Gayle Smith, RN, MBA – Vice President of Public Programs
Ms. Smith directs the Ohio Quality Improvement Organization contract with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services program and other KePRO public programs. She establishes long-term and short-term action plans for business development and strategic planning. With more than 20 years in the health care field, she also has a successful record of coordinating and building new hospital facilities, establishing health system networks, recruiting physicians, and working in close collaboration with government and health system agencies. Prior to working with KePRO, Ms. Smith has experience in many levels of the Ohio healthcare system from clinical staff nurse, to unit director, to vice president at Aultman Health Foundation in Canton, Ohio.
Dr. Savrin ensures medical integrity of interventions, leading quality improvement initiatives, and lecturing to medical organizations in Ohio. He has more than 30 years experience in healthcare as a vascular surgeon, Surgical Residency Program Director, Chairman of Surgery, Chief of Vascular Surgery, and Medical Director. A past-president of the Academy of Medicine of Cleveland and Northern Ohio and of the Cleveland Vascular Society, having recently served as Chairman of the Governor's Ohio Health Care Coverage and Quality Council Health Information Technology Taskforce and the Governor’s Health Benefits Exchange Task Force, he currently serves on the Board of Trustees of the Academy of Medicine Education Foundation.
Ms. Bowling has performed in several key management capacities within the organization since 1999. Ms. Bowling has been instrumental in launching several successful topic-specific statewide coalitions, and continues to work closely with key stakeholders within the state of Ohio. She offers more than 30 years of experience in acute care, with expertise in clinical matters, quality improvement, project management, and physician relations. She has also served as chairman of the Health Care Quality Improvement Program (HCQIP) National Network through the American Healthcare Quality Association (AHQA) and successfully reorganized this group to more effectively meet the needs of multiple provider type teams within the HCQIP program.
Ms. Simsic is responsible for the day-to-day management of case review activities, including timeliness and reporting to CMS. She has over 23 years of experience in acute care with expertise in utilization review, denial management, and case management. She has participated in statewide initiatives to help decrease the readmission rates in the acute care hospitals. Ms. Simsic joined the KePRO team in 2011.
Ms. Garlando is responsible for the development of the organization’s strategic marketing and communications programs throughout the state of Ohio, as well as for the direction of the media relations, consumer outreach and legislative relations. Ms. Garlando successfully led a special study for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services that focused on increasing beneficiary awareness of available Medicare services. She has also been active in establishing and managing health and wellness programs, services and product lines across various healthcare settings for more than 20 years.
Ms. Smith directs the Ohio Quality Improvement Organization contract with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services program and other KePRO public programs. She establishes long-term and short-term action plans for business development and strategic planning. With more than 20 years in the health care field, she also has a successful record of coordinating and building new hospital facilities, establishing health system networks, recruiting physicians, and working in close collaboration with government and health system agencies. Prior to working with KePRO, Ms. Smith has experience in many levels of the Ohio healthcare system from clinical staff nurse, to unit director, to vice president at Aultman Health Foundation in Canton, Ohio.
Ronald Savrin, MD, MBA, FACS – Medical Director
Dr. Savrin ensures medical integrity of interventions, leading quality improvement initiatives, and lecturing to medical organizations in Ohio. He has more than 30 years experience in healthcare as a vascular surgeon, Surgical Residency Program Director, Chairman of Surgery, Chief of Vascular Surgery, and Medical Director. A past-president of the Academy of Medicine of Cleveland and Northern Ohio and of the Cleveland Vascular Society, having recently served as Chairman of the Governor's Ohio Health Care Coverage and Quality Council Health Information Technology Taskforce and the Governor’s Health Benefits Exchange Task Force, he currently serves on the Board of Trustees of the Academy of Medicine Education Foundation.
Rita Bowling, RN, BSN, MBA, CPHQ – Project Director
Ms. Bowling has performed in several key management capacities within the organization since 1999. Ms. Bowling has been instrumental in launching several successful topic-specific statewide coalitions, and continues to work closely with key stakeholders within the state of Ohio. She offers more than 30 years of experience in acute care, with expertise in clinical matters, quality improvement, project management, and physician relations. She has also served as chairman of the Health Care Quality Improvement Program (HCQIP) National Network through the American Healthcare Quality Association (AHQA) and successfully reorganized this group to more effectively meet the needs of multiple provider type teams within the HCQIP program.
Kelly Simsic, RN –Review Manager
Ms. Simsic is responsible for the day-to-day management of case review activities, including timeliness and reporting to CMS. She has over 23 years of experience in acute care with expertise in utilization review, denial management, and case management. She has participated in statewide initiatives to help decrease the readmission rates in the acute care hospitals. Ms. Simsic joined the KePRO team in 2011.
Susan M. Garlando, BA – Marketing and Communications Supervisor
Ms. Garlando is responsible for the development of the organization’s strategic marketing and communications programs throughout the state of Ohio, as well as for the direction of the media relations, consumer outreach and legislative relations. Ms. Garlando successfully led a special study for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services that focused on increasing beneficiary awareness of available Medicare services. She has also been active in establishing and managing health and wellness programs, services and product lines across various healthcare settings for more than 20 years.
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