Management Team

Lee Passell, President
President and owner of all NorthCoast companies, Lee brings nearly 30 years of home health, managed care and network management experience. Lee is integral in developing strategic relationships and envisioned early a comprehensive coordinated approach for providing services to patients in their home…quality services in the most cost efficient setting.

Lee entered the health care arena in 1982 with the purchase of Medical Personnel Pool later known as Interim Health Care. The full service home health care and staffing organization spanned Northeast Ohio for 20 years under Lee’s ownership. As a direct home health provider and leader, he was active at both the state and local levels in various associations and boards.

In 1995 Lee formed NorthCoast Health Care Management Services Organization (NCMSO). The NCMSO works collaboratively with third party payors, bringing a comprehensive network of home health, hospice, and infusion providers, of which there are over 250. He later expanded the umbrella of NorthCoast companies to include NorthCoast Infusion Network and National Health Data Solutions.

Prior to Lee’s entry into health care, he held financial positions as CFO/CPA in several varied organizations, including services as a Security Registration Analyst for the Division of Securities (Ohio Department of Commerce). Lee graduated from the Ohio State University with a Bachelors Degree in Accounting.

 

Aloise Weiker Gref RN, BSN, Vice President
Vice President of NorthCoast, Aloise brings over 30 years of home health and network management experience. She is responsible for daily operations, contract relationships and network development, including outcome measurement and disease management programs.

Prior to NorthCoast, Aloise joined Interim HealthCare in the spring of 1983 as a Home Care Supervisor and was promoted to Home Health Agency Director in 1985. As director she was responsible for daily operations and clinical management of all of the NorthCoast Ohio offices. She spearheaded the development and publication of the Interim HealthCare InterPath Critical Pathway Documentation System, an outcomes monitoring system for all Interim offices nationwide. During this time she had several opportunities to collaborate with Dr. Peter Shaughnessy regarding the interface of clinical outcome monitoring (process) with the OASIS project. Additionally, Aloise worked as a consultant/contributor to InterQual in the development of the ISD-HC Criteria and User Guide (intensity of services, severity of illness and discharge screens for home care). In 1995, with organizational restructuring, she assumed the position of Director of the new integrated network.

Aloise has served on several Professional Advisory Boards including the Board of Directors for the Center for Community Based Care for the Ohio Council for Home Care and Hospice. She served as Board President and Vice President for several years. Over the last few years, Aloise has worked with a variety of payors and physician groups in developing specific disease management programs in the home health care arena.

She received the Professional Achievement Award 1993 and the Award of Distinction 1994 from Interim Services, Inc., the latter specifically for the development of the InterPath System of Documentation. Aloise is a member of Sigma Theta Tau, the National Honor Society for Nursing. Aloise received her Bachelors of Science in Nursing, cum laude, from Capital University in Columbus, Ohio and completed postgraduate courses in Community Health Education at Kent State University.



Susan Michaud RN, BS, Quality Improvement Manager
Quality Improvement Manager for NorthCoast, she has over 32 years experience in the home health care arena. She is currently responsible for all quality management activities relative to network operations inclusive of credentialing and re-credentialing of all panel providers. Prior to NorthCoast, Sue joined Interim HealthCare, previously Medical Personnel Pool, in 1981 and served as Home Care Supervisor/Associate Director of Nursing Services, and was promoted to Manager of Quality Assurance in 1989,

She was integrally involved in the development and implementation of the Interim HealthCare InterPath Critical Pathways, which resulted in a national documentation system of outcomes monitoring for the Interim Health Care offices. During this several year involvement, she had an opportunity to collaborate with Dr. Peter Shaughnessy who led the OASIS project for CMS. Sue continues to be focused on sustaining positive outcomes for patients serviced through the network.

Sue served in the US Army Nurses Corp for 3 years having achieved the rank of Captain and completing a tour of duty in South Vietnam as Assistant Head Nurse in the Intensive Care Unit. She earned her RN Diploma from Trumbull-Memorial Hospital School of Nursing in Warren, Ohio and her Bachelor of Professional Studies in Community Health Nursing, magna cum laude, from Memphis State University in Memphis, Tennessee.

She received the Award of Distinction 1994 from Interim Services, Inc. for work on the InterPath System of Documentation.

Cathy M. Ching-Jones, Reimbursement Manager
As Reimbursement Manager, Cathy oversees the reimbursement department for all divisions of NorthCoast. She has lengthy experience in reimbursement and is a long time employee of NorthCoast. She joined Interim HealthCare, previously Medical Personnel Pool in 1985 as an Account Representative (billing and collection). She was promoted to Claims Manager in 1991 and continues to oversee a team of account representatives who are responsible for all claims activities. Prior to joining NorthCoast, Cathy served in various order entry, computer, sales and accounting positions at CACSO. She earned an Associates Degree in Liberal Arts from Lakeland Community College. She is a member of the National Notary Association and has been very active in school organizations such as the local school board, Music Boosters, and PTA as well as committees for her local community.



John M. Allen, Systems Analyst\ Manager of Information Systems
John has over 25 years of computer experience including previous service with the Energy Department in 1986-88( D.C Energy Office) and Mary Mount Hospital (1989-96). He has spent over 20 years in health care informatics working in all areas from the “help” desk to systems analyst. He has been with NorthCoast for over 15 years and oversees the multiple information systems of NorthCoast. John is instrumental in the data collection and reporting processes throughout NorthCoast. John earned a BS in Psychology in 1983 from the University of Dayton.