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Our Team

Samantha Kopicko, MSN, RN, CNEn, CCHC

Regional Care Coordinator

Samantha Kopicko, RN, is a Regional Care Coordinator for the Community Care Alliance (CCA). In this position, Samantha is responsible for the growth and maintenance of the Care Coordination Programs for selected facilities.

Sam was born and raised in Massachusetts. She attended college at Salem State University, New York University and Colorado Mountain College. Throughout her career she has worked in book publishing, owned and managed an ice cream shop and wholesale business, and has happily landed in nursing. Sam’s nursing career has focused on Primary Care, Pediatrics and Care Management. She enjoys working with people to help them achieve their health goals while living a healthy lifestyle.

Sam and her family love living in the mountains of Colorado and take every opportunity to enjoy being outside. As a family they love to travel, snowboard and mountain bike.

Marnell Bradfield, MS

Executive Director

Marnell is the Executive Director for the Community Care Alliance (CCA). In this role, she oversees our value-based program operations; Clinically Integrated Network alignment with clinical initiatives and quality outcomes; and provider relations to support Community Care Alliance’s strategy. Marnell has a Master of Science Degree in Health Care Transformation (MSHCT) from the University of Texas at Austin.

WHA has had the pleasure of working with Marnell since 2006, both in her roles as a member of Western Healthcare Alliance (WHA) and in her role as CCA’s Director of Operations from 2015 – 2018. She was instrumental in the early years of the CCA as members navigated the nuances of population health management and setting up Accountable Care Organizations.

Marnell was the Director of Quality and Risk Management for Pioneers Medical Center (WHA and CCA member facility) from 2006 – 2014 and then again from 2019 until taking her new role with the CCA. In her role as a member, Marnell was active within WHA’s Quality and Risk Peer Network group, served on several CCA work groups, and as a Board Member for the Western Accountable Care Organization. Marnell is also a Registered Respiratory Therapist and has worked with Grand River Health (another WHA and CCA member facility).

In 2018, Marnell demonstrated her entrepreneurial spirit and launched her own company, Accountable Care Consulting, which provides customized solutions for every phase on the journey to accountable care. She also worked with former WHA member, Rocky Mountain Health Plans as a Remote Quality Improvement Advisor.

Amber Christie, RN

Manager of Care Coordination

Amber Christie, RN, is the Manager of Care Coordination for the Community Care Alliance. In this position, Amber is responsible for the growth and maintenance of the Care Coordination Programs which includes recruitment and maintenance of patients enrolled in care management services; assurance of the completion of the annual wellness visit and follow up on all elements of the preventative plan of care; and discussing advance care planning with patients.

Amber was born and raised in Montrose, Colorado and then attended the University of Wyoming where she graduated with her Bachelor of Science in Nursing. She returned to the Western Slope, making her home in Delta, and continuing her career at Montrose Memorial Hospital.

Amber has worked in the healthcare Industry for over 20 years. Starting at Montrose Memorial Hospital working as a CNA, Ward Clerk, and Telemetry Tech on holiday and summer breaks until graduating with her RN in 2003. She continued at Montrose Memorial Hospital as an RN on the Medical Surgical Floor, in 2004 transitioned to ICU where she worked until 2012. She then joined the team at Volunteers of America Home Health of Western Colorado as a Case Manager and Wound Care Certified Nurse for the Delta County area until joining the Care Coordination Team.

Amber has a passion for working with rural patients and families advocating and helping them achieve their goals in their healthcare journey. Working in a rural health care setting often requires creative thinking and advocating for these goals to be achieved.

Amber has been continually active in the Delta County Youth Sports programs coaching numerous teams. Her love and passion for Agriculture is present in her continued work with the youth involved in Montrose and Delta County 4-H programs and most recently her role in leadership for the Delta County Bred and Fed Sheep program.

Amber Goodenow, RN

Regional Care Coordinator

Amber Goodenow, RN, is a Regional Care Coordinator for the Community Care Alliance (CCA). In this position, Amber is responsible for the growth and maintenance of the Care Coordination Programs for selected facilities.

Amber was born and raised in Colorado, and has been working in healthcare in some way for over 2o years. She obtained her LPN license in 2006 and graduated with an RN in 2007, taking a job with Home Health. In 2010 Amber took a job at Pioneers Medical Center at the Walbridge Wing as a floor nurse, working there until 2016, when she transferred to the ED/Med-Surg for about 2 years. In 2018 Amber took the Assistant Director of Nursing Position for the Walbridge Wing and worked there until coming to the CCA.

Amber has a love for Rural Healthcare that started with her dad, a Labtech. He taught Amber that in Rural Healthcare we truly have the opportunity to keep our sight on the most important priority, which is our patients.

Amber and her husband have been the children’s pastors at their church for the last 18 years. They teach children’s church every Sunday morning, and organize and host several large outreaches throughout the year. Amber and her husband lead their Young Adults group at church, where they do monthly activities, and they also volunteer with their local Young Life group.

Jessica Blehm, RN

Regional Care Coordinator

Jessica Blehm, RN, is a Regional Care Coordinator for the Community Care Alliance. In this position, Jessica is responsible for the growth and maintenance of the Care Coordination Programs for selected facilities.

Jessica is a third-generation Coloradoan, born and raised in Grand Junction. She attended Biola University in southern California, graduating with her BSN in 2001. Jessica was called to nursing as a teen on a mission trip, and is pleased to be able to serve as a patient advocate and supporter of rural health.

Jessica has been a registered nurse for over 20 years, starting at University of California Irvine on the Med/Surg-Oncology unit, then returning home to Grand Junction and working at St. Mary’s hospital on Med/Surg. She transferred to the ED and worked PRN through 2014. She worked at ICON Eyecare for seven years, initially as a recovery nurse and eventually taking the role of ASC Clinical Manager. She then worked at Community Hospital as a Case Manager and Utilization Review nurse, until joining the Care Coordination Team.

Jessica and her husband recently celebrated their 20th anniversary and have two children. The family enjoys the opportunities for outdoor recreation that Western Colorado provides, including skiing, biking, river sports, camping, and hiking.

Kevin R. Fitzgerald M.D.

Community Care Alliance PBM Medical Director

Dr. Kevin Fitzgerald is the Community Care Alliance PBM Medical Director. In this role, Dr. Fitzgerald leads health management strategies including provider engagement and outreach, quality and utilization reporting, aligned incentives and clinical strategies to effectively manage our Western ACO’s attributed patient population.

With over 30 years’ experience in medicine and medical administration, Dr. Fitzgerald brings a varied experience. From the hands-on practice of medicine and teaching residents and Physician Assistant students to various administration positions from Managed Services Organizations to Health Plan Medical Director and Chief Medical Officer. He has a wealth of understanding of data, process and quality improvement activities, accreditation requirements for NCQA, practice management, IPA/health plan interface, and physician relationships.

Prior to joining WHA, Dr. Fitzgerald was the Chief Medical Officer for Rocky Mountain Health Plans. His previous experiences include Assistant Director for a Family Medicine Residency and the Medical Director of Colorado for United Healthcare. He was also the first Medical Director for Physician Health Partners, a start-up Managed Services Organization in Denver, eventually taking the role of Vice President of Utilization Management.

These experiences have left Dr. Fitzgerald with a sense that healthcare is best delivered and managed with the strong influence of local control. The nuance of local variation in the delivery system combined with provider professional expertise is paramount to the community and keeping the population close to their personal support systems.

Dr. Fitzgerald was raised in the Denver Metro area. After High School he enlisted in the United States Army, serving as a Fixed Wing Airplane Mechanic/Crew Chief. After his separation from the military, he completed his undergraduate degree in chemistry and math and obtained his Medical Degree from the University of Colorado School of Medicine. He completed his residency in Family Medicine at Mercy Hospital in Denver. He remains Board Certified and still practices medicine part time at a local after-hours clinic in Grand Junction. In his free time, he enjoys fly fishing, hunting, camping, travel, playing the guitar, and especially time with his wife, children, and grandchildren.

Contact Dr. Fitzgerald:
970.986.3682
kevin.fitzgerald@wha1.org

Laura Palmberg

Clinical Improvement and Performance Analyst

Laura is the Clinical Improvement and Performance Analyst for the Community Care Alliance (CCA). In her role, she is responsible for building and operationalizing value-based quality initiatives and key performance metrics for the CIN. This role acts as a liaison across functional areas within the CIN and with external partners.

Laura has spent the last year as the Clinical Quality and Communication Coordinator for the CCA and was excited when an opportunity to work more directly in data analytics became available. Prior to that, she spent eight years in healthcare with Rocky Mountain Health Plans, starting as a Medicaid Care Coordinator and moving into the role of Care Management Process Analyst. Her experiences in healthcare allow her to see the big picture, ranging from patient, provider, and payer experience to utilizing trend data to improve processes and outcomes. She holds current Commission for Case Manager and Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certifications. She loves being part of the Community Care Alliance, collaborating to improve rural healthcare in Colorado.

Born in Kentucky, Laura moved to the Roaring Fork Valley of Colorado in 1991 and has never looked back! In her free time, she loves to hike, alpine and uphill ski, travel, and cook with her husband and their adult children. She also enjoys weight training, meditation, yoga, reading, and learning anything new.

Matthew Rollins

Project Manager, Value-based Performance

Matthew is the Project Manager of Value-based Performance for the Community Care Alliance (CCA). In this position he assists with managing a complex portfolio of value-based projects, develops project plans, manages project design, and evaluates quality improvement projects.

Matthew came to the CCA with over a decade of experience in the healthcare industry. His experience ranges from Health Information Management to Care Management in an outpatient, inpatient, and emergency setting servicing rural, suburban, and urban areas. His scope of work has provided experience in people, process, and technology management.

In his personal life, Matthew enjoys spending his time outdoors with his dog, Bruno, cycling, hiking, backpacking, climbing, and fishing. Over the years Matthew has been able to increase his technical climbing knowledge and has summited seven different Pacific Northwest volcanoes on 13 different occasions and routes. Around the house he enjoys cooking and playing games.

Misty Decker

Administrative Assistant

Misty is the Administrative Assistant for WHA’s Community Care Alliance (CCA). In this role she supports the CCA team with administrative functions and meeting coordination.

She joined the team in late 2019 following a role in Medical Office support where she worked closely with the Care Coordination team, as well as supported all members of the practice including providers, office managers, and both the back and front offices. Misty has over a decade of experience in the freight forwarding industry coordinating ocean export for several global companies.

Misty, her husband, and their dog, moved to Grand Junction to enjoy all the mountain biking and hiking the Western Slope and surrounding areas have to offer. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Business and Economics in 2005 from Benedictine University in Lisle, Illinois.

Roni Lynch, RN

Regional Care Coordinator

Roni Lynch, RN, is a Regional Care Coordinator for the Community Care Alliance. In this position, Roni is responsible for the growth and maintenance of the Care Coordination Programs for selected facilities.

Roni is a Colorado native. Born in Montrose, Colorado and raised in Nucla, Colorado where she met her husband. They have been married for over 30 years. Together they have three children. Two girls and a boy. Their two girls were both born with challenges. The challenges they faced led Roni to further her education to benefit them.

Roni started her carrier in healthcare in 2002 as a CNA. She was instrumental in getting a program set up locally to help families get paid for caring for their severely disabled children. She continued to further her education into Nursing eventually obtaining her BSN.

Roni has worked in several areas of nursing including long term care, assisted living, acute hospital care, and home health. She has enjoyed each step in her journey. Roni loves nursing as it allows for a multitude of options to allow the nurse to better the lives of those they serve.

Roni and her family enjoy Colorado life. They love to camp, fish, hunt and do most anything outdoors. In the winter months they participate in snow shoeing, snowmobiling, and special Olympics skiing with their daughter.

Deanne Henderson, RN

Regional Care Coordinator

Deanne Henderson, RN, is a Regional Care Coordinator for the Community Care Alliance. In this position, Deanne is responsible for the growth and maintenance of the Care Coordination Programs for selected facilities.

Deanne was born in California but raised in Bowie, MD and The Dalles/Newberg, OR. She attended the University of Oregon graduating in 1993 with a BA in Psychology. During that time, Deanne worked as a CNA, flight attendant, ESL instructor in South Korea, aboard a floating processer in Alaska during fish and crab season, and as the Director of Social Services in long term nursing facilities.

After years of adventure, Deanne returned to school earning a BSN from Linfield School of Nursing in Portland, OR in 2002. She started her nursing career at Manillaq Hospital in Kotzebue, Alaska, 26 miles above the Arctic Circle, which also served 11 remote villages. Deanne worked in the ED, Med-Surg, L&D and Case Management over a 2 1/2-year period. As a Case Manager, she coordinated clinics with specialist traveling from Anchorage or the lower 48 states organizing clinics such ortho, GI, and neurology.

Deanne then moved to Grand Junction and worked as a staff RN at St. Mary’s ED for 10 years, FHW out-patient procedure center/pain clinic for 5 years and ICON eyecare for over 6 years. During her 21 years of nursing, She also worked either part-time or prn at CNS home health, Community Hospital ED, and the Mesa County Coroners office as a deputy coroner. Deanne enjoys spending time with her family and in the great outdoors backpacking, overlanding, kayaking, and hiking.

Ranae Avila, RN, BSN

Regional Care Coordinator

Ranae Avila, RN, is a Regional Care Coordinator for the Community Care Alliance. In this position, Ranae is responsible for the growth and maintenance of the Care Coordination Programs for selected facilities.

Ranae was born and raised in Gunnison, Colorado and graduated from Colorado Mesa University with her nursing degree. Ranae began her nursing career at St. Mary’s Hospital in the Emergency Department. Ranae also worked at the University of Colorado Hospital in Aurora. She enjoyed her time there and the wealth of knowledge and experience it brought. These skills will easily be transferred to her new position where she may see patients that have situations she has already worked with. Eventually, Ranae followed her dream to be a travel nurse. This was a short adventure as she wanted to be closer to family and be present for the arrival of her first nephew.

This led to moving back to Colorado and working in rural hospitals (Montrose Memorial Hospital, Gunnison Senior Care Center, and San Luis Valley Regional Medical Center). Ranae has also served as a substitute school nurse and as a Colorado state evaluator for CNA testing. With over 16 years of nursing background in the Emergency Department, Long Term Care, Instructor, and Acute Care she has decided to continue to grow in her nursing career working as a Care Coordinator! She enjoys giving back to her community and her one grounding element throughout her experiences is her passion for helping others be their best. Ranae brings an easygoing communication style, empathy, and a sense of humor to her patients and their families

In her free time, she enjoys traveling, camping, fishing, skiing, playing sports, and adventuring with her husband and their son.  Remember, being a nurse is like folding a fitted sheet. There’s lots of ways to do it and no way is perfect!