Mark Parkinson, who most recently served as President and CEO of the AHCA/NCAL for the past 14 years, has joined the Board of Directors at Comprehensive Rehab Consultants (CRC). He brings a wealth of knowledge and extensive healthcare leadership to CRC—helping us advance our mission of delivering top-of-class care to patients in skilled nursing facilities.

A Champion for the Senior Living Sector

As CEO of AHCA/NCAL, Mark oversaw remarkable growth and helped the association represent over 14,000 skilled nursing facilities and assisted living centers across the U.S. His focus was loud and clear: finding real solutions to make life better for patients and providers, especially during times when quality, sustainable healthcare seemed precarious.

Drawing from his experience as the 45th Governor of Kansas, and former owner of long-term care facilities in Kansas and Missouri, Mark helped make AHCA/NCAL a prominent voice on Capitol Hill, partnering with lawmakers and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to address the challenges of skilled nursing facilities and assisted living centers. 

Over the years, Mark has been recognized as a leader with a capacity for impact. CEO Update named him a “Top Association CEO,” he was a “Top Lobbyist” according to The Hill for 11 consecutive years, and Modern Healthcare included him in its “100 Most Influential People in Healthcare” list. These honors underscore Mark’s ongoing commitment to build a stronger, more supportive healthcare system.

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The Chance Meeting Behind Our Partnership

CRC’s partnership with Mark began with a chance meeting at the 2023 SNN Rethink Skilled Nursing Conference.

CRC’s leadership team—comprising Dr. Omar Osman (CEO), Rehan Azhar (President), and Asim Aziz (COO)—crossed paths with Mark, and from their first conversation, they felt a powerful alignment in goals and values. They discussed CRC’s work and vision for delivering hospital-level care in the post-acute space, and soon realized they shared a desire to make an impact in the senior living space.

After the conference, the CRC team stayed in close contact with Mark, exchanging ideas and opportunities for collaboration. Their conversations continued, and the path forward became evident: Mark would join CRC’s Board, bringing his expertise to help the company deliver on its promise to revolutionize post-acute care.

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A Shared Vision for Better Senior Care

Patients in long-term care facilities require compassionate, quality care that addresses both immediate health needs and long-term well-being. They stand to benefit from personalized support for managing chronic conditions, as well as rehabilitation and social engagement to prevent isolation. Yet this requires a collaborative care model that respects patients’ individual needs, while providing consistent, high-quality medical attention. All these elements are central to CRC’s offering for partner facilities. 

At the other end of the spectrum, many providers  struggle to deliver care in an environment where resources are limited and regulations are always shifting. Skilled nursing and long-term care facilities must balance financial viability with quality, patient-centered service. In other words, providers need adequate staffing, training, and supportive infrastructure to manage diverse patient needs and regulatory requirements. As such, they can benefit from the high-coverage care model and onsite support CRC’s medical professionals provide in their facilities.

Mark’s public service and direct care experience has given him a nuanced understanding of both patient and provider needs. He understands the complexities that facilities must navigate—from hiring and retaining skilled staff, to meeting stringent health and safety standards, all while maintaining a welcoming, home-like environment for residents. 

On his decision to join the CRC team, Mark said, “I want to spend the rest of my career working with companies and providers who are committed to providing outstanding care. Working with CRC fulfills that mission. By placing physiatrists and physiatry-certified nurse practitioners in buildings, CRC is materially improving the care of post-acute residents. Outcomes improve and rehospitalizations drop. Remarkably, CRC offers this service at no cost to the nursing home. It’s a classic win/win. I’m anxious to be a part of CRC’s mission to spread this care across the country.”

At CRC, we plan to take a balanced approach and create solutions geared toward quality outcomes for nursing home residents, while also leveraging our onsite presence and technology to help providers in areas such as reimbursement capture. 

To that end, the timing of Mark joining the CRC team could not be better. As demand for high-quality, affordable post-acute care grows, and the U.S. population ages, facilities are feeling the pressure to meet complex needs with limited resources and heightened regulatory demands. The challenges are real—but so is our ability to make a difference.

Asim Aziz, CRC’s Chief Operating Officer commented on Mark’s decision, saying, “CRC was founded with a singular purpose: to partner with nursing home providers to improve the quality of care their residents receive. Mark has championed this mission in his role as CEO of AHCA/NCAL, and we are deeply honored that he has chosen to join our organization to continue working toward this goal. We are thrilled to welcome him to the CRC family and look forward to all we will accomplish together.”

Mark’s addition to our Board also highlights our desire to inspire growth and advocacy in post-acute care. With his contributions, we’re ready to work toward a better future for our partner facilities, their staff, and most importantly, the patients they serve.

About Comprehensive Rehab Consultants

Founded in 2020, Comprehensive Rehab Consultants (CRC) is a leading national medical group providing physiatry services and post-discharge care for patients to the post-acute healthcare landscape. 

CRC provides services in 500+ facilities in over 38 states, with more than 300 dedicated medical providers who have received extensive training on the post-acute care setting, cutting-edge technology, and outcome-based data. CRC’s services seek to lower hospital readmission rates and improve patient outcomes and quality of life. 

As we look to the future, we remain steadfast in our commitment to innovation and our ability to address the needs of each facility. Our aim is to deliver compassionate, best-in-class care—all while empowering healthcare providers to meet the evolving demands of the post-acute care landscape.

With Mark joining our Board, we’re excited to take tangible steps forward in the sector. Visit crehabconsultants.com or reach out to info@crehabconsultants.com for more information on Comprehensive Rehab Consultants and our work in post-acute care.