A few years ago the health care bankruptcy provisions of The Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005 were enacted, which included the ability of the Office of the United States Trustee to appoint a "Patient Care Ombudsman" in any bankruptcy case filed by a health care entity. The Patient Care Ombudsman shall monitor the quality of care provided to patients of the debtor, to the extent necessary under the circumstances.

Due to SAK Management's extensive industry experience, knowledge and reputation for healthcare facility turnaround success we have become the country's most frequently court-appointed liaison. Our role as the patient care ombudsman is to evaluate and report on the quality of patient care, essentially serving as the voice for patients who typically are not represented in the bankruptcy case yet stand to be deeply affected by the outcome.

Although the involvement of an ombudsman is challenged frequently, SAK Management believes strongly in the role of advocate for the patient, ensuring that the care they receive does not suffer due to the financial situation of a facility or its owners. The following are summaries of the various cases in which SAK Management was appointed or currently serves as ombudsman:

• Suzanne Koenig, of SAK Management Services, LLC, was appointed Patient Care Ombudsman, by Jill Sturtevant Assistant UNITED STATES TRUSTEE of the United States Bankruptcy Court, for the Central District of California, Los Angeles Division, in the Johnny Kumar Jain MD, Case.
• Suzanne Koenig, of SAK Management Services, LLC, was appointed Patient Care Ombudsman, by Jill Sturtevant Assistant UNITED STATES TRUSTEE of the United States Bankruptcy Court, for the Central District of California, Los Angeles Division, in the Downey Regional Medical Center-Hospital, Inc. Case, on October 15, 2009.
• Suzanne Koenig of SAK Management Services, LLC was appointed Patient Care Ombudsman, by Peter Anderson United States Trustee for Region 16 of the United States Bankruptcy Court, Los Angeles, California in the Brotman Medical Center Case.
• Suzanne Koenig, of SAK Management Services, LLC, was appointed Patient Care Ombudsman, by Kelly Beaudin Stapleton, United States Trustee, Region 3, of the United States Bankruptcy Court, New Jersey, in the Bayonne Medical Center Case.
• Suzanne Koenig, of SAK Management Services, LLC, was appointed Patient Care Ombudsman, in the United States Bankruptcy Court, Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, in Kane County, by Judge Manuel Barbosa, in the Chapter 7, Illinois Skin, Inc. Case and the Chapter 7, Dari Ann Ungaretti Case in Illinois.
• Suzanne Koenig, of SAK Management Services, LLC, was appointed Patient Care Ombudsman, by Diana Adams, United States Trustee for Region 2 of the United States Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of New York, in the New York Westchester Square Medical Center Case.
• Suzanne Koenig, of SAK Management Services, LLC,, was appointed Patient Care Ombudsman, by Carla McClurg Assistant UNITED STATES TRUSTEE of the United States Bankruptcy Court, for the District of Oregon, in five cases (one jointly administered) in the SunWest Case. This filing only represents 19 Assisted Living Facilities located across the United States. Most likely any other SunWest Affiliate that files in Oregon, Suzanne will be appointed as the Patient Care Ombudsman as well.

With our practical, business knowledge of the healthcare industry, we are able to hit the ground running and to efficiently and effectively perform the role of the Patient Care Ombudsman. Contact SAK Management to learn more about our capabilities to accept and perform the duties of patient advocate.