New Avel eCare owner announces leadership moves
Nov. 4, 2021
A deal to sell Avera eCare to a New York-based private investment firm has closed, and there are leadership changes to go with it.
The virtual health operation that grew nationwide while based at Avera now is owned by Aquiline Capital Partners and called Avel eCare.
Health care executive Doug Duskin has been named CEO and will be based in Atlanta while commuting to Sioux Falls regularly, the company said.
Longtime Avera eCare leader Deanna Larson, who had been announced as CEO along with the sale in July, is now Avel eCare president and “will continue to channel her focus and energy on the clinical side of Avel eCare as president, while Doug’s focus as CEO will be on the overall organization and growth opportunities,” according to a statement from the company.
“With Doug and Deanna working closely together, along with the rest of the leadership team, Avel eCare is well positioned to further expand its mission of providing high-quality telemedicine care to individuals when and where they need it.”
Don Yish also has joined the organization as chief revenue officer.
Both Duskin and Yish have prior experience that includes roles at Equality Health, a Phoenix-based whole-health delivery system that aims to improve access to high-quality care while reducing costs and improving outcomes. Duskin also led Change Healthcare, a health care technology company. Yish’s experience includes leading teams at Outcomes Health Information Solutions and HMS, or Health Management Solutions.
“It’s not every day that you get the opportunity to step alongside such a successful organization that is making a real difference for patients, students, senior care residents and their families in rural communities across America,” Duskin said in a statement. “Avel is built on a 28-year track record of success and innovation, and I am excited to work with President Deanna Larson and the entire leadership team to guide this organization forward to maintain its excellent level of service while growing our impact to reach even more communities and providers.”
Avel eCare is one of the largest and most comprehensive virtual care providers in the world – partnering with more than 600 health care systems, rural hospitals, outpatient clinics, long-term care facilities, assisted living centers and schools to deliver care.
