Saltmarsh Welcomes Q3 Healthcare Consulting to the FirmExpands Presence in Senior Living and Post-Acute Care

4/8/2024 - By Nancy Patton

We are thrilled to welcome Jennifer Ziolkowski, MBA, CLSSYB, and Kelly Smith, PhD, CPHQ, CLSSBB, as directors in the firm’s existing healthcare consulting practice!

With their prior firm, Q3 Healthcare Consulting, LLC, Ziolkowski and Dr. Smith brought a broad range of consulting expertise to senior living and post-acute care with a focus on elevating quality, developing strong leaders and promoting cohesive teams utilizing principles of the Baldridge Framework for Performance Excellence. As part of the Saltmarsh team, Ziolkowski and Dr. Smith’s talents will strengthen and enrich Saltmarsh’s existing commitment to delivering industry-leading expertise and exceptional client service.

Saltmarsh Healthcare Practice Leader, Andrew Kent, Esq., CVA, CHC, shared his enthusiasm about the team’s new additions, stating, “The Q3 team, much like Saltmarsh, has a long-standing commitment to delivering the highest standards of quality, innovation and customer satisfaction. We have collaborated many times over the years and couldn’t be more excited to officially welcome them as part of the Saltmarsh family. By joining forces, we will leverage our combined passion, expertise and resources to better serve the evolving needs of our clients and the industry as a whole.”

Ziolkowski has extensive experience, including service as SVP of Finance and President of Opis Senior Services Group, a provider of skilled nursing, assisted living, home health services and short-term rehabilitation services. She is active in the Florida Health Care Association (FHCA) and the American Health Care Association (AHCA) and has served in a variety of roles including co-chair of the FHCA Reimbursement Committee, member of the AHCA Multi-Facility Council, and a board member of the Our Florida Promise. Ziolkowski is a recipient of the Walter M. Johnson, Jr. Circle of Excellence Award for her dedication to long-term care and her role in the development of the Medicaid Prospective Payment System in Florida.

Dr. Smith served as the Director of Process Improvement for Opis Senior Services Group and has spent over a decade working to improve the quality of care for seniors through research and practice. She currently serves as a Gold Examiner for the AHCA/National Center for Assisted Living Quality Award Program and holds a gubernatorial appointment to Florida’s Panel for Excellence in Long-Term Care. Dr. Smith is active with the FHCA and serves on various committees including the Professional Development Committee, the Assisted Living Committee and serves as vice chair of the Quality Cabinet. She is also a member of the American Society of Quality, the National Association of Healthcare Quality, The Gerontological Society of America and Florida Council on Aging.

Saltmarsh’s Healthcare Consulting Practice provides a wide array of specialized services tailored for healthcare providers across the nation. Join our Saltmarsh Siren email list to receive our team's analysis of hot topics in healthcare and insight on current changes, such as complex regulatory matters, Medicare and Medicaid updates, and more.