Worcester, Mass., June 11, 2007―Summit ElderCare, a Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) sponsored by Fallon Community Health Plan, announces the appointment of Karen A. Niemi as Enrollment Coordinator of a new Summit ElderCare site, which is currently under construction in Leominster and due to open this summer. In this position, Niemi will work with elder care and medical professionals, caregivers and potential participants to assist with referrals into the program, including eligibility assessments and the enrollment process.
Niemi has over 10 years of experience as a nursing professional, including the care for geriatric patients in both sub-acute and in-home environments. She comes to Summit ElderCare from VNA Care Network and Hospice in Leominster, where she most recently served as a staff nurse, case manager and preceptor in providing home care for VNA Care Network and Hospice clients. While at VNA Care Network and Hospice, Niemi was presented with the Preceptor Model of Excellence Award, which recognized her excellent contributions in mentoring new, graduate nurses.
A Leominster resident, Niemi has roots in the city's medical community, having served as a past charge nurse at HealthAlliance—Leominster Hospital on the medical/surgical unit.
Niemi graduated with an Associate's Degree in Nursing from Mount Wachusett Community College in 1996.
Summit ElderCare is sponsored by Fallon Community Health Plan, and is one of six PACE programs in Massachusetts and more than 40 programs nationwide.
About Summit ElderCareSM
Summit ElderCare is an insurance, medical care and social support system all in one convenient package that includes: home care, personal care and even prescription drugs, when approved. Summit ElderCare is one of approximately 40 Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) in the country, and the only one in Worcester County. For over a decade, Summit ElderCare, sponsored by Fallon Community Health Plan, has served the needs of elders and their caregivers in Worcester County, Marlborough and Hudson at its locations in Worcester and Charlton.
About FCHP
Founded in 1977, Fallon Community Health Plan provides health care services designed to meet the unique and changing needs of all we serve. FCHP is the only health plan in Massachusetts that is both an insurer and provider of care. Our product portfolio includes a variety of group and individual health plan options (HMO, POS, PPO, Medicaid and Medicare Advantage plans) featuring flexible and innovative benefit designs. We administer fully-insured and self-insured funding arrangements with customized services for employers. Our uniquely developed provider networks offer high-quality, cost-effective, coordinated care and give our members access to doctors and hospitals throughout Massachusetts. We also offer a broad spectrum of services and programs to ensure our members, at every stage of life, remain as healthy and productive as possible. FCHP is a provider of care through its Summit ElderCareSM program, an advanced and completely integrated program that offers seniors and their caregivers an alternative to nursing home placement. Our continued commitment to deliver high-quality health care and exceptional customer service has earned FCHP consistent ratings as one of the nation’s top health plans. And, FCHP is the only health plan in Massachusetts to have been awarded "Excellent" Accreditation by the National Committee for Quality Assurance for our HMO, Medicare Advantage and Medicaid products.