What’s new: Gov. Abigail Spanberger appointed Wendy Walter, chair of the VHCA-VCAL Board of Directors and regional director of operations of CCR as the nursing home industry representative on the Virginia Board of Health.

• Walter replaces Amanda Gannon with Green Tree Healthcare Management, who previously served in the nursing home representative seat on the board.

About Walter: She has held her license as a nursing home administrator since 1996. She presently has operational oversight of four skilled nursing facilities that can care for over 550 residents at one time. In addition to more than 20 years working in nursing centers, she also brings experience working for a health system. She has demonstrated success with operational results, and regulatory compliance.

• A standout component of Walter’s expertise is her deep commitment to quality and continuous quality improvement. During her tenure as a facility administrator, she led her team to two AHCA National Quality Awards. She has gone on to serve as a Senior Examiner for the National Quality Award Program and frequently provides education to providers in Virginia on quality and regulatory topics.
• She has also served on the Nursing Facility Advisory Committee, which brings together long term care stakeholders and state agency partners to discuss key issues affecting providers and residents. She is a licensed preceptor in Virginia and has served as preceptor for numerous administrators throughout her career.

About the board: The Virginia Board of Health is a 15-member independent agency that regulates health facilities in the Commonwealth.

• The board’s mission is to provide leadership in planning and policy development for the Commonwealth and VDH to implement a coordinated, prevention-oriented program that promotes and protects the health of all Virginians. Members are appointed for four-year terms.