UCH’s Patti Klingel named LeadingAge Ohio 2020 Emerging Leader

Patti Klingel
Patti_Klingel

During the past year, senior living employees across the U.S. demonstrated exceptional resilience and dedication to senior living residents amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

LeadingAge Ohio, the industry voice for the state’s nonprofit senior living providers, payed tribute to its entire membership with the 2020 Aging Services Impact Award, announcing recently that “LeadingAge Ohio honors the heroes on the frontlines of care for their service and sacrifices made while caring for Ohio’s most high-risk population.”

The organization also honored two members with the Emerging Leader award including Patti Klingel, Executive Director of Compliance and Clinical Services, United Church Homes.

The Emerging Leader Award is presented annually to an individual who demonstrates personal integrity, leadership, and professional dedication in his or her career.

Patti, who has been with United Church for five years, has taken a lead role in guiding United Church Homes’ response during the COVID-19 public health crisis.

Early in the pandemic, Patti began daily monitoring of the fast-changing state and federal directives from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and up to 30 state departments of health where UCH has communities.

Patti expertly filtered the flood of information for UCH communities, ensuring that staff understood the latest guidance and infection control protocols as they worked to keep residents healthy and safe.

She also led education sessions on infection control for staff, and develops training curriculums to assist clinical teams. When a community had a COVID-19 outbreak, Patti headed the support team that walked communities through implementing rapid response COVID plans to reduce further the risks to residents and staff.

Beyond COVID-19, Patti developed the UCH corporate compliance program—an initiative so robust that other senior living providers have contacted Patti for support in developing their own compliance programs.

She also played an essential role in implementing key quality metric reviews that identified opportunities to enhance care outcomes for residents.

“United Church Homes is blessed to have Patti and her unique talents,” said Ken Young, senior vice president for strategic growth and chief legal counsel. “Her wide-ranging healthcare expertise coupled with her ability to multitask and organize enables her to consistently perform at the highest level.”

He added that Patti’s faith, and commitment to United Church Homes’ core values of compassion, respect, hospitality, integrity, stewardship, and transparency make her a truly authentic leader.

“2020 has been without a doubt the most challenging year ever experienced by the long-term care sector,” stated Kathryn Brod, President/CEO of LeadingAge Ohio. “To have champions like Patti Klingel among our membership has given strength to care providers as they continue to serve residents and patients, as well as support staff and families, throughout this past pandemic year.”