02/23/05
Warrenton, VA – Warrenton-based Buccaneer Computer Systems & Service, Inc. (BCSSI) in furtherance of its Health Systems business market, has added two new key staff members – each leading authorities in their fields. William Crochunis, recently retired from the post of Deputy Director of the Information Systems Group within the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Office of Clinical Standards and Quality, has joined the growing ranks of Health Systems experts employed by Buccaneer. Crochunis has led the development and implementation of many successful IT projects during his 32 years of service to CMS. These include the development and implementation of the Quality Improvement Organization Standard Data Processing System (SDPS), the Nursing Home Minimum Data Set (MDS), the Outcome & Assessment Information Set (OASIS) for Home Health providers and the Consolidate Renal Operations in a Web Enabled Network (CROWN) system which supports End Stage Renal Disease Network operations. Crochunis will be working out of and managing Buccaneer’s Baltimore office. Additionally, Michael C. Jessup, who has 31 years experience in the health care survey and certification field with the State of Washington, has also joined Buccaneer. He has been a surveyor, a program manager, and, for the last 15 years of his career, served as an advisor and project manager for several data processing initiatives with CMS and the State of Washington. Jessup was also the Chair of the National Technology Steering Committee of the Association of Health Facility Survey Agencies for two years, holds a Master's of Science degree from the University of Idaho, is a member of the Project Management Institute, and the Information Processing Management Association. In addition, Jessup has received Administrator's and Director's Citations from CMS. It is anticipated that Jessup will soon be opening a Buccaneer Seattle office. “The only analogy I can think of is if the Redskins acquired Brett Favre and Jerry Rice. As far as impact on our Health System business, this may well be the biggest announcement we’ve ever made. It certainly equals any contract win we’ve had to this point. These two can add a dimension to our business that few, if any other companies can proclaim,” remarked Gary Newell, Buccaneer’s Chief Operating Officer.