John Sheehan has joined Harbor as the new chief executive officer, ending an extensive national search for new leadership at mental health care services provider.
Sheehan came to Toledo from Florida with more than 20 years of
experience in the health and human services field. His executive experience includes a position as vice president of behavioral health services at BayCare Health System in Clearwater, Fla. There, he was responsible for the administration of programs, contracts and revenues of $75 million as well as 800-plus employees.
Sheehan also was owner and lead consultant of All Tier Health Care Consulting in St. Petersburg.
Visiting Toledo
Sheehan had never been to Toledo previously but said he visited
the area four times during Harbor’s selection process.
“Toledo was very much in line with what we were looking for. The people here are just great,” said Sheehan, who was born in Rochester, N.Y., where he spent his early childhood.
His father later moved their family to Gulfport, Fla., outside St. Petersburg. Sheehan earned his undergraduate degree at Florida State University and an MBA from the University of Phoenix.
Sheehan said he was focused on finding the right fit and geography was an important factor in his choice. After considering other possible moves, he decided on Harbor.
“With the history of Harbor, strength and diversity of the board of
directors, and strong focus on governance, it was the whole package. I’m very happy to be here,” Sheehan said.
Sheehan replaces Dale Shreve, who had served as CEO at Harbor since 1999 and left to take the helm of a national alliance of behavioral health care agencies.
“John Sheehan is the right leader for Harbor at the right time to take Harbor to the next level in the mental health/integration health care environment,” Allan Poturalski, outgoing board president at Harbor and head of the executive search committee, stated in a news release.
Poturalski turned the leadership of the board over to the new president, Kevin Pirozek of Signature Bank, at Harbor’s annual dinner meeting Sept. 24.
With annual revenues reported at $30 million, Harbor has experienced recent growth for a variety of reasons, but one was the launch of its Medicaid Health Home program, which it is piloting for the state of Ohio.
“There’s something happening in the health care business in this community. Harbor is not only involved but is breaking new ground to improve the health of the community,” Sheehan said.
Health Home pilot program
Harbor is participating in the Health Home pilot program established by the Affordable Care Act. Ohio House Bill 153 authorized the state’s Medicaid to design a patient-centered system of care, called Health Home, for people with serious health risks.
“The Health Home pilot program is our primary focus. The
model of course has influenced all the services because it’s been so successful. I see this model adopted as best practice for the commercial insurance population, not just Medicaid,” Sheehan explained.
A health home is not a building but a coordinated system for adults and children with Medicaid who have been diagnosed with mental illness. It provides those patients with comprehensive medical, mental health, drug and/or alcohol addiction and treatment, and social services coordinated by an integrated treatment team led by case managers.
The case managers at Harbor are comprised of bachelor-level nurses and social workers who work in association with physicians and registered nurses. There are teams for different ages and populations of diagnosis, according to Carrie Craun, a team leader in Medicaid Home Health at Harbor.
“The Home Health model is a big change but it makes sense. We’re helping people recover and reach their maximum beneficial wellness. It’s transformational because it works,” Sheehan said.
He heads up the leadership team at Harbor that includes Mary Pat Gebers, CFO; John Betts, VP of Adult Services; Steve Benjamin, VP of Youth and Family Services; Gwen Jones, VP of Quality Improvement; Margaret Dobson, VP of Medical and Administration; and Jean Drees, director of Marketing and Legislative Advocacy.
Harbor currently employs 475 people at 11 locations throughout
Northwest Ohio. It is currently celebrating its 100-year anniversary of assisting people in the community. For more information about Harbor, go to www.harbor.org.
