Kindred Healthcare - In The News

Rhonda Williams is the CEO of Kindred Hospital Dallas - Walnut Hill. It’s an impressive position by any standard, but what’s more impressive is how she got there. In a span of less than 20 years, Rhonda built from scratch a career she never intended to have out of her "desire to make a difference" and some help from Kindred’s tuition reimbursement program.

Despite her current position, Rhonda’s early career aspirations were by no means administrative. She attended community college for her two-year associate degree in nursing with the hope of eventually becoming a doctor. After marrying young and having two children, however, she found her interest waning and settled on pursuing secretarial roles -- a career path that didn’t last long.

Rhonda worked as a nurse in Philadelphia for a few years before a move to San Antonio brought her to what would soon become Kindred Healthcare. "When I joined the company, I really began to enjoy the LTAC environment," she said. "However, at this time I had no aspiration to be an Administrator/CEO."

The catalyst that sparked her interest and began her upward journey into the administrative world occurred somewhere between 1999 and 2001 when she was working as a super-user at Kindred Hospital San Antonio. "I began to develop a true thirst for understanding the complexities and operational aspects of healthcare," she said. "As my career evolved, I began to believe I could make even more of a difference from a higher level in the organization."

By 2001, Rhonda was planning to go back to school with hopes of furthering her position and, subsequently, her impact at Kindred. There was, however, one small problem -- higher education doesn’t come cheap. "At the bachelor’s and graduate levels, courses are very expensive," said Rhonda. So she focused on figuring out how to pay for the education she was determined to continue.

"The decision to return to school was firm," says Rhonda. "It was just a matter of determining which financial strategies I needed to implement to achieve this goal." Already familiar with Kindred’s tuition reimbursement program, Rhonda immediately decided to utilize the resource.

With the help of Kindred and her own driving ambition, Rhonda returned to school to obtain her bachelor’s in nursing and then proceeded to get her master’s in nursing and her MBA, setting the stage for her climb. From there the rest is history. Rhonda, newly equipped with the tools she needed, worked her way up through the ranks from Corporate Clinical Analyst to Chief Nursing Officer to Chief Clinical Officer and, finally, Chief Executive Officer.

Though a more direct route may have been easier, Rhonda is thankful for the advantages her experience in nursing gives her as a CEO. "I understand the clinical aspects of healthcare because I’ve been there," she said. As for her success with the tuition reimbursement program, Rhonda is very grateful for the benefit. "Adult students face many challenges," she said. "Programs such as this one provide much needed support during this stressful and challenging time."

Rhonda said her nature is to establish goals and keep moving forward. "During my career I have realized that I can't be too far away from the bedside. I believe that my strength is in having a direct impact." There is no telling how many grateful patients would agree.

Savannah Specialty Care Earns Deficiency-Free Survey!

By Susan Wells
Admissions and Marketing
Savannah Specialty Care Center

Savannah, GA --- Among nursing homes in Georgia, one of the highest confirmations of quality service is receiving a deficiency-free survey from the Office of Regulatory Services. Savannah Specialty Care Center is pleased and very proud to announce that we have been found deficiency-free on our 2007 annual state survey.
Regulations require each Georgia nursing home to be thoroughly surveyed and rated on a range of core criteria, including safety, quality of care, patient rights, food service, administration, nursing care, employee compliance and environmental services. Savannah Specialty Care Center was surveyed under federal and state regulations and was found to be deficiency-free on all criteria.

Executive Director Rhonda Casey, RN, LNHA, would like to thank all of our staff for their dedication and devotion to Savannah Specialty Care Center and the residents who call it home. We couldn’t have done it without each and every one of you!

Village Crossings Achieves Deficiency-Free Surveys

By David H. Rogers, Assistant Executive Director

Cape Elizabeth, ME --- In the 15 months since becoming an affiliate of Kindred Healthcare, The State of Maine has surveyed the Village Crossings at Cape Elizabeth assisted living residence for clinical services and operations, general licensing by the Department of Health and Human Services, and plant safety under the Office of the State Fire Marshall. In each survey, Village Crossings received a deficiency-free rating. These results are the product of excellence in many departments working together consistently over many months. Congratulations to the employees of Village Crossings.

Kindred Donates $60,000 To Massachusetts' American Lung Association

Kindred is the American Lung Association of Massachusetts' Platinum Partner for the next eight months, thanks to an unrestricted donation of $60,000. This money will be used to support special events and educational programs throughout the area. This partnership began in March of 2007 and will continue until February of 2008.

Kindred and the American Lung Association share a very similar mission, both treating people in need, and people with lung disease and respiratory problems.

"This is a win-win situation for everyone," said American Lung Association of Massachusetts CEO Jeffrey Seyler at the check presentation on June 21, 2007. "We are looking forward to a wonderful partnership that will hopefully continue for years to come."

Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony Held At Pittsburgh North Shore

By Holly Fauth, RN, BSN
Area Director of Marketing
Kindred Hospitals of Pittsburgh

The new Kindred Hospital Pittsburgh - North Shore held its formal dedication ceremony at the hospital on June 21 with over 300 guests in attendance for the ribbon cutting, tours and refreshments.

The ceremony included the dedication of a commemorative plaque honoring Art Rooney, Sr., to his son Art Rooney, Jr., that was salvaged in the renovation. The Rooney family, owners of the Pittsburgh Steelers franchise, had donated a significant amount of resources for development of the hospital during its formative years as Mercy Divine Providence.

The facility will provide two levels of post-acute care: 72 long-term acute care beds, including a 12-bed high observation unit and a 39-bed skilled subacute unit for patients undergoing short-term rehabilitation and other medical services.

Kindred Hospital Pittsburgh - North Shore joined two other Kindred hospitals in the Pittsburgh Market - Kindred Hospital Pittsburgh, located in Oakdale, and Kindred Hospital at Heritage Valley, located within The Medical Center of Beaver.

In attendance at the ceremony were, from left, City of Pittsburgh Parks and Recreation Department Dick Skrinjar, Frank Battafarano, Allegheny County Councilwoman Brenda Frazier, Pittsburgh North Shore CEO Lou Condrasky, Pittsburgh City Councilwomen Tonya D. Payne and Darlene Harris, Art Rooney, Jr., and Paul Diaz.