Post location: People on the Move

Alex Markowits is no stranger to providing quality care, in fact he says it “was ingrained in his DNA.” He grew up surrounded by a family that was focused on helping others and giving to vulnerable populations. After college, he became a licensed nursing home administrator and he worked with turn-around specialists who would go in and improve nursing homes that weren’t being run properly. In 2000, Markowits and his family had a unique opportunity to raise money and save a community that was going to have to close, saving all of the employees jobs with it, and turn it into assisted living. Fast forward to now, and Markowits is continuing to aspire and create programs that contribute to the highest level of care with Spring Hills Population Health System.

Spring Hills Population Health includes the design, delivery, coordination, and payment for high-quality health care services using the best resources available, including accountable care organizations (ACOs), risk stratification methods, patient registries, and patient-centered medical home and other models of team-based care. Markowits says, “there is a big push to improve efficiency and outcomes while providing patient centered care. We believe that quality of life is just as important as quality of care.”

Though the last year has been challenging in senior living, Markowits believes it has allowed the industry to focus on critical changes that need to be made and allowed powerful ideas and initiatives to come to fruition. He says, “everything needs to align in order to provide and create transformational change.” Spring Hills intends to grow the program by engaging data consultants and partnering with health systems and payers, care specialists, and social service providers. Its team will leverage technologies that streamline communications and care provision to provide comprehensive population health services to patients enrolled in the program.

Aside from their population health plans, Spring Hills is eager to focus on building new communities and bringing existing communities into the future. At Spring Hills, “we believe the most precious thing that you can’t buy, is time, if we are able to give you the best quality of life and care, we are giving you time,” says Markowits. He and his team are leading by example, encouraging residents, staff, and the public to receive their COVID-19 vaccinations. Their pharmacy partnership has allowed easy access to vaccinations for all of their residents and Spring Hills has put focus on providing answers and assurance for people who may have questions or feel uncertain. One of Spring Hills main goals moving forward is to combat the isolation COVID-19 brought on by utilizing technology and cultivating meaningful engagement.

Markowits is enthusiastic about the future of Spring Hills and their Population Health Management Program and hopes that it helps to fix a healthcare system that is broken. While currently focused on building programs in New Jersey, Spring Hills intends to scale its population health management program to support the provision of health care across the organization’s care continuum. They are always continuing to look at evolving and groundbreaking opportunities to put into practice within their communities.

Lisa Gaudioso was first introduced into the senior living world when she was working in Medicare certified home healthcare throughout New England. Her experiences led her to apply for her first Executive Director position, Jesse Marinko, now CEO and President at Phoenix,  hired her and welcomed her into the world of senior living. Lisa has now come full circle and is ecstatic to be back working with Marinko at Phoenix Senior Living. “Being here is like coming home,” says Gaudioso.

In her new role, her main focus is to spend time developing field operation by collaborating with regional leadership and Executive Director teams. She handles day to day operations and is starting her work by creating a strong foundation for her communities. Her short-term goals include helping teams navigate through the unknown and partner with risk management teams to follow COVID-19 protocols and precautions. Phoenix has implemented numerous safety measures throughout the pandemic such as enhanced screening, temperature checks, and following the state and federal guidelines in place.

Long-term, Gaudioso says, “we plan to be the leading provider in senior care in the South East. We are focused on growth and building a strong foundation so we can replicate the Phoenix model and open communities in other states.” Resident care is always at the forefront of Gaudioso and Phoenix’s mind, and they strive to provide top of the line patient centered care every day.

“When it comes to a loved one, everything matters. We want to have meaningful and personalized interactions with residents and their families. Sometimes it is easy to forget the little things, but often times the little things mean the most,” she says.

Especially amidst the pandemic, Gaudioso says the most rewarding part of her job is the thank you’s she receives on a daily basis. She is constantly overwhelmed with appreciation and gratitude for how thankful her residents, their families, and staff have been during this time. Though it has been a challenging year, Gaudioso believes that the demand for senior living will grow as people realize it is the safest place for their loved one to be. To meet this upcoming demand, Phoenix has plans for growth and development in the upcoming years.

Gaudioso is thrilled to be joining the Phoenix Senior Living team and is grateful she was drawn to senior living from her previous occupation. She went from having little experience in the field, to Vice President of Operations, and is confident this is where she is meant to be. Caring for the residents and providing them the quality of life they deserve is infinitely rewarding for not only Gaudioso, but her entire Phoenix team.