STEVIE DAVIDSON

The founder of Health Informatics Consulting, LLC is a seasoned leader in healthcare, quality improvement, and information technology. Her strong management experience combined with her years of consulting to physicians and large healthcare organizations gives her a unique insight into the needs and challenges they face today and in the future. As a successful healthcare management consultant, Stevie has proven expertise in helping healthcare organizations to improve their revenue, business processes and to adopt electronic health record and practice management solutions. Her breadth of experience in the management of process, people, and services has proven beneficial to medical practices, hospital systems, FQHCs, IPAs and medical societies.

Her qualifications and the key to her success is her method of business analysis for evaluating process, determining requirements and applying solutions to information systems applications and business improvements. Stevie’s career began with ten years in the pharmaceutical industry specializing in marketing, information technology, and software application training. She then held an executive position leading multiple organizations consisting of software development, implementation and deployment, customer service and quality improvement. Her responsibilities have included international software deployment, training, and customer relationship management. Stevie has written corporate standards and performed internal audits to support quality process conformance and managed a solution project management organization that was responsible for over $25 million in corporate revenue.

Her educational background includes business administration, project management, networking and technical certification training. She is an educational speaker and trainer for hospitals, software companies, medical societies, IPAs, industry forums and online physician communities. Stevie’s mission is to improve the clinical quality and business performance of healthcare organizations through specialized healthcare consulting services.

 Stevie was recently appointed to the New Jersey Health Information Technology Commission by Governor Corzine. For more information on the role of the HIT Commission, please Click Here.

Read Stevie's Blog Here

 

SCOTT R. DAVIDSON

Scott is a business and technology consultant for Health Informatics Consulting and also the chief operating officer.

As Executive Director of Product Development at Telcordia Technologies (formerly Bellcore), he successfully managed the development and introduction of one of the first voice over IP systems. He and his team were recognized for many ground-breaking innovations, some of which have become international standards.

Scott spent 20 years at Digital Equipment Corporation (now part of Hewlett Packard) where he was a pioneer in the development of networking and client-server products. He held a variety of product line management and technical positions including several international assignments. He was also the corporate representative to the Corporation for Open Systems which developed and promoted interoperability standards for computer networking.

In addition to his role as Chief Operating Officer, Scott also provides business consulting services to the healthcare industry: system selection and implementation, project management, information technology planning, grant assistance, training and much more.

Scott holds a B.S. degree in computer science from Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI). He has also done graduate work in technology at WPI and completed management leadership programs at Babson College.

DEBORAH L. “Debbie” WEINSTEIN, CPA
Principal Consultant

Debbie is a healthcare practice management executive and Certified Public Accountant with over 20 years of accounting, business consulting and financial management experience. Debbie has spent many years working as an accountant with small to mid-sized accounting firms. She has specialized in delivering business and healthcare consulting services such as accounting, budgeting, system implementation, contract negotiations, financial reporting, HR management, benefits, vendor management, compliance, system administration and marketing.

In addition to serving as a practice administrator for a large surgical specialty practice, Debbie has assisted healthcare organizations with services such as practice mergers, operational assessments, revenue enhancement, benchmarking analysis, PMS and EHR system selection and implementation, regulatory and compliance issues, and interim practice management services.

Debbie's educational background includes a BS in accounting, as well as having obtained her license as a Certified Public Account. She is a member of the Medical Group Management Association.

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CHARLES MELITA
Principal Consultant

Charles “Charlie” Melita brings a 20-year career in client and account management to Health Informatics Consulting. He has management expertise in leading strategic planning, new business development, system implementations, connecting with physician and hospital networks, operations team management, and P&L management. He has demonstrated effectiveness working in both large Fortune 100 corporations and entrepreneurial environments leveraging resources for optimal results. Regarded as an effective, passionate, and hands-on leader, he spent three years working directly for the president of the nation’s largest Value Added Reseller (VAR) for Henry Schein Medical Systems. He was recruited as a change agent and charged with identifying and targeting key physician practices and hospitals that would benefit from migration to electronic practice management solutions. He was also responsible for the creation of and implementation of best practices during the management and deployment of eRX to more than 400 physicians in three states.

Charlie spent nearly a decade in the medical-insurance industry, giving him an insider’s view of physicians’ offices and the challenges that they face every day. With the surge in regulations, risks and paperwork, those challenges are becoming more daunting. Coupled with his work in the financial sector of the travel industry, Charlie brings well-rounded experience and expertise to the healthcare field.

Charlie has served as a member of the Community Advisory Committee at Riverview Medical Center (part of Meridian Health System) in Red Bank, NJ since 2001. He co-chairs a sub-committee on patient satisfaction. He served on the Board of Directors of the Eastern Monmouth Area Chamber of Commerce from 2001 to 2005 where he was the co-chair of the Chamber’s Small Business Council.

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TAMMY MUDGE

Tammy brings a diversified level of experience to Health Informatics Consulting.  Tammy’s experience includes information technology planning, EHR and PMS system implementation, practice management consulting, training and quality improvement.  Tammy was also a clinical cardiac technician which brings a specialized focus when needed.  She has been responsible for selecting and installing hardware and software systems and providing clinical training in a variety of healthcare settings.

Tammy is highly seasoned in assisting clients with workflow, process and procedure improvements.  Her strength in these areas has provided her with proven success in increasing productivity and revenue in hospitals, medical practices and other healthcare organizations. 

Tammy’s clinical, technical and management background in the medical field gives her a level of expertise in finding solutions to the everyday bottlenecks in today’s medical practices.  With the combination of Tammy’s strengths, she is able to assist in bridging the gap between clinical and technical needs to the procedural and technological solutions.

Read Tammy's Blog Here

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TIMOTHY PACEK

Tim brings strong technical computing knowledge as well as experience with customizing and building EHR and PMS systems for maximum usability.  He is a skilled listener and problem solver.  He works effectively with staff to analyze and optimize work processes.  He provides comprehensive documentation and training as required by the client.

He has spent time working in patient registration at Virtua Hospital in Voorhees, New Jersey.  During his time at Virtua, Tim learned that optimizing the efficiency of work processes not only leads to a better experience for the patient but also to a more fulfilling work environment for the employee.

Tim is a graduate of Gettysburg College where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy.

Read Tim's Blog Here

LOURDES PLANAS

Lourdes Planas-Marino has over 20 years of experience in the healthcare industry. Lourdes brings financial, strategic and operational management expertise to medical groups and hospitals. She has been extremely successful in turning around financially unsound practices and making them profitable.  She utilizes flow charting for process improvement and effective resource utilization, allowing physicians to reduce expenses and increase revenue.  Lourdes has worked with physicians to create compensation formulas that provide incentives to enhance productivity. Her expertise also includes project management for medical office startups including site selection and office design, hiring and training of staff and implementation of Practice Management and EMR software. Lourdes leverages her skills in revenue cycle improvement to evaluate managed care contracts and renegotiate as needed to maximize profitability. 

In 2006, Lourdes was awarded the recognition of Healthcare Leader of the Year in Queens, New York and was also nominated for National Healthcare Administrator of the Year by the Medical Group Management Association.  She completed her pre-medical studies and healthcare administration degree and holds a certification and fellowship from MGMA. She has served as board president on state as well as national healthcare organizations. Lourdes has published articles and conducted presentations to both physicians and administrators on various topics including marketing, finance, billing, coding regulations and EMR software implementation

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ERIC CARR
Senior Consultant

Eric Carr comes from an extensive background in the healthcare industry. Eric has worked at the insurance carrier level to healthcare information systems and the operations of two major integrated groups.

As the former Chief Operating Officer and Chief Information Officer of Lifeline Medical Associates, a $40 million-dollar, eighty-provider integrated obstetrics and gynecology group, Eric was accountable for all facets of the operations including billing collection, human resource management and information technology. He has extensive experience with integrated group practices and medical office experience in a healthcare management environment. He has proven ability to organize a healthcare facility and to assist in the growth of an organization. He has outstanding skills in assessing what is needed, recommending sensible solutions, and effectively motivating staff to implement them in a spirit of collaboration.

His education experience is in business administration with various business and technical training and seminars throughout the years. This coupled with the knowledge of the principles and practices of health care administration, fiscal management and managed care reimbursements along with added comprehension of computer systems, programs, applications, and network functions.

Eric is a member of various organizations such as Medical Group Management Associates (MGMA and NJ MGMA), New Jersey Business and Industry Association (NJBIA) and Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). 

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KEVIN MCQUAITE, PMP

Kevin has over 25 years of experience in information technology team and project management.  He has a rich and diversified history of working in software services, manufacturing, education, and healthcare.  He has led teams of professionals and a variety of projects including business process flows, system analysis, user needs analysis, software design and development, customer support and training, and software and hardware implementations.  His many years of experience in all areas of information technology have provided him with a unique combination of skills and knowledge he can use as resources.

As a certified project manager, Kevin has successfully implemented and supported multiple EMR and ERP systems in a variety of environments.  He has worked in positions that have reviewed and met with vendors to help select the appropriate package for companies.  He has developed RFPs and conducted the search and selection of business partners.

He has worked with all levels of corporate and medical professionals, physicians, personnel, and external vendors.  He has hired, developed, and evaluated personnel to create productive teams to achieve all goals and objectives in many companies.  Most recently his endeavors are in the healthcare industry implementing, maintaining, administering, and training personnel on electronic medical record and practice management systems as well as managing a healthcare IT department. 

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MARTI SHADLE, CMA

Marti Shadle has over twenty years of experience in Practice Management. Her education, strong communication skills and membership affiliations have provided numerous opportunities to mentor and provide leadership to other colleagues in her circle of influence. She has a strong commitment to help the medical office manager survive in this complex world of healthcare operations by mentoring in customer service, practice management and team building.

Her presentations on OSHA Awareness have helped other office managers understand Federal safety requirements and to create programs specific to the needs of their individual offices. She is currently working on a user-friendly office administration manual. Because she knows the daily challenges that confront the practice manager, she is committed not only to their survival, but also the enjoyment and success of the mission.

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JAMES B. COUCH, M.D., J.D., FACPE

James B. Couch, M.D., J.D., FACPE, over the past 30 years as a practicing physician, attorney and senior executive for several health care, financial, legal and professional services organizations, has devoted his career to health care quality and patient safety, especially where the practice and principles of medicine, law, information technology, business and risk management merge.  For the past three years, he has assisted in the development of the patient safety strategy for Princeton Insurance Company, the leading medical professional liability carrier in New Jersey.  He also recently co-authored with Princeton an Electronic Medical Record Patient Safety and Risk Management Guide for Princeton’s 7500 insured physicians and 35 covered hospitals and health systems.  For the past year, he has introduced to national healthcare thought and opinion leaders the Anvita Health (formerly Safe Med) system, which is the real time clinical decision support system powering Google’s Personal Health Record (PHR).   

Dr. Couch sat on the AMA House of Delegates (HOD) for four years. He held leadership positions in three national medical specialty societies in the AMA HOD dedicated to improving the quality, safety and cost effectiveness of patient care delivery.   Dr. Couch is the author of three major books on healthcare quality, disease and health management.  He recently authored two white papers for the Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology (CCHIT) on the risk management benefits of certified electronic health records at the behest of the American Health Information Community (AHIC) chaired by the Secretary of Health and Human Services.(HHS).

Dr. Couch has also sat on two Institute of Medicine (IOM) Committees focused on improving the quality and safety of care through more effective health services research.

Dr. Couch has lectured at Penn, Johns Hopkins, NYU, Cornell, Harvard, Yale and Oxford in the areas of quality, patient safety and health policy.

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MARK MARINO

Mark Marino is a seasoned IT professional with extensive experience managing both small and large scale hardware and software system migration projects, data center relocations, data migrations and new product releases. Mark’s achievements include the design and implementation of enterprise-scale capacity planning infrastructures for all business critical production applications for the world’s largest payroll company.  He architected the capacity planning model for a $300 million production line that integrated Internet, client-server and mainframe applications.  Mark has an expertise in project management, statistical analysis, software test methodology, configuration management, test automation and quality metrics.  He has hands on knowledge of enterprise-level server hardware, software, disk storage and networks.  He is a self-motivated individual with team leadership experience, strong problem solving skills and has been proactive in implementing new technology for existing business applications.  Mark has an excellent working knowledge of corporate operations, government specifications and corporate intranets. He is also well versed in patient flow processes and financial analysis of practice management data. Mark leverages his IT background to extract key healthcare metrics and present them to physicians in a clear and concise manner.  He recently developed an easy to use software tool to identify the target production and revenue levels needed to establish a given physician compensation and to project future growth.

Mark earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the NJ Institute of Technology and a Masters of Business Administration in Management from Fairleigh Dickenson University.