April joined the VHCA-VCAL staff in January as the Vice President of Quality Improvement and Director of the Virginia Center for Assisted Living.  April shares insight into her career in long term care and what she hopes to accomplish on behalf of the association.

What path brought you to long term care?

I became an LPN in long term care in 2000 and fell in love with it.  I knew I wanted to work forever making a positive impact for older adults.  I received my bachelor’s degree in Health Systems Management from George Mason University with a concentration in Assisted Living Administration.  I earned my LNHA in 2011.

What should VHCA-VCAL members know about you?

I have been there.  With my experience as a nurse and administrator, I have done all the things that operators in the membership do.  I understand what all the regs and changes mean for the entire team—from nursing staff to housekeeping.  I know what it’s like to be responsible for educating and training staff, to work on the floor and push ideas and new ways of thinking out to the team.  I’m absolutely passionate about this work.

Where did you work before VHCA-VCAL?

When I started in LTC, I went to work at Birmingham Green with Dave Rumford.  Most recently I served as Vice President of Operations and Assisted Living Services/Administrator for Beth Sholom Lifecare Community in Richmond.  Through my work over the years with Chiles Healthcare Consulting I’ve encountered many VHCA-VCAL members and helped them with survey and inspection issues.

What most excites you about your work and the contributions you can make?

Everything!  I want to make a difference, help make changes where needed, make sure we’re not overregulated to the degree that it affects our ability to provide high quality care.

What are you passionate about personally?

Definitely fitness and challenging myself every day.  I want to be healthy and I enjoy passing that feeling on to other people.  My personal sidekick is my daughter Amelia.  We spend as much time outside and moving as we can.

How do you want to be remembered?

As being a good person who contributed, who helped people.  A person who sees a need and does what she can to help or recognize that effort.

What’s the most unusual thing in your desk drawer?

An electric toothbrush—I brush at least 3 times per day. 

Do you have a pet?

I think of my chocolate lab Hunter as my first born—I brushed his teeth every night of his life.  (Do you see a theme here?)

What’s your favorite food or restaurant?

I love food!  I would rather eat dessert than a meal.  At the Northern District meeting I ate dessert for lunch—the cinnamon roll was so good!  I love going to Shyndigz, a Richmond dessert restaurant.

What is your grand, audacious goal?

In the context of my work for VHCA-VCAL, I want to be able to help members navigate all the changes facing them.  I want you all to know I’m a resource you can call upon any time as you work to figure out what changes you may need to make to comply with the new AL standards.

You can contact April at 804.212.1698 or april.payne@vhca.org.