Executive Management Team

Merrimack Health Group's core group of "experts" has a singular mission -- to support their facilities in whatever capacity necessary to enhance their operations. With specialists in administration, clinical, rehabilitation, financial and information support, Merrimack Health Group is able to offer facilities the advantage of a wide array of resources at their fingertips.

John Kain, Chief Operating Officer
John Kain brings more than 25 years of long-term care administration experience to Merrimack Health Group. As Senior Administrator, John oversees the operations of three of Merrimack's owned facilities, Fairhaven Nursing Home, The Oxford, and The Lafayette. John's expertise lies in effectively managing the turnaround of recently acquired under performing facilities, while maintaining and improving their performances resulting in deficiency-free state surveys. John holds a BS in Health Services Administration from Providence College.

Richard "Rick" Kravetz, Senior Administrator
Richard Kravetz oversees the operations of Merrimack Health Group's Central Massachusetts facilities: Parsons Hill Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Webster Manor Healthcare Center, Lanessa Extended Care, and the TCU at Hubbard. Proficient in all aspects of long-term care operations and management, Rick brings 25 years of long-term care experience with facilities throughout Massachusetts. He is especially skilled in maximizing the potential of long-term care facilities, and bringing them to deficiency-free status, without sacrificing quality of care. Rick received his MBA from Boston University.

Gina Queiros, Senior Administrator
Gina Queiros has been with the Merrimack Health Group family of facilities since 2001, bringing over 20 years of experience in Long-Term care. Gina oversees the operations of Marlborough Hills Healthcare Center, Fairhaven Healthcare Center, Everett Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, and The Lafayette. Gina has a proven track record of uccessful operations management, organizational change, and positive financial outcomes. Gina is a graduate of the University of New Hampshire with a Bachelor of Science in Health Management and Policy.

Patrick Sheehan, Senior Administrator
Patrick Sheehan is the senior administrator in charge of Craneville Place in Dalton, Sugar Hill Mansion Assisted Living, and Park Place Convalescent Home in Hyde Park, Massachusetts. He received his BS in business from Babson College, and two years later, became the administrator at a nursing home on Cape Cod. In 1998, he joined Merrimack Health Group and was responsible for the turnaround of Craneville Place. Patrick has a proven reputation for hands-on management of a facility with attention to resident, family and staff needs.

Susan Fitzgerald, MSN, CRRN, Senior Director of Clinical Services
Susan Fitzgerald provides direction and oversight to the clinical services throughout Merrimack Health Group's owned and managed facilities. Prior to joining Merrimack Health Group, Susan was the Director of Clinical Operations for Genesis Health Care, in Andover, MA providing clinical oversight to 34 skilled nursing and assisted living centers throughout Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine. A BSN graduate of Salem State College, Susan received her Masters of Science in Nursing from the University of Phoenix. Susan lives in Kingston, New Hampshire.

Julie DiFronzo, R.N., Clinical Reimbursement Consultant
Julie DiFronzo has extensive clinical and administrative experience, with demonstrated positive outcomes in the MMQ, MOS, and PPS processes. Julie has been able to maximize facility reimbursements and has been instrumental in developing policies and procedures as well as an educational curriculum to govern the MMQ process.

Laura McDonnell, Corporate Business Manager
Laura McDonnell has more than 27 years of healthcare finance experience, from chronic hospital to skilled nursing facilities. Prior to joining Merrimack Health Group, Laura was a national consultant for long-term care facilities. Her expertise in the field enables her to effectively consult with and oversee Merrimack's owned and managed facilities and central office business operations, including accounts receivable, billing, accounts payable, payroll, central office and regional business office coordinators.

Jim Boissonneault, MIS Director
Jim Boissonneault has over 30 years of experience in the information technology profession. He has been working in Information Systems management in the long-term care industry for nine years and has a strong background in networking, hardware, software, purchasing, training and support. Jim holds a BSBA in Management Information Systems from Northeastern University and has several certifications in Novell and Microsoft technologies.

Renee Scudder, Senior Director of Strategic Planning and Marketing
Renee Scudder is the Senior Director of Marketing and Strategic Planning at Merrimack Health Group in Marblehead, Massachusetts. Reporting to the CEO and COO, she acts as a cross functional liaison to ensure that operational objectives align with business development strategies.

In 2003, Ms. Scudder founded The Scudder Marketing Group, Inc. (SMG). For five years SMG provided high-quality planning, research and training services to the healthcare industry. Her firm's clients included Atlantic Retirement Group, New England Deaconess Association, Sunrise Senior Living and Merrimack Health Group. SMG also worked with physician group practices, healthcare technology companies and smaller private healthcare companies.

During her 25-year career in the healthcare sector, Ms. Scudder held management positions in marketing, business development and operations. As Director of Operations, and then Executive Director, in the home healthcare industry, she has been responsible for restructuring operations to position companies for expansion in the healthcare marketplace. She supervised and worked collaboratively with marketing teams to create strategies and programs for growth interfacing with Boston area hospitals, transitional care units, long-term care facilities and assisted living facilities.

Ms. Scudder expanded her marketing and sales experience through her role as Regional Director of Business Development at Solomont Bailis Ventures, a Boston area leader in assisted living and home care.

As a consultant with The Hay McBer Group, an international consultancy specializing in performance and leadership development, Ms. Scudder had the opportunity to work with industry leaders in the insurance (State Farm), automotive (Toyota) and technology (IBM) industries. In 1984, seeking to learn about healthcare delivery in different cultures, Ms. Scudder lived and worked at The Vellore Medical Center and Hospital in Vellore, India.

CREDENTIALS: Ms. Scudder earned a Bachelor's degree in psychology from Hartwick College. She holds memberships in The American Marketing Association and The National Speaker's Association. She is currently working on her Masters of Science in Communications Management at Simmons College in Boston, Massachusetts. She will graduate in 2011.

Merrimack Health Group's facilities provide quality clinical care services including the following: Orthopaedic Cardiac Pulmonary / Respiratory Wound Care Stroke Rehabilitation including: - Physical, Occupational, Speech I.V. Therapies Alzheimer's and Related Disorders Respite Care Hospice Care Gero-psychiatric Programs Post-Surgical Conditions

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