August 31, 2016 // Franchising.com // SUNRISE, FL - Caring Brands International (CBI) announced the appointment of Lawrence P. Kraska as President and CEO of CBI and Interim HealthCare Inc. effective August 29, 2016. Mr. Kraska succeeds retiring CEO Kathleen Gilmartin, who has led the company since 2008. Ms. Gilmartin will continue to serve as an advisor to the company.
Mr. Kraska brings more than 28 years of healthcare experience leading and building businesses into market-leading companies. He will lead three global brands: Interim HealthCare (in the United States), Bluebird Care (in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland) and Just Better Care (in Australia). Together, the CBI brands represent 530 locations operated by more than 250 independent franchise owners that produce over $1 billion of system wide sales. CBI franchisees offer individuals a full continuum of care including skilled home nursing, assistance with daily living activities and end-of-life hospice care. Caring Brands International and Interim HealthCare Inc. are headquartered in Sunrise, Florida.
Mr. Kraska’s executive level healthcare experience includes hospital administration, physician group practice management, outpatient services, consulting and health care staffing. As Chief Operating Officer of Physicians’ Specialty Corp., he helped grow the organization into the nation’s largest ENT management company from 1995 through 2000. He joined Club Staffing as CEO in 2001, which grew to become one of the nation’s largest Allied Healthcare Staffing companies over the next 9 years.
Prior to joining Caring Brands International, Mr. Kraska served as President and Chief Operating Officer of Hospital Physician Partners, one of the nation’s largest Emergency Medicine and Hospitalist physician contract management companies, with over 1800 physicians and healthcare professionals serving hospital contracts in 23 states.
Mr. Kraska stated, “I’m thrilled to be joining three of the world’s leading brands of home healthcare, hospice and health care staffing. The franchisees of these three brands have done an incredible job of improving the lives of thousands of individuals and I look forward to working with them to expand the business platform and pursue new opportunities in the future.”
“Lawrence brings a wealth of healthcare business experience to CBI and his ability to build teams and drive organizational growth will blend well with the entrepreneurial spirit of franchisees and the dedicated staff across our three franchise brands,” said Matthew Frankel, CBI Board member and a Managing Director at Levine Leichtman Capital Partners. “He is passionate about leading healthcare companies that become the leader in their sector by recruiting and retaining healthcare professionals, executives, and team members who are focused on delivering the highest quality of care and we’re delighted that he is joining us.”
Caring Brands International is the leading franchisor of home healthcare services under three global brands: Interim Healthcare (in the United States), Bluebird Care (in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland) and Just Better Care (in Australia). Together, the CBI brands represent 530 locations operated by more than 250 independent franchise owners that produce over $1 billion of system wide sales. The Company’s franchisees offer patients a full continuum of care including skilled home nursing, assistance with daily living activities and end-of-life hospice care. Caring Brands is headquartered in Sunrise, FL.
Interim HealthCare in the United States is unique in combining the commitment of local ownership with the support of a national organization that develops innovative programs and quality standards that improve the delivery of service. Franchisees employ nurses, therapists, aides, companions and other healthcare professionals who provide 25 million hours of home care service to 190,000 people each year, meeting a variety of home health, senior care, hospice, palliative care, pediatric care and healthcare staffing needs. For more information or to locate an Interim HealthCare office, visit www.interimhealthcare.com.
SOURCE Interim HealthCare Inc.
Interim understands how important it is for seniors to stay independent and safe in their homes.