Jeff Pritchard’s story is one of dedication, resilience, and a deep commitment to improving mental health and addiction treatment. His journey began far from the bright lights of corporate offices and top leadership roles, starting instead in a small, quiet town in West Virginia. But today, Pritchard stands as the newly appointed Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Oceans Healthcare LLC, a fast-growing, Plano, Texas-based psychiatric and addiction treatment provider that has made a significant impact in the behavioral health space.
In the early 1990s, Pritchard worked as a behavioral health technician in Terra Alta, West Virginia, a town with a population of just 1,713. At that time, addiction and mental health care were less discussed and often misunderstood. Yet Pritchard, fresh into his career, quickly found himself motivated by a singular drive: to serve people. It was that initial spark that set him on a path that would evolve over the next several decades.
The Foundation of Service: Pritchard’s Early Career
In his first job in the field of behavioral health, Pritchard had no idea that it would become his life’s work. But in those early days, when he worked closely with individuals grappling with mental health issues and addiction, something resonated deeply with him. “The drive to serve people was something that always made a lot of sense,” Pritchard reflected in an interview with Behavioral Health Business.
What struck him the most, however, was a realization that continues to shape his leadership style today: the key to effective treatment was not just clinical expertise, but also the ability to listen to people and treat them with dignity and respect. “What people really need is to be heard,” he said. This simple yet profound understanding would guide him through his career and help him climb the ranks of the behavioral health industry.
Oceans Healthcare: A Growing Force in Behavioral Health
Founded in 2004, Oceans Healthcare has emerged as one of the leaders in the behavioral health sector, providing psychiatric and addiction treatment in inpatient and outpatient settings. What began as a small provider in Texas has expanded rapidly, now employing over 2,300 people—including 900 clinicians—across 23 inpatient facilities and 20 outpatient locations in Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi.
Pritchard’s decision to join Oceans Healthcare was influenced not only by the opportunity to contribute to a growing company but also by a shared vision to make high-quality mental health and addiction treatment accessible to more people. In just four years, between 2017 and 2021, the company grew its revenue by an impressive 44%, with 2020 revenue reaching $154 million and projected to grow even further in 2021.
Pritchard’s arrival as COO comes at a time when the company is poised to expand even more rapidly. Oceans Healthcare’s vision to improve care and reach more people aligns perfectly with Pritchard’s own values. Under Pritchard’s leadership, the company is expected to continue its path of growth, bolstered by new investments and a strong commitment to its mission.
This emphasis on healthcare industry growth is becoming more pronounced, especially in the behavioral health sector. With the increasing recognition of the need for mental health and addiction services, companies like Oceans Healthcare are stepping up to fill the gap, pushing forward the larger trend of healthcare industry growth in a meaningful and impactful way.
In February 2025, Oceans Healthcare entered a new financial partnership with Webster Equity Partners, a private equity firm based in Waltham, Massachusetts. This partnership signals an exciting chapter for the company, as it transitions from its relationship with General Catalyst Partners. Pritchard sees this as an essential part of Oceans Healthcare’s future, particularly as it looks to expand its reach and further enhance its services. The partnership was accompanied by a $109 million credit facility from Comvest Credit Partners and Silver Point Capital LP, which will help support Oceans Healthcare’s growth and innovation. This is a perfect example of how healthcare industry growth is being supported by strategic financial partnerships aimed at expanding care.
Pritchard Takes the Helm: A New Era for Oceans Healthcare
When the opportunity to join Oceans Healthcare as COO arose, it wasn’t something Pritchard was actively seeking. His previous role was as the COO at Springstone Inc., another prominent mental health and addiction treatment provider based in Louisville, Kentucky. Springstone, which operates 18 hospitals and more than 30 outpatient locations, had been a significant part of Pritchard’s career for several years. However, after a large deal in 2020 saw Springstone’s hospital portfolio acquired by Medical Properties Trust, Pritchard found himself at a crossroads.
It was at this moment, when the company’s future was shifting, that a recruiter reached out to Pritchard about Oceans Healthcare’s newly created COO position. Although he wasn’t actively looking for a new job, the timing was perfect. Pritchard was drawn to the opportunity because of the company’s people, its mission, and its culture. “I was just really blown away by the people, first and foremost,” Pritchard said.
For Pritchard, Oceans Healthcare’s culture was a significant factor in his decision to make the move. The company places a strong emphasis on patient care, safety, and quality, values that Pritchard has long embraced. “They cared about getting people better,” he recalled. This emphasis on improving patient outcomes, combined with a growth-minded leadership team, made Oceans Healthcare an exciting next step in his career.
The opportunity to lead a company that is part of the larger healthcare industry growth is something that Pritchard sees as incredibly impactful. With increased awareness of mental health needs and addiction challenges, he recognizes that the industry as a whole is evolving, and Oceans Healthcare is well-positioned to be at the forefront of that change.
A Career Full of Surprises
Looking back on his journey, Pritchard is sometimes amazed at how his career has unfolded. His early years in the workforce took him in unexpected directions. For a time, he worked in the wound care industry, but he ultimately realized that his passion lay in the behavioral health field. “If someone would have asked me 30 years ago, ‘What are you going to do when you grow up?’ I don’t know if it would have been this. I didn’t know this was a thing,” he reflected.
Yet, despite the twists and turns, Pritchard is incredibly grateful for how things have worked out. His passion for serving others and his belief in the transformative power of behavioral health care have remained constant throughout his career. From working in a small town to overseeing operations at a large healthcare provider, Pritchard’s journey has come full circle, and he couldn’t be happier with the direction he’s taken.
“I’m really happy to be doing it,” he said. This sentiment is evident in his daily work at Oceans Healthcare, where he’s focused on making a lasting impact on the people the company serves.
The Road Ahead: Leading Oceans Healthcare to Greater Success
As COO, Pritchard is tasked with overseeing the day-to-day operations of Oceans Healthcare, a rapidly expanding company. This includes ensuring the efficient functioning of its 23 inpatient facilities and 20 outpatient locations across three states, all while continuing to maintain high standards of patient care and safety. He took over these responsibilities from CEO Stuart Archer, who now focuses more on advocacy efforts within the behavioral health industry.
Pritchard’s leadership will be crucial as Oceans Healthcare continues to grow, particularly in light of the new investments and partnerships. With the backing of Webster Equity Partners and the additional $109 million credit facility, Oceans Healthcare is poised to continue expanding its reach and providing critical care to more people in need.
“We have to do a lot of high-level work to accomplish [systemic improvements],” Pritchard said, referring to the company’s larger mission of transforming the behavioral health system. His leadership will be key to steering the company toward that goal, ensuring that the quality of care and patient outcomes remain at the forefront.
As the healthcare industry growth continues to accelerate, Pritchard’s leadership will play a key role in navigating Oceans Healthcare through its next phase of expansion. His experience and vision will help ensure that the company remains at the cutting edge of mental health and addiction treatment, offering care that is not only accessible but also compassionate and effective.
Conclusion: A Lifelong Commitment to Behavioral Health
Jeff Pritchard’s story is one of dedication, passion, and an unwavering commitment to improving mental health and addiction treatment. From his early days as a behavioral health technician in a small town to his current role as COO at Oceans Healthcare, Pritchard has always kept the patient’s needs at the heart of his work. His experience, combined with the growth and investment happening at Oceans Healthcare, makes it clear that the company is on a trajectory to continue making a significant impact in the lives of those who need care the most.
As Pritchard steps into his new role, he carries with him not only the lessons learned from decades in the field but also a deep understanding of what it takes to improve a system that touches so many lives. With his leadership, Oceans Healthcare is poised for an exciting future, one that promises to help more people find hope and healing in their journeys toward recovery. And with the continued emphasis on healthcare industry growth, the work Pritchard and Oceans Healthcare are doing will only become more important as time goes on.
