Why Neuro is Next: With Costs Rivaling Diabetes & CVD, Plans ID >$40MM in Post-acute Neuro Savings

Becki Baker is the Chief Clinical Officer at Utilize Health. Becki is a veteran nurse who brings 30+ years professional experience to Utilize Health in innovative clinical program development and operations, as well as a rich history in building clinical education programs and high-functioning teams. Prior to joining Utilize Health, Becki was one of the designers and pilot market leader CareSight, a home-based provider model for PopHealthCare, a high-risk population care company. In addition to clinical program development and operations, Becki brings expertise in learning and development, in which she has held several previous director positions with PopHealthCare, Optum Complex Care Delivery and Management, INSPIRIS, and manager of Case Management Education for Hospital Corporation of America. Becki’s goal is for Utilize Health to distinguish itself in the healthcare continuum as the gold standard for addressing the needs of patients with complex neurological needs.

Becki holds two bachelors degrees: one in nursing from the University of Tennessee, the Health Science Center in Memphis and one in education from the University of Memphis. Currently she is completing pre-requisites to pursue a Doctor of Nursing Practice.

Jessica Harthcock is the Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder of Utilize Health, a targeted neurological care solution that focuses on creating an improved healthcare experience for patients with neurological conditions while delivering quality-driven medical cost savings for key stakeholders.

Utilize Health was born of personal experience after Ms. Harthcock was paralyzed at age 17 and spent years in search of the highly specialized rehabilitation that ultimately helped her learn to walk again. Astonished by how much of the burden of finding appropriate care her family had to shoulder on their own; Ms. Harthcock dedicated herself to creating a service that assists patients and caregivers in locating and gaining access to optimized care for a range of neurological conditions while reducing costs for individuals, families and payors.

Ms. Harthcock received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Louisiana State University and her Master of Education degree with a focus in Leadership and Organizational Performance from Vanderbilt University. Prior to founding Utilize Health, Ms. Harthcock received numerous awards for development of neurological condition related programs and innovations, including recognition as a finalist for the Chicago Innovation Awards and induction into the National Spinal Cord Injury Association Hall of Fame. More recently, Ms. Harthcock received the 2017 Health Care Emerging Leader Award, the 40 Under 40 Award, the Women of Influence Award, was named a 2017 Health Care Hero for her work at Utilize Health and was recently named to the Young LSU Alum Hall of Distinction for 2020.

Debra S. Poskanzer, MD, has over 30 years of clinical and executive experience as a practicing Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation physician and health plan Medical Director. Dr. Poskanzer is currently Senior Medical Director of Quality and Medical Affairs at a Health Plan in Massachusetts, where she has been since 1996. Other positions held by Dr. Poskanzer within the include Vice President of Medical Affairs and Quality Management, Medical Director of Continuous Quality Improvement and Medical Affairs, and Medical Director of a Rehabilitation Management Program. In addition Dr. Poskanzer has been a practicing Physiatrist (Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Physician) for the New England Rehabilitation Hospital and the Lahey Clinic.

Dr. Poskanzer is board certified in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. She serves as a trustee for Hebrew Senior Life as well as an advisor to the Committee on Quality of Medical Practice for the Massachusetts Medical Society. Dr. Poskanzer also serves as a member of the Medical Advisory Board for Utilize Health.