NC PACE on the National Scene

In mid-October, staff members from PACE programs across the state traveled to New Orleans for National PACE Association’s annual conference.

Several speakers from North Carolina shared best practices and innovations to a national audience. They included:

  • Lakesha Bradford, Senior CommUnity Care of NC, “Proactive Action: The Antidote to Reactive Care”
  • Kelly Hunt, Carolina Seniorcare, “How to Build a High Performing Culture”
  • Marianne Ratcliffe, Piedmont Health SeniorCare, “Implementing New Opportunities and Requirements Under the PACE Final Rule”
  • Jane Venick, Senior CommUnity Care of NC, “Palliative and End-of-Life Care and Quality Improvement Program”
  • Renee Rizzuti and Margaret Moody, PACE of the Southern Piedmont, “Organizational Change Transformation: One PACE Program’s journey to Creating a Culture of Fearless and Continuous Process Improvement”
  • Chuck DeGroat, Senior CommUnity Care of NC, “The Role of the Chaplain in PACE, Palliative and End-of-Life Care Programs”
Jasmin Archible-Harris of Carolina SeniorCare experiences a taste of the Big Easy at NPA
Renee Rizzuti presenting at NPA conference Renee Rizzuti (podium) and Margaret Moody (seated) of PACE of the Southern Piedmont present session on organizational transformation at NPA.

North Carolinians serve in several leadership roles at the national level, including the State PACE Association Leadership Council and several NPA committees: CODAC (clinical and operational data analysis), Education, Primary Care, Public Policy and Quality. The conference also afforded the opportunity for these groups to meet in person with their colleagues from across the country.

Lastly, a highlight of the conference is NPA’s awards, which recognize outstanding members of the PACE community. Judy Baskins, NC PACE Association’s strategic planning and policy consultant, helped present her namesake volunteer leadership award at the awards luncheon.

Judy was the first recipient of the award, and it was subsequently named in her honor in recognition of her exceptional leadership at NPA since its founding in 1994. 

Tim Clontz, a board member of North Carolina PACE Association, was a recipient of this award in 2018. Dr. Marsha Fretwell of Elderhaus PACE received it in 2013.