Committees

This committee acts on behalf of the board of directors between its meetings and submits such actions to the board for ratification.
Chairperson: Will Groneman, TriHealth
Council Staff: Colleen O’Toole, PhD, President

Membership is comprised of individuals associated with utilization hospital data statistic collection and usage. The data statistics collected are valuable for planning, marketing, research, human resources and advocacy issues.
Chairperson: Diane Dieckman, UC Health
Council Staff: Jason Bubenhofer, Data Services Associate

This committee assists the board and members collectively on issues related to health care financial management. It advises the Council staff on financial issues and operations including oversight of the yearly budget and audit processes, as well as investment activities.
Chairperson: Mike Bauer, The Christ Hospital
Council Staff: Mike Cheney, Controller and Director of Finance

This committee annually develops a slate of nominees for election as officers and directors for the subsequent calendar year, annually reviews the Health Council’s Code of Regulations making recommendations for revisions when indicated, and makes recommendations to the board of directors on board self-evaluation processes and other good governance practices, as needed.
Chairperson: Timothy Putnam, Margaret Mary Community Hospital
Council Staff: Colleen O’Toole, PhD, President

This committee identifies and prioritizes key communication issues for the Council and its members, develops and implements proactive communication strategies that positively promote member hospitals and serves as a resource and consultant to membership on crisis communication issues.
Chairperson: Paul Hiltz, Mercy Health – Anderson Hospital 
Council Staff: Brenda Yablonsky, Director of Communications

This committee evaluates the Health Council’s future direction, recommends refinements to the current Strategic Plan, as needed, and triennially, develops and recommends a new strategic plan to the board of directors and membership. Chairperson: Chris Carle, St. Elizabeth Healthcare
Council Staff: Colleen O’Toole, PhD, President

This committee is responsible for driving measurable improvements in patient safety and quality through shared accountability by defining, monitoring and overseeing improvement metrics. Membership includes VPMAs, CMOs, medical Directors, CEOs, quality directors, Cincinnati Health Department, Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) representatives and AF4Q liaison.
Chairpersons: Georges Feghali, MD, TriHealth and Robert Wones, MD, University Hospital
Council Staff: Dora Anim, Assistant Vice President, Quality and Data

Membership is comprised of representatives from affiliate member organizations.
Advisory Board: Margie Berryman, Cottingham Retirement Community; Janie Krechting, Wellspring at Evergreen Retirement Community; Fred Jamison, Garden Park Health Care Center; Steve Schreck, Loveland Health Care Center
Council Staff: Barbara Banks, Director, Member Services

Membership is comprised of individuals from member hospitals who are responsible for some aspect of disaster/terrorism preparedness response and grant-related responsibilities as well as representatives from other area partner disaster response organizations.
Chairperson: Terry Hellman, TriHealth
Council Staff: Tonda Francis, Vice President and Nakia Paris, Emergency Readiness and Safety Project Coordinator 

Membership is comprised of those responsible for managing the emergency department at member hospitals.
Council Staff: Tonda Francis, Vice President

Membership is comprised of individuals from member hospitals and Council affiliate members active in the field of dietary management and purchasing.
Advisory Board: Amber Adams, Alois Alzheimer Center; Amy Houpey, McCullough-Hyde Memorial Hospital; Rex Stewart, Talbert House – ADAS Center; John Wahl, Drake Center
Council Staff: Amy Ewing, Vice President, Shared Services

Membership is comprised of senior human resources professionals from member hospitals and Council affiliate members.
Chairperson: Walter McLarty, TriHealth
Council Staff: Mary Duffey, Executive Director, Health Care Workforce Center

Membership is comprised of nurses and physicians from member hospitals responsible for infection prevention and control policies and practices.
Chairpersons: Lyn Plummer, Bethesda North Hospital
Council Staff: Tonda Francis, Vice President and Nakia Paris, Emergency Readiness and Safety Project Coordinator

Membership is comprised of hospital managers from a variety of departments including language services, nursing diversity, patient representation, community advocacy and organizational effectiveness.
Chairperson: Kathy Justice, The Christ Hospital
Council Staff: Amy Ewing, Vice President, Shared Services and Maurie Hanauer, Project Manager

Membership is comprised of chief nursing officers, nursing educators, staff educators and staff nurses.
Chairpersons: Darla Vale, College of Mount St. Joseph and Julie Holt, Mercy Health – Anderson Hospital 
Council Staff: Mary Duffey, Executive Director, Health Care Workforce Center

Membership is comprised of professionals responsible for occupational and environmental safety and health functions of member hospitals and long-term care facilities.
Chairperson: Mike Gabennesch, TriHealth
Council Staff: Tonda Francis, Vice President and Nakia Paris, Emergency Readiness and Safety Project Coordinator

Membership is comprised of member hospitals’ security, safety, and protective services professionals and area public safety representatives.
Chairperson: Bonna Bauer, Mercy Health – Clermont Hospital 
Council Staff: Tonda Francis, Vice President and Nakia Paris, Emergency Readiness and Safety Project Coordinator

Membership is comprised of materials management officers from member hospitals and Council affiliate members.
Chairperson: Suresh Nirody, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center
Council Staff: Amy Ewing, Vice President, Shared Services

Membership is comprised of individuals active in the field of health care engineering, facilities management and related disciplines.
Chairperson: Steve Curtis, Good Samaritan Hospital 
Council Staff: Amy Ewing, Vice President, Shared Services

This committee is responsible for enhancing trauma care in the Tristate through collaboration, data-driven performance improvement, and coordinated educational programs. Membership is comprised of individuals involved in the care of trauma patients and/or in area hospital trauma programs.
Chairperson: Peter Muskat, MD, University Hospital
Council Staff: Tonda Francis, Vice President and Kelly Harrison, Regional Trauma Data and Education Coordinator 

Membership is comprised of directors of facilities management and engineering from member hospitals and Council affiliate and associate members.
Chairperson: Jason Watkins, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center
Council Staff:Amy Ewing, Vice President, Shared Services

Membership is comprised of Council affiliate members with compensation administration responsibility.
Council Staff: Barbara Banks, Director, Member Services

Membership is comprised of human resources professionals with benefits administration responsibility at member hospitals.
Council Staff: Mary Duffey, Executive Director, Health Care Workforce Center; Dora Anim, Assistant Vice President, Quality and Data; and Jason Bubenhofer, Data Services Coordinator

Membership is comprised of human resources professionals with compensation administration responsibility at member hospitals.
Chairperson: Tim Ruffner, TriHealth
Council Staff: Mary Duffey, Executive Director, Health Care Workforce Center; Dora Anim, Assistant Vice President, Quality and Data; and Jason Bubenhofer, Data Services Coordinator

Membership is comprised of health care recruiters from member hospitals.
Chairperson: Eva Carr, Dearborn County Hospital
Council Staff: Mary Duffey, Executive Director, Health Care Workforce Center

This group is a sub-committee of the Infection Control Committee. The group was formed in 2005 to develop guidelines and best practices for improving the overall immunization rates for seasonal influenza.
Chairperson: Stephen Blatt, MD, Infectious Diseases Consultants of Cincinnati
Council Staff: Tonda Francis, Vice President

Membership is comprised of human resource professionals with recruitment responsibilities at member hospitals as well as community partners in health care education organizations.
Chairperson: Ronald Hitzler, Shriners Hospitals for Children – Cincinnati
Council Staff: Mary Duffey, Executive Director, Health Care Workforce Center

Membership is comprised of hospital controllers and chief financial officers.
Chairpersons: Mike Bauer, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center
Council Staff: Mike Cheney, Controller and Director of Finance

Membership is comprised of hospital patient financial services executives.
Chairperson: Craig Cain, The Christ Hospital
Council Staff: Rick Delewski, Vice President, Business Development and Operations

Membership is comprised of individuals from area hospitals with responsibility for or interest in patient safety.
Chairperson: Stephen Muething, MD, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center
Council Staff: Dora Anim, Assistant Vice President, Quality and Data and Erin Hart, Quality Program Associate

Membership is comprised of pharmacy directors from member hospitals.
Chairperson: Bill Carroll, Mercy Health – Anderson Hospital 
Council Staff: Dora Anim, Assistant Vice President, Quality and Data

Membership is comprised of quality resource management/accreditation professionals from member hospitals.
Chairperson: Mary Anne Morris, RN, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center
Council Staff: Dora Anim, Assistant Vice President, Quality and Data and Erin Hart, Quality Program Associate

Membership is comprised of human resources professionals with vacancy/turnover administration responsibility at member hospitals.
Council Staff: Mary Duffey, Executive Director, Health Care Workforce Center; Dora Anim, Assistant Vice President, Quality and Data; and Jason Bubenhofer, Data Services Coordinator

Membership is comprised of hospital and community representatives who provide guidance on the overall plan to expand reporting of consumer-relevant hospital data on the YourHealthMatters website
Council Staff: Lori Barhorst, Project Manager Transformation Grants
The Health Collaborative Staff: Judy Hirsch

Membership is comprised of hospital/health system representatives appointed by their chief executive officers to facilitate work to reduce health disparities in outcomes and treatment.
Council Staff: Nancy Strassel, Senior Vice President
Project Consultant: Lisa R. Sloane

Membership is comprised of individuals responsible for the administration of the institutional review board at their member hospital or health system.
Chairperson: Michael Linke, PhD, Chair University of Cincinnati Institutional Review Board Physical Scientist, Cincinnati VA Medical Center, Veterans Affairs Medical Center
Council Staff: Nancy Strassel, Senior Vice President

Membership is comprised of hospital engineers from the Utility Committee with a focus on electric energy issues of significant impact to member facilities and the local community.
Council Staff: Amy Ewing, Vice President, Shared Services assisted by Dick Wiese, Consultant

This committee is responsible for standardizing the data elements contained in the hospital EMR systems relative to patient continuity of care to ensure a consistent transition of care for patients in Greater Cincinnati discharged from local hospitals to community-based care.  Membership includes: CNOs, VPMAs, quality directors, CIOs, CMOs, HealthBridge representatives, Visiting Nurses Association and Long Term Care facilities reps as well as primary care physicians.
Chairperson: John Kennedy, MD, Mercy Health – Fairfield Hospital
Council Staff: Dora Anim, Assistant Vice President, Quality and Data

Membership is comprised of professionals representing a variety of fields including: patient care, management, executive management and education.
Chairpersons: Robert Collins, MD, Bethesda North Hospital and Leonard Randolph, MD, Mercy Health
Council Staff: Dora Anim, Assistant Vice President, Quality and Data, and Jason Bubenhofer, Data Services Coordinator

Membership is comprised of hospital and community representatives who are orchestrating a standardized approcah to Race, Ethnicity, and Language (REL) data collection that is consistent in terms of categories of REL and method of data collection.
Council Staff: Nancy Strassel, Senior Vice President

Membership is comprised of individuals who head the sustainability programs at local hospitals.
Advisory Board: Gyasi Chisley, Mercy Health; Marc Feldman, UC Health; Trish Hunter, Margaret Mary Community Hospital
Council Staff: Marie Hanauer, Project Manager

Membership is comprised of select hospital systems executives, material managers and business and community leaders.
Chairpersons: Michael Connelly, Catholic Healthcare Partners and Susan Croushore, The Christ Hospital
Council Staff: Amy Ewing, Vice President, Shared Services