Buffy Howard joins Prestige Care as Regional Director of Operations

VANCOUVER, Wash., June 3, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Washington-based senior care provider Prestige Care, Inc. today announced that Buffy Howard joined the company as regional director of operations for the company's skilled nursing and rehabilitation centers. Howard has 20 years of long-term care experience, as well as 15 years as a licensed nursing home administrator in the state of Washington.  

Howard joins Prestige Care with a solid reputation of having a positive impact on residents and employees at the communities she has served. At her most recent position at Avalon Healthcare, one of Prestige Care's hospice and homecare partners, Howard developed a successful outpatient therapy program, established the High Physician Presence Model, kick-started an improvement in employee and resident satisfaction surveys and decreased re-hospitalizations by 35 percent through trending, tracking and root-cause analysis.

In her previous positions, Howard has been recognized for her ability to streamline internal organizational structures in order to cut waste and improve the overall resident experience. As the executive director for Talbot Center for Health and Rehabilitation, Howard brought the center from net loss to net profit in 18 months. She also solidified union relations for her employees and led the way for her facility to earn outstanding evaluations from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

"Buffy has a knack for knowing how to improve her surroundings. Her consistently impressive results in driving up resident and employee satisfaction prove to us that she'll make a great member of our team. We are excited to welcome her to Prestige Care, and know that she'll be an incredible asset to our already exemplary staff," said Harold Delamarter, president and CEO of Prestige Care, Inc. 

Howard began her career early, volunteering at a nursing center in junior high. From then on she directed her studies and work toward continuing a successful career in senior care service. She has performed a number of roles, including working as a nursing assistant, activity director, administrator, and the executive director of four health care facilities.

Howard has earned her Nursing Home Administrator License, a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Puget Sound and a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix. She has also been awarded the Baldridge Bronze National Quality Award from the Agency for Health Care Administration and the Future Leader award from the Washington Health Care Administration.

Howard is involved in a number of organizations, including the WA Hospital Initiative, the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, the Washington Healthcare Association and more. She currently serves as Co-Governor for Chapter Three of the Washington Health Care Administration.

To learn more about Prestige Care and its network of independent and assisted living and skilled nursing communities, visit www.prestigecare.com.

About Prestige Care, Inc.
Prestige owns, operates and manages independent, assisted living and memory care communities as well as nursing and rehabilitation centers in Alaska, Arizona, California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon and Washington. It is the company's mission to provide quality care guided by a compassionate heart with values based on respect, integrity, commitment and trust. Visit us online at www.Prestigecare.com or call (360) 735-7155 for more information.

Contact:

Hollie Fowler (360) 735-7155      
Prestige Care               
[email protected]  

Kristi Clough (206) 443-9357
Firmani + Associates, Inc.
[email protected]

SOURCE Prestige Care, Inc.