Patrick Formato, Chief Operating Officer

Patrick is a founding member and Chief Operating Officer of HCG. Patrick's experience as a practicing attorney in the healthcare regulatory field led him to form, along with his law firm partners, HCG to address the needs of the law firm's healthcare clients, as well as other healthcare providers that went beyond the services provided by his law firm.

A partner and co-director of the Long Island Health Law Practice at Abrams, Fensterman, Fensterman, Eisman, Greenberg, Formato & Einiger, LLP, Patrick provides guidance to a variety of health care providers including skilled nursing facilities, diagnostic and treatment centers, imaging centers, home health care agencies, adult homes, and physicians.

As an educator, Patrick presents on such topics as fraud and abuse, corporate compliance, reimbursement, and provider contracting. In addition to lecturing, he has written articles and has been published in professional and industry journals and newsletters. He has also authored several chapters in the Legal Manual for Physicians that was published by the New York State Bar Association in conjunction with the Medical Society of the State of New York, and is a contributing author of The Biggest Legal Mistakes Physicians Make and How to Avoid Them.

Active in legal and professional associations, Patrick is a member of the American Health Lawyers Association, the Health Care Compliance Association, the Nassau County Bar Association's Hospital and Health Law Committee, and the Executive Committee of the Health Law Section of the New York State Bar Association. He also served as Chairman of the Health and Hospital Committee of the Nassau County Bar Association.

Ruth West, RN, BS, Director of Regulatory Compliance

Ruth West, RN, BS is the Director of Regulatory Compliance for Healthcare Compliance Group (“HCG”).  In this role, Ruth’s responsibilities include consulting services in all areas of Federal and State Regulations including: Mock Surveys, System and Program Development, Infection Control, Inservice Education, Quality Assurance Programs, Risk Management Programs and response to all DOH and Federal statements of Deficiencies.  In addition, Ruth provides consultation for enforcement actions involving Immediate Jeopardy citations, substandard quality of care and Informal Dispute Resolution development, as well as consulting for “Special Focus Facility” status citations.

Prior to starting with Healthcare Compliance Group; Ruth worked for ten (10) years with Greater New York Health Care Facilities Association where she also was the Director of Regulatory Compliance.  Ruth’s years at “The Association” literally changed the way trade associations provide services.  Ruth provided ongoing Regulatory Memorandum, Regulatory Seminars and ongoing Consultative Services for over 85 nursing homes in all aspects of compliance.

Ruth’s impressive career also includes Consulting Services with “Agin Inc.” for seven (7) years; becoming Vice President of that company, Director of Nurses for three (3) Long Term Care Facilities and fifteen (15) years of hospital experience at Jamaica Hospital in Queens, New York where Ruth’s clinical experience included Intensive Care, Cardiac Care and Trauma nursing.

Lastly, Ruth has written numerous articles for the American College of Healthcare Administrators, and also has been nationally published for her contribution to The Long Term Care Survey Guide, published by Eli Lilly as well as her chapter on the Survey Process in Legal and Medical Ethics of Long Term Care, published by Lawyers and Judges Publishing Company.

Lydia Restivo, RN, CDONA

Lydia Restivo has been involved in long-term care for over thirty years. Lydia has had the unique professional experience of being with a long-term care facility from its inception and leading it to become one of the finest facilities on Long Island. Under her leadership as Director of Nursing, the facility received perfect certification surveys continuously over the years. Her past experiences include surveyor/auditor for IPRO (PSRO of Queens County, NY) where she assisted facilities with Medicare coverage determinations and quality of care requirements for Medicare recipients. For the past several years, she has used her extensive experience to develop and present educational seminars devoted to providing facility staff with state-of-the-art information on a multitude of clinical and administrative issues. Lydia has authored published articles on the business components of providing clinical care in the long term care industry. Prior to joining Healthcare Compliance Group, LLC, Lydia served as the Director of Regulatory Compliance and Clinical Services for the American College of Health Care Administrators. In this role, Lydia was active in the coordination of all activities, policies, procedures and “Q&A” for My Ziva, and MyZiva.net.

Lydia is a past president of AGENDA (Suffolk County Directors of Nursing Association) and is a Certified Director of Nursing Administration recognized by NADONA, the National Association of Directors of Nursing Administration in Long Term Care.

Presently, Lydia’s role is the Quality Assurance Consultant for Healthcare Compliance Group, LLC.  In this position Lydia provides her regulatory expertise to clients and the Long Term Care industry.  Lydia’s unique qualities and ability to identify problems and cultivate change makes her a valuable asset to her client and to the company she represents!

Marian Scharwachter, RD, AHCFA, CPHRM, LNHA

Marian Scharwachter has been working in the health care profession for more than 25 years.  In that role, Marian has performed various duties in key operational positions in New York Nursing Homes.  She also has provided education on long term care topics in several educational institutions.  Marian is a Registered and Certified Dietitian who is also recognized as an accomplished Healthcare Food Service Administrator by the American Hospital Association, and worked on the public relations committee for the Long Island Dietetic Association.

 In addition, Marian is also a Certified Professional in Healthcare Risk Management and a Licensed Nursing Home Administrator. Presently, Marian provides consulting services for Healthcare Compliance Group LLC focusing on Nutrition and Dietary compliance. However, her unique and vast talents also provide consulting services in Risk Management, Environment Services and all aspects of Regulatory Compliance.

In addition, Marian’s achievements include serving as president of a chapter of the American Society for Hospital Food Service Administrators.

Lastly, as past Executive Director of “ACHCA-MyZiva” she directed and coordinated all activities related to the MyZiva.com and MyZiva.net. Marians expertise and strong skills are an asset to the clients she serves and the Company she represents.