Help at Home Appoints Georgia Market Leader; Former Humana CFO Joins Aetna

Help at Home names market leader for Georgia

Help at Home has named Hermina Yarde as its new market leader in Georgia as the company plans to expand further in the Peach State.

Yarde’s appointment comes just a month after the franchise company acquired Prosper Home Care, a home care provider based in Atlanta, that added “scale and depth” in a core market, according to the company.

“I am excited to add Hermina’s unique expertise as the leader of our Georgia operation,” Help at Home COO Ray Smithberger said in a statement. “Her experience will further propel Help at Home’s commitment to delivering high-quality and innovative in-home personal care services, improving the quality of life for aging-in-place seniors who prefer to live life to the fullest in their own homes.”

A home- and community-based services provider, Help at Home has 180 branch locations across 12 states. Its network includes more than 65,000 clients and 50,000 caregivers.

Before joining Help at Home, Yarde worked for a number of health care companies, including JenCare Senior Medical Centers, WellStreet Urgent Care and DaVita Dialysis.

Former Humana CFO named Aetna president

Brian Kane, the former CFO of Humana Inc. (NYSE: HUM), has been named EVP and president of Aetna.

Kane will report to CVS Health President and CEO Karen Lynch. CVS Health is Aetna’s parent company.

“CVS Health has a unique collection of assets – including the Aetna business – that provide the opportunity to improve access to quality health care for all Americans,” Kane said in a statement. “My focus will be working with talented colleagues across the organization to help build on existing efforts to make health care simple, personalized and affordable.”

Kane stepped down from his role with Humana in the spring of 2021. Following his departure from Humana, Kane acted as a strategic consultant to several private equity firms focused on health care services.

Kane will replace Daniel Finke, who is stepping down for health reasons.

“Brian has a track record of bringing customer-driven innovations to the market and delivering strong operating improvements,” Lynch said in a statement. “His passion to simplify the health care experience will advance our strategy to improve health, lower costs and drive higher levels of engagement among our members.”

HomeWell Franchising names new director of client services, program development

HomeWell Franchising Inc., the franchisor of HomeWell Care Services, has named Kara Holbert the director of client services and program development.

The role is a brand new one for HomeWell. Holbert will facilitate operational resources that enhance service delivery to clients.

“Kara Holbert will be instrumental for our franchise as we anticipate continued growth across our system in 2023 and onward,” HomeWell Franchising CEO Crystal Franz said in a statement. “With demand for home care at an all-time high and predicted only to increase, it’s clear that the future of health care is in the home. As we prepare for what’s ahead, she will help equip our owners with the specialized support and training they need to deliver care that meet the needs of our growing and diverse consumer population.”

HomeWell is a Burkburnett, Texas-based home care franchise that has 50 locations representing over 100 territories across the U.S. It was recently named one of the fastest-growing home-based care companies.

Before joining HomeWell, Holbert served as the lead care coordinator for Provider Partners Care Management (PPCM).

“As I embark on this new journey at HomeWell, I am eager to work collaboratively with our team to create purposeful, value-driven client programs and initiatives and establish best practices for care delivery,” Holbert said in a statement. “I am also looking forward to creating future programs that meet the needs of our rapidly growing aging population. This will include memory care support and other services to equip our franchise owners with tools, resources and programs that will allow them to continue to provide the highest quality home care in their local markets.”

MedArrive names new regional clinical director

The at-home care startup MedArrive has named Traci Tigar-Zieper the new regional clinical director for episodic programs.

The news comes on the heels of MedArrive raising $8 million in funding, bringing the total amount raised to over $40 million since it officially launched in late 2020.

“My goal at MedArrive is to provide best-in-class quality care to patients in order to drive superior health outcomes,” Tigar-Zieper said in a statement.

Tigar-Zieper has more than 8 years of experience with health plans and providers and worked as a registered nurse in the hospital setting for nearly 15 years.

Griswold appoints new board member

Griswold has appointed Lori R. Griswold to its board of directors.

Griswold — formerly Griswold Home Care — is a Blue Bell, Pennsylvania-based provider that offers personal care services through more than 170 locations in 30 states.

Lori Griswold is the daughter-in-law of founder Jean Griswold. She previously served as executive vice president of the company, up until 2009. She also served as the executive director of the predecessor to the Jean Griswold Foundation, the Special Care Foundation.

“Throughout her tenure with Griswold, Lori helped build the company to where it is today,” Griswold CEO Michael Slupecki said in a statement. “She was influential in developing the regulatory framework for home care throughout the country. This isn’t just someone with the Griswold name — this is someone who can truly add value when it comes to home care, education, compliance, historical perspectives, long-term franchisee relationships and more. Connecting back to the Griswold family is great, but having somebody with her stature and strength within the industry is an honor.”

As a member of the board, Griswold will be a key contributor as Griswold embarks on its own brand evolution.

“I am honored and humbled to join such a talented group of professionals to continue bringing Jean’s vision to life,” she said in a statement. “With the rapid growth and exciting developments in the world of home care, Griswold is poised to make a large impact on the industry. I’m looking forward to developing fresh ideas and strategies to help the company grow in a meaningful way.”

GMR names new president, CEO

Global Medical Response (GMR) has named Nick Loporcaro as the company’s new president and CEO.

Loporcaro, recently named a senior operating partner at the private equity firm The Vistria Group, is the former CEO of Landmark Health.

“Nick is a highly accomplished and seasoned executive with a proven track record of successfully leading scaled healthcare companies across the entire patient care continuum,” Jay Grinney, chairman of GMR, said in a statement. “The unique combination of Nick’s operating rigor, strategic acumen, and deep experience leading high-quality clinical organizations makes him the ideal CEO of GMR moving forward.”

Global Medical Response (GMR) is a provider of medical care, primarily in the areas of emergency and patient relocation services.

Loporcaro led Landmark — an in-home medical care provider — until it was eventually sold to UnitedHealth Group’s (NYSE: UNH) Optum in 2021.