North Highland Recruits Top-Level Advisers to Health Care Team

The North Highland Company, a leading national business consulting firm, announced today the expansion of its health care practice with the addition of three nationally recognized policy and subject-matter experts, according to Fletcher Lance, leader of North Highland`s health care team.

The three are:

Karla Schnell, National Provider Leader. Schnell joined from Navigant Consulting, where she most recently led the "Hospital of the Future" project in California. She is a nurse by training and has worked with some of the leading provider organizations in the country.

Mark Cianciolo, Strategy Leader. Cianciolo is the former chief executive officer of the Sarah Cannon Research Institute for HCA Inc. and has more than 20 years of diversified management and consulting experience with Accenture and Ernst and Young in the health care and financial services industries.

Matt Kern, Health Plan Leader. Kern has more than 20 years of experience working with leading health plans and health insurance companies. He worked with Accenture and Price Waterhouse Coopers before joining North Highland.

"Karla, Mark and Matt each bring a unique background and understanding of the changing health care landscape that deepens the level of insight and advice we are able to offer our clients," said Lance, who is based in Nashville and oversees North Highland`s work with health care companies in 18 cities across the U.S.

Lance said Schnell will lead North Highland`s work with hospitals and other health care providers. Cianciolo will assist providers with strategic physician integration, new venture development and growth strategies. Kern will lead the company`s work with health insurance clients and government-sponsored health plans.

"This is a time like no other in the health care industry," Lance said. "The opportunity to create a more frictionless, patient-centered and efficient health care model with the integration of electronic medical records and other technological advancements, plus the broader opportunities presented by national health care reform, make this a time of great promise for every type of health care company, and North Highland is committed to offering those companies assistance from some of the most knowledgeable practitioners in the industry."

The North Highland Company

Founded in 1992, North Highland is a private, independent business consulting company with more than 750 consultants in 18 offices nationwide. It is noteworthy because its consultants live and work in the same communities as their clients. For more information on North Highland, visit www.northhighland.com.