Patel Named COO of GuideWell Mutual Holding Corporation And President of GuideWell Health

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Dec 17, 2014, 03:15 ET

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Dec. 17, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- GuideWell Mutual Holding Corporation (GuideWell) announces that Prakash Patel, M.D., will join the company as chief operating officer (COO) of GuideWell, and president of GuideWell Health, effective January 2, 2015.

In his new role, Patel will lead GuideWell Health, the organization's health care delivery company. GuideWell Health is transforming health care to create superior outcomes and experiences for patients through delivery system innovation, provider management services and value-based care.

In his additional role as COO of GuideWell, Patel will lead provider network management, medical operations, analytics and service, with a focus on enhancing customer and provider experience and leveraging data for improved outcomes and more effective medical and administrative cost management.

"Prakash will be invaluable in accelerating our pace for adapting innovative solutions to better serve our current and future customers," said Rene Lerer, M.D., president of GuideWell. "We look forward to his contributions to advancing our mission of helping people and communities achieve better health."

Patel brings nearly 20 years of health care experience to the company, having held roles in operations, product development, network management, mergers and acquisitions, strategy and private equity. Most recently, he served as CEO of Access MediQuip, a leading provider of outsourced surgical and implantable medical device management solutions.

Prior to joining Access MediQuip, Patel served on the executive leadership team of Magellan Health Services as chief corporate development officer, responsible for mergers and acquisitions and other strategic business initiatives. He had previously led operations at Magellan's National Imaging Associates (NIA), where his responsibilities included operational oversight, analysis and implementation for provider networks, medical management and analytics.

Earlier in his career, Patel held leadership positions with investment and advisory firms spanning health care, biotechnology, IT and pharmaceutical firms, including Internet Healthcare Group and Scheer and Company.

He holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan and a doctor of medicine degree from Cornell University Medical College.

About GuideWell Mutual Holding Corporation
GuideWell Mutual Holding Corporation is a not-for-profit mutual holding company that is the parent to a family of forward-thinking companies focused on transforming health care. The GuideWell companies include: Florida Blue (Florida's Blue Cross and Blue Shield plan), GuideWell Health (a health care delivery company), GuideWell Connect (a health care consumer marketing company), and Diversified Service Options (an administrative and claims processing company for state and federal health care programs). For more information, visit www.GuideWell.com.

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SOURCE GuideWell