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Contact: Dawn Harsch, Director of Corporate Communications, (716) 479-3865

BUFFALO, NY – Mark Dirlam, DPT, LNHA, has been promoted to the position of regional vice president for the McGuire Group, with oversight of its five Western New York-based skilled nursing and rehabilitation facilities.

In this role, Dirlam is responsible for the management and operation of more than 1,100 beds and 1,900 employees at Autumn View Health Care Facility in Hamburg, Garden Gate Health Care Facility in Cheektowaga, Harris Hill Nursing Facility in Williamsville, Northgate Health Care Facility in North Tonawanda, Seneca Health Care Center in West Seneca.

Dirlam holds a doctorate in physical therapy from the University at Buffalo, where he was valedictorian of his graduating class, and a bachelor of arts in interpersonal communications from Bowling Green State University.

Prior to his appointment, he served as the Administrator at the organization’s Garden Gate Health Care Facility.

Dirlam is a member of the executive committee for Western New York NYSHFA and is a past member of the Trocaire College nursing advisory board and a legislative liaison for Western New York APTA.

The McGuire Group provides skilled nursing care, subacute rehabilitation, memory care, hospice and palliative care, in-house dialysis, telemetry services and respite/short-term care. The organization and its sister portfolios, RCA Healthcare Management/Absolut Care, Taconic Health Care and VestraCare provide care to more than 2,800 individuals across the state. To learn more visit: www.livinglegendshealth.com.

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Contact: Dawn Harsch, Director of Corporate Communications, (716) 479-3865

East Aurora, NY – Absolut Care of Aurora Park, a 176-bed skilled nursing and rehabilitation facility, is pleased to announce a partnership with Dr. Justin Green and Highgate Medical Group to oversee the day-to-day clinical care at the facility.

The partnership mirrors that of Aurora Park’s sister facilities within the McGuire Group portfolio, where Highgate Medical has provided clinical services since 2016.

The success of the partnerships is attributed to a unique staffing model which is unmatched in magnitude by any other provider group in the area. The model has impactfully changed the evolution of primary care within nursing facilities and includes full-day in-house provider coverage through the use of advanced care practitioners (ACPs). Benefits of this staffing model include continuity of care, stability for the facility’s medical team, enhanced interactions with residents and family members and the reduction in hospitalizations with providers treating emergent issues at the bedside.

As Aurora Park’s medical director, Dr. Green oversees the day-to-day clinical care and provides quality assurance reviews, develops care plans, participates on ethical committees, provides assessments for new admissions and oversees the care of long-term residents.

Dr. Green is an associate partner at Highgate Medical Group which is one of the lead practices in the Primary Care IPA (PCIPA). PCIPA is comprised of 24 practices and 86,000 adult patients. As such, Aurora Park is a preferred site for all 24 practices within the IPA. When patients are diverted to Aurora Park for rehabilitation or other services, Dr. Green oversees the care, facilitates communication with the primary care providers and ensures a smooth hand-off and follow-up as the patients transition back to their PCPs. “When groups are aligned, there’s a collaboration and combination of resources,” he stated. “This creates a stronger presence in the community while improving patient care, enhancing communication, providing cohesive medical histories and incorporating best practices.”

Absolut Care of Aurora Park provides subacute rehabilitation, skilled nursing care, memory care, in-house dialysis, hospice care and respite/short-term care. In 2020, RCA Healthcare Management took over the management of Aurora Park and five other facilities in the Absolut Care portfolio after they had fallen into bankruptcy under the former owner. At that time, Aurora Park had an overall rating of one star out of five by the federal government. Today, the facility boasts a three-star overall rating and a five-star rating for quality measures. “Our team continues its mission to enhance the quality of programs and services for East Aurora and the surrounding communities,” stated Administrator Stacy Bastian, RN, BSN, LNHA.

In 2022, Absolut Care and its sister portfolios, including the McGuire Group, Taconic Health Care and VestraCare, underwent an enterprise-wide rebranding as Living Legends. The initiative communicates consistency in c-suite leadership, policies and procedures, workplace environment and best practices in all four portfolios. For more information, visit www.livinglegendshealth.com.

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