LMCP-2024
Presentations
Finding An Electronic Health Record System For Your Future: The 2024 OPEN MINDS Seminar On Best Practices In EHR Selection, Contracting & Optimization
Over the past twenty years, adopting electronic health record systems (EHRs) has changed how health services are managed and delivered. As the health care system has continued to evolve with more value-based reimbursement, the push towards integrated care coordination, and the rise in consumerism, the technology infrastructure needed by provider organizations has changed—including EHRs. For most executives, the EHR is a significant investment, and choosing the right system (or keeping the wrong system) can make or break any organization.
This essential seminar is for any executive considering a new EHR system—whether it is your organization’s first EHR or upgrading a system that isn’t delivering the functionality needed for sustainability. Also, OPEN MINDS Associates will guide you through a step-by-step process for selecting an EHR that fits all your organization’s needs. The seminar will cover:
- The best practice model for assessing the tech functionality your organization needs for future success
- Steps for vetting vendors and their products and services
- Budgeting for EHR software and implementation
- Ensuring the best value and performance in contract negotiating
Joseph P. Naughton-Travers, EdM
Joseph P. Naughton-Travers, EdM, Senior Associate, has more than 30 years of experience in the health and human service field. In this tenure as senior associate with OPEN MINDS since 1998, he has served as lead of dozens of client initiatives, served as editor of OPEN MINDS publications, and is the author of many groundbreaking articles and presentations.
Mr. Naughton-Travers brings to OPEN MINDS a broad range of experiences in private and public sector delivery of behavioral health and social services. He started his career as a behavioral health clinician, working in both child welfare and community mental health clinic settings. Subsequently, Mr. Naughton-Travers held a senior business operations management position for a psychiatric hospital system and its community mental health clinics. Later, he was vice president of a firm specializing in information systems and billing and receivables management for community-based mental health programs.
Since joining OPEN MINDS, Mr. Naughton-Travers has developed business solutions for provider and professional organizations, state and county government, technology companies, and venture capital firms. His primary areas of expertise include strategic planning and metrics-based management, electronic health record (EHR) and technology selection and implementation, operations improvement, and corporate compliance. For the past decade, over half his consulting practice has focused on aiding organizations in technology selection and implementation, including all aspects of strategic technology planning, functional specifications development, request for proposal development, vendor selection, and contracting.
He has written numerous articles, including “Winning the Human Resource Wars: Tried, True and New Strategies for Behavioral Health and Social Service Organizations,” “Five Pillars of Management Competency,” “Data Driven Decision Making: Moving to an Organizational Measurement Culture,” “Survival of the Smartest: What is Your Organization’s Information Literacy IQ?,” and “Strategic Human Resource Management: Aligning Compensation with Employee Performance and Organizational Strategy.” Mr. Naughton-Travers is also a nationally recognized speaker, having conducted hundreds of executive and professional executive training events around the nation.
Mr. Naughton-Travers received his Bachelor’s degree from Miami University of Ohio and his Masters’ of Education in Counseling Psychology from Boston University.
Sharon Hicks, MSW, MBA
Sharon Hicks, OPEN MINDS Senior Associate, has more than 20 years of experience in the health and human service field. She has extensive experience and wide range of expertise in health plan management, in clinical operations management, and technology.
Prior to joining OPEN MINDS, Ms. Hicks spent two decades in a number of executive positions within the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) system and within its health plan division. Ms. Hicks served as the Chief Operating Officer for Community Care Behavioral Health, a managed behavioral health organization. She was responsible for all aspects of the organization’s operations including fiscal, information systems, the claims processing department, and the design of clinical systems. In addition Ms. Hicks managed the day-to-day operations of including human resources, facilities, purchasing, and security.
Ms. Hicks also served as the Vice President, Internet Strategy, UPMC Insurance Services Division and, since 2002, as the Chief Executive Officer of Askesis Development Group, Inc. since May of 2002. In this role, Ms. Hicks was responsible for the growth of the company, profitability of the company, and the direction of software development.
Ms. Hick started her impressive health care career as a psychiatric social worker before being promoted to Assistant Director of Social Work. Prior to her executive promotions, Ms. Hicks served as a Clinical Administrator for both Ambulatory Services and Emergency and Intake Services at the UPMC Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic. In this role, Ms. Hicks managed the behavioral health division, the budgets for all departments, and implemented new software replacing paper billing for clinical services.
Ms. Hicks received both her Masters of Business Administration and Masters of Social Work degrees from the University of Pittsburg. Before pursuing her graduate education, Ms. Hicks received her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology.
Becoming A Data-Driven Organization – Using Metrics To Drive Performance & Success: The 2024 OPEN MINDS Seminar
The dynamics of accelerated change in the market have created new performance challenges for health and human services organizations. This seminar will focus on the latest performance landscape and critical domains for measuring and managing business and clinical effectiveness. Health and human services organizations have unique and evolving competition in the market—from new digital-first applications demonstrating speedy access, engagement, and satisfaction with consumers to industry disrupters such as retail health clinics providing convenient access to care right where individuals shop. Showing value through data is a must have in this competitive environment, and the ability to demonstrate value through data means that organizations must also use data to drive performance improvement—clinically and administratively. In addition, leaders within organizations are challenged to make rapid course corrections, and having immediate access to the correct data has become critical to organizational success. Key objectives for this seminar will include the following:
- Look at the critical strategic performance domains and metrics for managing business and clinical health effectiveness
- Scorecard and framework for becoming a data-driven organization and for evaluating business health operations
- Decision-making model for prioritization and selection of measures
Carol Clayton, Ph.D.
Carol Clayton brings over 30 years of experience in the health and human service fields to the OPEN MINDS team. She has a wealth of experience both in clinical work and in executive management. Her areas of expertise include data-driven strategy development and management, performance measurement and outcomes reporting, quality improvement, and growth strategies.
Prior to joining OPEN MINDS, Dr. Clayton served as the Vice President of Behavioral Health Solutions Integration for Relias, an online training solution for health care providers. At Relias, Dr. Clayton led the development of analytics-focused market solutions. Her areas of focus were performance measurement systems, management team dashboards, and analytics for managing value-based reimbursement.
Prior to her role at Relias, Dr. Clayton served as the Chief Executive Officer for Care Management Technologies (CMT), an analytics solution organization of which she was a minority owner. With CMT, Dr. Clayton worked with state and county governments and provider collaboratives to develop shared performance management and performance improvement platforms. Her work included creating solution-specific health information exchanges promoting data sharing between multiple payer and provider organizations.
Prior to joining Care Management Technologies, Dr. Clayton served as the Executive Director for the North Carolina Council of Community Programs. In this role, she worked with both public agencies and private provider organizations during the evolution of the North Carolina MH/DD/SA service delivery system to a new managed care model. Her work involved both advocacy to public policy makers and the legislature, as well as working with member organizations on improving their delivery system.
Previously, Dr. Clayton also served as Executive Director for Magellan Behavioral Health. In this role, she was responsible for the Magellan book of business – at-risk managed care, administrative service organization (ASO) contracts, and employee assistance program (EAP) contracts for two million lives across four states.
Dr. Clayton started her career as a Staff Psychologist at John Umstead Hospital. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Special Education from Appalachian State University and her Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Sharon Hicks, MSW, MBA
Sharon Hicks, OPEN MINDS Senior Associate, has more than 20 years of experience in the health and human service field. She has extensive experience and wide range of expertise in health plan management, in clinical operations management, and technology.
Prior to joining OPEN MINDS, Ms. Hicks spent two decades in a number of executive positions within the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) system and within its health plan division. Ms. Hicks served as the Chief Operating Officer for Community Care Behavioral Health, a managed behavioral health organization. She was responsible for all aspects of the organization’s operations including fiscal, information systems, the claims processing department, and the design of clinical systems. In addition Ms. Hicks managed the day-to-day operations of including human resources, facilities, purchasing, and security.
Ms. Hicks also served as the Vice President, Internet Strategy, UPMC Insurance Services Division and, since 2002, as the Chief Executive Officer of Askesis Development Group, Inc. since May of 2002. In this role, Ms. Hicks was responsible for the growth of the company, profitability of the company, and the direction of software development.
Ms. Hick started her impressive health care career as a psychiatric social worker before being promoted to Assistant Director of Social Work. Prior to her executive promotions, Ms. Hicks served as a Clinical Administrator for both Ambulatory Services and Emergency and Intake Services at the UPMC Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic. In this role, Ms. Hicks managed the behavioral health division, the budgets for all departments, and implemented new software replacing paper billing for clinical services.
Ms. Hicks received both her Masters of Business Administration and Masters of Social Work degrees from the University of Pittsburg. Before pursuing her graduate education, Ms. Hicks received her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology.
Digital First Pioneers & The Future Of Tech-Enabled Behavioral Health Care
Join leaders from Big Health, Brightside, Care Solace, and Talkspace for a deep dive into the evolution and trends of virtual delivery systems within specialty health care. Discover what cutting edge uses of technology are at the forefront of improved care quality and access, plus get a first-hand look at how leading digital providers are anticipating and meeting the needs of complex consumers. This session will also explore the impact virtual delivery models can have on addressing workforce shortages and informing talent management strategies for providers struggling with clinician recruitment and retention.
Erin Boyd
Erin Boyd is Talkspace’s Chief Growth Officer, Enterprise. A proven leader in the healthcare industry, Erin brings a successful 25-year track record of managing sales operations, business development, strategy and marketing. Erin is responsible for driving growth and delivering differentiated solutions and capabilities to Talkspace’s Enterprise customers.
Prior to joining Talkspace, Boyd led Cigna’s behavioral network strategy, ensuring that customers had affordable, high-quality options when receiving behavioral health and substance abuse care. During her tenure at Cigna, she oversaw network programs and solutions that drove innovation, delivered cost-savings and improved outcomes to advance behavioral health access. Prior to Cigna, Boyd held a leadership position in business development and marketing for Aurora Behavioral Health System, a preeminent psychiatric hospital system.
Marshall Moncrief
At Care Solace, Mr. Moncrief leverages his experience to foster innovative partnerships for mental health care excellence. Prior to this role, Marshall was the founding CEO of Be Well Orange County, a large, multi-system mental health collaborative of hospitals, Medi-Cal health plan and County Public Services, to unify a system of mental health care for all of Orange County.
Arun Gupta
Arun is executive chairman and CEO of Big Health, the world’s leading provider of clinically-validated, non-drug digital mental health treatments and pioneer of the digital therapeutics category. During his tenure as chairman and now CEO, Big Health’s digital treatments – Sleepio, for insomnia and Daylight for generalized anxiety disorder – have been clinically proven in over 80 peer-reviewed papers and in 14 randomized, controlled trials to deliver safe and effective patient outcomes. Under his stewardship, Big Health was the first digital therapeutics company to receive approval from the UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) to recommend Sleepio as a first line insomnia treatment.
Previously, Arun founded Quartet Health, a mental health technology startup, leading it through a significant scale-up as CEO and then Executive Chairman of the Board – securing $150M in investments from Google Ventures and Oak HC/FT. Prior to Quartet, Gupta was General Partner at Accretive where he helped build over 10 industry-defining technology companies, driving several IPOs such as Accolade and R1 RCM and creating over $5B of equity value. He spent his earlier career at Palantir Technologies, McKinsey & Company, The World Bank and working as a Clinton Foundation fellow.
Arun earned a Master’s Degree from the Harvard Kennedy School where he was a Reynolds Fellow for Social Entrepreneurship and graduated with honors from Duke University. He serves on the boards of education technology company iD Tech and Autism Partnership Foundation and as an advisor to 8VC and Anthos. Arun and his wife, Dr. Mrinali Patel Gupta, live in Newport Beach, California with their three children.
Julia Bernstein
Julia Bernstein is a seasoned healthcare leader and currently serves as the Chief Operations Officer at Brightside Health, a telehealth platform that delivers life-saving mental healthcare to individuals with mild-to-severe clinical depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders. Before that, she was the Head of Operations and Strategy at Thirty Madison, where she oversaw 250+ people across customer experience, medical operations, and pharmacy. Prior to Thirty Madison, Julia held leadership roles in the behavioral health space at Tempest (acquired by Monument), Beacon Health Options (acquired by Elevance), and Ginger (now Headspace Health). Julia is also an active investor and advisor and sits on the Board of PharmaCCX. She lives in New York with her husband and two children.
Transforming A Tech Expense Into A Tech Investment: How Vista Care & ReDiscover Have Embedded Technology In Their Strategy For Growth
Embrace tomorrow’s growth through the strategic investment of technology today. This session will offer insights aimed at transforming your “tech expenses” into technological investments that support financial sustainability.
Discover how a multi-state I/DD agency, Vista Care, serves over 700 individuals throughout Colorado, Illinois, South Dakota, Nevada, and Wisconsin, and ReDiscover, a nonprofit mental health/substance use provider agency serving Kansas City, Missouri and surrounding communities, have leveraged technology to develop creative approaches to meeting consumers where they are and expanding their breadth of services throughout multiple states.
Key takeaways include:
- Explore novel frameworks to rethink Return on Investment (ROI) by considering the cost of avoiding critical decisions and investments
- Gain insights into constructing investment models that extend beyond short-term gains, providing a roadmap for sustained financial benefits over time
- Address the challenges of garnering support for technological advancements, offering strategies to secure both board and staff buy-in for successful implementation
John Tote
John is a career-long health care professional, having concentrated in the areas of mental health, I/DD, substance use disorder, co-occurring disorders, and health care network development.
John’s roles range from front-line staff to business/strategic development to CEO, all while seeing himself as an advocate, first and foremost.
Lastly, with his role at Vista Care, John sees a perfect alignment of culture through shared mission, vision, and values in the work he is so honored and humbled to be a part of.
Wayne Easterwood
Wayne has led and worked in healthcare technology for much of his career. In those early years, he was energized by improvement opportunities, especially the power technology tools could bring to the business. As a part of growing organizations, Wayne led the building and expanding of infrastructure, scaling solutions, improving processes, achieving economies of scale, leading blended teams, and building a healthy organizational culture.
Wayne was the architect of Centerstone’s first electronic health record system in 2001, which was among the first in the nation for behavioral health. He soon joined Qualifacts Systems, a Nashville based startup offering CareLogic. CareLogic, a first-of-a-kind software as a service (SaaS) electronic health record (EHR), was groundbreaking. In his five years, he led the team to transform the CareLogic platform from custom software implementations to a configurable multi-tenant system, built the maintenance and support team, established the service desk, and led the rollout of CareLogic to 200+ locations for a national healthcare customer.
In 2007, he returned to Centerstone as CIO, and they doubled in size with an expansion into Indiana. In years following the $120M, the organization executed additional mergers in Florida, Kentucky, and Illinois, bringing scale to $370M and 6500 employees. In 2020, Wayne left Centerstone as Chief Admin Officer. In the previous 5 years, he was leading Technology, Business Intelligence, Analytics, Human Resources, and Project Management. His team of 200 successfully reduced the cost of shared services as a percent of revenue by 10% while expanding the scope of services.
Today he works in fractional CIO roles to lead organizations through technology change. He has worked with large, mid-sized, and even boutique organizations where opportunity drives change. His focus is aligning technology strategy with business goals and leading the technology work toward those goals.
Wayne lives in Nashville with his wife, Lisa, who is 43 years old. They have 3 married sons and four grandchildren, who affectionately call him Boss; ask him about that. Wayne enjoys running marathons, trail races, and anything outdoors. He dreams of running a 4 Boston Marathon with one of the grands when they are ready.
How Findhelp & United Providers Of Health Are Cultivating Health Equity Through Innovative Technology Partnerships
Research shows that a person’s social needs substantially influence health disparity more than direct medical or clinical services. This emphasis on social care is reflected in recent Request for Proposals (RFPs) from New York and the federal government, signaling a clear interest in tackling these issues through community partnerships or establishing social care networks.
In this session, we will focus on the “how to” — how nonprofit health and human service agencies can move beyond traditional integrated service models.
Attendees will get an inside look at Findhelp’s innovative approach to building the largest network of free & reduced-cost social assistance in the United States, bridging the gap between people who need help and the providers offering services.
Plus, discover how United Providers Of Health, an Independent Providers Association, is revolutionizing access to care and making a real impact in their community by bringing together small I/DD, mental health, primary care, and substance abuse service organizations to fuel innovation in health care delivery and design through collaborative networks, such as medical home practice networks.
Objectives of this session include:
- Discover new approaches for building collaborative partnerships
- Learn how to finance and operationalize a social care collaborative network
- Examine data collection methods to show outcomes relevant to social care – access, reduction in disparities of care, and health outcomes
Jerome Brown
Jerome Brown is the Managing Partner and Co-Founder of United Providers of Health (UPOH). UPOH is an Independent Provider Association (IPA) focusing on Integrated Care and addressing Social Determinants of Health (SDOH). His previous roles were COO/Consultant for various Provider Healthcare organizations serving the MH/SA/ and I/DD populations. He has over 27 years of corporate management and executive experience. Jerome is also the CEO/Owner and founder of New Thought Leadership. New Thought Leadership is a series of workshops where individuals will learn the basic leadership principles, characteristics and leadership styles of being a leader and how to effectively use these styles.
Jerome is a Lean Six Sigma-Green Belt for over 24 years. He is a certified Facilitator and certifications in Leadership Through Quality (LTQ), Problem Solving Process (PSP), Quality Improvement Process (QIP), Organization Development (OD), Business Process Development (BPD) and Change Management (CM). He enjoys leading organizations, collaborating and building growth through networks and business development and managing change. He has implemented operational processes and clinical workflows that achieves strong measured outcomes and financial sound business results for organizations. He has launched and implemented programs and process in corporate America regionally and nationally and statewide within Healthcare. He has chaired on several boards of non-profits and is currently a board member at his church and served on the former i2i-I’m IN, Advisory Group. Jerome attended Millikin University (Decatur, Ill.) where he is in the Hall of Fame and a two time All American in Football and he
received his BS in Psychology.
Carolyn Mayo
Carolyn Mayo is the Managing Partner and Co-Founder of United Providers of Health, LLC. She was most recently the Co-Consultant (June 2018-June 2019) for the Minority Coalition of Behavioral Health Providers of Color(MCBHP) for its Community Reinvestment Initiate, which received funding from Cardinal Innovations for Integrated Care. Carolyn joined Crandell’s Enterprises Inc. in 2007 and has comprehensive experience in corporate management, network technology, and process development. As CIO, Carolyn is responsible for cost-effective operations and strategic long-term success by implementing new technology, systems, protocols, and quality measurements. Carolyn was certified as a trainer by the American Psychiatric Association in 2017 for the integrated Care and Collaborative Care Model. She developed the Certified Mental Health Technician Course with a National Certification, which is being offered fully online and in a classroom setting in collaboration with Durham Technical Community College.
Carolyn has numerous years in Public Relations and Media. She has developed, managed, and launched several marketing campaigns over the years. Her unique skills have provided her the opportunity to work with small and large organizations to bring their ideas from concept to reality. Her forward-thinking and transformational leadership style brings about unique and creative ideas. She embraces change. She is also a radio personality for the talk show “Talk Back” aired on Foxy 107/104.3, Radio One, the largest urban radio station in North Carolina and recently the Host of “Chatting with UPOH”. She is a native of North Carolina and enjoys reading, learning, and spending time with family.
Erine Gray
Erine is the Founder and CEO of Findhelp, a Public Benefit Corporation and the leading social care software company in the US. Their platform is used by most major health plans, hospital systems, state governments, and cause organizations to connect all people in need and the programs that serve them, with dignity and ease. Prior to starting Findhelp, he helped the Texas Health and Human Services Commission streamline their public benefits enrollment process and he has deep expertise in eligibility programs for public healthcare services. Erine is also a 2019 TED Senior Fellow. He lives in Austin, TX.
Implementing Groundbreaking Digital Analytics To Support The Bottom Line With The Gandara Center
For CFOs trying to ensure that technology investments align with both organizational and financial strategy, there are many key things to consider, such as what technology is the most beneficial, what are best practices for implementation, what metrics will be used to evaluate effectiveness, and finally how will we pivot if those metrics aren’t being reached?
In this session, learn from Janine Kent, Chief Financial Officer at Gandara Center, on how they have been able to measure productivity better, address revenue cycle management issues, and bolster the bottom line by implementing analytics software. Ms. Kent will share insights into their decision-making process, the impact technology has had on improving overall revenue cycle management, and strategies for overcoming common implementation challenges.
Gandara Center is a behavioral health, substance use, and preventative services organization that aims to provide equal services in the Hispanic community, Gándara Center delivers quality bilingual care for nearly 15,000 children, adults, and families each year in 100 locations across Massachusetts.
Key takeaways include:
- Discover a process to align the technology plan with strategic and financial plans
- The decision-making process and strategies for assessing the ROI between different technology options
- Learn strategies for evaluating effectiveness and pivoting when needed
Janine Kent
Ms. Kent joined Gandara Center in early 2021 as CFO, and is responsible for strategic planning, financial analysis, budgeting, compliance, and risk management functions.
Her career spans twenty-five years, initially in public accounting with Deloitte & Touche in Hartford, CT, followed by positions in the private and public non-profit sectors. Ms. Kent holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with a concentration in accounting and a Master of Business Administration, both from Western New England University.
Ms. Kent currently serves as Vice Chair on the board of directors for Holyoke Community Charter School and as Treasurer at the Hospice of the Fisher Home in Amherst, MA. She has previously served on the board of the Martin Luther King Jr. Charter School in Springfield, MA.
Ms. Kent and her husband of nearly forty years reside in Hampden, MA, and have two grown sons, and one beautiful granddaughter.
Leveraging Technology As A Catalyst For Improved Service Delivery: The Outreach & NuPath, Inc. Approach
Understand the art of crafting a tech strategy harmonizing with your business objectives.
In this session, our industry leaders will examine approaches for building a robust tech strategy that seamlessly aligns with and supports overarching business goals as well as the mission. Whether you’re looking to expand your service portfolio or are keen on leveraging technology to amplify your business impact, this session will demystify the process of building a tech strategy that complements your business strategy, acting as a catalyst for innovation and growth.
Examine how Outreach Project NY was able to build a cohesive system that integrates specialized data management and reporting to build out a technology infrastructure that supports workflows, and ultimately financial outcomes.
Then, learn how NuPath, Inc., a leading disabilities services and support agency that delivers an array of community-based day services, was able to leverage technology to launch a brand new service line which embraces the idea of tech as a human right.
Key Takeaways:
- Discover how to measure your tech investment’s ROI and what to do if you’re not seeing a return
- Explore innovative approaches to utilize your business plan to leverage technology across several key objectives
- Understand what data CEOs should analyze to evaluate how well the tech strategy is working
Kelsey Silver
Kelsey Silver has over a decade of experience in the behavioral health field, seven of which focused on treatment for substance use disorders. As Outreach’s Assistant Vice President of Quality and Data Analytics, she oversees administration of the organization’s AVATAR Electronic Health Record (EHR), the agency’s Continuous Quality Improvement Program, and interfaces with multiple departments to provide vital data analytics in support of the agency’s vision.
As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with a background in technology, Ms. Silver uses her knowledge to bridge communications between the clinical and operational divisions of the agency, towards optimizing training, workflow, and processes. She manages the design, implementation, and maintenance of Outreach’s EHR, including quality assurance, support, training, monitoring, and improvement, and manages the agency ‘help desk’ to ensure prompt and efficient response to requests for assistance within the EHR.
Ms. Silver additionally supports department managers with the design and implementation of Quality Improvement projects; and provides data analytics to support program decision making and agency initiatives.
Ms. Silver earned both her Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy and Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Hofstra University.
Greg Morris
Greg Morris joined NuPath in 2012 and currently serves as SVP of Administrative Operations for the organization where he oversees all administrative and technological initiatives. Greg collaborates with NuPath staff throughout all levels of the organization to effectively and efficiently deploy solutions designed to improve service delivery.
Prior to coming to NuPath, Greg worked in the High-Tech industry for over 18 years. Greg also serves on the Governing Board of Massachusetts Coordination Network (MCCN), an LTSS Community partner formed in 2017.
How Vista Care Models Are Revolutionizing Improved Access & Outcomes With Technology
To enhance service delivery, providers are actively exploring ways to integrate these digital tools into existing workflows. Beyond simply reducing no-shows, the focus extends to reinforcing client connections to their care plan, promoting medication adherence, facilitating consistent attendance at treatment sessions, and orchestrating the coordination of all necessary services and supports.
Hear how Vista Care, a leading I/DD service and support organization proudly serving over 700 individuals throughout Colorado, Illinois, South Dakota, Nevada, and Wisconsin, has been able to build creative technological solutions to improve access and outcomes for consumers across multiple states.
Attendees will:
- Understand the different types of technology programs and devices that are currently in use in the client engagement arena
- Discuss model programs and hear about outcomes associated with the use of technology
- Explore implementation models that have been used to serve out technology to clients
Liz Olive
Liz Olive leads Vista Care, a leading service and support organization serving more than 1,000 individuals across six states – with more to come. The organization is committed to ongoing innovation to advance its mission to “serve more people better, while keeping them in our hearts and actions at all times”. With a core belief that “people matter,” Vista Care leverages technology to tailor services to the unique needs and aspirations of people receiving services and enhance the experience of their team members. Through compassion, innovation, and boundless dedication to its mission, Vista Care cultivates environments where every person can flourish and lead a life abundant with purpose, joy, and dignity. Prior to joining Vista Care, Liz held various roles in university housing and non-profit organizations ensuring people the opportunity to live their most authentic and meaningful lives in quality environments.
Using Technology As A Means To Enrich Clinical Outcomes: How A Whole Person Care & Crisis Program Is Creating New Quality Standards In A ‘Digital-First’ Age
This session is a must-attend for CEOs passionate about advancing service delivery and outcomes through technology. Our industry experts will explore how technology can be used to create a cutting-edge system of care that can elevate clinical outcomes using a digital-first approach.
Discover how Dr. Balfour’s pioneering work on crisis metrics has been adopted as a national standard and informed the ongoing quality improvement initiatives at Connections Health Solutions, a leading behavioral health and crisis services provider that combines medical and recovery-oriented treatments.
Then, hear how Carelon Behavioral Health is working to improve whole-person health access and outcomes with digital solutions.
Key takeaways:
- Understand what it means to be a digital-first behavioral health provider
- Discover a comprehensive guide for building a hybrid service delivery model and improving clinical outcomes
- Understand the power of data collection and reporting to tell a compelling story about the tangible outcomes of your services.
Hossam Mahmoud, M.D., MPH
Dr. Hossam Mahmoud is Regional Chief Medical Office at Carelon Behavioral Health, overseeing a team of medical directors, psychologists and pharmacists, dedicated to supporting behavioral health programs across multiple states. He leads the overall direction of the regional strategy to optimize behavioral health, improve whole-person health outcomes and implement innovative approaches and digital solutions to enhance behavioral health care access.
Prior to joining Carelon Behavioral Health, Dr. Mahmoud was the Medical Director for Behavioral Health at Cambia/Regence, where he provided medical leadership, strategic direction and clinical oversight for behavioral health services across all lines of business within the health plan. He has also served as medical director and senior vice president at Array Behavioral Care, a national telehealth organization, focusing on expanding access to BH services across the country.
Dr Mahmoud is a Board-Certified psychiatrist, Past President of the Illinois Psychiatric Society and Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association. He earned his Medical Degree and Master of Public Health at the American University of Beirut. He worked as a Medical Officer at the World Health Organization before completing his residency training at Northwestern University in Chicago. He is passionate about increasing access to high quality behavioral health services nationally.
Margie Balfour, M.D., Ph.D.
Dr. Margie Balfour is a psychiatrist and national leader in quality improvement and behavioral health crisis care. She is Chief of Quality and Clinical Innovation at Connections Health Solutions And an Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Arizona.
Dr. Balfour was named Doctor of the Year by the National Council for Behavioral Health for her work at the Crisis Response Center in Tucson and received the Tucson Police Department’s medal of honor for helping law enforcement better serve people with mental illness. She contributes to expert panels for SAMHSA and the DOJ. Her pioneering work on crisis metrics has been adopted as a national standard, and she co-authored Roadmap to the Ideal Crisis System: Essential Elements, Measurable Standards, and Best Practices. Dr. Balfour is a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and serves on the Quality-of-Care Council.
A native of Monroe, Louisiana, Dr. Balfour earned a BA in Biology at Johns Hopkins University, followed by her MD and PhD in Neuroscience from the University of Cincinnati. She completed residency and fellowship in Community Psychiatry at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.
Building Your Technology Team For The Future: The Emergence Health Network & Maryville Academy Strategies
Staffing the right tech team to support strategic business goals and infrastructure is emerging as a complex issue for many executives.
In this dynamic session, learn how Emergence Health Network, the Local Mental Health and I/DD Authority in El Paso County, and Maryville Academy a leading childcare organization in Illinois, have developed holistic approaches to overcoming the challenges and opportunities in tech staffing. Gain perspective on strategies to ensure tech teams are aligned with current organizational strategy and equipped to thrive in the future landscape of technology and business intelligence.
- Understand the impact of adopting business intelligence strategies to reshape your approach to hiring and structuring your tech team
- Explore the changing roles of nonprofit IT and strategies for optimizing your technology staffing
- Uncover the secrets to successful recruitment, hiring, and retention of business technology staff for the 21st century
Kristen Daugherty, LCSW-S, LISW-S, MBA
Kristi Daugherty, CEO for Emergence Health Network, has over twenty years of experience in the behavioral health arena. As chief executive officer for El Paso County’s Mental Health/Intellectual Disabilities Authority for El Paso County, Ms. Daugherty is responsible for all clinical and oversight services delegated through performance contracts with Texas Health & Human Services.
During her tenure as CEO, Ms. Daugherty spearheaded several key initiatives that have significantly increased scope of services offered to the El Paso community. As a result of her leadership, jail-based mental health services are now offered to justice involved patients and crisis intervention teams now partner especially trained police officers with behavioral health clinicians during crisis response.
During this time, Emergence Health Network added key components the system of care such as extended observation unit services and Multi-Systemic Therapy for at-risk adolescents and their families. Ms. Daugherty also orchestrated operational turnaround resulting in significantly improved financial indicators, enhanced quality measures and an emphasis on patient data analytics to improve overall health. These efforts resulted in Emergence Health Network receiving Joint Commission accreditation– a distinction held by only a handful of community centers in the State of Texas. Most recently, EHN also achieved Certified Community Behavioral Health Center (CCBHC) designation, which will help the organization focus on addressing social determinants of health with a behavioral health focus.
Ms. Daugherty has led efforts to form critical community collaborations that have resulted in expanding access points to behavioral health services and expansion of services. Outside the area of crisis services, EHN has developed services in local school districts to include school-based clinics. A strong partnership with the local housing authority has resulted in work on a therapeutic community for individuals that have mental illness and are at risk of homelessness.
As El Paso has recently faced several challenges directly impacting community mental health, and Ms. Daugherty has ensured that EHN has led in crisis behavioral health response. In the aftermath of the August 3rd Walmart shooting, EHN provided a myriad of supports and services to victims, families and the entire community. Similarly, Emergence Health Network’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a strong emphasis on mental health supports.
Ms. Daugherty is a Licensed Clinical Social Work Supervisor in the State of Texas and a Licensed Independent Social Work Supervisor in the State of New Mexico. She has a Master’s Degree in Social Work from New Mexico State University and is a graduate of the Executive MBA Program at the University of Texas at El Paso.
Carlos Ortiz, MBA, MAcc
John Falsetti
Mr. Falsetti is currently the Chief Information Officer for Maryville Academy. A child welfare agency based in Des Plaines, Illinois. His areas of expertise include managing all areas of technology and information services, IT strategic planning, staff development, database development and warehousing, electronic health record (EHR) development and implementation, voice/data infrastructures, helpdesk and user training, business intelligence, and process re-engineering.
CEO Technology To-Do List: What To Accomplish Between Now & Next Year’s Summit
The summit is over, but now what? This wrap-up session will offer concrete next steps that attendees can take to their organization to evaluate best, strategize, and implement improvements to their technology infrastructure and data/reporting processes.
Joseph P. Naughton-Travers, EdM
Joseph P. Naughton-Travers, EdM, Senior Associate, has more than 30 years of experience in the health and human service field. In this tenure as senior associate with OPEN MINDS since 1998, he has served as lead of dozens of client initiatives, served as editor of OPEN MINDS publications, and is the author of many groundbreaking articles and presentations.
Mr. Naughton-Travers brings to OPEN MINDS a broad range of experiences in private and public sector delivery of behavioral health and social services. He started his career as a behavioral health clinician, working in both child welfare and community mental health clinic settings. Subsequently, Mr. Naughton-Travers held a senior business operations management position for a psychiatric hospital system and its community mental health clinics. Later, he was vice president of a firm specializing in information systems and billing and receivables management for community-based mental health programs.
Since joining OPEN MINDS, Mr. Naughton-Travers has developed business solutions for provider and professional organizations, state and county government, technology companies, and venture capital firms. His primary areas of expertise include strategic planning and metrics-based management, electronic health record (EHR) and technology selection and implementation, operations improvement, and corporate compliance. For the past decade, over half his consulting practice has focused on aiding organizations in technology selection and implementation, including all aspects of strategic technology planning, functional specifications development, request for proposal development, vendor selection, and contracting.
He has written numerous articles, including “Winning the Human Resource Wars: Tried, True and New Strategies for Behavioral Health and Social Service Organizations,” “Five Pillars of Management Competency,” “Data Driven Decision Making: Moving to an Organizational Measurement Culture,” “Survival of the Smartest: What is Your Organization’s Information Literacy IQ?,” and “Strategic Human Resource Management: Aligning Compensation with Employee Performance and Organizational Strategy.” Mr. Naughton-Travers is also a nationally recognized speaker, having conducted hundreds of executive and professional executive training events around the nation.
Mr. Naughton-Travers received his Bachelor’s degree from Miami University of Ohio and his Masters’ of Education in Counseling Psychology from Boston University.
The Next Frontier In Managed Care: Florida Community Care’s Award Of Florida’s I/DD Managed Care Contract
Join David Rogers, President of Florida Community Care, as he explores their recent award of Florida’s new Comprehensive Intellectual/developmental disability (I/DD) Managed Care Program and what this means for the future of I/DD services on a national level.
Historically, the I/DD population receiving waiver services has been excluded from Medicaid managed care enrollment. The tide is beginning to turn with ten states having specific long-term care managed care plans for persons with I/DD. His recent award of a six-year contract from The Florida Agency for Health Care Administration to Florida Community Care, LLC, to pilot a managed care plan for people living with I/DD is a strong signal of states’ interest in how to better manage Medicaid benefits for the I/DD and LTCC populations. Throughout the pilot, 900 beneficiaries with I/DD will receive comprehensive medical, long-term care, and home- and community-based services (HCBS) waiver services.
In this session, gain a deeper understanding of the intricacies of this contract, including the overall goal of what The State Of Florida is trying to accomplish, how Florida Community Care plans to embrace this complex Medicaid population, and what key outcomes will be evaluated for the short-term pilot.
David Rogers
David Rogers is the President of Independent Living Systems (ILS) and a seasoned leader with more than 30 years of healthcare experience in both the public and private sectors. As President of ILS, Rogers is responsible for day-to-day management of the internal operations of the company as well as execution of strategies to optimize people, process, and technology across the enterprise and to continue to advance ILS as a driving force in healthcare innovation.
Prior to being named President of ILS in 2020, Rogers joined Florida Community Care (FCC), a subsidiary of ILS, as Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer in 2018. Before assuming his role at FCC, Rogers was Managing Principal of Health Management Associates (HMA) Medicaid Market Solutions where he advised and supported state agencies, health systems, health plans, and others. Rogers served as Assistant Deputy Secretary for Medicaid Operations, functioning as the Florida’s Medicaid program’s Chief Operations Officer. He has also served as Idaho’s State Medicaid Director.
David earned his Bachelor’s degree and Graduate Certificate in Health Services Administration and Public Policy from Florida State University.
The Future Of Aging Services — How Trends, Policies & State Master Plans Are Impacting Traditional Providers
As societies worldwide age due to declining birth rates and longer life expectancies, the looming reality of more adults over 65 than children under five by 2035 necessitates proactive preparation.
Top of mind for organizations looking to expand services for the aging population should be adaptation in service delivery to meet the complex needs of aging and medically complex consumers, strategies for adapting to Medicare funding, the impact of state master plans for aging, and updated public policies put in place to protect aging consumers moving throughout the health care system. In this session, attendees will explore key trends on national and local levels, their impact on traditional service providers, and strategies for organizations looking to expand services to fill this growing gap in care delivery.
Key takeaways from this session include:
- Gain a big picture understanding of how State Master Plans For Aging are influencing funding and access for aging services
- Explore critical factors that contribute to healthy aging and strategies for integrating these factors into service delivery for improved outcomes
- Examine how current market trends are creating new service line opportunities for health and human services organizations
Leanne Clark Shirley, Ph.D.
Leanne Clark-Shirley, PhD, is ASA’s President & CEO. Clark-Shirley is a social gerontologist with nearly 20 years of experience working in aging-related nonprofit, consulting and academic environments. Before joining ASA, she was AARP’s Senior Evaluation Advisor, responsible for strategic planning, building internal evaluation research capacity and applying impact measurement expertise at the departmental and enterprise levels. Prior to that, she led the Aging and Disability research practice at IMPAQ International, a think-tank and policy research firm. Clark-Shirley is a fellow of the Gerontological Society of America, teaches courses on policy and aging and regularly mentors students interested in non-academic careers in aging. She received her doctorate in Gerontology from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.
Julia Alexis, MA
Julia Alexis is Vice President, Strategic Initiatives and Operations at the AARP Public Policy Institute (PPI) where she oversees its business development, management and operations. She leads a team of professionals whose diverse skills ensure PPI’s operational success. Working with the public and private sectors, including foundations, she identifies and creates new opportunities to strengthen and optimize PPI’s impact and performance.
Prior to joining PPI, Alexis served as Vice President, Health Products and Services at AARP Services, Inc., where she created and managed AARP’s health product portfolio, increased membership and revenue, managed major service providers and multimillion dollar budgets, served as media spokesperson, and launched new products and initiatives. Alexis spent 5 years as a senior executive at an academic medical center, where she built physician practice groups and clinical practices and managed Medicare demonstration projects. Earlier in her career, Alexis developed and led significant advertising campaigns for large insurers, pharmaceutical companies, and health advocacy groups as an executive at a full service, award-winning marketing agency.
She has extensive experience in data driven direct to consumer and business to business marketing.
A member of the Society for Women Business Leaders in Health Care, Alexis serves on several volunteer boards including as board chair for a non-profit focused on young adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities. She authors blogs on health and wellness.
Alexis graduated with honors from Georgetown University, Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service, with a bachelor’s of science, foreign service (international economics/politics.)
Najja Orr, DBA, FCPP
Najja R. Orr assumed the role of PCA’s President & CEO in 2020 as services to Philadelphia’s older adults had to quickly adapt during the COVID-19 pandemic. This included delivering more than 3 million meals to older Philadelphians through home-delivered and community-based meal programs. Prior to coming to PCA, Orr worked for the Bucks County Area Agency on Aging since 2002 and served as that agency’s director until 2011. In 2017, he joined PCA as the chief strategy officer, leading the agency’s planning department.
Orr has served on several boards during his tenure in the aging field and held a number of positions, including chair of the Pennsylvania Department of Aging Cultural Diversity Advisory Council and board secretary and southeast regional representative for the Pennsylvania Association of Area Agencies on Aging. Orr has also served as a member of the Bucks County Area Agency on Aging Cultural Diversity Committee and the United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey Vision Council.
Orr received his doctorate from Temple University in 2022. He also holds a master’s degree in business administration from Drexel University and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Morehouse College. Orr was recently selected as one the 2022 nonprofit power 100 honorees by City & State Pennsylvania. In addition to being a dedicated advocate for older adults, Orr is also a dedicated husband and father of four.
Rigo Saborio, MSG
Rigo J. Saborio, MSG, is Vice President of Programs, Equity, and Community Impact at The SCAN Foundation. In this role, Rigo oversees the Foundation’s efforts around diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) to ensure all older adults receive the services and supports they need to age well. Over the last year, Rigo implemented the Foundation’s community impact plan for strategic grantmaking.
Rigo has over 30 years of experience in the field of aging with an emphasis on public policy, diversity outreach, administration, and direct service. Rigo’s career included 13 years as Chief Executive Officer of St. Barnabas Senior Services in Los Angeles and eight years with AARP, culminating as a Director of Diversity Outreach and Alliances for AARP’s National Office. He also served six years as Director of USC’s Los Angeles Caregiver Resource Center and worked as a staffer on the U.S. Select Committee on Aging for the U.S. House of Representatives. Rigo is active with numerous charitable and professional organizations and cofounded and served as Chair of the Los Angeles Aging Advocacy Coalition and is a member of the Equity in Aging Advisory Committee, which advises the governor’s administration on the implementation of the California Master Plan for Aging, as well as Department of Aging on the planning and implementation of aging and disability programs.
Rigo holds a Master of Science in Gerontology from the USC Davis School of Gerontology. He also completed a bachelor’s degree in Nutritional Sciences at the California State University, Los Angeles. Rigo enjoys traveling with his wife, spending meaningful time with his two daughters, catching a ballgame with his dad, and sharing a meal with friends and family.
Gulf Coast Center & Well Life Network Track, Monitor & Transform Operational Performance & Reporting Through Data Solutions
One of the most frequently asked questions of the OPEN MINDS Team is about operational efficiency. It is increasing the bottom line through improved workflow processes relative to referral management, appointment scheduling, authorization processes, documentation flow, and timely billing completion. This session will focus on strategies for improving data driven management skills and operational efficiency while avoiding staff and clinician burnout.
Learn how Gulf Coast Center, a provider of mental health, substance use, and I/DD services, was able to implement new technology, and transform their reporting, to inform processes and procedures that ultimately resulted in a 32% increase in the number of clinicians meeting their performance goals.
Then hear how Well Life Network, a nonprofit dedicated to the wellness of New Yorkers faced with disabilities, mental illness and addiction, was able to build a comprehensive dashboard amongst two EHR’s to better collect, analyze, and strategize to support the overall financial growth of the organization.
Key takeaways include:
- Exploration of varied uses of data to improve organizational efficiency
- Strategies for bridging the gap between operational, clinical, and financial data
- An examination of the most important metrics to improve operational performance
Felicia Jeffrey, LPC
Felicia Jeffrey’s work as a CEO in the Mental Health, Substance Use, and I/DD service industry highlights her dedication to advocacy and innovation. Her leadership approach, grounded in empowerment and ethical responsibility, aligns with the essential needs of the communities she serves. This makes her a key advocate for advancing services in these critical areas.
As a leader, Felicia’s qualities are especially impactful when working with communities. By empowering individuals within communities, she fosters collective growth and well-being. Her commitment to transparency and accountability likely builds trust within these groups, while her adaptability helps her respond to the unique challenges that different communities face.
Felicia’s commitment and dedication extend to transforming communities. By fostering partnerships and addressing unique needs, she ensures access to tailored services that make a lasting impact.
As a speaker, Felicia inspires professionals with her expertise in driving innovation, building partnerships, and leading transformational change. Her passion and dedication empower and inspire others to excel in their careers and create meaningful changes in their communities.
Dr. Devon Stanley, DSL, PMP, PMI-ACP, CSEP
Dr. Stanley is an executive in the behavioral health sector, bringing over 15 years of strategic IT leadership to his role as Chief Information Officer at The Gulf Coast Center, the Mental Health Authority for Galveston and Brazoria counties in the Greater Houston Area. A highly regarded transformational leader, he has a robust background in business transformation, digital strategy, technology governance, cybersecurity risk management, enterprise risk management, and strategic planning. Dr. Stanley leverages innovation and technology to drive outcomes while excelling in relationship-building across organizations.
He began his career as an Operations Specialist in the U.S. Navy abroad, the USS San Antonio, where he honed his skills in team leadership and operational excellence. In 2012, he transitioned to the private sector at Newport News Shipbuilding, where he advanced through various roles, from systems administration to project management. At NNS, he was instrumental in architecting and maintaining IT systems that supported a vision of an integrated digital shipyard.
Dr. Stanley holds a Bachelor of Science in Information Systems and Technology from Old Dominion University (2013), a Master of Science in Engineering Management from George Washington University (2016), and a Doctorate in Strategic Leadership from Liberty University. He also holds a graduate certificate in Public Procurement and Contract Management (2016), a Project Management Professional (PMP) Certification (2015), and a Certified Systems Engineering Professional (CSEP) Certification (2019).
At The Gulf Coast Center, Dr. Stanley is dedicated to enhancing mental health services through technology and advancing toward the “clinic of the future,” focusing on the quadruple aim in healthcare. His leadership has driven significant milestones, including improved access to services, increased patient and clinician satisfaction, program expansion, and innovative service models. With a vision for accessible, stigma-free mental health care, Dr. Stanley continues to spearhead transformative initiatives within The Gulf Coast Center and the broader behavioral health landscape.
Amy Platt, Ph.D., LCSW-R
Dr. Platt currently serves as the Vice President of Data Strategy & Analytics for WellLife Network Inc., a non-profit behavioral healthcare organization. In this position, she provides pivotal direction and leadership, while overseeing two Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems, in addition to multiple relevant software applications. Her responsibilities span a wide variety of crucial functions, including leading organizational strategies for technology adoption, oversight of critical technological advancements, building dashboards for Key Performance Indicators (KPI) and creating data analytics for state and federal grants. Dr. Platt fosters a culture of innovation by identifying priorities for workflow modifications to improve the quality and efficiency of service delivery. She continues to drive digital transformation initiatives while serving as the organizational leader for health system technology alignments, their necessary optimizations, and overall adoption.
Prior to her current position, Dr. Platt served as a Division Director, where she managed several addiction recovery service/prevention programs that included a mental health outpatient treatment program. Her additional responsibilities consisted of the creation and implementation of policies and procedures to ensure ongoing compliance with regulatory standards. She spearheaded program developments and expansion efforts, collaborated with community-based coalitions, and coordinated marketing strategies to promote vital health services.
In her role as Program Director, Dr. Platt managed staff in Addiction Recovery Service programs, focusing on quality assurance, program development, and staff supervision. She also facilitated clinical management sessions and directed key services with medical professionals. Further, her experience as a Clinical Supervisor equipped her with valuable insights into both program and staff administration as well as crisis intervention. Demonstrating a strong proficiency in designing and implementing programmatic changes, Dr. Platt led a concerted effort to enhance productivity and outreach efficiency for numerous initiatives.
Beginning her career as a clinician, Dr. Platt specialized in Co-Occurring Disorders (COD) and provided evidence-based therapy to individuals with Substance Use and Mental Health Disorders. She has made significant contributions to academia as an Adjunct Professor at both Stony Brook University and the College of New Rochelle, with a focus on a diverse range of subject matters, such as Psychopharmacology, Adolescent Development, Understanding Addictions, Evidence-Based Practices, and Group Work. Dr. Platt’s scholarly contributions are also comprised of publications centered on the perception of addiction in today’s American media. Her extensive collegiate achievements include a PhD in Social Welfare from Stony Brook University, an MSW from Adelphi University, and a BA in Sociology from the State University of New York at Albany.
With a relentless commitment to improving healthcare outcomes through data-driven strategies, clinical expertise, and academic contributions, Dr. Amy Platt’s multifaceted experience has provided her with a unique skillset to drive innovation and excellence in the healthcare industry.
Developing A Person-Centered Approach To Care Delivery For Aging & Medically Complex Populations: The Columbus Organization Case Study
About 80% of surveyed C-suite executives from U.S. life sciences and health care organizations see improved health equity as a top goal for 2024. Understanding health equity and integrating its principles into service delivery is also essential for providers looking to improve outcomes and negotiate higher rates with health plans.
In this session, hear from leaders at The Columbus Org, the nation’s largest care coordination provider for individuals with I/DD, on how they are working to develop evidence-based practices and improve service delivery to better support the complex needs of the aging I/DD population.
Attendees will discover emerging solutions to overcoming common barriers to accessing care for older adults. Plus, gain strategies for leveraging a person-centered approach to care delivery models that support improved outcomes and bolster a competitive service portfolio that supports the aging population.
Key takeaways from this session include:
- Understand strategies for improving outcomes when serving older adults, like overcoming common barriers to access and developing person-centered service lines
- Discover emerging solutions to overcoming common barriers to access and effective care delivery for serving older adults
- Explore practical tools for developing “person-centered” approaches to service delivery
Tanya Wyant, Ph.D.
Dr. Wyant serves as the Vice President of Northeast Care Coordination for The Columbus Organization. In this role she oversees all operations and business development for several states for the Company. She has also been a part of numerous projects within Columbus to advance its capabilities, providing better opportunities for direct service provider engagement. She has also been a part of or championed numerous efforts to improve the service offering for clients, with a focus on holistic and person-centered care.
Prior to Columbus, Dr. Wyant had a variety of experiences in New York, culminating in working in case management leadership when the state moved to managed care/at risk models.
Dr. Wyant has also served as an adjunct instructor in Psychology for SUNY.
Elaine Aguirre, M.D.
Elaine Aguirre is a general physician from the University of Colima, Mexico, with over 16 years of managed care experience working in various roles, from Care Coordination to Director of Clinical Operations and Medical Management, and currently VP of Clinical Operations and Business Development under the Columbus Organization. Over the last 9 years, she worked in the implementation and growth of the NJ MLTSS department in WellCare NJ. In 2024, she came to the Columbus Organization as part of the strategic plan to expand its capacity and experience within the population with complex needs, long-term care programs, and programs for the aging, as well as the collaboration with our parent-managed care company, Care Source. She grew up as an only child of immigrant Mexican parents, 1st one in her family to finish college and become a doctor, and she has 3 wonderful kids who are her life’s most valuable achievement, the most supportive husband she could ask for…. and 2 spoiled dogs.
Digital Tools With An ROI For Whole Person Care: A Look At The Digital Mental Health Implementation Playbook
Despite the growing evidence supporting the effectiveness of digital mental health tools, integrating these solutions into mainstream health care systems remains a challenge. Many initiatives occur outside traditional academic research, lacking established methods for sharing findings. To bridge this gap, the Society for Digital Mental Health (SDMH) has developed a Digital Mental Health Implementation Playbook. This resource aggregates insights from a Workgroup comprising representatives from companies and health care systems who have navigated the complexities of digital mental health implementations.
In this session, we will delve into key findings and strategic approaches derived from the Workgroup’s experiences, discussing practical tactics for overcoming common challenges in implementing digital mental health tools and solutions, and emphasizing their role in advancing whole person care.
Key learning objectives:
- Understand how digital tools contribute to delivering high-quality, accessible whole person care
- Review the Workgroup’s insights that highlight successful strategies and practices for digital tool integration in health care
- Learn about actionable strategies to overcome implementation challenges and evaluate the return on investment (ROI) for digital mental health tools
David Mohr
David C. Mohr, Ph.D. is a Professor of Preventive Medicine and Chief of Behavioral Medicine in Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, with appointments in Departments of Psychiatry and Medical Social Sciences. He is Director of the Center for Behavioral Intervention Technologies (CBITs; www.cbits.northwestern.edu) and leads the Multidisciplinary Postdoctoral Fellowship in Digital Mental Health. Dr. Mohr’s research lies at the intersection of behavioral science, technology, and clinical research, focusing on the design, evaluation, and implementation of digital mental health technologies and services. He has developed and evaluated numerous web-based, mobile, and text messaging interventions for depression and anxiety. While there has been much research over the past decades demonstrating the effectiveness digital mental health interventions, successful implementation in healthcare settings has been elusive. To address this research-to-practice gap, an overarching goal of Dr. Mohr’s current work is to design, evaluate and sustainably implement digital mental health services in real-world healthcare settings. Dr. Mohr has also conducted research in personal sensing, using smartphone sensor data to detect behaviors related to common mental health problems such as depression and anxiety. The goal of this work is to develop more efficient tools that can respond to sensed states to provide just-in-time interventions. Dr. Mohr is President of the Society for Digital Mental Health and a Fellow of the American Psychological Association and the Society for Behavioral Medicine. His research has been consistently funded for more than 30 years by the NIH, other federal agencies, and numerous foundations, resulting in over 350 peer-reviewed publications, and more than 25 book chapters.
Lisa Palko, PharmD
Lisa Palko, PharmD, most recently serves as the Executive Director at the Society for Digital Mental Health. Dr Palko earned her PharmD from the University of Pittsburgh with a specialization in psychiatry and is a passionate advocate for mental health and technology-driven solutions. Her experience in the pharma industry includes serving as the Vice President of Medical Affairs at Akili Interactive and as a Medical Director for Otsuka Digital Health. With more than two decades working in mental digital health/medicine organizations, she has been invited to advise on population health systems and pre-market applications and was instrumental in the development of a military population health tool. She has previously worked at UPMC Health Plan and Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic (UPMC). Her experience has resulted in the cultivation of a unique skill set essential for navigating the intersection of mental health and technology.
Technology & AI’s Role In Staff Retention: How A Community-Based Program In New York Have Embraced Innovative Technologies To Combat Turnover
Much has been discussed about the sea change around staff recruitment and retention in the health field. The persistent challenge of securing and retaining direct service providers, licensed clinical staff, and various clinical service professionals remains a paramount concern for health care delivery organizations at all levels.
To address this critical issue and enhance staff retention, health care has shifted its focus towards prioritizing the staff experience with technology. This shift aims to retain staff and elevate their work experience, fostering a more fulfilling environment for those delivering care.
In this session, learn how New York Psychotherapy & Counseling Center, a non-profit, community-oriented mental health organization licensed by the New York State Office of Mental Health, is leveraging innovative uses of technology and AI to support staff retention and further advance the user experience.
Attendees will:
- Explore innovative technologies that aim to improve the staff user experience
- Examine implementation models for these types of software and technology solutions
- Learn how AI and other new technologies will be helping with this process in the future
Joshua Klein
Joshua Klein is the VP of Strategy and Business Operations at New York Psychotherapy and Counseling Center (NYPCC), where he dedicates his expertise to increasing access to quality mental healthcare for underserved communities in New York City. Using his background in financial operations and a keen interest in technology, Joshua focuses on creating efficiencies and streamlining operations at NYPCC, with a special emphasis on leveraging technology to improve both consumer engagement and workforce productivity.
Prior to joining NYPCC, Joshua served as a Manager in PwC’s assurance practice, managing audits of large alternative asset managers. A licensed CPA, Joshua brings a strong financial acumen to his role, where he successfully integrates finance and technology to deliver exceptional outcomes.
Revolutionizing I/DD & Aging Support With Smart Home Technology: A Fireside Chat
Dive into the transformative impact of assistive technology in I/DD and aging support services with top Smarthome providers, funders, and industry thought leaders at the forefront of innovation. In this pivotal session, discover how leading I/DD providers like Smart Living Systems by LADD and Easterseals Arkansas are seamlessly incorporating assistive technology and smart home solutions into their service delivery models.
Explore KenCrest’s groundbreaking work in integrating independence-enhancing technologies, which earned them the prestigious Tech First Shift Accreditation in Pennsylvania. Additionally, gain insights into the Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation’s role as a certified Community Development Financial Institution and the efforts of the Age Tech Collaborative to drive advancements in this vital sector.
Key Takeaways:
- Understand how technology solutions can optimize care delivery, improve operational efficiencies, and enhance the overall client experience, positioning organizations as industry innovators and thought leaders
- Discover innovations in assistive technology, collaborations, and service delivery are driving this efficiency, popularity, and accessibility of these solutions
- Learn how local, federal, and private funding streams are supporting the rise of smart home technology
Joel Shapira
Joel Shapira is a distinguished leader in AgeTech with over 20+ years of experience dedicated to improving the lives of older adults through technology and innovation. Currently serving as the Strategic Initiatives Lead for the American Society on Aging and the CEO of AgeTech Chicago, Joel has established himself as a key figure in bridging the gap between technology and aging services. As the founder and Chief Orchestrator of BeyondAge, he helps organizations design and develop tech-enabled solutions for older adults to live longer, better in their homes and communities. He advises numerous startup executive teams on product development and distribution as well as fundraising efforts. His work over the last decade with MyndVR expanding their global growth channels enabled thousands of older adults to enjoy stimulating and therapeutic virtual reality experiences.
Joel also demonstrates his commitment to cultivating meaningful intergenerational relationships serving as National Advisory Board Lead for Perfect Pair, a nonprofit organization that connects older adults with college students across twenty major universities. He has a particular talent for fostering collaboration between for-profits, nonprofits, and government entities while creating sustainable, community-driven solutions that address the complex challenges of global aging, always with the goal of “Invigorating the Aging Experience.”
Brad Hagan
Brad has worked in the Intellectual and Developmental Disability field in Arkansas for more than 23 years. He currently serves as the Vice President of Adult Services at Easterseals Arkansas. For nearly 80 years, Easterseals Arkansas has been empowering individuals with disabilities to live, learn, work, and play in their communities. The organization serves more than 14,000 children and adults across the state of Arkansas with more than 900 employees.
As VP of Adult Services, Brad supports five programs including Community and Employment Supports Waiver program, Roommate Housing, The Center for Training & Wellness, Employment and Transition, Community Living HUD Apartments, and a soon to be launched Community Systems Support Provider (HCBS Waiver + Behavioral Health Waiver). Although each of the programs is different in their implementations, the goal of these programs is to help adults with disabilities live as independently as possible in their community of choice and reach their full potential.
Brad is a graduate of Western Kentucky University and lives with his wife, Stacy, in Bryant, Arkansas. Brad, a triplet himself, has twins in college. Brad is a member of the ANCOR Board of Representatives, a Board Member of the Arkansas Waiver Association, and serves on the Training Committee of Arkansas’ Developmental Disabilities Provider Association.
Wendy Davis
Wendy Davis served on the Board of Directors for Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation for three years before joining the staff as Director of Marketing and Outreach. Upon graduating from Dickinson College (Carlisle, PA), with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Spanish, Wendy joined Shared Medical Systems, a healthcare information systems developer acquired by Oracle, as a software developer. From there she took her technical expertise and applied that knowledge as a Project Leader in Point-of-Sale Development for Pizza Hut and then as the Internet Product Manager for RCN Telecommunications where she wrote the business plan to build an ISP and develop RCN’s suite of Internet products. She was recruited back to YUM! Brands/Pizza Hut as a technical manager and then as an Ecommerce Project Manager where she managed the development of a VPN connecting over 2400 Pizza Hut restaurants with three national call centers, and the development of Internet ordering.
But her most important role is Mom to four children, two of whom, were born with moderate to profound bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and wife to Evan who suffered single-sided deafness about a decade ago taking the family to three of six with hearing loss. Her daughter, Dr. Caroline Davis, is now a board-certified Occupational Therapist with a professional working fluency in ASL. Her son, Clark, is a sophomore in Biomedical Engineering at Rochester Institute of Technology who wants to develop technology to help people with disabilities. Wendy is also the Entertainment Chair for the Hearing Loss Association of America’s Pennsylvania Walk4Hearing which annually welcomes over 1000 attendees.
Karen Latimer
Karen Latimer, ATP, has been appointed as the Director of Enabling Technologies at KenCrest. With over 30 years of experience in the field of Assistive Technology and Disability Services, Ms. Latimer previously held roles such as Assistive Technology Specialist at the Delaware Assistive Technology Initiative Center for Disability Studies at the University of Delaware, as well as at the Pennsylvania Initiative on Assistive Technology (PIAT). She also served as a Student Services Coordinator for Assistive Technology at Disability Student Services at Temple University before joining KenCrest in 2023.
Prior to her move to the East Coast, Ms. Latimer held the position of CEO at TECH4U Adaptive Solutions, LLC in Phoenix, Arizona. In this role, she was responsible for overseeing the training and support of Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors and Veterans Services Counselors in delivering Assistive Technology solutions to clients and veterans. Ms. Latimer played a key role in helping individuals and families access Assistive Technology to enhance their ability to work, live independently, and pursue education. She also collaborated with employers to establish appropriate accommodations for employees with disabilities.
Ms. Latimer is a dedicated Certified Assistive Technology Practitioner (RESNA, ATP) and Enabling Technology Integration Specialist (SHIFT, ETIS) with a strong commitment to providing solutions in the field of Assistive Technology. She holds a degree in Deaf Education and is currently expected to finish a MEd. In Educational Technology in 2027.
Brian Hart
Brian Hart is the CEO of Smart Living Systems and ShiftAbility, a Cincinnati-based agency focused on assisting I/DD agencies in transforming from typical caregiving models to technology-first models of service. He has made it his mission to push the boundaries of what options exist for adults with disabilities. He is never satisfied and believes there is always a better way to increase the independence of others and break down the systemic barriers that hold them back. He has been at the forefront of expanding services through the use of technology enabled supports and community clusters of services. Through his work, Brian has been able to assist agencies across the country to implement technology first and remote support to increase the number of individuals they support. Brian believes that technology enabled support is the solution to the problems facing I/DD and Mental Health support agencies, and he is excited to be at the forefront of assisting agencies in this change.
Securing Financial Sustainability: How DuPage County Is Implementing Cutting-Edge Tools To Strategize, Execute & Optimize RCM
In health care operations, revenue cycle management (RCM) begins before a prospective client’s first appointment. The seamless execution of processes such as registration, eligibility checking, and prior authorization plays a pivotal role in ensuring timely and accurate payment for services. Employing technology at this critical juncture not only streamlines the intricate processes but also contributes to an overall improvement in customer satisfaction and operational efficiency.
In this session, learn how DuPage County Health Department is using technology tools to enhance RCM, simplify the experience for clients, and enhance the effectiveness of the organizational processes.
Attendees will:
- Examine case studies that have been successful in reducing claims errors that are associated with the initial stages of the RCM
- Explore the various stages of RCM and technology tools to support each
- Understand the importance of managing the initial phase of the RCM in data analytics and process improvement
Robert Baechle
Robert Baechle is a Clinical Informatics Analyst who uses data to help drive clinical and financial decisions at DuPage County Health Department. He is a public servant with a heart for helping people and uses this passion to serve his community. Rob’s career started in an inpatient behavioral health hospital and transitioned to public health in 1997. He has experience in all levels of outpatient care and was promoted into a supervisory role in 2006. During this time, Rob helped implement two behavioral health electronic health records, consulted on the implementation of an environmental health services electronic record, and established centralized scheduling for 100+ employees. Rob regularly uses analytics to support clinical, financial, and administrative staff. Rob’s expertise has helped the health department to achieve numerous best-practice clinical workflows across multiple service areas.
Knowing Where You Stand In The Digital Age: The 2024 OPEN MINDS Technology Adoption Survey & Health Services For Children With Special Needs Case Study
Last year, it was proven that value-based reimbursement is here to stay and helps control cost and quality. To succeed in that environment, specialty provider organizations must adopt new technologies that can help master population health management, data exchange, and clinical decision support. For executives to lead successfully, they need to link those tech investments to strategy for sustainable performance and competitive advantage. OPEN MINDS surveyed specialty provider organizations in health and human services to determine where they are moving toward technology adoption. The survey provides information on several critical variables and where you fit in.
Variables such as:
- Number of staff devoted to information technology functions in specialty provider organizations
- The annual information technology budget of specialty provider organizations (including hardware, software, networks, IT consultation services, outsourced projects/functionality, and IT staff)
- A unique list of technology innovations human services executives are implementing and what they are doing to progress on the path to digital transformation
Then examine a case study that breaks down one pay-vider’s journey to digital transformation, the challenges they overcame, and the impact on revenue and productivity that resulted.
Anna Dunn, MBA, MSW
For the past three years, as a President of Health Services for Children with Special Needs Inc. (HSCSN), Anna Dunn has been leading the health plan strategic direction and performance for developing and implementing business strategies consistent with the organization’s mission. She has ensured compliance with established objectives and the realization of quality, economical healthcare services. Anna has built a framework for addressing access and advocacy by developing culturally and person-centered processes, policies, and standards to produce effective clinical outcomes, strong financial performance, and exemplary membership satisfaction. HSCSN is a local non-profit organization focused exclusively on improving the health and quality of life of children and young adults with complex needs who reside in the District of Columbia. The mission is to coordinate innovative, high-quality, community-based care for individuals with complex needs and their families. Anna’s efforts at HSCSN are focused on providing excellent service to the families of more than 5,000 children with special needs in the District of Columbia, including babies born to HSCSN enrollees and youth in the custody of DC’s Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services (DYRS) and Child and Family Services Agency (CFSA).
Since 2012, Anna has served on the HSCSN board and various committees of HSCSN and its parent organization before she joined as HSCSN’s leader in 2020. Anna is an accomplished leader with 20+ years of healthcare experience across multiple industries, including payor, provider, government, and consulting. Anna has served as a Mayoral appointee on The Ryan White Health Planning Council, which is the entity responsible for community planning related to HIV/AIDS care for federally defined Eligible Metropolitan Areas that encompasses the legal jurisdictions-the District of Columbia, five Maryland counties, eleven Virginia counties and two counties in West Virginia. At the Council, she worked on establishing priorities for the allocation of Ryan White Part A funds in each of the legal jurisdictions within the EMA. In addition, she participated in developing a comprehensive plan for the organization and delivery of coordinated health services and in developing the statewide coordinated statement of needs. Her work at the Council also helped to ensure that people with HIV/AIDS receive timely and quality health care and support services, including substance abuse treatment. In addition, Anna served as a co-chair on the Advisory Board for DC Cohort – a research study funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). The study aims to establish a clinic-based city-wide longitudinal cohort that will describe clinical outcomes and improve the quality of care for outpatients with HIV/AIDS in Washington, DC. In this capacity, Anna provided recommendations to the DC Cohort Research Study Executive Committee on issues related to the study, such as planning, rollout, enrollment, data collection/security, announcing results, and suggested actions to improve the quality of HIV patient care in DC. As a PrEP Community Advisory Board, Anna advises on the strategic direction of pre-exposure (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) outreach programs to HIV-negative youth in the DC metro area.
Anna is not a stranger to the intricate work required within the disability community to ensure access, resources, and navigation to families with children, youth, and adults with medically complex needs. Working with the Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities (ICF/IID) communities regarding payment methodology, state plan amendments, and access to services, she has led projects to ensure a comprehensive approach is considered that includes the family impact and community resources to meet the needs. She is a voice for the voiceless, inspiring to challenge the status quo through advocacy and education. Her work has been in the interest of the families residing in the children and geared towards empowering and acceptance, an invaluable asset to families on how to advocate for themselves.
Before leading HSCSN, as a Principal at Booz Allen Hamilton, she ran a portfolio of healthcare compliance projects supporting the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) in implementing the Affordable Care Act to reduce expenditures and improve the quality of care provided to beneficiaries. In November 2019, Ms. Dunn was awarded the “Professional Services Heroine of Washington” title by the March of Dimes for her advocacy efforts and contributions to improving the healthcare of children in the District of Columbia.
Ms. Dunn has worked tirelessly in making HSCSN a health plan with national significance by making it a model of national standards for care coordination for children and young adults with complex medical needs.
What’s New! Innovative Programs & Funding Models For The Aging Population
In this session, hear two distinct case studies highlighting innovative programs catering to the aging population’s unique demands. Plus, get an inside look at the funding models fueling each program, with tips and tricks for making it all work together in a cohesive system.
Learn from the New Jersey Institute For Successful Aging on the GUIDE Model, launched by the Center For Medicare & Medicaid Services on July 1, 2024. The GUIDE Model aims to support people with dementia and unpaid caregivers while standardizing the approach to care, with 24/7 access to support. The model goal is to allow consumers to stay in their homes longer rather than being placed in care facilities and improve their quality of life. We’ll delve into the intricacies of this program and how it can be adapted to your organization.
Serving Seniors is a San Diego-based nonprofit that serves older adults who are more than 85% living below the federal poverty level and struggle to meet basic needs. Ms. Sinnott will discuss the Transitional Housing Program, which has aided over 1,000 older adults off the street. Learn how Serving Seniors has created a Needs Assessment and the funding they received to launch this program.
Key Takeaways:
- Explore strategies for innovating current services and developing new service lines catered to the aging population
- Learn about emerging funding models and strategies for developing complementary programs and services
- Gain insight into conducting market research and analysis to identify market gaps and develop competitive services
Lisa Bodenheimer, MSW, LCSW, ASW-G
Lisa Bodenheimer, MSW, LCSW, is an Assistant Professor at Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine’s New Jersey Institute for Successful Aging (NJISA). Ms. Bodenheimer has 20 years of post-graduate experience in the fields of geriatrics, mental health, and healthcare. In her current role, Ms. Bodenheimer provides clinical social work support to older adults in a primary care setting through the NJISA’s team-based Memory Assessment Program, focusing on assessing and managing cognitive impairment. She also provides psychotherapy for patients with anxiety/depression and caregiver support for families with a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementia. As a member of an interprofessional education team working on the federally-funded Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program (GWEP) grant, Ms. Bodenheimer manages projects with the Veterans Administration Community-Based Outpatient Clinic in Vineland and the NJ Division of Aging Services, incorporating the 4Ms framework (What Matters, Mentation, Medications, and Mobility) to support age-friendly care and build a healthcare workforce that provides quality care to older individuals. Ms. Bodenheimer’s clinical and research interests include depression, social isolation and loneliness, the impact of childhood adversity on aging, and advanced care planning.
Jennifer Sinnott, MSW
Jennifer Sinnott is a dynamic leader with over 20 years of dedicated experience in aging services. Currently serving as the Vice President of Health & Social Services at Serving Seniors, she plays a pivotal role in overseeing the integration of essential services such as social work, health education, dental, and wellness programs. Jennifer’s passion for enhancing the lives of seniors extends beyond basic care; she actively fosters collaborative partnerships and initiatives that prioritize a holistic “whole person” approach to well-being.
Jennifer’s educational background includes a Bachelor of Science degree from Iowa State University and a Master of Social Work from Boston College. Throughout her career, she has demonstrated a deep commitment to advancing the field of aging services, working tirelessly within both nonprofit and county government systems to develop innovative solutions that address the diverse needs of older adults.
With her wealth of experience and unwavering dedication to compassionate care, Jennifer Sinnott is a respected authority in the field. She brings invaluable insights and practical strategies to empower others in creating supportive environments that promote aging with dignity and vitality.
Surfing The Triple Disruption Rip Current: Strategies For Navigating Three Forces Reshaping Health & Human Services In The Year Ahead
Ten years ago, technology strategies for specialty care providers focused mainly on billing, compliance, and security, operating separately from overall organizational goals and reacting to regulatory changes.
Today’s market pressures of increased competition, the rise of value-based care, and challenges with reimbursement rates have shifted the focus to tech strategies that drive financial sustainability, growth, and competitive advantage, seamlessly integrating with broader organizational objectives.
In this session, join Monica E. Oss for an examination of key strategies for adapting to tighter margins, value-based reimbursement, and new technology options by implementing a modern, analytics-driven approach to achieve a competitive edge.
Monica E. Oss
Monica E. Oss, M.S. is the founder of OPEN MINDS and serves as its chief executive officer, executive editor of its publications and websites, and executive lead of its consulting engagements. For the past three decades, Ms. Oss has led the OPEN MINDS team and its research on health and human service market trends and its national consulting practice. She is well known for her numerous books and articles focused on the strategic and marketing implications of the evolving health and human service field – and its focus on the verticals of the field serving consumers with chronic conditions and complex support needs.
Ms. Oss has extensive experience in developing and implementing growth strategies for a wide array of organizations in the field. She has expertise in industry trend analysis, reimbursement and rate setting, and creating actionable plans for market success. In her role, she has led numerous engagements with state Medicaid plans, county governments, private insurers, and health plans, service provider organizations, technology vendors, neurotechnology and pharmaceutical organizations, and investment banking firms – with a focus on the implications of financing changes on delivery system design.
Prior to founding OPEN MINDS, Ms. Oss served as an executive with a nationally managed behavioral health organization, responsible for market development, actuarial analysis, and capitation-based rate setting. She also held a position as vice president of the U.S. risk management and underwriting division of an international insurance company.
Ms. Oss has been the keynote speaker at the conferences of dozens of national associations and has been published in a wide range of professional journals and trade publications. She has provided Congressional and state legislative testimony on issues as diverse as the financial impact of parity and payer medication access policies.
Ms. Oss has led a range of industry research and consultation initiatives, serving as principal investigator on research projects that include the examination of national managed care enrollment and service patterns, development of provider rate structures for government entities, creation of return-on-investment models for technology investments; design of performance-based compensation models within public and private health plans; and analysis of the economic impact of changes in benefit design, adoption of evidence-based practices, and new technologies.