Hi, I’m Katie.

With over two decades of experience in behavioral health—ranging from recreational therapy to serving as a Statewide Chief of Compliance—I have seen firsthand the "transition gap" that plagues our industry. Too often, new QAPI Directors are handed a binder and a desk with no roadmap, leading to burnout, non-compliance, and stalled facility goals.

I founded Behavioral Health Benchmarks to be the bridge for those leaders and the organizations they serve

My Approach:

I believe that QAPI is more than just a compliance checkbox; it is the heartbeat of a reliable organization. My work is rooted in Objectivity, Mentorship, and Excellence. Whether I am conducting a root cause analysis, developing a strategic Quality Improvement Plan, or coaching a new Director through their first Joint Commission survey, my goal is to build confidence in your team and reliability in your results.

My Resume:

EDUCATION & CERTIFICATIONS

Doctorate in Healthcare Administration (DHA) Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ) Certified in Healthcare Compliance (CHC) Healthcare Accreditation Certified Professional (HACP-CMS)

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services Statewide Chief of Facility Compliance August 2022 - December 2025

• Led enterprise-wide quality improvement, risk management, and compliance programs, evaluating and advancing strategic goals through audits, risk assessments, mock surveys, and performance reviews.

• Directed statewide compliance and performance improvement initiatives across inpatient, outpatient, and crisis services, ensuring adherence to CMS, TJC, CARF, CIHQ, ODMHSAS, and state regulations.

• Analyzed safety events, incident reports, and compliance data; led root cause analyses and corrective action planning to improve quality, safety, and reliability.

• Guided organizations through Joint Commission and CARF surveys, achieving successful accreditation outcomes and standardized care delivery across eleven facilities.

• Reported quality and compliance outcomes to executive leadership and Governing Boards; served as Executive Director/CEO during leadership transitions and advised ODMHSAS executives on policy and strategy.

Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services Chief Operating Officer - Tulsa Center for Behavioral Health Mar 2020 – August 2022

• Provided Patient Safety and QAPI leadership by reviewing incident reports, monitoring safety programs, and leading root cause analysis investigations to drive risk reduction and system improvement.

• Directed policy development, review, and enterprise-wide communication processes, ensuring alignment with CMS, TJC, OHCA, and state statutory requirements.

• Led and developed Quality Assurance / Performance Improvement leadership, setting clear performance expectations, coaching for growth, and holding leaders accountable through an annual performance-based planning process.

• Oversaw Quality Assessment and Performance Improvement (QAPI), patient safety, utilization review, and medical records functions for a 56-bed psychiatric hospital.

• Implemented facility-wide regulatory education initiatives and successfully transitioned policies from Joint Commission Hospital Standards to Joint Commission Behavioral Health Standards, maintaining full accreditation compliance.

Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services Director of Quality Improvement - Griffin Memorial Hospital July 2015 – Mar 2020

• Interpreted federal and state laws, regulations, and accreditation standards, translating requirements into facility-wide compliance strategies and operational guidance for departmental leaders.

• Held accountability for compliance and performance improvement initiatives across Utilization Review, Staff Development, and Medical Records functions.

• Monitored and strengthened the patient safety program through analysis of near misses, safety events, and incident reports; led root cause analysis investigations.

• Facilitated peer review processes and data abstraction to develop quality scorecards supporting performance monitoring and leadership decision-making.

• Designed, facilitated, and continuously updated regulatory-compliant education programs for clinical and non-clinical staff at onboarding and annually.

Cedar Ridge Hospital Director of Risk Management & Quality Improvement Jan 2011 - July 2015

• Implemented an enterprise Risk Management program by analyzing near misses, safety events, and incident reports, resulting in a 75% reduction in physical restraint use.

• Guided the Executive Management Team through a comprehensive remediation strategy, advancing the organization from a Joint Commission Preliminary Denial to Full Accreditation in under two years.

• Strengthened organizational safety culture, achieving 8–10% annual improvements in staff safety culture survey scores.

ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE

Therapeutic Activities Director - Cedar Ridge Hospital October 2006 – January 2011

Recreational Therapist - FACT Specialized Services September 2005 – October 2006

Recreational Therapist - High Pointe Hospital & RTC December 2002 – September 2004

Recreational Therapist - Brynn Marr Hospital May 1999 – December 2001