James E. Sok Named to Top Spot at Sheltering Arms

James E. Sok

Sheltering Arms Physical Rehabilitation Hospitals, Richmond, Va, has named James E. Sok, FACHE, as CEO. Sok, who has more than 30 years of experience as a health care executive leader, began his tenure as CEO June 18.

Most recently, Sok served as executive vice president of operations at Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Hospital, Allentown, Pa, an integrated health care system with more than 1,200 employees and 23 facilities throughout Pennsylvania. While in his post at Good Shepherd, Sok directed a $35 million campus-transformation project that included the development of a new technology center.

"The Board of Directors of Sheltering Arms is delighted that Mr Sok is joining our organization," Tricia Cushnie, RN, board chair, says. "We believe his proven leadership skills will complement the work of our outstanding clinicians so that Sheltering Arms can continue to provide exceptional rehabilitation services for our community for years to come."

Sok has a bachelor's of science in pharmacy from the University of Connecticut, a master's of science in Health Care Management from the Hartford Graduate Center, and a master's of business arts from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY.

Hill-Rom and Tempur-Pedic Join Forces

A joint effort to offer a new line of innovative bed surfaces for acute care institutions in North America has begun between Hill-Rom, the health care operating company of Hillenbrand Industries, and the Medical Division of Tempur-Pedic North America Inc, a subsidiary of Tempur-Pedic International Inc.

The new line was showcased for the first time during the April 2007 American Organization of Nurse Executives (AONE) Annual Meeting and Exposition in Washington, DC.

"We are excited about bringing our two companies together to create an innovative new product line to improve the sleeping comfort for patients," Peter H. Soderberg, CEO of Hillenbrand and Hill-Rom, says. "Both of our companies are known for our commitment to quality and service, and have long histories of innovation. Together, we can make a difference in the way patients rest and heal by providing a line of sleep surfaces that focuses on comfort while simultaneously providing better pressure redistribution for hospitalized patients."

The two companies plan to debut a jointly branded line of nonpowered medical mattresses to the Hill-Rom acute care customer base. Hill-Rom would be named as the exclusive third-party distributor in North America of Tempur-Pedic medical mattresses to this acute care arena. The cobranded Hill-Rom Tempur-Pedic line would feature sleeping surfaces made specifically for Hill-Rom products such as the VersaCare, TotalCare, and Affinity 4 beds, as well as CareAssist, stretchers, and mattress-replacement systems.  All products would include deep top layers made from proprietary TEMPUR material.

"The powerful combination of two brands with such high recognition in the industry is a strategy that will help to reinvent the patient care experience in acute care facilities," says H. Thomas Bryant, president and CEO of Tempur-Pedic International Inc. "Together, we will ultimately help more patients find relief and comfort when they need it most."

The relationship would combine the strength of Hill-Rom's distribution, service, and integrated approach to solutions with Tempur-Pedic's expertise in providing comfort. "Hospital teams are very much aware that comfort and sleep are clinical indicators," Paul Coulis, president of the Medical Division of Tempur-Pedic North America Inc, says. "Through this relationship, we have the answer to comfort while still providing a product that helps meet clinical needs."

Murer Elected Chair of University Governing Board

Cherilyn Murer

Murer Consultants Inc, a legal-based health care consulting company, announced that Cherilyn Murer, JD, CRA, the firm's president and CEO, has been elected chair of the Northern Illinois University (NIU) Board of Trustees. The term of office for Murer began July 1.

Appointed to the NIU Board in May 2005 by Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich (D-Chicago), Murer has served as vice chair and head of a board subcommittee overseeing development of NIU's new proton therapy treatment and research institute at the DuPage National Technology Park in West Chicago.

A former director of rehabilitation medicine at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago, Murer and her firm now represent hospitals and health systems throughout the United States, providing strategic planning services and assistance in complying with complex state and federal regulations. Murer has been a columnist for Rehab Management since 1993, authoring the magazine's "Trends & Issues" column.

Murer is an alumna of the NIU College of Law, serves on its board of visitors, and, in 2003, received the College's Distinguished Alumnus award. She is also a member of the NIU Foundation Board of Directors and has chaired that group's development committee.

"Supporting NIU is a labor of love," Murer says, "and my goals reflect that feeling. I'd like to see my tenure as chair marked by a renewed emphasis on academic excellence, support for research and artistry, and increased recognition of NIU as a center of excellence and opportunity for talented students and faculty."

Northern Illinois University is among the nation's premier regional public universities. The university is a comprehensive teaching and research institution with a diverse and international student body of more than 26,000 undergraduate and graduate students.