About QFMS

Candace J. Chitty, RN, MBA  Quality First Healthcare Consulting, Inc. (QFHC) was founded by Candace J. Chitty, in February 2001. The initial consulting platform focused on utilizing her expertise in National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) standards to engage with customers in obtaining or maintaining compliance with the standards for NCQA’s various product lines. Over the next 23 years she expanded the company’s management consulting services to include quality and risk, compliance, interim services, care management and population health systems, financial management, operations management, credentialing management, and Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) and Federally qualified Health Center Look-a-Like (FQHC-LAL) start up and Federal assessments. She built a dynamic and comprehensive consulting team that could meet most needs of the customer without having to seek services elsewhere. In 2024 Candace stepped down from her responsibilities of President & CEO and now serves as Strategic Advisor to the current President & CEO.

Randal F. Chitty , Quality First Management Services, Inc (QFMS). was founded by Randal F. Chitty, in July 2009. Mr. Chitty saw a need among FQHC and FQHC-LAL clients in organizing and managing important documents such as policies, procedures, contracts, letters, forms, staff training, and provider credentialing documents. A software platform, PolicyPlus, was created to meet the needs expressed by Quality First Healthcare Consulting staff, customers, and consultants. Over the next 11 years this modular internet-based software program expanded to include a quality management module and a compliance module (Total 330) to help FQHCs and FQHC-LALs store and maintain ongoing compliance with Federal assessment protocols. In 2022, Mr. Chitty passed away leaving his legacy to those within the company to carry the excellent customer service with a smile, and professionalism to every internal and external customer. Candace Chitty assumed the role of QFMS President & CEO 2022-2024.

Bonni Van, RN, MBA, PCMH CCE – President & Chief Executive Officer (CEO), brings over 30 years of experience to the healthcare industry. Ms. Van holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration in Health Care Management, and a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing. She joined our consulting team in 2005.

Ms. Van has been working as a clinical consultant focused on the Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) model of care for over 15 years. She also provides clinical expertise and technical assistance to FQHCs during HRSA Operational Site Visits (OSVs). Additionally, Ms. Van acts as an OSV coach helping health centers prepare for upcoming OSVs, including gap analyses, documentation prep, staff training, and overall health center readiness preparation. She is the gatekeeper of the PolicyPlus Total 330 HRSA compliance software and is instrumental in managing the process and ensuring the software is kept to up to date.

Other areas of expertise include positions with NCQA as an external surveyor for multiple products NCQA offers. She has held positions with health plans, pharmaceutical sales companies, technology firms, online faculty at a State college, home health, and hospice. She is highly experienced in the areas of Case Management, Health Plan operations, quality improvement, medical record review, strategic operations including start-up expertise, governance, team building, and facilitation. Her consulting experience includes market research, policy & procedure development, time & work analysis, medical record auditing, case management curriculum design, care management design & implementation, PCMH survey readiness and providing technical assistance to community health centers. She enjoys working with primary care providers to improve workflow and overall efficiency. Ms. Van’s QFHC consulting portfolio includes accreditation project management, PCMH recognition project management, HRSA OSV preparation, HRSA ongoing compliance coaching, clinical practice optimization, policy writing, case management program development and oversight. Ms. .Van can be contacted at bvan@Qfhc.com

Amber Sapp, MBA, Senior Associate Consultant, brings over 14 years of experience in the healthcare industry. Ms. Sapp serves in the role of account manager and project manager for our PolicyPlus software and is responsible for several internal business operations providing assistance to the company President & CEO.

What began as volunteering in a predominant Emergency Department in Gainesville, FL became a career in healthcare. In solidifying her passion in medicine and community health Amber completed her Bachelor Degree at the University of Florida in Food Science and Human Nutrition with a specialization in Dietetics and Community Education. As a medical assistant at Gainesville Pediatric Associates (GPA) in Gainesville FL she began building career strengthening relationships with physicians, specialists, and patients. After 5 years as a medical assistant and phone triage nurse at GPA, the following 3 years were spent as their referral specialist, and special projects coordinator. May 2023, Ms. Sapp received a Master’s in Business Administration from Louisiana State University Shreveport.

Amber’s consulting portfolio also includes providing assistance to organizations in the areas of provider credentialing and privileging, and provider enrollment.

Ms. Sapp joined our consulting team in 2013. Amber enjoys providing support to her customers and making their experience a pleasant and successful one. Ms. Sapp can be reached at asapp@Qfhc.com

Erin Varela, MHS, OTR/L, PCMH CCE, Senior Associate Consultant, received her Master’s degree in occupational therapy from the University of Florida in 2001. Ms. Varela joined our consulting team in 2007 with a primary consulting focus in PCMH project management and an account manager for our PolicyPlus software.

Erin is a PCMH Certified Content Expert (PCMH-CCE) with the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). She has experience working in skilled nursing facilities and continuing care retirement communities providing direct patient care as well as managing large therapy departments. Mrs. Varela has served as a consultant to retirement communities, offering expert advice in home modifications for falls prevention. As an occupational therapist, Mrs. Varela has advanced knowledge of American Disabilities Act (ADA) guidelines for creating a medical office space that accommodates persons with disabilities as well as optimal patient flow maximizing patient-centered team-based care. She has worked with health centers for 10+ years to optimize credentialing and privileging workflows and manages the process as an outsourcing service. Ms. Varela’s consulting portfolio includes policy writing, rehabilitation program optimization, and health center credentialing and privileging management. Erin can be contacted at evarela@Qfhc.com

Senthil Ramiah CEO, Aileron Consulting, LLC, leads the Aileron team that provides software design, support, & maintenance for PolicyPLUS™. Aileron Consulting, LLC, is a Management and Technology consulting firm based in Arlington, VA. Mr. Ramiah is a seasoned IT leader with a strong management and technical background. Senthil has consistently and successfully delivered solutions to solve business IT and software design challenges. Senthil has extensive experience in the field of Healthcare applications including EHR, Medicaid systems, Disease Management, Case Management, Utilization Management, Behavioral Health, OSHA, HL7 and others. Senthil holds a Master’s degree in Computer Science from the University of Pennsylvania.