Melinda Paras
President and CEO

Melinda Paras is the President and CEO of Paras and Associates (PAA), leading the implementation of new language access solutions in hospital settings. The Paras and Associates team designed and now manages the first operational video/voice over IP call center - the Health Care Interpreter Network (HCIN), a cooperative of California public hospitals sharing interpreter services. PAA clients utilizing these innovative call center technologies now include Kaiser Permanente, and a collaborative of Chicago area hospitals in the Illinois Video Interpreter Network, the University of New Mexico Hospital and Georgetown University Hospital.

Paras is the past Director of Communications, Policy and Planning for the Alameda County Medical Center (ACMC), an independent hospital authority operating safety-net medical facilities in Alameda County. She is previously the Executive Director of Health Access, a California health policy and advocacy organization. Ms. Paras is also the former President of the ACMC Board of Trustees and a former San Francisco Health Commissioner.

Raymond Otake, J. D.
Chief Technology Officer

Mr. Otake has pioneered the use of videoconferencing for the purposes of healthcare interpretation over the past decade. He provided the oversight of the first clinical trials of this new application in Alameda County Medical Center and San Francisco General Hospital. He currently directs the testing and evaluation of new technologies. Mr. Otake has over 20 years of experience in the health care information technology field including work as a CIO and IT Director. He has particular experience in community health center and managed health care environments. Mr. Otake has served on the Board of the advocacy organization Health Access of California, and on the California State Office of HIPAA Implementation Advisory Committee.

Peter Praetz, M.B.A.
Chief Financial Officer

Peter Praetz is the past Chief Financial Officer of San Francisco General Hospital and the Alameda County Medical Center. Mr. Praetz oversaw the implementation of a multiple information systems projects which included a clinical information system for the San Francisco Department of Public Health Integrated Delivery System. This system established an automated lifetime medical record and a single patient identifier. He is also currently a financial consultant for the California Association of Public Hospitals advising on the Medicaid waiver between the State of California and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Systems.

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