President
Veronica Chepak, RN, BSN
Veronica Chepak is currently a Nurse Case Manager, specializing in Oncology for the Care Management Organization of Montefiore Medical Center. She has over 10 years of Utilization Management and Case Management experience in Commercial, Self-Insured, Medicare and Medicaid Environment. She is in the process of developing the oncology case management program for the CMO. She was part of the assessment development team for a major Managed Care Company. Her prior hospital nursing experience includes oncology and a Medicaid Clinic with an emphasis on prenatal care. She is an active member of the CMSA Hudson Valley Chapter.
President Elect
Rita Orlando RN, CCM, C-CDI
Rita Orlando is currently a Documentation Improvement Specialist for the Care Management Organization of Montefiore Medical Center. She has over 25 years of Utilization Management and Case Management experience in Commercial, Self-Insured, Medicare and Medicaid environments. She developed the credentialing, utilization management and quality improvement processes within a Medical Management Program for a Self-Insured Health Plan. Her prior hospital nursing experience includes pediatrics and physical rehabilitation. She also has extensive home health care experience and has worked several years for certified, long term and licensed agencies. Rita's physical rehabilitation experience enabled her to participate in the "start up" of a Durable Medical Equipment Company in the NYC area. She is an active member of the CMSA Hudson Valley Chapter and currently responsible for maintaining the Hudson Valley CMSA website.
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Secretary
Patricia Held-DiFabbio RN, BSN, MS, CCM, CCP
Patricia graduated from Molloy Catholic College in 1977 with a BSN. Her first assignment was with Montefiore Medical Center in Urology and then General Surgery where Patricia was asked to be mentor for new nurses. After passing critical care requirements Patricia transferred to Montefiore Medical Center's Cardiac Surgical ICU where she often acted as charge nurse and recovered patients from the operating room. Patricia was responsible for the development of a nutrition assessment tool and nutritional interventions that was used hospital wide. Patricia transferred to Utilization Management and then Quality Improvement. Her duties crossed both campuses from Montefiore to Einstein hospital. Patricia earned a Masters degree in Biology Orthomolecular Nutrition in 1980. The opportunity to work in managed care became available and she transferred to the Montefiore Care Management Organization as a case manager where she is today. Other affiliations Patricia belongs to are NYSNA and the ANA.
Treasurer
Linda Baker RN-BC, CPC
Linda has practiced as a Registered Nurse for 28 years in various OB and behavioral health acute care settings and has over 8 years of case management and utilization review experience that encompasses both commercial and governmental funded environments. Currently the lead Perinatal Nurse Case Manager at Hudson Health Plan, she oversees the case management activities within the plan's "Mommy & Me" Program. Her previous work experience includes positions as a Charge Nurse on a Mental Health Unit, Senior Quality Improvement Specialist for a behavioral health unit and Senior Health Care Investigator for Medicare. Throughout her extensive career she has earned certifications in the following areas; Clinical Case Management; Adult Mental Health Nursing; HIV/AIDS counselor; Group Therapy Leader; Legal Nurse Consulting and Physician Coder. Linda is an active participant in the NYS DOH Case Management Task Force, and serves on the board of the Hudson Valley Perinatal Forum.
Past President
Nancy E. Heitman, RN.C, BSN, CCM
Nancy Heitman has practiced as a nurse for over twenty years, pursuing her career goals both in acute and long-term care. Her experience in healthcare is comprehensive having worked in small to mid-sized organizations throughout the Hudson Valley. Current and past responsibilities include executive management of Marketing and Admissions for several diverse organizations including Cortlandt Healthcare, Cortlandt Manor, New York, Bethel Homes and Services, Westchester County, New York, and Director of Case Management for Hudson Valley Hospital Center, Cortlandt Manor, New York. Nancy has had wide exposure in operations and strategic management with Board level responsibilities and above all, she has a sound understanding of the need for ethical and coordinated services in addition to providing the highest level of care to our community members. Nancy has been a Certified Case Manager and member of CMSA since 2000 and remains current President of HV-CMSA.
Board of Directors
W. Loretta Bowens MS, RN-BC, CNA, CCM
Loretta has more than 20 years experience as a registered professional nurse, with progressive experience in Acute Care, Home Care and Long Term Care; Staff Development, Nursing Administration and Case Management, across the continuum of healthcare in the Commercial, Medicare and Medicaid arenas. She has published in the Journal of The Society of Otorhinolaryngology and Head-Neck Nurses. She has served on the Hudson Valley CMSA Chapter as a Board member and Treasurer. She was on the Planning Committee for the 4th & 5th Tri chapter NY CMSA Conference, as Treasurer. A member of the New York State Nurses Association, and the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Tau Omega Chapter, Loretta is also involved in a variety of community health activities.
Board of Directors
Sheilah McGlone RN, PAHM, CPUM, CCM
Sheilah is currently the Director of Utilization Review and Case Management at Hudson Health Plan, overseeing all case management programs including the "Mommy and Me" Program. She has over 14 years of Case Management and UR experience that encompasses commercial and Medicaid environments. She previously managed a maternal child health program for a leading national case management company and has supervised a behavioral health unit at a major commercial insurance company. She is also a certified Community HIV/AIDS Educator and was trained as an Early Intervention Service Coordinator with the DOH. She created and implemented a unique Pediatric Lead Case Management Program and worked collaboratively with the "Children Now Organization" to publish an article describing Hudson Health Plan's lead case management model. Sheilah has participated in several presentations pertaining to Case Management on a local and national level.
Board of Directors
Sandra M. Mitchell RN, BSN
Sandra has worked as a specialist for insurance companies, as an Assistant Director of Nursing * Staff Development for NYC Health and Hospitals Corporation and has held managerial positions with Westchester ARC and United Cerebral Palsy of New York State working with individuals with developmental disabilities. Currently Manager for Utilization and Case Management at The Care Management Company - the clinical corporate arm of Montefiore Medical Center, Sandra has developed and implemented a Prospective Case Management Program, resulting in better outcomes for patients undergoing elective surgeries. A proven leader with a history of ensuring the empowerment of others, Sandra's unique ability to harness and galvanize the diverse perspectives of others has allowed her to build synergistic, high performing teams. She believes conversation, collaboration and cooperation are the key tools needed for advancing any Case Management Nursing Agenda in the twenty first century.
Board of Directors
Joan Valcercel RN, BSN, MHSA, CCM
Joan began her nursing career as a staff nurse in a rehabilitation setting in California. When she returned to New York, she spent the next 30 years in Long Term, Home Health, Senior Housing as well as office nursing. During this time of having children and attaining a Masters degree Joan was fortunate enough to be introduced to Holistic studies which have helped to continue to shape her nursing practice. Long term Care, home care, senior services and office nursing all demand that a Case Management approach be utilized to fully advocate for the client and help to optimize a client's independence.