Healthcare Management Company, HFS Consultants, Continues to Expand With Hiring of New Senior Executives

OAKLAND, Calif., Jan. 12, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- HFS Consultants (HFS), which provides a broad range of essential healthcare management solutions to hospitals and other healthcare facilities throughout California, continues to grow with the hiring of two new senior managers, William J. King and Carl H. Gerlach. Both join the company's Management & Operations practice.

"King and Gerlach bring valuable, senior-level knowledge and expertise to HFS," says Rich Gianello, president of HFS. "Their professional experience will serve to keep us as a leader in the healthcare management arena and allow us to maintain our commitment to making a significant impact on the business performance of hospitals and other medical organizations."

King has over seventeen years of experience in healthcare management consulting, focusing principally on clinical and business process improvement and supply chain management. King was one of the first to apply strategic sourcing methods to hospital and health plan purchased services. Overall, projects he has led have saved hospitals over $200 million in annual operating costs.  

"HFS has an excellent reputation for delivering results, as evidenced by its record of repeat contracts with many of the best hospitals and healthcare systems in the West," says King. "I'm pleased to join the company and look forward to helping hospitals and medical groups qualify for incentive payments by delivering quality care more affordably."

Prior to joining HFS, King was a senior executive at Accenture and has also held top-level positions at Broadlane, A.T. Kearney and Mitchell Madison Group. In addition, his background includes stints as Director of Operations Support Services at The Permanente Medical Group and as a practice leader in clinical and business process improvement at Kaiser Foundation Hospitals.  

Carl Gerlach, who previously worked at HFS, returns to the Management & Operations practice as a senior manager. He brings over 30 years experience in the financial management and planning of health care organizations, including his most recent position as CEO of Sonoma Valley Hospital. He has also held executive positions at Highland General Hospital, El Camino Hospital, Pacific Presbyterian Medical Center and Woodland Health Care.  

Gerlach is recognized for pioneering the use of hospital market share data under state and federal government grants and helping to start a consulting company to improve patient flow in hospitals.

"After serving as CEO of Sonoma Valley Hospital for several years, I have developed a keen understanding of what it means to be in the trenches as a top-level hospital executive," says Gerlach. "I welcome the opportunity to use this knowledge at HFS to significantly help healthcare providers improve their financial performance."

Both King and Gerlach are known for their ability to financially turn around healthcare organizations including medical groups, medical foundations, hospitals, and managed care organizations.  

About HFS Consultants

HFS Consultants offers a broad range of services focused on the needs of hospitals and other healthcare facilities for financial, strategic, clinical and management operations. It specializes in assisting healthcare facilities position themselves for organizational and competitive change and growth. Clients include: Oakland Children's Hospital, Alameda County Hospital, St. Rose Hospital, Natividad Medical Center, Community Memorial Hospital System, Northbay Healthcare System and Kaiser. For more information, visit http://www.hfsconsultants.com

SOURCE HFS Consultants