Gayle Smith, RN, MBA – Vice President of Public Programs
Ms. Smith directs the Ohio Quality Improvement Organization (QIO) contract with
the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Program (CMS) 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 surgeon, director of vascular surgery, and medical
director. He currently serves as a committee leader in the MidWest CKD Coalition
and on the Board of Directors for the Northeast Ohio Regional Health Information
Organization (NEO RHIO).
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.
Jennifer Bitterman, MBA, RHIA – Review Director
Ms. Bitterman has managed the Ohio case review program, promoted the Hospital Payment
Monitoring Program, and encouraged Ohio providers to employ quality improvement
methodologies since 1999. She is currently responsible for all beneficiary protection
requirements under the current QIO contract and she co-chairs the CMS QIO Case Review
Workgroup. Ms. Bitterman has also worked for a third party administrator and in
medical records departments in the inpatient hospital setting.
Bonnie Hollopeter, LPN, CPHQ, CPHIT – Project Manager
Ms. Hollopeter manages the physician office electronic health records project and
the drug safety project under the CMS QIO contract in Ohio. She is experienced with
helping Ohio practices implement electronic health records, promoting preventive
services covered by Medicare, and encouraging safe and appropriate use of medication
in the elderly population. She also has experience working in an Ohio family practice
as a nurse/office manager, teaching outcomes-based quality improvement methodology,
and abstracting data for hospitals, physician offices and managed care organizations.
She holds certification in healthcare quality, electronic health records, health
information technology, and research education.
Susan M. Garlando – 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 CMS study 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.