Cathy Hamblen says “I’m proud to work in long term care and someday you’ll be glad I do!”

Ms. Hamblen has 30 years of leadership experience in health care, including both Acute Care and Long Term Care. Currently she is Vice President of Risk Management for Carespring Health Care Management, which owns 7 Health Care Centers, 4 of which are currently Joint Commission Accredited Health Care Centers providing Long Term Care, Sub acute Care, and Dementia Care in the Greater Cincinnati/Dayton Area. The other 3 facilities have applied for and are undergoing accreditation.

Cathy is one of the most skilled and experienced leaders in the entire Midwest health care industry. As an on-site Nurse and Director of Nursing, her units had low staff turn over and high patient satisfaction scores. She now works on the corporate level to bring that kind of leadership and oversight to all of the departments and employees at Carespring. Cathy currently serves as Carespring’s Risk Manager, leading the company-wide efforts to ensure the highest levels of care by ensuring the safest levels of care. She also oversees the Care and Services provided to the residents of the Long Term Care, Assisted Living and Independently Living of Carespring Health Care Management. She assures compliance with state, federal and JCHAO standards of care. Her clinical knowledge and skills coupled with her leadership abilities and experience give her the professional respect and trust to lead the Carespring staff into the future of health care.

Beginning in the health care arena as a “Candy Striper” in 1968, Ms. Hamblen became a nurse aide in 1970 (prior to OBRA regulations). She graduated from the University of Kentucky in 1976 with a Bachelors’ degree in Nursing. She also attended Kentucky January to be a part of an Interdisciplinary Team to evaluate Health Care Systems and learn the dynamics of teamwork with disciplines other than nursing.

Ms. Hamblen then worked for 23 years at St. Elizabeth Medical Center starting as an RN, Assistant Nurse Manager, Nurse Manager, House Supervisor, and Director of Nursing for the 33 bed Sub-Acute JCAHO accredited Skilled Nursing Unit. While there, Cathy was an active member of the Policy and Procedure Committee, Continuing Education Committee, Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee and Infection Control Committee.

As an active member of Cincinnati Gerontological Nurses, National Association of Directors of Nursing, Association for Professionals in Infection Control, and Association of Professionals in Aging, Ms. Hamblen continues to hone her skills and share her talents. Her other professional highlights include the development of an orthopedic competency program for SEMC in 1992; speaker for clinical seminars related to care of the adult in Medical Surgical units at SEMC; speaker for Effective Nursing Leadership at Eastern Kentucky University 1994- 1997, and an impressive array of conferences, seminars and associations in which she has served as either a presenter, delegate or member. She was also the recipient of the 2002 Carespring Angel Award.

Cathy received her Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from the University of Kentucky. She is a member of the Ohio and National Directors of Nursing Association, Greater Cincinnati Geriatric Nurse Association, Association of Professionals in Aging and the Association of Professionals in Infection Control. She is licensed to practice in both Ohio and Kentucky. She lives in Loveland Ohio with Tom, her partner of 10 years, and is the proud parent of her children John, Katie, and Phil, as well as her stepchildren Tony, Eric, Shannon, and Bridget.