VEP HEALTHCARE, INC.
CONCORD, CA

About VEP Healthcare VEP understands that our patients deserve expert medical care delivered with efficiency and compassion. We also understand that our physicians and advanced practice providers deserve to work within a high quality organization that puts a premium on the success of their careers as well as their physical and emotional well-being. We exist to deliver quality, compassionate healthcare to those in need, within a culture supportive of our healthcare providers and to be recognized as the premier provider of health services in emergent and inpatient settings. VEP Healthcare (VEP) began providing emergency medical management services in 1981. In the years since, our expertise has expanded into hospitalist services, intensive care, clinical decision units, telehealth, and surgicalist services. Today, the owners of VEP – our physicians, advanced practice clinicians, and corporate personnel – deliver clinical staffing and management services to major urban, smaller community, and rural hospitals nationwide. Our partner hospitals call our positive impact on quality, efficiency, and patient satisfaction “the VEP Effect.”   Dr. Maron earned his BA at the University of California at Davis and his MD at Hahnemann School of Medicine in Philadelphia. He designed and taught a course in Wilderness Medicine. Before assuming the VEP presidency in 2001, he served as an emergency physician at several VEP hospitals and provided medical care through Doctors Without Borders in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ghana, West Africa, and Nicaragua. Prior to joining VEP Healthcare, Dr. Patel served as the Vice President of Medical Affairs at Woodland Memorial Hospital since 2014, and brings with him more than 20 years of diverse health care operations management, teaching, and clinical experience. Areas of expertise include physician relations, process improvement and staff development. Dr. Patel received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Biochemistry from University of California, Berkeley. He received his medical degree from University of Health Sciences/the Chicago Medical School; as well as completed his Emergency Medicine Residency at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. Dr. Patel also holds a Master of Business Administration/Health Care Management from University of Phoenix. In addition to being board certified in emergency medicine, he is also a certified physician executive and a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executive. Dr. Patel’s oversight responsibilities include: operations management, business development, marketing, strategic planning and program development, legal & corporate council and new clinical service offerings. He will also help provide contract start-up support and assist with driving performance at VEP’s sites. Marc Hudock joined VEP in 2001. He was raised in the Sacramento area and now lives in Folsom, CA. Mr. Hudock graduated from University of Nevada, Reno in 1997 with a Bachelors in Health Science Pre-Medicine with a minor in Biology. He subsequently received his certificate in Physician Assistant Studies from Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona, CA in 2001. Mr. Hudock has served as Allied Health Site Director at several facilities for VEP including Woodland Healthcare, Dameron Hospital Association, and currently at Sutter Solano Medical Center in Vallejo, California where he has been key in implementing new processes to improve patient flow and patient care. Mr. Hudock’s strengths include operations support, new contract and program development. He frequently travels to many facilities with the VEP family of hospitals to work with the local Physicians and APC’s on a variety of patient care topics. He was Chief Allied Health Officer for VEP for over eight years and has been largely responsible for the growth of the Advanced Practice Clinician role within VEP Healthcare. Gary Tamkin, M.D., FACEP – Vice President of Provider Development Dr. Wyman’s vision for VEP Healthcare is to ensure that all of our emergency departments combine highly capable providers, evidence-based practices, and essential systems for the provision of safe, high-quality medical care, and that we have the data to demonstrate it. Dr. Kramer joined VEP in 1986, shortly after its inception. He earned his BA at Wesleyan University and his MD at the UCSF School of Medicine. Dr. Kramer worked at several ED’s before becoming the ED Medical Director at Woodland Memorial Hospital in 1990, a post he held almost continuously until 2013. As the VEP Chief Medical Officer since 2006, Dr. Kramer provides expertise in the review of the medicolegal history of new physician applicants, and he investigates and determines appropriate action plans for any potentially serious medicolegal incidents. She earned her Bachelors in Business Administration with an accounting concentration from California Polytechnic State University and then went to school for a Masters in Business at Golden Gate University in San Francisco. Dr. Justin Chatten-Brown serves as a Board Member on VEP Healthcare’s Board of Directors and is an Emergency Physician and ER Medical Director at Woodland Healthcare in Woodland, California. A fellow in the American College of Emergency Physicians, Dr. Ghurabi completed his training and residency in emergency medicine at Michigan State University before coming to California in 1980. During his illustrious career in emergency medicine, Dr. Ghurabi has cared for tens of thousands of people needing emergency services and has helped save countless lives. He also has trained hundreds of resident physicians and paramedics, who, in turn, have put those lifesaving skills into practice to help others. Dr. Ghurabi is a recipient of the American Red Cross of Santa Monica’s “Spirit Award” for his work in promoting emergency preparedness, educating fire and police personnel and taking care of the Santa Monica community. Dr. Larry Halem joined VEP in 2007 as the Associate Medical Director of Santa Monica UCLA. He also serves as the Associate Medical Director of Martin Luther King Jr. Community Hospital since the grand re-opening in 2015. Furthermore, Dr. Halem serves as Regional Productivity Director for VEP, working with providers and the billing companies to improve documentation and coding.