Thursday, January 31, 2013

State of the Heart Hospice Announces Four New Employees

Clockwise from the top left: Kimberly Blasius,
Kelly Kunkler, Crystal Prager, Rick Alexander
State of the Heart Hospice has announced the appointment of four new employees with the nonprofit agency. With offices in Greenville, Coldwater and Portland, State of the Heart cares for patients and families in eastern Indiana and western Ohio who are confronting a life limiting illness.

Kimberly Blasius of Greenville has been named Director of Inpatient and Palliative Care and will work from the Greenville office. Her appointment follows an announcement recently of a new hospice care unit at Wayne HealthCare. A registered nurse, she has an MSN, MBA and HCM. She has been an ER nurse and has over ten years of clinical experience.

“I have always had an interest in oncology,” she said, “and had heard that State of the Heart was a great organization to work for. I am looking forward to rounding out my understanding of hospice care.” When not working, she enjoys walking, listening to music and spending quiet time around water. She and her husband Eric have three children.

Kelly J. Kunkler of St. Henry joins State of the Heart as a Nurse Practitioner. She will work from all of the agency’s offices. She joined State of the Heart, she explained “as I have a belief in the philosophy of State of the Heart and the care the agency provides.”


She has been a family nurse practitioner with experience in the United States Air Force and an outpatient multiple sclerosis clinic. She has worked also on a blood and marrow transplant unit, as an ICU nurse along with long term care facilities. In her spare time, she enjoys exercising, photography and traveling. She is married to Andy Kunkler.

State of the Heart has hired two Licensed Practical Nurses also: Rick Alexander and Crystal Prager. Both will work from the Greenville office.

Alexander, of Versailles, has his degree from the Miami Valley Career Technology Center, graduating in 2003. He was attracted to State of the Heart, he explained, “because of the care that the patient and the family receive.” He and his wife Corinna have a son and daughter. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his grandchild and fishing.

Prager, who lives in Greenville, has an LPN background in hospice palliative care. “I have always found hospice work rewarding and am very excited about helping provide hospice care in my community.” Her hobbies include reading, gardening, and outdoor activities. She and her husband Aaron have two daughters and one grandson.

State of the Heart Hospice has served area communities for 32 years, providing quality, compassionate hospice care to those facing a life limiting illness. For more information about any of the services provided by State of the Heart, call 1-800-417-7535 or visit the web site at www.stateoftheheartcare.org.

Editor’s Note: Photos included of Prager, Alexander, Kunkler and Blasius.

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