Tom Daschle

Former Senator

One of the most influential men in Washington today, Tom Daschle is a former senator whose lifelong passion and commitment to public service and healthcare reform is undeniable. As Senate majority and minority leader from 1994–2005, he cultivated a legacy as a dynamic party leader and tireless fighter for the common man.

He remains committed to everyday Americans, particularly in his quest to improve the nation’s healthcare system. The architect of President Obama’s healthcare plan, he is an outspoken advocate for reform, and a well-connected voice between the healthcare industry and Washington policy-makers. His recent book, Critical: What We Can Do About the Healthcare Crisis, offers exciting new solutions to changing America's healthcare system, and provided providing the framework for Obama’s plan.

Senator Daschle is also actively involved in the Bipartisan Policy Center, with fellow Senators Howard Baker, Bob Dole, and George Mitchell, and in both the public and private sector, remains dedicated to finding common ground between conservatives and liberals on the issues that impact us all.

Expanded bio

Andrew Kramer, MD

Head of the Division of Health Care Policy and  Research, University of Colorado

Andrew M. Kramer, MD is Head of the Division of Health Care Policy and Research and the Peter W. Shaughnessy Professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Colorado.  Dr. Kramer has 28 years of experience in health policy research serving as Principal Investigator for over 50 grants and contracts funded by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Planning and Evaluation (ASPE), NIH, foundations, and state govern­ment. Dr. Kramer's research focuses particularly on quality, outcomes, and costs of care for chronically ill older persons in multiple settings.  In the nursing home field, he has extensively studied the nursing home survey and enforcement process, quality of care and quality of life measurement, and the use of health information technology.  He led the development of the Quality Indicator Survey (QIS), was Principal Investigator for the QIS demonstration, and is currently Principal Investigator in support of CMS to refine the QIS process and to conduct the training of State Survey Agencies in the national roll out of QIS. He is President and CEO of Nursing Home Quality, LLC, a company that provides automated quality assurance systems and training for Nursing Home Providers.

Dr. Kramer has also conducted national research studies on rehabilitation following stroke and hip fracture across care settings.  He also serves as the Co-director for Community Research in the NIH-funded Colorado Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute. He has served on Institute of Medicine committees, testified before Congress, provided testimony to MedPAC, and frequently advises CMS staff on findings of his research. Currently he is appointed to the Advisory Panel on Medicare Education.  Dr. Kramer attended Harvard Medical School and he remains actively involved in training research faculty in the School of Medicine. 

Keith Krein, MD, CMD

Chief Medical Officer, Kindred Healthcare

Dr. Krein serves as Chief Medical Officer of Kindred HealthCare’s Health Services Division at their company headquarters in Louisville, KY. Kindred Healthcare provides over ten million patient days of care annually in 230 Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs), 85 Long-Term Acute Care Hospitals (LTACHs) and over 600 Therapy Services contracts across the country. Over the years, Dr. Krein has served the post-acute care industry providing medical management and consulting services to a variety of organizations including the Center for Health Systems Research and Analysis (CHSRA) at the University of Wisconsin. From 1989 to 1997, he served as Medical Director and Vice President of Professional Services for Living Centers of America, a diversified senior health services company with several hundred locations across the United States.

Dr. Krein is a Charter Member of the Certified Medical Director Program of the American Medical Directors Association and holds a Certificate in Medical Management from the American College of Physician Executives having completed the ACPE Graduate Program in Medical Management.

Over the past two decades, Dr. Krein has served on numerous boards and committees at the state and national level. These include the Board of American Geriatric Management Services, Inc., the Boards of both the Texas and the American Medical Directors Association, and the board of the Texas Health Care Association. He has served the American Medical Association (AMA) as a member of their Panel on Subacute Care, the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations (JCAHO) as a member of their LTC Professional and Technical Advisory Committee, and the American Health Care Association (AHCA) as a member of their Quality Committee in 1995 and again in 2003.

Dr. Krein is a Past President of the American Medical Directors Association and is the 2002 recipient of the William Dodd Founders Award for distinguished service to that association. He has served for many years on various AMDA committees and as a faculty member of their Comprehensive and Advanced Medical Director Training Programs. He is a frequent presenter on topics of Medical Management, Medical Ethics, Quality Improvement and Risk Management in Long Term Care.

Mary Ousley

President, Ousley & Associates

Ms. Ousley is the President of Ousley & Associates, which assists health care providers in strategic planning, management problem solving, regulatory and compliance issues, operational analysis and implementation of quality management programs.

Prior to forming Ousley & Associates in 2006, Ms. Ousley was the Executive Vice President of SunBridge Healthcare Corporation. SunBridge operates more than 105 skilled nursing, long-term care facilities and assisted living residences throughout the United States. Ms. Ousley is a Past Chair of the American Health Care Association, the largest trade organization representing long-term care.

Extended bio

Barry Bortz

Chief Executive Officer, Carespring Health Management

Barry Bortz has spent his entire career and most of his adult life dreaming about what the future of health care could and should be. Then he has gone out and created it.

Carespring Health Care Management has emerged as the foremost health care organization in Southern Ohio and Northern Kentucky and one of the industry drivers and thought leaders in the entire industry. As the Chief Executive Officer, Barry has led this charge and continues to prepare and plan for what has yet to be achieved.

Expanded bio

J. Wayne Brannock, CPHQ, CPHRM

Vice President of Clinical Affairs for Lorien Health Systems

J. Wayne Brannock, CPHQ, CPHRM has been with Lorien for nine years. He has been in long-term care for 19 years in various capacities, including assistant administrator, quality assurance and risk manager. Before that, he worked in the acute care field in several areas including director of respiratory therapy and in pulmonary diagnostics. He also taught respiratory therapy. He is a member of the board of the Maryland Society for Healthcare RiskManagers and is credentialed in Healthcare Quality and Healthcare RiskManagement

Claudia Chatham, RN, WOCN

RN, WOCN, Regional Nurse Consultant, Midwest Health Management

Claudia Chatham RN, WOCN, earned her Bachelor of Science in Community Health Education from Washburn University in 1983. She returned to school and earned her Associates Degree in Nursing from Kansas City Kansas Community College in 1984. She later attended Emory University to become trained in Wound, Ostomy and Continence Care. Claudia began her nursing career as a staff nurse in long term care. She then moved into management, working as an Assistant Director of Nursing and Director of Nursing. She worked for eight years in an acute care setting as a charge nurse, managing the hospitals wound care program and working as a case manager. She is presently a Regional Nurse Consultant for Midwest Health Management in Topeka, Kansas. She assists 10 of the companies 35 facilities with quality, compliance and education. She is committed to ensuring that residents nearing the end of their life are cared for respectfully and that quality is the focus of their plan of care.

Neil L. Pruitt, Jr.

Chairman and CEO, United Health Services-Pruitt Corporation

Neil L. Pruitt, Jr. is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of UHS-Pruitt Corporation where he is responsible for establishing the direction of the company and creating an environment which encourages the development and delivery of quality health care.

Mr. Pruitt is a recognized leader in health care at the national, state and community levels. Currently, he is a member of the Alliance for Quality Nursing Home Care, Board member of the American Health Care Association, the Past Chairman of the Georgia Health Care Association, a Board Member of the Georgia Pharmacy Foundation and a Board Member of the United Hospice Foundation.

Since his appointment as C.E.O. in 2001, the company has expanded and diversified while strengthening its financial structure and significantly improving the service delivery capabilities.

Mr. Pruitt graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of the South. He was awarded a Masters of Business Administration and a Masters of Health Administration from Georgia State University in 2000.

Carmen Shell, RNC, CDONA

Vice President of Clinical Services, Morse Geriatric Center

Carmen Shell has been a Director of Nursing in long-term care for the past 13 years. She is currently serving as the Vice President of Clinical Services at Morse Geriatric Center, a 280 bed LTC and Short Term Stay Center in West Palm Beach, Florida. Carmen joined the Morse staff in 2000.

Carmen has served as President of the DON association of Palm Beach County as well as serving on the board of the Florida Association of Directors of Nursing Administrators over the past five years. Carmen is a certified Quality Indicator Survey instructor and has taught the “Basic QIS Process Course” throughout the state of Florida. She has been recognized for her leadership and skill in training clinical staff on the new survey process.

Nancy Schwalm, NHA, BSW

Chief Business Operations Officer, Piñon Management

Nancy brings over 25 years of long-term care leadership expertise to her role at Piñon Management in business development, operations management, marketing and public relations, nursing home administration and social work. Receiving her social work degree at the University of Nebraska, Nancy also holds Management and Organizational Development certificates from the University of Denver and the University of Alabama. Nancy heads up Piñon’s business operations, project management, marketing, admissions and public relations services.

Nancy is past president of the board of the Colorado Culture Change Coalition, serves on the Public Policy Committee for the Rocky Mountain Alzheimer’s Association and is active within the Colorado Health Care Association. With over 15 years as a licensed nursing home administrator and assisted living director, Nancy’s teams have won numerous community and association awards and recognitions for quality-of-life programs for residents, including her receipt of the “2006 Distinguished Service Award” from the United Veterans Committee of Colorado and the Colorado Health Care Association’s “Administrator of the Year” award in 2000.