and efficient staffing model by optimizing internal resources and streamlining recruitment, scheduling, and compliance processes.
Yet, Phil stresses that it’s not just about cutting costs – it’s about finding long-term innovative solutions that will support providers to maintain the provision of high-quality care. He views technology as a key driver of efficiency in senior living, both in clinical settings and in operational management.
How GPOs Can Drive Success
When it comes to managing non-wage expenses, Group Purchasing Organizations (GPOs) can play a pivotal role in the success of senior living facilities. Phil sees GPOs as essential partners in senior living leaders’ ability to navigate financial and operational challenges. “The value of a GPO lies in how well it manages costs without sacrificing quality,” Phil explains. “With Incite Strategic Partners, the benefits for senior living providers are even greater because their representatives have industry experience and truly understand the nuances and challenges of senior care.”
One of the most significant advantages of working with a GPO like Incite is access to aggregated data that supports strategic decision making. With this data, facilities are able to benchmark their spending against similar organizations. “It’s not just about the price per unit,” Phil says. “GPOs can provide the total costs of patient care per day, as well as gross spend by patient need, which gives operators a much clearer picture of where their dollars are going and where efficiencies can be gained.”
But Phil emphasizes that the key to maximizing the value of a GPO partnership is having a strong, knowledgeable support. “Every senior care community is different, and that’s the challenge for GPOs. Incite sets itself apart by having representatives who not only understand the profession but are true experts in their field,” he adds.
Trends Set to Shape the Future of Senior Living
Looking ahead, Phil sees two critical trends that are influencing the future of senior living: workforce challenges and a growing demand for geriatric services. The workforce shortage will continue to be a significant issue, making any innovation that improves staff efficiency vital. “Anything that streamlines care delivery will be critical in the future,” he explained.
As the baby boomer demographic continues to grow, Phil predicts a shift in focus toward assisted living, with skilled nursing facilities likely unable to keep pace with the rate of expansion. Education, engagement of assisted living providers and innovative thinking will be essential to meet this growing demand, a shift that GPOs like Incite can help to facilitate.
With technology taking an increasingly central role in senior living procurement, senior living communities will be able to leverage AI to predict inventory levels, improve delivery workflows, and benefit from technological advances designed to significantly reduce operational costs. For example, Consonus Pharmacy has already implemented daily delivery systems, a change that has reduced the need to maintain large on-site inventories and keeps costs under control.
“Technology can support everything from inventory management to staff workflows,” Phil explains. “And this is where GPOs can really add value through solutions and supports that enable senior living communities to stay ahead of managing these trends.”
The Power of Strong GPO Partnerships
Maintaining success in senior living requires more than managing costs and data and trend analysis. For Phil, a crucial piece of the puzzle is the building and fostering of partnerships that enhance every aspect of operations, from resident care to staff development.
A knowledgeable GPO is one important partner that can make all the difference in navigating the complexities of senior care and connecting efficiencies. “It literally comes down to the quality of your GPO representative,” he says. “They need to be partners who understand the industry inside and out. At Incite they’re not just about finding savings, they’re about delivering value that makes a real impact on senior living communities.”
From leading Marquis Companies to advocating for long-term care at a national level through his work with the AHCA, Phil Fogg, Jr. continues to push industry boundaries and champion innovative advancement. His insights into industry challenges and the role that GPOs play in addressing them highlight the importance of having a GPO partner that has the experience, industry knowledge and innovative solutions you need to support resident care today, and tomorrow.
The strong, collaborative relationships you build today, will pave the way for a brighter future in senior care. Ready to strengthen your senior living community with the support of a trusted GPO partner? Contact Incite Strategic Partners to learn how our experienced team can help you drive operational efficiencies, enhance resident care, and stay ahead of industry challenges.