Hoover Leaves DMERC D to Join Sunrise

CARLSBAD, Calif.–Former DMERC Region D Medical Director Dr.
Robert Hoover takes on a new role today as senior vice president of
global clinical services with Sunrise Medical. He will report
directly to Sunrise Chairman and CEO Michael Hammes.

According to a press release from the company, Hoover “will
utilize his extensive experience, knowledge and relationships with
medical professionals to help further establish Sunrise Medical as
a true partner within the health care community.”

“This gives me the opportunity to do something I like to
do–research and education,” said Hoover, who has spent the last
seven years at CIGNA. With a medical degree from the University of
South Alabama, Hoover remains on the faculty as an assistant
clinical professor at Vanderbilt University Medical Center where he
did his residency, specializing in internal medicine. He also holds
a Master’s Degree in public health from the Medical College of
Wisconsin.

Over his years at the DMERC, explained Hoover, “one of the
things I’ve noticed is the amount of clinical literature [that is
needed] to support why we do what we do. There are so many gaps. It
is a difficult decision to decide what should be covered or not.”
Hoover said he views his new job as a “unique opportunity” to help
develop products “that meet the clinical needs of patients based
upon sound scientific research and outcomes measures.

“I’m going to work with Sunrise and the industry to raise the
bar as far as clinical outcomes, and have payers view this industry
as health care partners,” he concluded.

Sunrise Medical products are manufactured in North America,
Europe and Asia and are distributed in more than 100 countries.

Dr. Donald Norris, Part B director for Idaho, will serve as
interim medical director for Region D.