Moving On Up: Home Health Care People and Positions (3/5/15)

Almost Family Appoints Former U.S. Tech Officer to Board of Directors

Almost Family, Inc. (NASDAQ: AFAM), a Louisville, Ky.-based national provider of home health and nursing services, this week appointed Annesh Chopra a new board member. Chopra is the former U.S. Chief Technology Officer under President Barack Obama.

Co-founder of NavHealth and Hunch Analytics, Chopra was appointed to serve as a member of the board of directors of Imperium Health Management, one of the nation’s largest Accountable Care Organization-enablement companies and Almost Family’s initial HealthCare Innovations business segment investment in October 2013. 

In addition to Chopra’s appointment, Almost Family also announced the creation of a new HealthCare Innovations business segment to house and separately report on the company’s development activities outside its traditional home health business platform.

Almost Family also announced an investment of up to $2 million in Chopra’s NavHealth, which is a development stage enterprise that seeks to develop tech-based tools and analytics to improve patient experiences and lower the overall costs of care.

Signature Hospice, Home Health, Home Care Adds Two Leaders to Management Team

Wilsonville, Ore.-based provider Signature Hospice, Home Health, Home Care last month announced the addition of two new leaders to its management team.

Timothy Shatzel takes on the role of vice president of regional operations and Britagne Richey, LPN, CDDTS, c.CPHQ, as regional director of clinical operations at Signature, which is a member of the Avamere Family of Companies.  

“They each bring a wealth of knowledge and insight from their long careers as leaders in various sectors of health care,” said Bob Thomas, president of Signature, in a written statement. “Each will play a significant role in helping Signature continue its commitment to quality care and patient outcomes as we grow and improve our services to our patients, clients and team.”

Shatzel joins the company following past work with regional and national health care providers in key leadership and management roles. 

Richey’s past experience includes roles as Director of Quality Assurance and Risk Management, Compliance Consulting, Case Management and as a Quality Control Nurse. 

The addition of Shatzel and Richey follows Signature’s hiring of Anjie Berryman as a Vice President of Regional Operations in January. 

N.Y. Health Association Names New Home Care Director

The Health Association of Niagara County (HANCI), of Niagara Falls, N.Y., this week named Lori Roche, MSN, RN, MBA/HC as director of its Home Care division, reports Niagara-Gazette. 

Roche comes to HANCI with a background in nursing and operations, having earned Masters degrees in both nursing and business administration/health care management. 

“We are so excited to welcome Lori to HANCI and  feel extremely lucky to have someone with her diverse perspective and experience join our team,” said HANCI President and CEO John Kinner in a written statement. “Lori will bring leadership and creativity to our Home Care program as well as a deep sense of commitment to a high quality of care.”

A registered nurse for nearly 25 years, Roche commands considerable expertise in emergency, critical care and home care. Her extensive background also includes positions serving as a certified home health agency director, acute hospital director of nursing and a chief operating officer.

“There is no doubt in my mind; this is an exciting time for HANCI as we begin a new chapter,” Roche said. “I will work hard to raise community awareness of all the wonderful programs we offer and to continue expanding them with the highest level of compassion and care possible.” 

Home Care Assistance Welcomes New Director of Business Development

Last week, Home Care Assistance of St. Louis welcomed Mark B. Rogers as its new Director of Business Development.

In this role, Rogers will focus on developing key partnerships with health care and senior care professionals across the greater St. Louis area. 

“We are thrilled to have Mark join our team,” said Home Care Assistance of St. Louis Owner Jeff Schweikert in a written statement. “His extensive background, experience and commitment to exceptional care will be a valuable asset to our clients and our company.”

More specifically, Rogers’ role will be focused on growing company programs such as the Hospital to Home Care and the Cognitive Therapeutics Method, the agency’s trademarked approach to in-home dementia care, in addition to Home Care Assistance’s core in-home assisted living services. 

McLaren Homecare Group Names New President, CEO

Flint, Mich.-based provider McLaren Homecare Group, a subsidiary of McLaren Health Care, last month appointed Christine Bartel as president and CEO of the company. She succeeds Steve Serra, who left the company to pursue other opportunities. 

Bartel, who will be based at McLaren’s headquarters in Davison, Mich., brings with her 19 years of health care experience. She served in various administration and executive leadership positions in which she was responsible for clinical compliance, care coordination and operational efficiencies, including financial integrity and growth strategies.

A Coloardo native, Bartel will work to develop and implement new processes at McLaren Homecare Group, with the objective of further integrating home care services across the entire McLaren system. 

“I was attracted to McLaren Health Care because they have the necessary resources and capabilities to provide high-quality evidence-based health care while sustaining economic viability,” said Bartel in a written statement. “A new health care delivery system is upon us, and staying relevant in health care today means changing with the times. McLaren’s leadership understands this well.”

Bartel began a career in health care as director/staff supervisor for Home Nurse Inc., a home care company that later included Bayada Nurses Inc. Previously, she worked as a statistician at Standard & Poor’s Compustate, a financial analyst at Dun & Bradstreet Corp. and a member services department supervisor at Great West Life Assurance.

In 2002, she started a home care company in Greenwood Village, Colo. called Hope at Home Inc., where she served as CEO and supervised a staff of approximately 350 caregivers. In this role, Bartel established two branch locations, in Colorado Springs and Fort Collins, ultimately grew company revenues to $8 million. 

In 2008, Bartel sold the company to a private equity firm and has since worked as a consultant, helping financially struggling health care entities increase their profitability.

“I’m looking forward to assessing the needs of McLaren Homecare Group and further enhancing integration across the many McLaren subsidiaries,” Bartel said. “Home care services include expansive capabilities, and it’s important that these services are integrated in a way that’s beneficial for patients, physicians and caregivers. Better integration means better quality and better value.” 

Written by Jason Oliva