Movers & Shakers: Salus Homecare, Mediware

Ortiz Appointed Community Liaison for Salus Homecare Orange County

Irvine, California-based Salus Homecare has added Missie Ortiz to its team as its community liaison, the home care and home health agency announced.

Ortiz brings more than 25 years of health care experience to the team, working in various roles, including care management, home health aide, skilled nursing and sales and marketing. In her most recent role, she was tasked with building and retaining relationships within the community she served and creating open dialogue about the need for quality home health care.

In her new post, Ortiz will design and execute marketing strategies that incorporate education and awareness campaigns.

CellTrak Appoints Harris to VP Role

CellTrak Technologies has welcomed Kristi Harris as its new vice president of customer success.

The Schaumburg, Illinois, company specializes in developing care delivery management solutions which enable home- and community-based care organizations to deliver higher quality care, communicate with health care workers, improve compliance and increase productivity.

Harris brings 20 years of health care experience to the company, along with her broad knowledge in account management, customer service, analytics and consulting. Prior to joining the team, Harris served as vice president and general manager at technology firm Evariant.

Throughout her professional career, Harris has developed and managed teams responsible for software implementation, account management, training and product support for software companies in the health care sector.

Olympia Transitional Care Welcomes Three New Leadership Staff Members

Olympia Transitional Care and Rehabilitation has welcomed three new leadership staff members: Doug Bowen, administrator; Carol Vixie, director of nursing; and Alyssa Pruiett, director of rehabilitation.

Prior to joining the team, Bowen was administrator of a post-acute facility in Provo, Utah. His goal within Olympia is to continue to grow and develop systems. Bowen practiced law for seven years before joining the medical industry.

Vixie brings 24 years of nursing experience to her role, spending her career in the long-term care industry. Prior to joining the team, Vixie was employed at a five-star facility.

Pruiett is an occupational therapist, registered and licensed in Washington. In her new post, Pruiett will focus on developing the facility’s outpatient rehabilitation services, and will lead a team in implementing the “Abilities Care Approach,” which is designed to improve both dementia patients’ quality of life and employee satisfaction.

Bill Miller Named CEO at Mediware

Industry veteran Bill Miller has joined Mediware as its newest CEO.

Miller joins the company following his stint as CEO of OptumInsight, a division of Optum focused on data and analytics. Optum is a subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group.

At his new post, Miller will focus on existing markets, like home medical equipment, and continue acquiring companies in ancillary markets to fill gaps in Mediware’s portfolio. Earlier this year, the company finalized plans to buy Kinnser Software, a provider of software solutions to 4,000 home health, hospice and private-duty home care professionals, according to the company.

Milller replaces Kelly Mann, who served as Mediware CEO for 10 years.

Always Best Care Taps Loy to Lead Reopening of Burlington Territory

Roseville, California-based Always Best Care® Senior Services, has welcomed Samantha Loy to lead the reopening of its Burlington, North Carolina, franchise.

The agency will provide senior care services in Alamance-Guilford, Caswell, and Person counties. Loy will be working with her mother Joanne Pizzuto, vice president of sales and marketing.

Loy has been working at Always Best Care of Burlington since 2012, where she has held various administrative roles; her most recent position was director of operations. Since joining the company, Loy has managed many of the agency’s day-to-day operations.

Ecumen Promotes Brett Anderson to VP of Nursing Services

Ecumen has promoted Brett Anderson to vice president of nursing services. Ecumen is a non-profit senior housing and care services provider based in Shoreview, Minnesota.

Anderson has held leadership responsibilities for company-wide health care services to ensure quality, consistency and regulatory compliance.

Anderson previously served as a regional nursing consultant at Ecumen. He is a registered nurse, a certified public health nurse and a nurse executive. He was appointed by Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton to serve on the board of trustees for the Minnesota State College & Universities System from 2011-2013, and has worked as a nursing instructor at Minnesota State University in Mankato and Saint Paul College.

LHC Group Appoints Wilford to Audit Committee

LHC Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:LHCG), a Lafayette, Louisiana-based home health care services provider, has appointed Dan S. Wilford to the copany’s audit committee following the resignation of Christopher S. Schackelton.

Schackelton was a member of LHC Group’s board of directors and audit and corporate development committees. He resigned from the board and its committees, effective August 18, to focus his efforts on other business enterprises. Shackelton’s resignation is not due to any disagreements with LHC, according to the company.

Wilford will serve on the audit committee until Schackelton’s permanent replacement has been found. Wilford served as a member of the audit committee from 2013 to 2016.

Written by Carlo Calma