James M. Palazzo, MBA – President
Jim has over 20 years of experience in cardiovascular leadership, managing large cardiovascular physician practices as well as the cardiovascular service line at a major tertiary hospital. He has used his unique perspective of providing leadership to both the hospital and practice sides of the cardiovascular enterprise assisting clients in the areas of physician-hospital alignment, integration, strategy development, effective governance and efficient operation. He specializes in the adoption and deployment of sound governance infrastructures, as well as facilitating the education and planning associated with “practice integration” activities. Other areas of expertise include payer contracting, development of clinical co-management models, and physician compensation structures. Jim has served as President of Paragon since 2007, as President of the Virginia MGMA, the founding President of the Cardiology Advocacy Alliance, a faculty member for the “Advanced Cardiology Leadership Workshop” and “Evolving Models of Cardiovascular Practice” sponsored by the American College of Cardiology at the Heart House in Washington, D.C. Jim is a frequent speaker at cardiology meetings.
Robert C. Moss – Executive Vice President
Working with Paragon since September 2009 and joining the executive team in March 2010, Rob has over 20 years sales and marketing leadership experience in the healthcare industry, cardiovascular imaging, cardiothoracic and vascular surgery; including 17 years with Siemens Healthcare. Rob also has experience in operations, strategic planning, business development initiatives, marketing strategies and managing large distribution organizations. Over the past six years, Rob has developed extensive knowledge of business models including joint ventures and physician-hospital collaborations.
P. Anthony Long, MBA, FACCA, CAAMA, FACHE – Senior Vice President
Anthony Long is a seasoned healthcare executive with more than 18 years of senior management experience. Anthony also has served in complex leadership roles in multi-provider organizations including a six hospital healthcare alliance, a heart center management organization featuring two competing hospitals, and a jointly-owned hospital/physician heart hospital co-management company with a unique payment system for achieving quality incentives. Beyond leading joint-ventures, Anthony has extensive practical experience implementing strategic partnerships and alliances, service-line development, hospital and physician alignment strategies, physician recruitment efforts, outreach development, operational improvements and supply chain management improvements. Anthony remains active professionally in the American College of Cardiovascular Administrators and American College of Healthcare Executives including serving as the Past-President, American College of Cardiovascular Administrators, Fellow, American College of Cardiovascular Administrators, Fellow, American College of Healthcare Executives, and is a recognized speaker on physician / hospital joint venture activities and outreach development.
Thomas D. Johnston, JD – Vice President
Tom has over 24 years of healthcare executive experience in operations, strategy, leadership and marketing. Most recently Tom was responsible for the development of physician-hospital integration across 10 medical clinics, primary care and specialty at Eisenhower Medical Center. For fifteen years Tom was the CEO of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgeons a 21 surgeon practice located in Austin, Texas. Prior to this Tom served as a business leader with single and multispecialty medical groups in California. Tom is an experienced speaker and served as the president for both the Texas Medical Group Management Association and Surgical Leadership Alliance, as well as co-founding the Capital City Medical Group Administrators.
Mark J. Driscoll, MBA – Vice President
Mark is a seasoned healthcare leader with over 22 years of progressive management experience encompassing hospital administration, practice management, managed care, business development and establishing alliances and partnerships with a broad range of healthcare providers. Mark most recently led the heart care service line at the Marshfield Clinic responsible for the operational, financial and strategic oversight of 20 locations and 30 providers. Mark has also held leadership roles at Cardiology Associates in Green Bay, MedCath, Omnia, National Hospital and Healthcare Services and VHA.
William M. Cherry, MHA, CHE – Vice President
William (Bill) Cherry is a seasoned healthcare executive with a 20 year track record of successful management experience. Bill has worked for academic medical centers, community hospitals, physician groups and as an advisory to healthcare providers across the US. Bill has extensive experience in physician – hospital integration initiatives, assisting hospitals and physicians in the identification, planning and execution of sustainable alignment initiatives. Bill also has experience in the evaluation, development, implementation and management of other services including physician clinics, ambulatory facilities and other inpatient services. As Director of Planning, Marketing and System Development for Yale New Haven Hospital, Bill managed major projects key to the organization’s success, developed strategic partnerships, evaluated clinical operations and participated in organizational strategy. Many of his efforts contributed to the program being listed in the HCIA Top 100 cardiovascular programs. He is a member of the Society for Ambulatory Care Professionals, Member of the American College of Cardiovascular Administrators and a Diplomate of the American College of Healthcare Executives.
Tom Freeman, MS, ORSA – Vice President
In nearly 20 years of health care management, Tom has worked in group practices, multi-hospital systems, specialty hospitals, and large academic medical institutions. Tom has specialized in developing operational efficiencies and financial improvement strategies and providing the strategic direction to facilitate the necessary changes. Tom was the COO for a multi-specialty practice management company with over 120 physicians in more than 60 offices, and served as Director of Management Engineering for Baylor Health Care System. He was responsible for developing operational improvement strategies throughout the system. Tom has a Bachelor of Science degree from Gannon University, and Masters of Science degrees from the State University of New York and the University of North Carolina.
Mark N. Mehlen, FACMPE – Executive Director
Mark has over 30 years experience as a senior healthcare executive in all aspects of medical group practice management, including academic medicine at the University of Southern California and the University of Miami. He is a Life Fellow in the American College of Medical Practice Executives and a Life Member of the Medical Group Management Associate (MGMA). Mark has served as the President of the California MGMA, the Medical Administrators Association of Los Angeles, the Florida MGMA and the national MGMA Cardiovascular/Thoracic Surgery and Cardiology Assembly. He is also the founder of the San Antonio MGMA. Mark has also served as a District Vice-President of the American Heart Association.
Deborah L. Hogg, CPC – Senior Consultant
In the fifteen years Deborah has worked in the healthcare field, she has developed proficiency in group practice front desk operations enhancement, cardiology coding and reimbursement, operations improvement, and physician marketing. Deborah began her career with Presbyterian Healthcare Systems in Charlotte, NC, where she focused on improving insurance reimbursement. She then worked with one of the largest cardiology groups in North Carolina primarily in the area of reconciling & recovering missing hospital charges, enhancing business operations, and developing and implementing long-range public relations and marketing strategies. Deborah joined Paragon Health in 2000 and has applied her cardiology practice improvement knowledge to our consulting clients. Her areas of expertise include physician coding, billing issues, streamlining operations for improved performance, front office and business office training, and marketing strategies.
Stanley D. Stephen, MHA – Senior Consultant
As a healthcare executive and advisor, Stan has 15 years of experience in strategic planning, business development, physician-hospital integration, medical practice operational and financial management, managed care contract negotiations and modeling, and other financial services. His background includes work with large health systems, rural hospitals and physician practices. He has a reputation for strong analytical/financial and organizational skills, attention to detail, and working within a team approach to provide clients an exceptionally high level of value added services.
Michelle D. Reese, CPC – Senior Consultant
With twenty-two years of combined insurance and healthcare experience, Michelle has become proficient in all business office operations, accounts receivable management, cardiology coding, compliance, physician education, and personnel management. Michelle entered the healthcare field working for Presbyterian Healthcare Systems in Charlotte, NC where she became highly experienced in front office operations. She then worked for ten years with one of the largest cardiology groups in North Carolina, initially working on improving practice revenue, managing both front & business offices, and later serving as the Business Services Director. Michelle joined Paragon Health in 2002. She is certified in CPT & ICD-9 coding. Specialties include: Physician coding and documentation education, business office and front office training, compliance, A/R Management, operations analysis and improvement, and team leadership.
Tess Turi, CPC – Senior Consultant
Tess is a highly self-motivated professional with 6 years experience in the areas of coding and reimbursement. She has been a reimbursement specialist since 2004 with primary focus on E&M coding. She is highly skilled in the areas of monitoring and coding billing activities to ensure specific compliance. Tess worked for the Cleveland Clinic foundation for 6 years and has extensive background in anatomy and physiology. Tess holds a BA in Liberal Arts from the Bowling Green State University. Tess joined the Paragon Health team in 2007.
Sandy Dixon, CPC – Senior Consultant
With over ten years healthcare experience, Sandy is a proven leader in the area of education where she has spent an extensive amount of time providing direct physician education as well as an Instructor at the Cabarrus College of Health Sciences where she taught Medical Coding. She has served on committees for HIPAA, JCAHO, OIG and CMS. Sandy has a considerable amount of knowledge and experience in Medicare guidelines. Sandy began her career in healthcare in Charlotte at Presbyterian Hospital as a Cytotechnologist and has worked at the prestigious Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, NC as well as Northeast Medical Center in Concord, NC in coding and compliance roles. Sandy holds a BS in Biology and has been with Paragon Health since spring, 2007. She is certified in CPT and ICD-9 coding, AAPC. Specialties include physician coding and documentation education, clinical and regulatory issues and chart auditing.
Darla A. Seehafer – Senior Consultant
As an expert in operations, business development and provider relations, Darla brings to Paragon Health over 20 years’ experience in the physician enterprise. From physician practice to heart care service line to working with cardiologists across many locations, Darla has designed and driven growth initiatives and created and implemented models of efficiency for cardiovascular programs in the upper Midwest. Darla has received multiple leadership awards from the University of Wisconsin, Marshfield. Darla has a degree in business administration and marketing.
