Community LIFE’s Operation STOP, an elopement management initiative, won the UPMC Senior Services and CPS Quality Fair Clinical Quality Improvement Award.

Community LIFE is committed to ensuring our participants are receiving the best quality care and are safe while living independently in the community.

Congratulations to the project leads Lisa Jenkins, Tina Opina, Amy Chaffo and Terri Averi for being the catalyst of an intervention that has yielded positive outcomes for our participants.

Community LIFE announced today that Richard DiTommaso, the organization’s president, will be retiring after more than 20 years of service. Fatemeh Hashtroudi, current director, Quality Improvement and Patient Safety, Community LIFE, has been chosen to succeed DiTommaso effective August 1, 2022.

DiTommaso joined Community LIFE in 2001 as the director of operations. Throughout his tenure, DiTommaso has been integral to the organization’s ongoing development, growth, and strategy. Today, largely as a result of his commitment and leadership, there are eight Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) centers in six counties throughout the region. 

Hashtroudi, DiTommaso’s successor, joined Community LIFE in May 2012, bringing more than 20 years of hospital and long-term care management experience. She grew the quality program by embedding Perfecting Patient Care®/LEAN, motivational interviewing, and rounding into the organizational culture. Hashtroudi has chaired Community LIFE’s emergency operations planning committee since its inception and been a key collaborator and leader of the infection control program and implementation of Electronic Health Records. She’s also served for many years as co-chair of the National PACE Association Quality Committee. DiTommaso will work with Hashtroudi to facilitate a seamless transition into her new role.