Meet Rebecca Lane, Workflow and Applications Specialist

o daily operations , and we got to know her a little better here:

What was your first job?
My first “grown up” job was as a Gunner’s Mate in the U.S. Navy. I was stationed on board the USS Rushmore LSD-47 in San Diego, CA. 

What are you most proud of in your career so far?
I’m very proud that for as long as I can remember I haven’t woken up in the morning or gone to bed at night not loving the work that I do.

What are you most looking forward to working on at Equicare?
I’m VERY much looking forward to working with a new product and assisting clients with being successful in its use. I’m also excited to be joining a company that is innovative and puts so much effort into ensuring client needs are being met. 

What does workflow analysis mean to you?
My definition of Workflow Analysis is analyzing current and future state workflows for all processes surrounding the use of an electronic medical record system and associated supporting modules. The intent of all this is gaining efficiencies in clinical operations, improved task management and internal compliance, and closing gaps in essential communications.

What do you see as the major benefit of establishing a good workflow?
There are many advantages to establishing solid and practical workflows. But, at the top of my list is the ability to eliminate confusion when it comes to performance of tasks.

How do you approach training in a fast-paced industry like healthcare?
I’m flexible in the delivery approach of training services with the understanding that each site is unique. That, along with staying up to date on industry expectations and current/future challenges that clinical sites face, is important in ensuring that training will be delivered successfully and will be valuable to the staff.  

You need to go on holiday tomorrow- where would you go?
Marrakech, Morocco!!  I love the food and Turkish Baths and the coffee!!   

What would you eat for your last meal on earth?
Everything.  Dipped in Chocolate.

We agree with her feelings about both chocolate and the importance of a good workflow so we’re looking forward to Rebecca’s contribution to your success.  To discuss workflow and applications training, contact Rebecca at rebecca.lane@equicarehealth.com

Welcome Randy Hemingway, Sales Manager, Northeast

Randy HemingwayPlease join us in welcoming Randy Hemingway to the Equicare team!  Randy has enjoyed an incredibly varied career in the field of oncology including roles as Director of Oncology, Dosimetrist, and Sales Manager.  He’s worked all over the world, delivering health technologies and we’re thrilled he’s now going to support healthcare providers in the Northeast.  Get to know Randy a little better here:

What was your first job?|
My very first job was in a butcher shop.  I really liked it because I got to interact with customers, and also learned what makes a great steak. I got pretty good at it, and in high school I even judged meat competitions! 

What are you most proud of in your career so far?
I’ve worked in International sales for over 14 years, and I’ve had the chance to introduce new healthcare technologies to Latin America, Europe, Asia, and South America.  It’s been incredibly enlightening for me to see how different each health system is, and yet how each shares common ground: a basic desire to provide best care for their patients.  While it’s been eye opening for me personally, it’s also been extremely rewarding to see how the technologies I’ve introduced change the operation of healthcare organizations, and ultimately improve the care patients receive.  Making a difference like that is something I’m very proud of.

What are you most looking forward to working on at Equicare?
I notice that while health technology is improving, we have tended to lose focus on the patient as a whole person.  In the US especially, we often treat immediate symptoms and localized problems first, which means we miss a lot of the dietary, emotional and psycho-social aspects of care.  At Equicare, we’re bringing in a continuum of care to oncology, and considering the patient’s needs in full.  This brings the patient to the center of care, which is very different from anything I’ve ever done.  This is really a monumental step for the healthcare providers, who have a more complete picture of their patient’s health, and for the patient, who can finally take a more active role in their health, confident they’re being treated like a complete person!  The fact that I have the chance to introduce these changes to the healthcare industry through Equicare is very exciting.

What do you think of the state of the Healthcare IT industry and its future?
I think that as a rule, we’ve seen a trend towards the generalization of healthcare IT, where technology comes top down from large, enterprise level systems.  While this has obvious administrative benefits, we often lose out on patient care – it’s just impossible for one of these large systems to meet the needs of oncology patients specifically.  What Equicare is doing, and what I think will become a trend, is to work from the bottom up, with a system ideal for treating specific patients, while also integrating into the larger hospital IT systems. Adding these specialized services will be a significant milestone improving relationships between patient, family, clinicians and PCPs.

The ability to track patients throughout their care is increasingly key to success.   This will be most significant in reducing the number of patients that drop between treatments, and never receive follow up.  Knowing where patients are in the process, addressing problems that arise, and sharing this information not only with other specialists, but also with the patient, again puts the patient back in the center of care.

Finally – the internet has completely changed the way we view our health.  Many patients, especially younger ones, will go online and do their own health research before even coming into a clinic.  While this  generally leads to a better educated patient population, we can’t control what kind of information patients are getting, or validate it’s accuracy.  I hope products like Equicare, which include up to date, clinical education can bridge the gap, so we can educate patients with information they can trust.

How have you seen technology improve the lives of those suffering from long term conditions or illnesses?
Specifically in oncology, I’ve seen amazing improvements in localized radiation therapy.  The ability to localize treatment has not only improved cure rates but dramatically reduced toxicities and secondary malignancies. I’ve also seen major improvements in information technology that enable us as a community to learn from our history so that we don’t repeat our mistakes.  The improvements in treatment and the increased availability of  information have enabled the healthcare community to see pretty dramatic improvements in health outcomes for cancer patients.

Now that we’re in the beginning stages of public healthcare in the US, I hope we don’t lose out on these improvements by generalizing treatment recommendations. Patients still have unique needs, and a one size fits all health system doesn’t address these issues.

What are you reading right now?
This might be boring, but mostly I read journals, and especially the Red Journal. Well that, and LOTS of emails!

You need to go on holiday tomorrow- where would you go?.
Paris and anywhere in Latin America are favorites, but if i had a choice to go anywhere, and the world were safer place I’d love to travel to Kathmandu, which is somewhere I’ve never been.

What would you eat for your last meal on earth?
I think I’ve come full circle to my first job: I’d definitely chose Filet mignon.

We’re pleased to have Randy and his expertise on our team. Want to get in touch about oncology care or the finer aspects of butchery? Please contact Randy at randy.hemingway@equicarehealth.com

 

Welcome Heather Krengel, Sales Manager, Southeastern USA

logy to improve outcomes for patient.  She will manage the Southeastern USA sales region, and we’re thrilled to have her on board.

In addition to her extensive professional and clinical qualifications, we also learned that Heather has experience in lawn maintenance and a sweet tooth for coconut cake – we think she’ll fit right in here.  Get to know her here:

What was your first job?
Well there were no child labor laws back then…… I helped my brother mow grass and haul hay during a Mississippi summer (bad idea). He stiffed me a few times and I soon found that working in the local grocery store was much cooler!

What are you most proud of in your career so far?
My background is clinical Oncology. So definitely the fact that I have been able to help folks through some of the most difficult times in their lives with care, compassion, laughter, and grace. You can earn stripes on a resume, but nothing takes the place of holding the hand of a person who has reached the end stage of their life. Learning how to do that has given me a certain freedom in life.

What are you most looking forward to working on at Equicare?
I can’t wait to help educate cancer care sites on how to build strong successful navigation and survivorship programs that will serve them and their patients well for years to come. There is a clear, growing need for both of these right now, and folks need to know how it can be done well from the get-go.

What do you think of the state of the Healthcare IT industry  and how it relates to oncology?
The Oncology industry is booming! With the aging of the “baby boomers” and even the generation that followed, we are starting to need more and more health care. Thankfully there are more choices in treatments and technologies and increasing numbers of places in which to be treated. Healthcare IT is absolutely vital in order to link technologies together with sites and services to help give the patient the most beneficial outcome. It’s not “one stop shopping” any longer. Healthcare IT must be able to connect various networks together in order to follow and track that patient for best practices and outcomes. I’m so thankful to represent one of the software companies that can do just that.

How have you seen technology improve the lives of those suffering from long term conditions or illnesses?
I am a huge believer in early detection! Whether it be through genetic testing, age appropriate examinations, or preventive care, we could not have seen the survivorship and wellness numbers expand the way they have over the last couple of decades without the advances in technology. I have seen adults that were diagnosed with colon cancer or breast cancer who were able to spare their children the same fate due to a simple blood test – that’s the kind of technology that I can get excited about.

What are you reading right now?
The Boys in the Boat

You need to go on holiday tomorrow- where would you go?
New Zealand. I hear the hiking and people are amazing.

What would you eat for your last meal on earth?
That one is easy, my mother’s homemade coconut cake. Probably the entire thing.

Want to get in touch with Heather to discuss your survivorship and navigation program needs  (or just share your magic advice for managing a three year old)?  Heather will be be happy to hear from you at heather.krengel@equicarehealth.com

Welcome Margaret Nash, VP of Sales

to get her insights on the  value of healthcare IT, as well as the merits of her mom’s apple pie…..

What was your first job?
Well this question is going to show my age unfortunately- my first job was exporting cobalt machines and sources to hospitals throughout the world.

What are you most proud of in your career so far?
That I have been able to work with healthcare providers, gain a deeper understanding of their needs, and ultimately find solutions that enable them to make a difference in the lives of oncology patients and their families.

What are you most looking forward to working on at Equicare?
Mostly, I’m looking forward to working with this incredibly talented start up organization in an effort to supply healthcare providers and patients with the tools to manage chronic illnesses.

What do you think of the state of the Healthcare IT industry and its future?
That’s a tough question. Honestly Obama care is scaring a lot of people and causing an uproar. The next 18 months will be interesting.

How have you seen technology improve the lives of those suffering from long term conditions or illnesses?
I think the answer lies in the question, in that today many conditions can be managed. For example, years ago no one would have referred to cancer as being a manageable disease. We treated the cancer, but it was viewed by the patient as a death sentence. Today, through the advancement of many different technologies, clinicians can detect and diagnose cancer down to the biological level, customize a treatment regime and create a pathway for a patient to participate in their own care plan post treatment. Technology has made this all possible.

I’m reminded by this even more everyday when I’m able to talk to my mom!  She had stage 3 breast cancer, both breasts were preserved and shes been cancer free for almost 5 years now. Years ago, she would have been looking at a radical mastectomy and I can almost guarantee that her outlook on life wouldn’t even be close to where it is today.

What are you reading right now?
I’m just getting ready to start a new one titled “Half Time”. My husband thought I would enjoy it. I’ll have to let you know if he was right.

You need to go on holiday tomorrow- where would you go?
That’s easy –  Curacao !

What would you eat for your last meal on earth?
Ahh, another easy one, “my mom’s hot apple pie”

We’re pleased to welcome Marageret to the team and look forward to her contributions.  Want to ask her a question about her next holiday in Curacao or get her thoughts on the healthcare industry?  Feel free to send her a message at margaret.nash@equicarehealth.com 

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