Expert Team

Brian Crowley

Senior Director, Market Strategy and Development

“There are many important factors that go into developing a successful market strategy for growth. Markets are different, and each player occupies a unique space in their market. The key to success is a thorough understanding of the market and each of its players. My team looks at the market data, interviews the physicians, talks to the referral sources, and visits the competition to gain first hand knowledge, and identify the opportunities for differentiation and growth. We work directly with your team’s marketing, clinical, and operational leaders to develop an aggressive marketing strategy and plan that fits within your budget and human resource controls.” Since joining Accelero in 2003, The hallmark of Brian’s work has been helping hospitals and physicians grow their business in competitive markets. More specifically, Brian and his team works directly with Accelero’s partner hospitals and physician practices in the following areas:

• Complete market assessment to define the brand positioning and messaging for the practice based on market and competitive forces.
• Detailed market analysis to identify the community and referral source targets that yield the greatest volume opportunity.
• High impact marketing strategy and plan that effectively communicates the messages to the market targets.
• Comprehensive Marketing Tool Kit to support branding and marketing efforts.

Prior to his arrival at Accelero, Brian worked at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) and Ernst & Young. Brian received his MBA from the University of Pittsburgh, and his BA from Michigan State University.

Joe Tomaro, PhD

Service Line Strategy and Development

“Hospitals that have the right information at their fingertips, focus on a few key important implementation strategies at a time and constantly engage their physicians will win in today’s health care environment and in the future. With this ever-changing and ever-challenging environment, hospitals need to have a structure in place to constantly adapt their strategies to the situation around them. “ My team has had the opportunity to analyze key elements of the musculoskeletal service line in over 250 hospitals in the United States and abroad. With an extensive database of partner hospitals, we have the ability to compare important metrics and processes to best performers. Most importantly, we make strategic and tactical recommendations to help hospitals in all areas of improving the care, margin and volume for their musculoskeletal service line. Prior to his arrival at Accelero, Joe worked with a large tertiary care hospital system in Pittsburgh developing the sports medicine and outpatient rehabilitation components of the musculoskeletal service line. In addition he was an adjunct instructor in the School of Health Sciences at Duquesne University. Joe received his Bachelor’s Degree in Physical Therapy, his Master’s and PhD from the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences at the University of Pittsburgh.

Ryan D. Bond

Physician Practice Growth and Development

“Accelero Health Partners knows the business of orthopaedics and understands the challenges facing physician practices today. Our physician practice program is designed to differentiate practices in a competitive marketplace, and achieve goals in a challenging and changing healthcare industry. Our solutions are focused on enhancing the market visibility, improving customer satisfaction and growing the practice.”
Since joining Accelero in 2005, the hallmark of Ryan’s work has been helping hospitals and physicians grow their business in competitive markets. More specifically, as the Senior Director responsible for the Physician Practice division, Ryan leads the:

• Development of the product portfolio to meet the customers needs
• Coordination of Accelero assets to support growth of the physician practice including:
• Orthopaedist.com – a consumer-facing educational website
• Physician practice websites
• A market growth strategy, inclusive of referral source engagement
• A proprietary customer engagement program, Legendary Impressions®
• A proprietary business intelligence tool, OrthoVal® to improve functional outcomes and enhance performance of physical therapy ancillary services
• Assuring customer engagements are mutually successful

Prior to his arrival at Accelero, Ryan worked for a global consulting firm and two investment banks. Ryan earned a Bachelor of Science and completed graduate work in Industrial & Systems Engineering at Ohio University.

Jason Pry

Vice President of Operations

“More and more hospitals need to compete not only for patient’s business, but also to convince surgeons of “Why Should I Choose You”? If the hospital has a compelling “why” they can gain market share, provide measurably superior patient care, and improve margins. In working with hospital and physician leaders, as well as those on the front lines, my team develops strategies and implements changes that produce results.”
Since joining Accelero in 2004, Jason has worked with community hospitals and multi-hospital systems across the country. Jason and his team works directly with Accelero’s partner hospitals in the following areas:

• Strategic planning
• Physician engagement
• Advance financial analysis and modeling
• Development of coordinated spine care programs

Prior to his arrival at Accelero, Jason worked at Fiserv and Wells Fargo and Co. Jason received his Bachelor’s Degree from Westminster College.

Michelle Bianco

Clinical Outcomes Process Management

“With transparency in healthcare becoming more prevalent, consumers and payors are demanding high quality care at a lower cost. Value Based Purchasing and Bundled Payment models are now tying quality and cost metrics to reimbursement increasing the need for hospitals to have a defined strategy for tracking and improving quality measures. Accelero’s Clinical Outcomes team provides hospitals with the tools and knowledge necessary to improve their complication rates and measure the results of their improvement processes. We work with hospitals to implement a Quality team infrastructure comprised of direct care providers, clinical leads, documentation and coding specialists and physician champions to successfully support quality initiatives.”
Since joining Accelero Health Partners in 2000, Michelle has been instrumental in developing the service line intelligence tool and the processes used to improve the quality of care at hospital partners. Accelero’s outcomes team supports hospitals in the following areas:

• Evaluation of clinical outcomes indicators (complication rates) and provide comparative benchmarking
• Through the use of Accelero’s OrthoVal service line intelligence tool allows hospitals to track the frequency of complications and understand the impact on both length of stay and key financial indicators
• Implement infrastructure to support the measurement and improvement of clinical outcomes metrics
• Provide complication reduction tools and processes for patients who are at risk for developing postoperative complications.
• Highlight opportunities to improve pre and post operative care processes
• Develop marketing strategy to leveraging results to community and referral sources.
• Through quality measurement and improvement position hospital partners to successfully achieve certification and distinction awards.

Prior to her arrival at Accelero, Michelle worked at West Penn Allegheny Health System- Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh, PA. Michelle graduated from Daemen College with a degree in Physical Therapy.

Djamel Bayliche

Perioperative Process and Management

“The operating rooms represent the heart of a hospital’s surgical services and can dictate financial viability, as it makes up approximately 60-70 percent of any one hospital’s margin. As a result, hospital leaders must pay careful attention and exercise due diligence in maintaining an efficient Operating Room with great clinical outcomes and customer satisfaction. My team conducts extensive observations of the perioperative services care continuum, establishes performance metrics, interviews the physicians and staff, and utilizes national benchmarks to identify opportunities for improvement. We work directly with your perioperative team to create capacity, enhance team work and create competitive advantages.”
Since joining Accelero in 2002, Djamel’s primary focus has been on helping hospitals increase Operating Room capacity and improve surgeon productivity. The perioperative consulting team supports partner hospitals and physicians in the following areas:

• Create an effective infrastructure that engages the key stakeholder in the decision making process.
• Develop the tools and process that encourage on-going communication and transparency among all functions that affect the surgery care continuum.
• Establish a perioperative dashboard to track performance and monitor impact of improvement activities.
• Create special focus of expediting case throughput, staff efficiency and surgeon productivity.

Prior to his arrival at Accelero, Djamel worked for PNC financial Services, Allegheny General Hospital and UPMC. Djamel received his Master of Science in Operations Research and Management Systems, and his Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering from the University of Pittsburgh.

Michael Piekutoski

OP Rehabilitation Programs

“Most private practices in outpatient rehabilitation can tell you how every dollar is collected and spent each month. This information is often clouded by sophisticated accounting methodologies at physician practices and hospitals. Therefore, outpatient rehabilitation services can often be misunderstood as a business in these settings. A well managed outpatient rehabilitation program can be a profitable business, and play a critical role in the care continuum for all musculoskeletal services. In the future, with the most commonly mentioned forms of healthcare reform, it will be essential to completely understand outpatient rehabilitation as a business and properly balance the care, margin, and volume needs of your organization.”
Michael and his team identify opportunities and recommend proven solutions that will enhance the patient experience, optimize operations, and maximize the business opportunity in your market. A full assessment may include:

• Complete market assessment to define growth opportunity for outpatient rehabilitation services.
• Complete operations assessment to identify and quantify impact of recommended changes.
• Complete referral source integration and business development program assessment to recommend a comprehensive growth strategy consistent with operational abilities.

Prior to his arrival at Accelero, Michael worked in the private practice segment of outpatient rehabilitation with Benchmark Medical (now known as Physiotherapy Associates) and was an executive with a start-up company providing financial, operational, and consultative resources to physicians wishing to own their own physical therapy practice. Michael received his MPT from Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania and his Bachelor of Science from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

Kristi Crowe

Spine Program Implementation and Clinical Outcomes Improvement

“As hospitals prepare for the future of accountable care and changes in payment methodology, appropriate, efficient care with defined, exceptional outcomes will be critical to their success. Spine services represent a tremendous opportunity to stretch the hospital focus from just the inpatient component to effectively and efficiently managing all non-operative components, while excelling in the care of the patients who do ultimately require surgery. At Accelero Health Partners, we posses the expertise to assist hospitals in coordinating all aspects of spine services to differentiate these hospitals in the eyes of consumers, physicians, and payors.”
Since joining Accelero in 2007, the hallmark of Kristi’s work has been implementation of spine programs and clinical outcomes improvement. More specifically, Kristi has worked with hospitals in the following areas:

• Creation of spine models of care with customization for varying market, competitor, and payor situations
• Implementation of patient flow processes and physical plant space to maximize hospital resources, improve the spine patient experience, and enhance provider efficiency
• Implementation of strategies to reduce clinical complication rates through collaboration with documentation specialists, coders, and clinicians
• Obtaining physician buy-in for outcomes improvement strategies through partnership and education
• Facilitation of communication, collaboration, and education between musculoskeletal specialists and primary care referral sources to streamline patient and referral source experience and drive volume to identified specialists

Prior to her arrival at Accelero, Kristi worked as a physical therapist in both the hospital and outpatient areas. Kristi received her Master’s Degree in Physical Therapy from The University of North Dakota in 1996.

Doug Cundiff

Growth Strategy

“Hospitals that successfully navigate through the changes in healthcare will find that a balanced approach in growth strategies and efficiency initiatives will lead to a service line that becomes the clear choice for musculoskeletal care in their region. During this journey, it will be imperative that hospitals and physicians are working collaboratively to align goals and visions that optimize both the patient experience and the physician experience.“ Prior to his arrival at Accelero, Doug worked with a large tertiary care hospital system in Pittsburgh developing the outpatient rehabilitation and homecare components of the musculoskeletal service line. Doug received his Master’s degree in Health Service Administration at the University of Pittsburgh, as well as his Master’s degree in Physical Therapy at Duquesne University.

Bruno Cappella

Program Implementation Expert

“There is a difference between an organizational chart and an effective program infrastructure. It really comes down to form versus function. Creating and sustaining a program that is unique in the market requires commitment from both senior leadership and physician leadership, and the right operational teams in place to advance the program to maturity and ultimately win in the market”. Since joining Accelero in 2006, Bruno has worked with several large health systems to develop effective program infrastructures in a variety of musculoskeletal programs. As a Senior Director responsible for the program management and implementation of Accelero’s suite of Advantage programs, Bruno delivers expertise in the following areas:

• Program and project management
• Process reengineering and improvement
• Joint replacement program strategy, design, and implementation
• Program infrastructure development and deployment
• Physician engagement and integration

Greg Turk

Program Implementation Expert

Greg leads the development and implementation of Accelero programs in several partnerships across the country. Greg was instrumental in the development of Accelero’s Fracture Care and Hand and Upper Extremity program development initatives. In addition, Greg’s provides focus and expertise to Accelero partners in the following areas:

• Programmatic Infrastructure
• Project and Operations Management
• Partner Growth Strategy
• Customer Service
• Productivity and Performance Systems (Clinical & Non-Clinical Based)
• Continuous Process Improvement

Greg graduated with a Master’s Degree in Economics and International Affairs from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania. He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications and Marketing from Robert Morris University. Greg is also bilingual in English and German and spent 10 years residing in Europe.