Today we’d like to introduce you to Mark Paley. Him and his team share their story with us below.
Please kick things off for us, we’d love to hear the story.
Water Tower Nursing and Home Care is committed to delivering the best home health care experience available to our Chicago area clients.
Caring for people is our “calling” not just our job. We understand the importance of choosing our team members very carefully. In addition to being conscientious, caring and compassionate, we all go that “extra mile” on every assignment.
We are a team of home care professionals dedicated to caring for, and working with, people who want to maintain an undiminished quality of life.
Water Tower Nursing and Home Care is equally sensitive to the needs of family, friends and business and health partners who want to help the individual in need.
Our objective at all times is to ensure our clients’ comfort, security, privacy and dignity – whether at home, in an assisted living environment or health facility. We strive to provide the best home health care services for your needs.
Mark Paley has built Water Tower Nursing and Home, a Chicago home care agency, based on a family tradition of providing prompt professional service to those who live, work, and visit the neighborhood.
Every company’s founder has a unique story. Here is Mark’s:
In 1985, as a new graduate of the pharmacy school at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, Mark went to work for his father Burton Paley. As Mark likes to tell the story; “I graduated on a Saturday and went to work on the next Monday.” Mark became a third generation pharmacist serving the same community his family did before him.
The Drug Store at Water Tower Place was established in 1976 when the Water Tower Place building was built. Mark helped his father Burt remodel the pharmacy and rename it Water Tower Pharmacy. Burt purchased Sargents Drug Store (the oldest pharmacy in the city of Chicago, established 1852) and merged it into Water Tower Pharmacy and renamed it Sargent’s Water Tower Pharmacy.
In 1992, Mark purchased from his father John F. Carnegie Drug located in the Drake Hotel, Chicago (established 1888) and merged it into Sargents Water Tower Pharmacy and renamed it Carnegie Sargent’s Pharmacy at Water Tower Place.
Mark was not satisfied running a traditional community pharmacy. In 1996, through his membership and participation in many associations, Mark saw the convergence between the re-advent of the pharmacist as a primary care practitioner and the explosion in the interest in nutritional products. Mark likes to say; instead of selling Beanie Babies and vitamins I started a health promotion company Integrated Health Care Systems. Mark hired a Registered Dietitian who had a certification in exercise instruction, and together they began providing both products and consulting services related to Nutrition, Fitness, Medication and Self-Care.
Finally, in 1997 Mark established a Chicago area home care agency known as Water Tower Nursing and Home Care. Again, it was a twist of fate. Being a neighborhood concern, people in need often turn to Mark for help. One day a caregiver Mark had known and trusted for a long time called to say she had just lost her client. On that same day, a retired physician Mark had served for a long time called inquiring if Mark knew anyone who could provide home care assistance. A company was born.
The story doesn’t end there.
Mark needed a way to tie his three complementary companies together. Again, Mark didn’t have to go far. This time, Mark turned to his good friend Joe to help develop the brand the For Good Health Group and www.ForGoodHealth.com.
The For Good Health Group combines the strength of Mark’s three companies; Carnegie Sargent’s Pharmacy & Health Center, Water Tower Nursing & Home Care and Integrated Health Care Systems.
The For Good Health Group team approach empowers clients to become active participants in their health care.
Treatment alternatives are considered cooperatively to achieve the desired economic, clinical and humanistic outcomes. We are committed to building lasting relationships with our clients. Our ultimate goal is to help people optimize health throughout every stage of life.
Has it been a smooth road?
No struggles per say. When you run a company that operates 24-hours a day 7-days a week it is always a give and take when balancing home and office.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Water Tower Nursing and Home Care story. Tell us more about the business.
I am most proud of my supervisory team.
KATHY KWIATKOWSKI – Director of Operations
Hard work and dedicated to getting it right, Kathy is tireless in her pursuit of perfection.
It’s Kathy’s responsibility to ensure all administrative operations are running smoothly, efficiently and compliantly.
Key Areas of Responsibility:
Assist in maintaining compliance with applicable local, state and federal laws and rules.
Complete, maintain and submit reports and records as required.
Assist in developing, implementing and maintaining administrative, operational and personnel policies and procedures to ensure best of practices and cost effectiveness.
Recruit qualified caregivers
Procurement of all types of insurance
Assist with legal matters
Maintain personnel records and handle matters pertaining to human resources
Oversee payroll, billing and client insurance operations
Oversee bookkeeping operations
Completion of monthly financial statements
Maintain accounting and corporate records
Other Duties and Responsibilities:
Develop, Implement and Monitor quality assurance standards
Support customer service strategies
Support industry associations with the goal of developing best of practices
Develop relationships with potential referral sources (business and health care partners)
JAMIE KIRSCH – Book Keeper
Jamie is MUCH more than a book keeper, Jamie is record keeper extraordinaire.
It’s Jamie’s responsibility to ensure all payroll, billing, accounts receivables, accounts payables and insurance operations are running smoothly, efficiently and compliantly.
Key Areas of Responsibility:
Retrieve daily voice mail message for WTN employee check in/out
Prepare WTN weekly client billing
Prepare WTN bi-weekly payroll
Prepare monthly CSRX house account statements
Prepare and file monthly CSRX sales tax and soft drink tax
Responsible for Accounts Payables and Accounts Receivables for the FGHG
Assist and support the Director of Operations with any book-keeping needed
Other Duties and Responsibilities:
Maintain quality assurance standards
Support customer service strategies
MICHELLE RAKONCAY – Registered Nurse
Michelle brings a wealth of patient care knowledge and experience as a registered nurse to Water Tower Nursing and Home Care. The care she delivers is extremely detail oriented and professional as well as caring and compassionate.
MATTHEW J. HONAKER – Supervisor
As a supervisor Matt embodies the company philosophy of providing prompt, professional service.
In addition to customer service, Matt is responsible for merchandise management in the Pharmacy, making sure the pharmacy is never out of the hard to find products Carnegie carries. If we don’t have it, Matt can get it.
When clients request delivery, Matt is the go to guy. Whether you are in the neighborhood or overseas, Matt can arrange to send you the products you want in a timely manner.
If you have more sophisticated needs, Matt can help. Matt is one of the supervisors who coordinate a comprehensive service called Care Management. The service is set up to accommodate each client’s personal needs. We help individuals and their families make important decisions related to available care. Under our client’s direction, we will identify the specific needs and determine the appropriate resources to resolve those needs. We can coordinate the services and provide the support necessary to meet, and exceed all expectations. Our goal is to make our clients and their families feel comfortable with the decisions that are made
Finally, Matt supervises our Insurance Reimbursement Solutions service. He oversees the preparation of the appropriate forms to assure reimbursement to the fullest extent.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
As our industry grows with an aging population, we will continue to focus on continuous quality improvement.
Water Tower Nursing and Home Care, Inc. (WTN) has developed quality guidelines based on a corporate philosophy that our organization provides best of practices. In order to achieve continuous quality improvement, WTN’s protocols are constantly scrutinized. WTN associates with other best of practice providers and makes every effort to stay on the cutting edge of current trends and regulations. WTN welcomes our clients, their families and other business and health care partners to alert us to areas where we can improve these guidelines.
Contact Info:
- Address: 845 N Michigan Ave.,
Suite 902 West
Chicago, IL 60611 - Website: www.WaterTowerNursing.com
- Phone: 3122804980
- Email: info@WaterTowerNursing.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=Water%20Tower%20Nursing%20and%20Home%20Care%2C%20Inc.
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/search?q=water%20tower%20nursing&src=typd
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/water-tower-nursing-and-home-care-chicago-3
Getting in touch: VoyageChicago is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
