Madison, Wisconsin, United States
People are often surprised that my expertise includes designing guardrails. Guardrails serve as barriers strategically placed at dangerous locations to mitigate risk of harm. They promote progress and are often unnoticed until approaching dangerous terrain. Well-designed Compliance, Risk Management, and Internal Audit Programs function as guardrails to assist stakeholders in identifying and mitigating strategic, regulatory, and operational risks. My entire career has involved serving as a collaborative, thoughtful, and practical partner in mitigating business risks in various roles. I am versatile and experienced in diverse areas including corporate compliance; internal auditing/controls; and risk management/identification/mitigation at large, complex organizations. I possess excellent analytical, oral/written communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills. I also gained an understanding and appreciation of both the healthcare payer and provider perspectives in my current and previous roles at UnityPoint Health, Meriter Health Services, Physicians Plus Insurance Corporation, and GHC-SCW. I currently serve as Market Compliance Officer and System Compliance Operations Director at UnityPoint Health. I am responsible for collaborating with affiliates in eight markets and 17 hospitals to effectuate and align a system-wide Compliance Program consistent with OIG Guidance. My prior roles at UnityPoint Health - Meriter included responsibility for the Internal Audit and Insurance Programs involving the prevention, reduction, and control of losses. I previously served as the Corporate Compliance Officer at GHC-SCW for three years. I was responsible for leading the compliance function of a staff-model HMO. This afforded me the opportunity to identify and mitigate payer and provider regulatory risk. I gained diverse auditing and risk management experience in public accounting leadership roles. I am adept at collaborating with management and the Board of Directors to evaluate financial and compliance risk attributable to the organization’s governance, operations, and information systems. I am experienced in leading teams responsible for evaluating risk exposure to ensure an effective risk mitigation framework (guardrails). I embrace continuous development and education. I’ve obtained an MBA. I have earned and maintain professional certifications in public accounting, internal auditing, corporate compliance, and risk management. I value civility, diversity, gratefulness, and the utility of guardrails in achieving business objectives.
UnityPoint Health provides care in eight markets throughout Iowa, western Illinois, and southern Wisconsin in hospitals, clinics, and home health settings. Consists of 17 Regional Hospitals, more than 375 physician clinics, home care services, and three accredited colleges with almost 30,000 employees. Also includes insurance and Accountable Care Organization (ACO) networks. Total projected annual revenue of $5B. • Promoted to UnityPoint Health system-wide compliance leadership position while retaining responsibility for Meriter Compliance Officer functions. • Collaborate with affiliates in eight markets, 17 hospitals, and 375+ clinics to effectuate and align a system-wide Compliance Program ensuring a framework of prevention, detection, collaboration, and enforcement. Address a variety of regulatory and accreditation requirements in the hospital and clinic settings across the UnityPoint Health System throughout Iowa, western Illinois, and southern Wisconsin. Support standardization of best practices in critical system-wide compliance functions including policies, oversight, training, communication, enforcement, risk assessments, and investigations.
• Promoted to UnityPoint Health Regional Compliance Officer after almost five years as Meriter Affiliate Director of Corporate Compliance and Risk Management. • Addressed a variety of regulatory and accreditation requirements in the hospital and clinic settings across the UnityPoint Health System throughout Iowa, western Illinois, and southern Wisconsin. Supported compliance functions for core clinical service lines across regions. Served in various interim regional and system-wide leadership roles during turnover of key compliance leadership. • Earned a CHRC (Certified in Healthcare Research Compliance) credential from HCCA (Health Care Compliance Association).
Meriter is an affiliate of UnityPoint Health and provides convenient, personal care to patients in hospital and clinic settings. As a partner of UW Health, UnityPoint Health - Meriter uses shared values to show our people and communities how much they matter. Offering primary and specialty care, including the busiest birthing center in Wisconsin, Meriter is regularly recognized for outstanding quality and patient experience. With a staff of 3,500 employees, UnityPoint Health - Meriter provides high quality of care to residents in Madison, Dane County, and the surrounding communities. • Recruited back to UnityPoint Health - Meriter as Affiliate Director of Corporate Compliance and Risk Management after Meriter’s affiliation with UnityPoint Health and after my three years as Corporate Compliance Officer at Group Health Cooperative of South Central Wisconsin. • Served as Meriter Affiliate Compliance Officer, Privacy Officer, and Risk Manager. Oversaw Affiliate Information Security Officer. Collaborated with key stakeholders to effectuate processes and mitigate risks associated with Meriter’s Joint Operating Agreement with UW Health.
GHC-SCW is a not-for-profit managed health care organization providing the entire spectrum of health care services including insurance, primary care, and specialty care. Provide accessible, comprehensive, high quality health care and outstanding service in an efficient and personalized manner on a prepaid basis to individuals in the GHC-SCW service area. • Transitioned to a Corporate Compliance Officer role in healthcare payer/provider perspective after 13 years primarily in the healthcare provider perspective to focus on and gain additional experience in healthcare payer compliance risks. • Served as Corporate Compliance Officer from a provider (clinical) and payer (insurance) perspective. Oversaw the Privacy Officer and interactions with the Federal Office for Civil Rights and State Office of the Commissioner of Insurance. Ensured that health plan offerings complied with the Affordable Care Act. Functioned as a resource to Members of the Cooperative and the Sales Team.
Meriter Health Services (now UnityPoint Health - Meriter) is a not-for-profit health care system including a 448-bed hospital, a 120-physician medical group, and Physicians Plus Insurance Corporation. • Promoted to Director of Audit, Compliance, and Risk after three years as Risk Manager. • Served as Internal Audit Director, Corporate Compliance Officer, HIPAA Privacy Officer, and Risk Manager. Recruited and mentored team members. Assumed increasing responsibility including the Internal Audit functions of Physicians Plus Insurance Corporation. • Earned CHC (Certified in Healthcare Compliance) and CHPC (Certified in Healthcare Privacy Compliance) credentials from HCCA (Health Care Compliance Association).
• Promoted to Risk Manager after five years as Internal Auditor. • Designed and administered the Risk Management Program to control and minimize organizational and patient losses. Collaborated with management and other stakeholders to identify, assess, evaluate, and mitigate actual or potential organizational risks. • Earned a CPHRM (Certified Professional in Healthcare Risk Management) credential from ASHRM (American Society for Healthcare Risk Management).
• Transitioned to an Internal Auditor role in the healthcare industry after four years of auditing in public accounting to focus on and gain experience in the healthcare industry and to add value to a single organization. • Served as an independent, objective assurance and consulting activity designed to add value and improve the organization’s operations. Helped the organization accomplish its objectives by bringing a systematic, disciplined approach to evaluate the effectiveness of risk management, control, and governance processes. • Earned a CIA (Certified Internal Auditor) credential from The IIA (Institute of Internal Auditors) and an MBA degree.
Virchow, Krause & Company, LLP (now Baker Tilly) is a regional certified public accounting and consulting firm. • Promoted to Senior Auditor after two busy seasons. • Supervised teams in completing audits, reviewed client compliance with accounting pronouncements, prepared financial statements, and assisted with recruiting/orienting of new team members. • Earned a CPA (Certified Public Accountant) credential from the AICPA (American Institute of Certified Public Accountants).
• Began professional career in public accounting as a Staff Auditor at Virchow, Krause & Company, LLP (now Baker Tilly). • Assisted with completing auditing and consulting engagements for non-profit clients. Assisted with preparing client financial statements.