Tom has served PainCare in multiple capacities for over a decade. He was most recently appointed Director of Community Relations after having served 8 years as the Administrator of the PainCare Ambulatory Surgical Center. He has served many additional positions within PainCare including that of the head of the fluoroscopy technicians and various other roles within our medical office.
As our surgery center Administrator Tom saw the PainCare clinical surgery area through a major reconstruction involving the addition of an operating room. He developed the integral plan necessary to keep operations underway during reconstruction while protecting patients.
Tom also saw the surgery center through the major reformation of federal regulations in 2009 and state regulations in 2011. He developed new systems and policies necessary to bring the Paincare Ambulatory Surgery Center into compliance. He teamed with our Regional Administrator to rewrite our entire infection control guidelines to be based upon CDC recommendations.
In addition to his positions in our surgery center and medical office, Tom has taken a key role in the growth and development of PainCare and its affiliates, such as Salmon Falls Family Healthcare. Upon assignment of the task to lead PainCare into the realm of electronic medical records, Tom revamped our entire network and server systems. Among his many IT accomplishments include the centralizing of shared data, developing remote access for our satellite offices and home access for users, developed interfaces with outside and inside systems, and modernized back-up strategies, among many other accomplishments. His most recent developments include ePrescribing and an up and coming Patient Portal. Tom is also leading our organization to compliance with the Medicare Incentive program and has been working hard on leading PainCare and Salmon Falls into meeting the “meaningful use” objectives.
IT is not the only area in which Tom has stuck his hands. Some 6 years ago, our CEO, Michael O’Connell, and Tom teamed in the development of our in-house physician laboratory. Tom worked very closely with our original piece of laboratory equipment, a COBAS MIRA, to develop our Drugs of Abuse panel. As a result, he has developed a sound understanding of the intricacies of Drugs of Abuse testing and the essential resulting GCMS and LCMS confirmations. He is the organization’s resource when it comes to the interpretation of these results.
People Care! Tom has recently joined the People Care team to help fight prescription drug abuse in New Hampshire. He will be serving on the board of directors and will also be serving in his role as the Director of Community Relations. Tom graduated from the University of Nebraska in 1993 with a major in Psychology; thus, his focus and area of interest in fighting prescription drug abuse focuses upon the developmental stages of children and teens.
“There is no question as to the genetic component contributing to the affinity for a person to abuse a substance. However, these tendencies pale in comparison to the power obtained through developing positive life strategies. Unfortunately, not everyone is taught or even exposed to such skills. I focus upon sharing parenting techniques that encourage the development of self-assurance, coping mechanisms, close family connections and healthy risk-taking behavior in young children. With teenagers, I share the dangers of replacing healthy life-building motivations with the unhealthy artificial highs that too often lead to a life motivated by the consumption of pills. “
In his role of Director of Community Relations, Tom will be sharing valuable information and educational tools for fighting prescription drug abuse with the local medical community as well as encouraging assistance from our fine local healthcare providers in the fight against prescription drug abuse.
Tom is a community-oriented individual. He leads the organization’s team to service the Dover Friendly Soup Kitchen on the first Thursday of each month from the months of November through April. He also established a dress-down day program within our organization to benefit local children. Once a month employees enjoy a dress-down day in exchange for the price of a food or monetary donation toward the non-profit, “End 68 Hours of Hunger.”