Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Accomplishments
References
Timeline
Generic

Dr. Joseph Tatara

Auburn,AL

Summary

Dynamic Area Vice President with a demonstrated history of success across diverse business functions at Amedisys Home Health. Skilled in strategic thinking, innovation, and process optimization to enhance operational performance and drive superior clinical outcomes. Passionate about leveraging cutting-edge technology and creative problem-solving to improve efficiency, deliver best in class quality outcomes, foster a culture suitable to allow organizational growth, and elevate the overall patient experience. Possessing a strong foundation in both clinical and operational leadership, I excel at cross-functional collaboration with business, operations, and clinical teams to align strategy, achieve financial and quality targets, and enhance overall team performance. If you are interested in a driven, innovative, ambitious leader with a competitive nature aimed at being their best self in any position they occupy, I believe I would be a great asset to your team.

Overview

10
10
years of professional experience

Work History

Area Vice President of Operations

Amedisys Home Health
Tuscaloosa, AL
12.2023 - Current
  • Works in conjunction with the SVP Operations and Corporate Finance Department to establish care centers revenue and budget goals.
  • Monitors Profit & Loss statements and makes adjustments to operations, staffing and expenses accordingly.
  • Partners with Business Development (BD) personnel to meet admission and revenue goals. Participates in sales and marketing activities.
  • Provides support, direction and monitors the performance of the Directors of Operations within area of responsibility.
  • Works closely with region clinical and business development support staff to ensure Clinical, BD and Operational excellence.
  • Responsible for care centers financial performance and monitoring performance to budget. Organizes and directs all of the care center functions and participates on the budget committee. Implements budget and accounting systems and maintains fiscal controls. Oversees and ensures compliance with regulatory agencies and requirements of third party payers.
  • Ensures final audits/billings are completed timely and in compliance with payer requirements.
  • Oversees implementation of the EMR record and reporting systems to ensure proper service control and measurement of program outcome.
  • Ensures evaluation of all agency programs and staff.
  • Monitors and evaluates employee performance. Holds employees accountable for the attainment of defined goals and objectives.
  • Executes effective performance redirection when needed.
  • Develops employees through coaching, mentoring, and formal/on the job training and development opportunities.

PRN Weekend Physical Therapist

Jack Hughston Memorial Hospital
Phenix City, AL
02.2019 - Current
  • Evaluate patients to assess functional limitations and developed a treatment plan
  • Monitor patient progress and modify treatment plans accordingly
  • Instructed patients in proper use of equipment and therapeutic exercises
  • Provided education to families, caregivers, staff and other healthcare professionals regarding physical therapy treatments, safety procedures
  • Developed home programs for patients to continue their rehabilitation at home
  • Collaborate with physicians to develop individualized care plans for each patient's needs upon discharge

Area Vice President of Clinical

Amedisys Home Health
Opelika, AL
02.2023 - 12.2023
  • Responsible for ensuring compliance with local, state, and federal regulations
  • Performed comprehensive analysis of clinical process management in the care center
  • Evaluated care center management of clinical personnel and adherence to company policies through interview and personnel record review
  • Recommended clinical process improvement methods and provides education for care center staff in the implementation of processes
  • Assisted care center leadership in development of corrective action plans to improve performance
  • Provided support for care centers during State/accreditation surveys.
  • Participated in interviewing/hiring clinical and care center leadership positions
  • Worked with care centers to develop and analyze indicators identifying trends in delivery of care and clinical operations

Area Vice President of Care Management and Quality

Amedisys Home Health
Opelika, AL
01.2021 - 02.2023
  • Responsible for the development, implementation, coordination, evaluation and execution of ongoing care management for a region
  • Ensured processes and initiatives were in place to achieve superior clinical outcomes and operational efficiency
  • Collaborated with corporate clinical team and regional leadership to drive consistency and standardization of best practices as it related to care management processes including appropriate utilization, coordination of interdisciplinary care services and OASIS accuracy
  • Served as subject matter expert for therapy services

Senior Director Regional Therapy Services

Amedisys Home Health
Opelika, AL
06.2020 - 01.2021
  • Served as subject matter expert for therapy services
  • Collaborated with corporate clinical team and regional leadership to drive consistency and standardization of best practices as it relates to the delivery of therapy services
  • Drove processes to monitor operational and clinical efficiency in the use of therapy services
  • Collaborated with regional leadership to ensure implementation and maintenance of best practices for the therapy documentation to ensure compliance with regulatory bodies

Physical Therapist

Amedisys Home Health
Opelika, AL
03.2017 - 06.2020

Physical Therapist

Amedisys Home Health
Roanoke, AL
01.2016 - 03.2017

Occupational Therapist

Amedisys Home Health
Roanoke, AL
08.2015 - 03.2017

Education

Doctor of Physical Therapy - Physical Therapy

University of Saint Augustine For Health Sciences
Saint Augustine, FL
08.2015

Master of Occupational Therapy - Occupational Therapy

University of Saint Augustine For Health Sciences
Saint Augustine, FL
04.2014

Bachelor of Science - Exercise Science

Auburn University
Auburn, AL
04.2011

Skills

  • Process Improvement
  • Critical Thinking
  • Process Optimization
  • Results-Driven
  • Strategic Planning
  • Performance Monitoring
  • Metrics Tracking
  • Operations management
  • Financial acumen
  • Innovation management

Accomplishments

  • AVP Operations (Central AL)
    Took over leadership role in December 2023, with the POD winning POD of the Year for the Central Region based on 2023 performance. Achieved year-over-year growth in 2024, following a banner year in 2023. Collaborated with clinical leadership to maintain one of the highest Value-Based Purchasing Total Performance Scores (VBP TPS) in the company, with some of the lowest visit utilization metrics in the region. Collaborated with clinical partner to institute new methods of MLX Pulse utilization to drive accuracy in recertification decisions, monitor patients with worsening hospitalization risk classifications, and maintain oversight on the highest risk patients across a given care center's census. Instituted consistent use of MLX Pulse to monitor LUPA management. Led the region in lowest turnover percentage for 2024. Led the region in conversion metrics for 2024. Consistently leads region in lowest AR %, and is consistently top 5 in the organization, with several points in time we have achieved lowest AR % in entire company. I had the good fortune of assuming responsibility for a POD that had achieved great success in the year to 18 months prior my arrival, and I feel like I have not only maintained the PODs performance, but have been able to continue to grow the team's successes year over year.
  • Senior Director of Regional Therapy Services & Area VP of Care Management and Quality (Central East)
    Played a critical role in optimizing clinical utilization during the transition to PDGM, reducing visits per episode from over 18 in 2019 to under 13 in 2023, while simultaneously seeing improved clinical outcomes across the region I supported. Spearheaded the implementation and compliance of the Medalogix Care program, driving improved individualized patient care. Led the telehealth services initiative, introducing telehealth in home care, which had not been widely utilized previously. Developed and improved collaborative processes using Teams Channels and Email collaboration chains, enhancing clinical collaboration, OASIS accuracy, and driving improved clinical results. Worked with regional leadership to integrate into care center utilization, improving collaboration, reducing visits per episode, and improving clinical results.
  • Area Vice President of Clinical (South AL)
    Led the South AL POD to top 5% HHCAHPS performance consistently.
    Implemented the Medalogix Pulse program, improving individualized care plans, monitoring patient conditions, and reducing avoidable hospitalizations (ACH).
    Maintained STARS performance above 4 consistently since taking over the leadership of the POD.
    Achieved a VBP Total Performance Score of 43.50 (as of 10/25/23), ranking 4th out of all PODs in the organization.

References

  • Jason Sims, VP-C, Amedisys Home Health. jason.sims@amedisys.com, (260)705-5721
  • Kenneth Eaton, Director of Business Development and Corporate Accounts, Therapy Management Corporation, kenny.eaton@therapymgmt.com, (205)306-9497
  • DeeAnne Dubiel, Sr HR Business Partner, Amedisys Home Health, deanne.dubiel@amedisys.com, (316)730-8600
  • Sellers Spurlock, Rehab Director, Jack Hughston Memorial Hospital, (334)740-0594

Timeline

Area Vice President of Operations

Amedisys Home Health
12.2023 - Current

Area Vice President of Clinical

Amedisys Home Health
02.2023 - 12.2023

Area Vice President of Care Management and Quality

Amedisys Home Health
01.2021 - 02.2023

Senior Director Regional Therapy Services

Amedisys Home Health
06.2020 - 01.2021

PRN Weekend Physical Therapist

Jack Hughston Memorial Hospital
02.2019 - Current

Physical Therapist

Amedisys Home Health
03.2017 - 06.2020

Physical Therapist

Amedisys Home Health
01.2016 - 03.2017

Occupational Therapist

Amedisys Home Health
08.2015 - 03.2017

Doctor of Physical Therapy - Physical Therapy

University of Saint Augustine For Health Sciences

Master of Occupational Therapy - Occupational Therapy

University of Saint Augustine For Health Sciences

Bachelor of Science - Exercise Science

Auburn University
Dr. Joseph Tatara