Charting the Right Course
Successfully navigating HME’s tricky waters requires solid information, which is what HME Business strives to offer its readers in every print issue and on its website (hme-business.com), as well. This year, to help us ensure that we help you negotiate the straits of HME, we’ve called upon a variety of experts from all corners of the industry to form our charter HME Business Editorial Advisory Board.
The mission of this board is to provide a third-party panel that will help ensure this publication best serves your evolving information needs. HME Business will regularly call on them for their insights into industry trends to ensure that each issue of this publication properly covers and addresses those developments.
So, it is with much appreciation and gratitude that we welcome the 2009 HME Business Editorial Advisory Board, listed alphabetically:
Georgie Blackburn
Vice President, Government Relations and Legislative Affairs
BLACKBURN’S
Georgie Blackburn is Vice President of Government Relations and Legislative Affairs for BLACKBURN’S, which has been in operation for 72 years and is one of the largest independent DME providers in western Pennsylvania.
Georgie assumed her current position in 2007 and brings hands-on knowledge of the DME business to her interactions with state and federal government officials. Having served as Rehab Sales Division Manager, credentialed ATS and BLACKBURN’S Corporate Compliance Director, she is a great asset in assisting our industry’s efforts to educating Congressional leaders and staff on competitive bidding and other home healthcare issues.
An active patient and industry advocate, Georgie is the immediate past President and an executive board member of the Pennsylvania Association of Suppliers and serves as Treasurer and an executive board member of the American Association for Homecare. Active with AA Homecare’s Rehab Assistive Technology Council, she also serves as the Rehab Team Leader for the Jurisdiction A Advisory Council.
Sandra Canally, RN, BS
President
The Compliance Team Inc.
Working on the premise that healthcare delivery excellence can be more easily achieved by simplifying quality standards and helping providers implement program requirements, Sandy first set out to redefine DMEPOS, Pharmacy, Homecare and Specialty Provider healthcare accreditation in 1994 when she founded The Compliance Team Inc.
To form The Compliance Team’s Exemplary Provider accreditation programs, Sandy leveraged her deep experience as a Nurse Oncologist, National Cancer Institute teacher, hospital director, nurse recruiter, nursing home inspector, and government regulatory and managed care accreditation expert.
In the Fall of 2002, Sandy solidified her status as one of the nation’s leading patient safety advocates by forming NurseSponsors Inc., which serves as the corporate umbrella for her ad hoc initiative to bring many of the estimated one-half million working age inactive American trained nurses back to patient care nursing.
In addition to leading the movement towards healthcare evaluation simplification, Sandy, in 2000, co-founded with her husband Richard, the Health Care Evaluation Institute, a corporation that brings the benefits of the Exemplary Provider Accreditation Programs to underserved rural and urban populations.
Dave Cormack
President and CEO
Brightree LLC
Dave Cormack is a senior international executive and entrepreneur with a successful track record of building customer-centric organizations. He has 23 years’ experience in applications software and Internet markets, including, in the role of President and CEO, the foundation and development of two highly successful start-up ventures: London-based Soft Systems Ltd. and Atlanta-based MiracleWorkers.com.
After the acquisition of Soft Systems by IQ Software (now part of Computer Associates), Dave served as Senior Vice President - Worldwide Operations. The company launched a new enterprise-wide software product suite, which Dave grew in three years to 500 customers and annualized revenues of $40 million.
Additionally, Dave sits on the advisory boards of Datallegro Inc. and Cobalt Corporate Finance, and has served on the board of a major UK professional soccer club, and is a former co-chairman of the Atlanta Silverbacks, as well.
Dave enjoys publicly speaking on entrepreneurial leadership. He graduated in Accounting from Aberdeen College of Commerce, Scotland in 1981.
Kirsten DeLay
Senior Vice President,
Sales Management and Operational Planning
Pride Mobility Products
Kirsten DeLay joined Pride Mobility Products Corp. in 1997. Today she is Senior Vice President, Sales Management and Operational Planning for Pride, a position she has held since 2005. Pride is a leading manufacturer of power wheelchairs, scooters, and lift chairs. In her position, Kirsten oversees domestic sales and marketing, operational planning, sales administration, education, and compliance.
Kirsten is a life-long resident of northeastern Pennsylvania and graduate of University of Scranton, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry.
Spencer Kay
President and CEO
Fastrack Healthcare Systems Inc.
Spencer Kay is President, CEO and Founder of Fastrack Healthcare Systems, a developer of software & technology for HME, respiratory, infusion pharmacy and home healthcare agencies since 1994.
In 2008, Spencer started Fastrack MSO, a free group purchasing organization open to all homecare providers, and the Fastrack Xchange, an eBay-style auction site for buying and selling used and overstocked equipment and supplies.
Spencer has previously served as Senior Vice President of Sandata, a healthcare software company, and was CEO for several computer companies including a developer of software for dentists. Spencer holds an MBA in International Business from George Washington University and a B.A. in Economics.
Joseph Priest
President, COO
AirSep Corp.
Joseph Priest, president and COO of AirSep Corp. was a co-founder of AirSep in 1987, and has also been a board member of the American Association of Homecare and the Council for Quality Respiratory Care.
Joseph earned his BA from Northwestern University in 1982, and his MBA from The Wharton School, at the University of Pennsylvania in 1983.
Michael Reinemer
Vice President,
Communications and Policy
American Association for Homecare
Michael Reinemer has worked on federal policy issues and communications programs for private-sector, nonprofit, and government organizations in Washington for 30 years.
Since 2004, Michael has managed advocacy and policy communications at the American Association for Homecare, which represents HME providers and manufacturers.
Prior to working for AAHomecare, Michael was director of communications at the National Council on Aging, the nation’s oldest seniors’ advocacy organization, where he conducted public education campaigns on health and social issues. There he also served as editor of the quarterly journal, Innovations in Aging, published by NCOA.
Michael also worked on the legislative staff of a U.S. Senator and at Claritas, a demographics and market research firm. He has written opinion and feature stories for the Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, and American Demographics. He received a B.A. from Grinnell College and an M.A. from George Mason University.
Wayne E. Stanfield
President and CEO
National Association of Independent
Medical Equipment Suppliers
Wayne Stanfield is an experienced home medical equipment industry consultant, business owner, and association executive. In 2006, along with several key industry leaders and advocates, he formed the National Association of Independent Medical Equipment Suppliers, which launched in 2007.
Wayne has been involved in the HME industry for more than 21 years, serving in various capacities for Commonwealth Home Health Care; WESTAN HME Services, Inc., a consulting and training company he formed; Prince William Home Medical Supply; and Carolina Med-Plus Inc., which he founded.
At the state level, Wayne has served as Executive Director of the Virginia Association of Durable Medical Equipment Companies, and has sat on the Board of Directors for the North Carolina Association of Medical Equipment Suppliers. He currently is the Executive Director of the Home Care Alliance of Virginia, a statewide provider network. Wayne has also served as a member of the Region B DMERC Council for two years.
A husband, father and grandfather, Wayne served 20 years in the United States Air Force as an air traffic controller, and received the Bronze Star Medal with valor for service in Vietnam and two Meritorious Serve Medals.
Peggy Walker, RN
Billing & Reimbursement Advisor
US Rehab Division of VGM Group
Peggy Walker is the Billing & Reimbursement Advisor for US Rehab, a Division of VGM. Peggy works out of her home office in Blythewood, S.C. assisting US Rehab, VGM, Nationwide Respiratory and OPGA members with pre-pay review of rehab claims and other Medicare/Medicaid reimbursement issues.
Peggy worked with the Region C DMERC as lead nurse in post-pay review and helped develop the coverage criteria for wheelchairs, CPMs and other medical policies. She is currently a member of Jurisdiction C Council, the Education A team leader for Jurisdiction C, member of the RATC council for AAH, member of Region D NSC DAC & Region A POE.
Peggy is very active helping state associations, state Medicaids, manufacturers, and private pay insurances with training programs for high-end rehab equipment and other reimbursement issues.
As part of her US Rehab position she now offers community forums to educate referral sources about their responsibilities in helping providers obtain proper documentation required for specific areas of Medicare policy.
Carl Will
Senior Vice President, North American HomeCare
Invacare Corp.
Carl Will is the senior vice president of the North American HomeCare division of Invacare Corp., a leader in the manufacture and distribution of home and long-term care medical products. Carl Will joined Invacare in 2004 as the vice president and general manager of its long-term care division.
Prior to joining Invacare, Carl worked in General Electric’s consumer products division, where he was responsible for the light emitting diode (LED) commercial operations. He handled business development, sales, marketing and product development. During his tenure, Carl successfully transitioned the company from no revenues to market leader in several major segments through organic and inorganic growth. In addition, Carl spent four years with McKinsey & Company as a strategic consultant focused on the growth and business strategy of Fortune 500 companies.
Carl graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from The Ohio State University. After graduation he joined financial services firm Deloitte & Touche as an auditor and earned his CPA. He then graduated summa cum laude with a Master of Business Administration from the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University. Carl has three daughters, and resides in Sandusky, Ohio.
Ron Resnick
President
Blue Chip Medical Products Inc.
Ron Resnick has worked in the healthcare industry for more than 30 years. He started in the business as a rehab seating and mobility specialist in New York City in 1977. Ron started to focus his knowledge and creativity on manufacturing products to enhance the clinical needs of the patient.
After being involved in several successful business ventures, running several public companies ranging from Patient Aids, Diagnostic and General HME equipment, Ron started Blue Chip Medical Products in 1996, which has evolved into a major manufacturer of seating and sleep surfaces in homecare, as well as the long-term, and dental marketplaces.
Ron has been a long-standing board member for the Medtrade Conference and continues to be involved in coalitions focusing on creating a more sensible medical policy for seating and support surface products, working closely with CMS and the former SADMERC in these endeavors.
Ron Richard
CEO
SeQual Technologies Inc.
Ron Richard has worked in healthcare for more than 30 years, starting in a medical center. He took a position with a respiratory distribution company gaining the sales, and then launched a new medical distribution company, which later sold to what is now known as Apria.
Ron then worked in key positions for various manufacturing and service companies, such as Nellcor Puritan Bennett, Total Sleep Diagnostics, Thermo Electron, ResMed and then SeQual, holding key positions ranging from Senior Product Manager to CEO.
Ron holds multiple sleep and respiratory patents and has been closely tied to the development and commercialization of more than 20 products. He has been published in many medical publications, and regularly speaks at healthcare conferences.
Also, Ron has served on industry panels, such as the National Association of Medical Directors for Respiratory Care, American Association of Homecare, American College of Chest Physicians, and American Association of Sleep Apnea. He was the 2004 recipient for the Home Caring Award, and he was instrumental in forming the Sleep Manufacturer Coalition.
A musician and athlete, Ron is married, has two children, holds a Bachelors of Business Administration from Baker University, and certificates in emergency medicine and respiratory care.
Tom Ryan
President and CEO
Homecare Concepts Inc.
Tom Ryan has been actively involved in the home health industry for more than 30 years, and founded respiratory and HME business Homecare Concepts Inc. in 1988.
Tom’s many Affiliations include being a founding member of the New York Medical Equipment Providers Association, and remains on the board currently serving as Chair of the Legislative Committee. He is a past chair of the Region A Council, and is the immediate past Chairman of the Board of the American Association of Homecare, where he also was the Chair of the Legislative Committee and Respiratory Access Alliance.
He currently serves as a member of AAHomecare’s Executive Committee of the board, as a non-user board member of the National Home Oxygen Patients Association, and is on the Board of Directors of New Island Hospital, in Bethpage, N.Y.
Tom has a degree in Respiratory Therapy from New York University Medical Center/Bellevue Hospital, and a B.S. Degree in Health Administration from Saint John’s University.
John Shirvinsky
Executive Director
Pennsylvania Association of Medical Suppliers
John Shirvinsky joined PAMS in March 2007, bringing to the state association more than 30 years of senior-level experience in directing, developing and executing public affairs and communications for the public and private sectors.
John is active on HME issues in Pennsylvania and nationally. He is a member of the Region A Advisory Committee and serves AAHomecare in various capacities, including as a member of the State Leaders Council, the Stand Up for Homecare Steering Committee, and the Competitive Bidding Task Force.
In his career, John was President of an organization representing the interests of Pennsylvania coal and steel producers; Executive Director of a coalition seeking reforms to prevent lawsuit abuse; Vice President of Public Affairs for the fourth largest U.S. solid waste management company; and Senior Vice President for a Top 10 public relations firm.
John was the Chief of Staff to Pennsylvania’s Attorney General, and worked for the Pennsylvania Senate and House of Representatives and for various Pennsylvania political campaigns. He earned his B.S. in Public Policy at Penn State University
This article originally appeared in the January 2009 issue of HME Business.