Embedded Files
Education
Education
Lehigh University, College of Health, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Lehigh University, College of Health, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Ph.D. Population Health, anticipated May 2026.
Ph.D. Population Health, anticipated May 2026.
Defense Accepted: April 13, 2026
Title: From Payer to Patient: A Multi-Method Investigation into the Intersection of Financial Incentives and Healthcare Organizational Characteristics towards Improved Quality Outcomes
Dissertation Committee: Michael Gusmano (Chair), David Rea, John Hughes, and Xinliang (Albert) Liu
Areas of Interest: Value-Based Purchasing, Artificial Intelligence, Primary Care, Quality Outcomes, Decision Making, Healthcare Transparency
Johns Hopkins, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
Johns Hopkins, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
M.H.A. in Health Finance and Management, May 2004.
M.H.A. in Health Finance and Management, May 2004.
Independent Research: A comparison of Baldrige and Good-to-Great
versus the S&P 500
Final Project: Disease Management and Why It Doesn't Work
Colorado State University, College of Business, Fort Collins, Colorado
Colorado State University, College of Business, Fort Collins, Colorado
M.B.A., August 2000.
M.B.A., August 2000.
Final Project: Entrepreneurial Studies: Oxygen Plus Business Plan
Emory University, Emory College, Atlanta, Georgia
Emory University, Emory College, Atlanta, Georgia
B.A. in Chemistry, May 1998.
B.A. in Chemistry, May 1998.
Emory Dean's Scholar: full tuition scholarship
Independent Study: Tropical Cyclone Disruption (Weather Modification)
Emory University, Oxford College, Oxford, Georgia
Emory University, Oxford College, Oxford, Georgia
A.A. in Liberal Arts, May 1996.
A.A. in Liberal Arts, May 1996.
Emory Dean's Scholar: full tuition scholarship
President of Mu Epsilon Delta: Pre-Medical Honor Society
Independent Study: Tropical Cyclone Disruption (Weather Modification)
Experience
Experience
Summary skills
Summary skills
§ Leadership Development, Strategy Analytics, Finance Management, Education, Physician Relationships, Revenue Enhancement, Conflict Resolution
Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA 2022 – 2026
Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA 2022 – 2026
Research Assistant 2024 – 2026
Research Assistant 2024 – 2026
Teaching Assistant 2022 – 2026
Teaching Assistant 2022 – 2026
ST. LUKE’S PHYSICIAN GROUP (SLPG), Allentown, PA 2016 – 2020
ST. LUKE’S PHYSICIAN GROUP (SLPG), Allentown, PA 2016 – 2020
Senior Director, West Division 2018 – 2020
Senior Director, West Division 2018 – 2020
Executive and Operational leadership for all primary care practices supporting St. Luke University Health Network hospitals of Allentown, Sacred Heart Hospital in Allentown, Miners, Lehighton, Carbon, and Geisinger St. Luke’s Hospital in Orwigsburg
§ Responsible for three divisions, 34 primary care practices, 105 providers, and 1,400 square miles of territory
§ Generated $29 million annual net revenue with a 50% increase over two years
§ Averaged 105% of staffing productivity goals
§ Averaged the 63rd percentile in provider productivity benchmarks
§ Simultaneously onboarded and Epic Electronic Medical Record implementation for Blue Mountain Health System (Lehighton, PA) and Sacred Heart HealthCare system (Allentown, PA)
§ Created real-estate partnerships and specialty practice integration for 10 locations
§ Designed, oversaw construction, and moved five practices into new locations
§ Created pandemic operational protocols for primary care operations and redesigned supply chain pathways to reallocate essential supplies on a daily basis
§ Telemedicine implementation across all practices within 1 week, and created new access points for quality gap closures
§ Built and implemented manager score cards that provided real-time leadership guidance while reducing the administrative burdens of data compiling
§ Revised leadership training programs to include on-site experiences, mentorship support, and peer collaboration to address concerns in a timely fashion
§ Established and cooked at pancake recognition events for staff and providers
Regional Director, Allentown 2016 – 2018
Regional Director, Allentown 2016 – 2018
§ Responsible for primary care operations in 12 practices with 42 providers.
§ Acquired two practices, started up one practice, and merged two practices
§ Transitioned all practices to the Epic Ambulatory Electronic Medical Record
§ Exceeded patient experience benchmarks by an average of 10%
§ Managed provider contracting
LEHIGH VALLEY HEALTH NETWORK (LVHN), Allentown, PA 2010 – 2016
LEHIGH VALLEY HEALTH NETWORK (LVHN), Allentown, PA 2010 – 2016
Program Manager, Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems, (HCAHPS) / Patient Experience 2013 – 2016
Program Manager, Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems, (HCAHPS) / Patient Experience 2013 – 2016
Implemented best practices for patient experience and reported HCAHPS data across seven campuses. Directly reported to the System Chief Nursing Officer. Supported: Patient Centered Experience, Network Process Improvement, Leadership Operations, and multiple nursing councils.
§ Launched mobile rounding software to establish accountability mechanisms, increasing nursing Leadership Rounding by 350%
§ Engaged over 350 physicians in patient experience by producing a provider communication video and leading group training sessions
§ Improved patient and staff engagement with: Staff recognition events (pancake breakfasts), patient comment posting, mobile device charging, volunteer patient rounding, and patient donor recognition of staff
Interim Service Line Director 2013 – 2013
Interim Service Line Director 2013 – 2013
§ Led the Weight Management Center operations for pre-surgical weight loss, medical management, and tobacco cessation.
§ Expanded patient access by 15% while reducing costs by 30% through combining department resources, cross-training, and staggered staffing
Practice Director 2010 – 2013
Practice Director 2010 – 2013
§ Provided operations oversight for the Infectious Disease practice with 18 providers
§ Redesigned physician rotations to increase outpatient slots by 25%
§ Initiated TeleID service line, serving four external organizations and four service lines
§ Implemented revenue cycle process improvement to reduce charge lag by 42 days, improving cash flow by $700,000
OXYGEN PLUS, Vero Beach, FL 2008 – 2010
OXYGEN PLUS, Vero Beach, FL 2008 – 2010
(Family-owned Durable Medical Equipment Company)
Finance and Transition Administrator
Finance and Transition Administrator
§ Implemented an integrated billing, purchasing, inventory, and EMR software that reduced accounts receivable days from 170 to 50
§ Negotiated sale and business transfer agent, resulting in an 11-fold return on investment
HEALTH MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATES, Naples, FL 2004 – 2008
HEALTH MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATES, Naples, FL 2004 – 2008
(62 hospital system. Acquired by Community Health System and subsequently divested. Hospitals are identified by the current name.)
Chief Operating Officer, (UPMC Lititz), Lititz, PA 2005 – 2008
Chief Operating Officer, (UPMC Lititz), Lititz, PA 2005 – 2008
§ Operations and executive leadership for a 144-bed teaching hospital
§ Interim Chief Executive Officer
§ Surpassed Operating Income budget by $1 million with a 250% margin increase over the prior year by building community outreach, contracting with the Veterans Affairs, and adding seven service lines
§ Physician recruitment and contract management
§ Partnered with community leadership and provider groups, increasing market reach
§ Direct reports of: Environmental Services, Imaging, Laboratory, Medical Education, Food Services, Plant Operations, Rehab, Wound Care, Medical Office Building, Medical Staff Office
§ Executive of the Capital Committee and Physician Peer Review
§ Environmental services performance increased to the 99th percentile in patient satisfaction
§ Increased outpatient radiology volume by 90% through the Veterans Affairs contract
§ Expanded outpatient laboratory locations, hours, and referral sources to boost volumes by 35%
Assistant Administrator, (AdventHealth Heart of Florida), Haines City, FL 2004 – 2005
Assistant Administrator, (AdventHealth Heart of Florida), Haines City, FL 2004 – 2005
§ Managed the Laboratory, Housekeeping, Dietary, Medical Staff Office, and Telephone Services of a 142-bed hospital with a Net Revenue of $175 million
§ Partnered with physician practices to increase reference laboratory volume by 45%
§ Redesigned staffing resources to reduce housekeeping turnover time by 55%
§ Converted outsourced dietary services to reduce costs by 10%, increase the quality of services, and improve employee satisfaction
COOK CHILDREN’S HEALTH CARE SYSTEM, Fort Worth, TX 2003 – 2004
COOK CHILDREN’S HEALTH CARE SYSTEM, Fort Worth, TX 2003 – 2004
Administrative Resident
Administrative Resident
§ Children’s integrated health system, including a 282-bed Hospital, Health Plan, Physician Network, and Home Health company with combined Net Revenues of $800 million
§ Project included:
§ Evaluation of cost structures for the effectiveness of various provider mixes (physician vs nurse practitioner).
§ Shared governance and Magnet status
§ Joint Commission extension survey preparation
§ Physician compensation & contract audits
§ Surgery department project analysis on gastrointestinal testing feasibility
§ Kidney organ donor policy
§ Asthma disease management’s cost-benefit for self-insured corporations
§ Developed Dallas-Fort Worth ACHE administrative resident seminar
§ Operationally responsible for the Children’s Miracle Network onsite live radio-thon
OXYGEN PLUS, Vero Beach, FL 1999 – 2003
OXYGEN PLUS, Vero Beach, FL 1999 – 2003
(Family-owned Durable Medical Equipment Company)
Owner
Owner
Start up a Durable Medical Equipment company with annual net revenue of $750 thousand. Performed, managed, and transitioned all business functions.
§ Legal incorporation/trademarks
§ Licensure
§ Insurance Contracting
§ Financing
§ Facilities / Remodeling
§ Purchasing / Receiving
§ Marketing / Sales
§ Billing / Accounts Receivable
§ Accounts Payable / Accounting
§ Personnel
§ External Relations
§ Pharmacy - Started up and sold a mail-order pharmacy
ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCES
ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCES
§ Hospital Volunteer – Emergency Department, Surgical Operations, Medical & Surgical inpatient floors, and Radiology
§ Hospital Transporter – Critical Care
§ Ocean Rescue Lifeguard / Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
§ Hospital Ambulance Transport Driver
§ Emergency Medical Services Volunteer - EMT
Licensure
Licensure
§ Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) – Florida 1994 – 2000
Research
Research
Research Interests
Research Interests
Healthcare Leadership, Value-Based Payments, Financial Incentives, Quality Outcomes, Transparency in Healthcare Billing, Healthcare Financial Literacy, Healthcare Organizational Influences, Healthcare Delivery and Financing Structures, Healthcare Organization Ethics, Healthcare Justice
Research in Progress
Research in Progress
“International Student Insights in Healthcare Financial Literacy”
“International Student Insights in Healthcare Financial Literacy”
IRB Approved. Mentoring research with three undergraduate students. Creative Inquiry Impact Fellows.
“Health Billing Data Collection and Data Security”
“Health Billing Data Collection and Data Security”
IRB Approved. Mentoring research with three computer science undergraduate students. Capstone Sponsor in collaboration with Lehigh’s Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning (CITL).
“Beyond Medical Necessity: A Multi-Level Systems Analysis of Emergency Department Admissions”
“Beyond Medical Necessity: A Multi-Level Systems Analysis of Emergency Department Admissions”
Mentored by David Rea, Ph.D., MS
“Influenced Medical Decision Making: Emergency Department Admissions for Inpatient Care as Moderated by Organizational Factors”
“Influenced Medical Decision Making: Emergency Department Admissions for Inpatient Care as Moderated by Organizational Factors”
Mentored by David Rea, Ph.D., MS
“Provider Insights in Home Intensive Care Unit (HICU) Value-Based Delivery Innovations”
“Provider Insights in Home Intensive Care Unit (HICU) Value-Based Delivery Innovations”
Funded in part by BAYADA Home Health Care. Collaboration with Michael Gusmano, Ph.D., MA
“Patient Outcome Changes with Home Intensive Care Unit (HICU) Value-Based Delivery Innovations”
“Patient Outcome Changes with Home Intensive Care Unit (HICU) Value-Based Delivery Innovations”
Funded in part by BAYADA Home Health Care. Collaboration with Michael Gusmano, Ph.D., MA
Research Assistant Experience
Research Assistant Experience
Research Assistant for Professor Michael Gusmano. 2024 - Present
Gene Therapy:
“From Research to Clinic: Addressing Ethical and Policy Challenges Facing the Gene Therapy Ecosystem” https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/11159401
Supporting background research on cost and payer coverage policies
BAYADA Home Health Care, Home Intensive Care Unit, HICU®:
Leading qualitative interviewing for program intervention insights from employed program nurses, administrative leaders, and family members of pediatric patients.
Computer skills: AI prompt engineering, Gemini, Claude, ChatGPT, Llama, programming experience, and statistical applications. R, RStudio, Office Suite, Google applications, C++, Unity
Teaching
Teaching
Faculty Sponsor
Faculty Sponsor
Computer Science Capstone: HealthCost Unlocked, Spring 2025, Fall 2025, Spring 2026, Fall 2026
Computer Science Capstone: HealthCost Unlocked, Spring 2025, Fall 2025, Spring 2026, Fall 2026
Lehigh University, P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science
Student Developed Executive Summary: A web application designed to empower healthcare consumers by translating complex medical bills into clear, plain language. Users will be able to upload medical documents (bills and Explanation of Benefits) to receive comprehensible summaries, cost breakdowns, and alerts for potential billing errors. In doing so, the platform aims to enhance transparency and medical literacy, while also identifying and addressing issues such as invalid charges or duplicate billing, which will facilitate future research and the expansion of transparency.
Student Developed Problem: Without industry expertise or the capability to manually decipher complex medical bills, patients are at risk of receiving inaccurate or inflated charges. Current solutions rely on manual review or technical interfaces that alienate non-expert users, underscoring the need for a modern, automated system.
Student Application Concept Prototype:
https://v0-medical-bill-translator-ten.vercel.app/
People’s Choice Award winner at Lehigh’s annual Capstone Poster Presentation
Section students: 4
Instructor in Practice
Instructor in Practice
Impact Fellowship: HealthCost Unlocked, CINQ 389, Spring 2025, Summer 2025,
Impact Fellowship: HealthCost Unlocked, CINQ 389, Spring 2025, Summer 2025,
Fall 2025, Spring 2026, Fall 2026
Fall 2025, Spring 2026, Fall 2026
Lehigh University, College of Arts and Sciences, Creative Inquiry
https://creativeinquiry.lehigh.edu/impactfellowships/lehigh-valley-social-impact-fellowship/deciphering-medical-bill
Course Description: An academic vehicle for ambitious interdisciplinary projects with teams systematically advancing projects over multiple semesters and years with aspirations for large-scale impact. CINQ 389 houses projects that need longer time horizons, larger and more diverse cross-functional teams, and diverse resources and partnerships across their lifecycle. CINQ 389 is the preferred channel for continuation of Mountaintop summer projects into the academic year, with students, faculty, and external partners coming together and identifying new trajectories to advance knowledge and praxis in their intersectional fields every semester. Student teams advance projects forward during the semester and then pass the baton to the next team in the following semester.
Objectives include developing an understanding of the medical billing process, creating reference resources, collaborating with community resources, providing community resources to support medical billing literacy, working with the Computer Science Capstone group of HealthCost Unlocked, and gathering community insights.
Section students: 3
Primary Instructor of Record
Primary Instructor of Record
Truth and Realities of TV Medicine, POPH 150, Spring 2024
Truth and Realities of TV Medicine, POPH 150, Spring 2024
Special Topics Course Creation
Lehigh University, College of Health, Population Health
Course Description: This introductory course explores the truths and realities underlying the glamorized perspectives of TV medicine. Students will learn real-life concepts related to physicians and medical professionals in the provision of healthcare. Topics include working conditions, organizational structures, regulations, financial aspects, and contributory areas of medicine. Students will be able to identify television scenes and describe how they compare and contrast with real-life healthcare delivery.
Course Learning Outcomes: By the end of this course, you will be able to
(1) Describe and explain what it means to be a physician in the US healthcare system
(2) Understand and express the general concepts of the US healthcare system
(3) Strip aside dramatic elements of TV portrayals of healthcare events to identify core issues
(4) Identify and contrast concepts in TV Medicine as they may or may not exist in the current healthcare environment
Section 100 students: 22
Recitation Instructor
Recitation Instructor
Seven Dimensions of Health and Wellness, CGH007, Fall 2023
Seven Dimensions of Health and Wellness, CGH007, Fall 2023
Lehigh University, College of Health, Community and Global Health
Section 111 students: 25
Section 112 students: 26
Course Description: Much has been discussed in the public sphere about happiness and how an individual can achieve peak happiness. This course delves more holistically into health and wellness, moving beyond individual happiness and towards a multi-level understanding of how interactions with others and the environment impact the self. Using a multidisciplinary approach, students will learn about the seven dimensions of health and wellness, including physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, cultural, environmental, and community aspects, and how these dimensions interact to create healthy individuals and communities.
§ Weekly interactive group sessions with each section
§ Preparing presentation material based on the lecture session and assigned readings
Teaching Assistant
Teaching Assistant
Seven Dimensions of Health and Wellness, CGH007, Fall 2023
Seven Dimensions of Health and Wellness, CGH007, Fall 2023
Lehigh University, College of Health, Community and Global Health
Primary Instructor: Christine Daley
Section 100 students: 93
Course Description: see above, Recitation
§ Weekly in-class support for lecture and participation
§ Weekly office hours, student email support, and virtual conferencing as needed.
§ Graded course assessments with guided comments.
Introduction to Population Health, POPH001, Fall 2022
Introduction to Population Health, POPH001, Fall 2022
Lehigh University, College of Health, Population Health
Primary Instructor: Jong Shin
Section 100 students: 61
Course Description: Despite significant advances in medicine and public health, inequities in health persist. Understanding health on a population level is an approach that seeks to improve the health of the whole population, unravel variations in health outcomes, and identify effective strategies for reducing or eliminating inequities. The purpose of this course is to provide students with an understanding of: 1) how population and public health are defined and measured; and 2) the determinants of population health.
§ Provided in-class, remote, and in-person support for class activities focusing on the introductory concepts of population health for 61 undergraduates.
§ Graded weekly multipage written course assessments with guided comments to ensure students comprehended subject and writing fundamentals.
Population Health Research Methods & Application, POPH002, Spring 2023
Population Health Research Methods & Application, POPH002, Spring 2023
College of Health, Lehigh University, Population Health
Primary Instructor: Fatima Wakeel
Section 100 students: 34
Course Description: This course provides students with fundamental principles of research methods relevant to population health and the translation of research into practice. Through this course, we will review a range of study designs, including experimental and observational studies, mixed methods, and comparative qualitative case study methods. In addition, students will obtain the skills needed to translate research into practice for multiple stakeholder groups.
§ Provided in-class, remote, and in-person support for class activities focusing on the introductory concepts of population health and research methods
§ Graded weekly multipage written course assessments with guided comments to ensure students comprehended subject and writing fundamentals.
§ Primary Lecturer: Survey Research. February 2023
§ Developed and presented interactive topic material based on personal experiences.
§ Primary Lecturer: Community Engagement. April 2023
§ Developed and presented interactive topic material based on professional experiences in Patient Experience.
Academic Guest Lecturer
Academic Guest Lecturer
“Careers Class Grad Panel Discussion”
“Careers Class Grad Panel Discussion”
Lehigh University, College of Health, Population Health
Course: Careers in Population Health
Primary Instructor: Michelle Thompson
October 2025
“Healthcare Operational Career Experiences”
“Healthcare Operational Career Experiences”
Lehigh University, College of Health, Community and Global Health
Course: Careers in Community and Global Health Studies
Primary Instructor: Krista Liguori
September 2025
“U.S. Healthcare”
“U.S. Healthcare”
Lehigh University, College of Health, Community and Global Health
Course: Introduction to Community Health
Primary Instructor: Laura Porto
September 2023
“Strategic Planning in Healthcare”
“Strategic Planning in Healthcare”
Moravian College, Bethlehem, PA
Course: Graduate Nursing Leadership
Primary Instructor: Anne Panik MS, BSN, RN, NEA-BC
October 2017, October 2018, October 2019
“Healthcare Business”
“Healthcare Business”
Cedar Crest College, School of Business, Allentown, PA,
Fall 2009
Publications
Publications
U.S. Patent
U.S. Patent
Rovella, E. (1995, August 15). US5441200A - Tropical Cyclone Disruption. https://www.google.com/patents/US5441200A
Rovella, E. (1995, August 15). US5441200A - Tropical Cyclone Disruption. https://www.google.com/patents/US5441200A
Abstract: A seeding technique involving a chemical that allows water to chemically join its crystalline lattice and is applied to the eye wall of a tropical cyclone to initiate a self-destructive catalyzing effect. If applied in powdered anhydrous form to the upper, center portions of the eye wall, the effect will be greater. Water vapor within the eye wall chemically joins the lattice of the chemical. These larger molecules will also develop through collision and coalesce. Now the vapor of the eye wall is heavier and will spin outwards from Centrifugal Force. As a result of the larger eye, barometric pressure in the eye increases, wind speed slows, and the storm surge decreases to minimal proportions. (Self-filed 1993.)
Virtual Reality (VR)
Virtual Reality (VR)
Bodzin, A., Araujo-Junior, R., Hammond, T., Pan, Z., Anastasio, D., Agarwal, U., Arnoat Perez, M., Bao, J., Burd, J., Chen, Y., Cicero, T., De Los Santos, J., Escobar, M., Faisal, R., Hu, X., Jhaveri, K., Koelsch, J., Le, Q., Marlatt, M., Nester, J., Righi, N., Rovella, E.J., Sary, L., Silverman, M., Zhu, J., Whitney, H., Wu, M., Schwartz, C., Mayer, D., Neitz, R. & Semmens, K. (2025). Mystery of the Lehigh Gap desktop VR version.
Bodzin, A., Araujo-Junior, R., Hammond, T., Pan, Z., Anastasio, D., Agarwal, U., Arnoat Perez, M., Bao, J., Burd, J., Chen, Y., Cicero, T., De Los Santos, J., Escobar, M., Faisal, R., Hu, X., Jhaveri, K., Koelsch, J., Le, Q., Marlatt, M., Nester, J., Righi, N., Rovella, E.J., Sary, L., Silverman, M., Zhu, J., Whitney, H., Wu, M., Schwartz, C., Mayer, D., Neitz, R. & Semmens, K. (2025). Mystery of the Lehigh Gap desktop VR version.
https://eli.lehigh.edu/immersive-learning-experiences
https://eli.lehigh.edu/immersive-learning-experiences
https://eli.lehigh.edu/mystery-lehigh-gap
https://eli.lehigh.edu/mystery-lehigh-gap
Abstract: Play a series of mini-games as you time travel to 1845, 1853, and 1912 in which you learn about historical mining, transportation, and industrial processes for a zinc smelting plant that converted a pristine landscape with vegetation to a barren moonscape. Average playtime is 35-40 minutes. (Contributions include building the map and related elements.)
In Press
In Press
Rovella, E. (in press). Too Big to Care: The Boundless Growth of Health Systems. Health Policy & Politics, 2(1).
Rovella, E. (in press). Too Big to Care: The Boundless Growth of Health Systems. Health Policy & Politics, 2(1).
Abstract: The utilitarian approach to growth in healthcare has yielded benefits; however, it is the consequences that need further consideration. Do the benefits of non-profit hospital system growth outweigh the new pains and struggles created by these pervasive corporations? The touted benefits are voiced by those who have consolidated power and authority with a focus on the pursuit of dominance. While financial interests are essential for long-term success, the voices of the community, altruistic caregivers, and the original hospital missions often fall into the shadows of multi-billion-dollar healthcare systems.
Working Papers Contributing Towards Dissertation
Working Papers Contributing Towards Dissertation
“Beyond Outcomes: Incorporating Organizational Complexity into Value-Based Purchasing Design”
“Beyond Outcomes: Incorporating Organizational Complexity into Value-Based Purchasing Design”
Abstract: Current Value-Based Purchasing (VBP) models undertake a generalized approach to financial incentives that fails to account for hospital organizational complexity. This inquiry argues that organizational traits, including leadership structure, governance, and resource depth, determine how financial incentives translate into clinical quality. Using frameworks such as agency theory and bounded rationality, the author conducts a narrative review to examine how institutional architecture mediates performance.
Analysis identifies that small incentives and multi-year lags between measurement and payment create a cognitive disconnect between cause and effect. Furthermore, a quality paywall exists where hospitals with limited capital struggle to invest in the infrastructure required for VBP success, potentially widening health inequities. To address these deficits, CMS should pilot an Organizational Complexity Index to adjust VBP penalties, as it does with Social Risk Factors. Stratifying peer groups by structural characteristics, such as teaching or safety-net status, is essential to avoid penalizing institutions with traits that distort incentive effects. Without context-aware reforms, VBP remains an incomplete policy instrument.
“Beyond Medical Necessity: A Multi-Level Systems Analysis of Emergency Department Admissions”
“Beyond Medical Necessity: A Multi-Level Systems Analysis of Emergency Department Admissions”
Abstract:
Background: Inpatient hospital care constitutes the largest proportion of healthcare expenditures within the United States. While admission decisions are generally ascribed to clinical acuity, discretionary admissions frequently occur at the nexus of medical necessity and organizational considerations. This study endeavors to quantify the impact of multi-level system factors on the clinical decision-making process regarding patient admissions from the Emergency Department (ED).
Material and Methods: We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional analysis of 4,051,587 ED encounters in Florida during 2017. Data were integrated from the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration, the American Hospital Association, and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. To focus on discretionary decision-making, we filtered for encounters within a "discretionary zone" where admission rates for specific diagnosis-related groups ranged from 10% to 90%. A multivariate logistic regression model was employed, utilizing the Bayesian Information Criterion (BIC) to rank the relative importance of clinical and non-clinical predictors.
Results: While clinical indicators, including age and comorbidity, remained the primary predictors, organizational factors exerted significant influence. Insurance, hospital ownership, and hospital occupancy were major contributors to the disposition decision. Notably, patients at for-profit institutions and those with certain insurance profiles showed significantly higher odds of admission.
Conclusions: Organizational structure and systemic incentives significantly influence ED admission decisions beyond patient clinical status. These findings provide policymakers with a quantitative basis for addressing institutional biases in care delivery.
“How Value-Based Contracts Drive Quality Through Organizational Transformation”
“How Value-Based Contracts Drive Quality Through Organizational Transformation”
Abstract:
Purpose: This study explores how Value-Based Contracting (VBC) drives quality improvements in healthcare through systemic organizational transformation. By examining a novel home health program, the research investigates how quality-linked payments motivate infrastructure investment and process redesign to improve outcomes for medically complex pediatric patients.
Methodology: A qualitative case study was conducted using semi-structured interviews with 21 frontline nurses, 11 administrators, and 10 parents/guardians associated with the BAYADA Home Intensive Care Unit (HICU®) program. Data were analyzed using a deductive thematic approach, with inter-rater reliability to ensure methodological rigor.
Findings: Results indicate that VBCs catalyze organizational changes, including enhanced care coordination, robust investment in health information technology, and specialized workforce training. Participants identified "unmeasured" benefits beyond traditional metrics, such as improved family quality of life and the attainment of pediatric developmental milestones. While the program achieved a 25% reduction in rehospitalizations, challenges remain regarding the national nursing shortage and inconsistent payer participation.
Implications: Realizing the full potential of VBC requires a policy shift from financial incentives that target individual behaviors to those that support organizational improvements. Stakeholders should adopt broader success metrics that capture the holistic progress of patients. Additionally, open data mandates are recommended to increase transparency and support evidence-based investments in innovative care models.
Employer Publications
Employer Publications
§ Rovella, E. (2014). HCAHPS Update. Progress Notes of Lehigh Valley Health Network, 26(2), 7. https://scholarlyworks.lvhn.org/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1138&context=progress_notes
§ Rovella, E. (2014). HCAHPS Update. Progress Notes of Lehigh Valley Health Network, 26(6), 8. https://scholarlyworks.lvhn.org/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1230&context=progress_notes
§ Rovella, E. (2014). HCAHPS UPDATE: Provider Communication. Progress Notes of Lehigh Valley Health Network, 26(7), 8. https://scholarlyworks.lvhn.org/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1231&context=progress_notes
§ Rovella, E. (2014). HCAHPS FY’14 IN REVIEW. Progress Notes of Lehigh Valley Health Network, 26(9), 5. https://scholarlyworks.lvhn.org/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1234&context=progress_notes
§ Rovella, E. (2014). Quiet Celebration. Check Up for Lehigh Valley Health Network, 26(10), 13. https://scholarlyworks.lvhn.org/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1400&context=checkup
§ Migliore, G. and Rovella, E. (2014). All about HCAHPS. Check Up for Lehigh Valley Health Network, Oct., 13. 8-9, https://scholarlyworks.lvhn.org/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1400&context=checkup
§ Rovella, E. (2014). HCAHPS Beyond the Numbers. Progress Notes of Lehigh Valley Health Network, 26(12), 4. https://scholarlyworks.lvhn.org/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1237&context=progress_notes
§ Rovella, E. (2015). HCAHPS Update. Progress Notes of Lehigh Valley Health Network, 27(3), 2. https://scholarlyworks.lvhn.org/progress_notes/351/
§ Rovella, E. (2015). HCAHPS Update. Progress Notes of Lehigh Valley Health Network, 27(4), 10. https://scholarlyworks.lvhn.org/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1353&context=progress_notes
§ Rovella, E. (2015). HCAHPS Insight. Progress Notes of Lehigh Valley Health Network, 27(8), 7. https://scholarlyworks.lvhn.org/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1359&context=progress_notes
§ Rovella, E. (2015). Seated for Better Communication. Progress Notes of Lehigh Valley Health Network, 27(10), 21-22. https://scholarlyworks.lvhn.org/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1358&context=progress_notes
§ Rovella, E. (2016). The Story Behind the Numbers. Progress Notes of Lehigh Valley Health Network, 28(1), 20-21. https://scholarlyworks.lvhn.org/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1363&context=progress_notes
§ Rovella, E. (2016). Checking in on HCAHPS Scores. Progress Notes of Lehigh Valley Health Network, 28(4), 7-8. https://scholarlyworks.lvhn.org/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1365&context=progress_notes
§ Rovella, E. (2016). CMS Responds to Physicians' HCAHPS Complaints. Progress Notes of Lehigh Valley Health Network, July 13-14. https://scholarlyworks.lvhn.org/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1368&context=progress_notes
Service
Service
Community Services
Community Services
§ Vice-President, Brodie Woodall Memorial Scholarships, Inc. 2024 – Present
Supporting academic advancement and mental health & wellness
www.brodiewoodall.com
§ Treasurer, Maplewood Estates HOA, Coopersburg, PA, 2020 – 2026
§ Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science Judge, 2010 – 2025
§ Volunteer Soccer Coach, Southern Lehigh Soccer League, 2021 – 2025
§ Cub Scout volunteer – Pack 334, Coopersburg, PA, 2017 – 2020
Academic Services
Academic Services
Journal Reviewer, Summer 2024
Journal Reviewer, Summer 2024
§ AMA Journal of Ethics,
Student Member of the Interdisciplinary Association for Population Health Science (IAPHS), 2024 - present
Student Member of the Interdisciplinary Association for Population Health Science (IAPHS), 2024 - present
Student Member of the American Public Health Association (APHA), 2023 – present
Student Member of the American Public Health Association (APHA), 2023 – present
Student Member of Production and Operations Management Society (POMS)
Student Member of Production and Operations Management Society (POMS)
College of Healthcare Operations Management 2025 – present
College of Healthcare Operations Management 2025 – present
Dean Search Student Representative, Spring 2023
Dean Search Student Representative, Spring 2023
Lehigh Building Committee, College of Health, Student Representative, Spring 2023
Lehigh Building Committee, College of Health, Student Representative, Spring 2023
Faculty Candidate Graduate Student Representative, Spring 2022 – Present
Faculty Candidate Graduate Student Representative, Spring 2022 – Present
§ 10 faculty search positions each year
Academic Mentoring
Academic Mentoring
§ Cara Sheridan, Kutztown University of Pennsylvania, “Determining Co-Infection Rates of Tick-Borne Diseases in Lehigh County”
https://scholarlyworks.lvhn.org/research-scholars-posters/30/
§ Nicholas Fritz, Muhlenberg College, “The Influence of Positive Feedback on Provider Views and the Correlation Between Positive Feedback and HCAHPS” https://scholarlyworks.lvhn.org/research-scholars-posters/383/
Professional Services
Professional Services
§ Fellow of the American College of Health Executives
2015 – 2017
§ Board Member, Leonard Pool Philanthropic Society, Lehigh Valley Health Network
2005 – 2020
§ Financial administrator for the Luther V Rhodes III Endowment in Infectious Diseases
2011 – 2016
§ Board Member of the Mid-Atlantic American Lung Association
(PA, NJ, DE, WV), Legislative Committee
2010 – 2012
§ Advisory Committee Member of the Lehigh Valley chapter of the American Lung Association (Mid-Atlantic)
2010 – 2012
§ Warwick High School Business Advisory Board Member, Lititz, PA
2007 – 2008
§ Lancaster Chamber of Commerce, Manheim / Warwick Consortium, Health and Wellness Subcommittee
2005 – 2008
§ Warwick Township Strategic Planning Committee, Community Services Subcommittee, Lititz, PA
2006 – 2008
§ American Cancer Society – Relay for Life, Co-Chair and Master of Ceremonies, Greater Haines City, FL
2005
§ Chamber of Commerce - Vero Beach, FL & Haines City, FL
2004 – 2005
Faculty Fellow, Spring 2026
Faculty Fellow, Spring 2026
Lehigh University, Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning (CITL)
Proposal: This capstone project focuses on advancing a patient-friendly online platform designed to convert complex medical bills into accessible formats. The collaboration leverages generative AI as a pedagogical tool to evolve the platform's capabilities using Lehigh data resources. CITL will provide access to AI resources and technical consultations to help students navigate the integration of emerging AI technologies into their engineering design process.
§ Course: CSE 281 - Computer Science Capstone (HealthCost Unlocked)
§ Collaborators: Rob Weidman, Nate Righi, and Ryan Bradley
https://lts.lehigh.edu/featured/spring-2026-citl-faculty-fellow-ej-rovella-phd-candidate
Faculty Fellow, Fall 2025
Faculty Fellow, Fall 2025
Lehigh University, Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning (CITL)
Proposal: For this Capstone project, students are building a web application that allows users to manually enter information from their medical bills and insurance statements to review what each field means and the calculations related to patient payments. The students would like to apply AI to help explain medical codes and further explore its use to visually identify fields from an image to reduce manual data entry. The collaboration with CITL will provide AI tools to test and experiment with to determine the best functionality and existing limitations. While AI support is the primary task, this project also relies heavily on inquiry-based learning and cross-disciplinary interactions with a Creative Inquiry local Impact Fellowship, a sister project of HealthCost Unlocked.
§ Course: CSE 281 - Computer Science Capstone (HealthCost Unlocked)
§ Collaborators: Jeremy Mack, Rob Weidman
§ https://lts.lehigh.edu/featured/fall-2025-citl-faculty-fellow-ej-rovella
Faculty Fellow, Spring 2024
Faculty Fellow, Spring 2024
Lehigh University, Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning (CITL)
Proposal: To collaborate with CITL staff on active learning, with a focus on discussion, interaction, and peer feedback. Students will learn about the fundamentals of A.I., including using A.I. as a resource and framing ChatGPT questions effectively. Then, students will use ChatGPT to summarize an episode of a healthcare-focused TV drama of their choosing, highlighting and comparing issues that the tool may not fully understand.
§ Course: POPH 150, Special Topics: Truths and Reality behind TV Medicine, College/Department: College of Health, Department of Population Health
§ CITL Collaborators: Tarah Cicero, Jasmine Woodson
§ https://lts.lehigh.edu/featured/citl-faculty-fellow-ej-rovella
§ Award Amount: $500
Educational Grant, Fall 2024
Educational Grant, Fall 2024
Lehigh University, Center for Ethics
§ The mission of the Center for Ethics is to promote rigorous inquiry into, probing reflection on, and responsible engagement with the ethical dimensions of life.
§ The grant is to support the Interdisciplinary Association for Population Health Science IAPHS conference presentation, attendance, travel, and other expenses related to studies in the field of ethics.
§ Award Amount: $1,500
Health Management Associates Intellectual Assessment - 99th percentile in analytic abilities
Health Management Associates Intellectual Assessment - 99th percentile in analytic abilities
Presentations
Presentations
Conference Presenter
Conference Presenter
“Operationalizing Transparency: AI-Driven Decision Support in Healthcare Billing” Invited Speaker: Recent Advancements in Healthcare Operations
“Operationalizing Transparency: AI-Driven Decision Support in Healthcare Billing” Invited Speaker: Recent Advancements in Healthcare Operations
Production and Operations Management Society (POMS), Annual Conference,
May 2026, Reno, Nevada
“ED Admission Decisions linked to Financial and Organizational Variables”
“ED Admission Decisions linked to Financial and Organizational Variables”
Production and Operations Management Society (POMS), Annual Conference,
May 2026, Reno, Nevada
“Using AI in Teaching and Learning at Lehigh”
“Using AI in Teaching and Learning at Lehigh”
2nd Annual AI@Lehigh Summit, Lehigh University
January 13, 2026, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
"AI-responsive teaching and learning"
"AI-responsive teaching and learning"
Lehigh University, Fall 2025 Teaching and Learning Symposium,
November 2025, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
“Are We Measuring Quality? A Qualitative Assessment of Pediatric Home Intensive Care Unit (HICU®)”
“Are We Measuring Quality? A Qualitative Assessment of Pediatric Home Intensive Care Unit (HICU®)”
American Public Health Association, APHA 2025 Annual Meeting and Expo, November 2025, Washington, D.C.
Research in the Rough, Dissertation Overview: “Value-Based Purchasing, Agency, Organizational Characteristics, and Quality Outcomes”
Research in the Rough, Dissertation Overview: “Value-Based Purchasing, Agency, Organizational Characteristics, and Quality Outcomes”
College of Healthcare Operations Management (CHOM)
Production and Operations Management Society (POMS), Annual Conference,
May 2025, Atlanta, Georgia
“Non-Profit Hospital Growth and the Abandonment of Those Without Financial Resources”
“Non-Profit Hospital Growth and the Abandonment of Those Without Financial Resources”
Interdisciplinary Association for Population Health Science (IAPHS)
2024 Conference,
September 2024, St. Louis, Missouri
"Bridging perspectives and cultural gaps between students, educators, and the world after college"
"Bridging perspectives and cultural gaps between students, educators, and the world after college"
Lehigh University’s 2024 Symposium on Teaching and Learning
Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning (CITL), Faculty Presentations, April 2024, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Event Speaker
Event Speaker
“Innovation and Quality in Healthcare”
“Innovation and Quality in Healthcare”
Institute for Healthcare Improvement - Student Chapter, Lehigh University,
November 2025, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
“Innovation in Healthcare”
“Innovation in Healthcare”
Institute for Healthcare Improvement - Student Chapter, Lehigh University,
April 2023, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
“American Hospitals” movie screening
“American Hospitals” movie screening
https://fixithealthcare.com/watch/, July 2023
Lehigh University College of Health sponsored High School Scholars
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Poster Presentations
Poster Presentations
“Financial influences on hospital admissions: Patient-level decision-making from the Emergency Department”
“Financial influences on hospital admissions: Patient-level decision-making from the Emergency Department”
American Public Health Association (APHA)
APHA 2025 Annual Meeting and Expo, November 2025, Washington, D.C.
“The Advancement and Sustainability of Patient Centered Innovations with Pediatric Home Intensive Care Units (HICU®)”
“The Advancement and Sustainability of Patient Centered Innovations with Pediatric Home Intensive Care Units (HICU®)”
E.J. Rovella, Qualitative study, front-line nursing and administration interviews assessing the strengths and opportunities of high-level nursing care at home for pediatric patients.
AcademyHealth, 2025 Annual Research Meeting, June 2025,
Minneapolis, Minnesota
“Patient Satisfaction is No Longer Relevant to the Delivery of Healthcare (Financially)”
“Patient Satisfaction is No Longer Relevant to the Delivery of Healthcare (Financially)”
E.J. Rovella, Multi-variable, multi-year, linear regression modeling of HCAHPS questions as independent variables and hospital financial margin as the dependent variable.
Interdisciplinary Association for Population Health Science (IAPHS)
2024 Conference, September 2024, St. Louis, Missouri
"The Mystery of Lehigh Gap: Game-based VR for Informal Learning"
"The Mystery of Lehigh Gap: Game-based VR for Informal Learning"
Alec Bodzin, Araujo Junior Robson, Josie Koelsch, Mayra Arnoat Perez, Udita Agarwal, Marcos Escobar, Chad Schwartz, David Anastasio, Thomas Hammond, Brian Birchak, Junchen Bao, Yiting Chen, Tarah Cicero, Xiangyu Hu, E.J. Rovella, Laura Sary, Matthew Silverman & Hayley Whitney
Lehigh University, Lehigh Gap Nature Center, USA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ox5PtL52j4M
https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/stamp/stamp.jsp?arnumber=9815956
iLRN2022 | 8th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF THE IMMERSIVE LEARNING RESEARCH NETWORK,
https://scholar.google.com/citations?view_op=view_citation&hl=en&user=CEwXshAAAAAJ&citation_for_view=CEwXshAAAAAJ:TQgYirikUcIC
Innovation in Higher Education. Awarded to a Practitioner Stream presenter whose work is at the leading edge in immersive learning and likely to change the field in higher education. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/stamp/stamp.jsp?arnumber=9815956
“Highlighting the Patient Perspective: Assessing the Impact on Staff of Videos that Convey the LVHN Patient Experience”
“Highlighting the Patient Perspective: Assessing the Impact on Staff of Videos that Convey the LVHN Patient Experience”
Janda, A., Matta, R., Rovella, E.,
Poster presented at LVHN Research Scholar Program Poster Session, Lehigh Valley Health Network, Allentown, PA., July 2015
https://scholarlyworks.lvhn.org/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1422&context=research-scholars-posters
Video Presentations
Video Presentations
§ E.J. Rovella. (2022a, April 27). Leadership Rounding. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPE9vuQx1TA
§ E.J. Rovella. (2022b, April 27). Patient Counter Perspectives class 3. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ouu_L4WwzW4
§ E.J. Rovella. (2022c, April 27). Patient Counter Perspectives sample class 2. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrtqGnKrOEM
§ E.J. Rovella & Rovella, G. (2022, November 15). Carbon County Primary Care, E.J. Rovella, Lehigh University, POPH 401. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBb9IU5Nv58
§ EJ Rovella, Goldner, M., Rush, J., & Migliori, G. (2014, October 24). Physician Communication Video 2014 LVHN. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TO8NaO_1GWQ
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse