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Issue 2

Evacuation Planning for Vulnerable Populations

By:
Blaine
Gamst
Ecumen Lakeshore is a senior healthcare and housing campus with two hundred seventy residents living in Duluth, Minnesota. The services provided at Ecumen Lakeshore primarily consist of skilled nursing care, assisted living, memory care, and independent living. Ecumen Lakeshore is responsible for delivering healthcare services to approximately 50% of those who reside there. This population needs assistance with daily living activities (ADLs), including personal hygiene, medications, dressing, walking, and nutrition. The people receiving care or services due to needing assistance with one or more ADLs meet the definition of being a vulnerable adult, according to the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS, 2021). This vulnerable population residing in a congregate living facility is why facility operators must be prepared to safely evacuate the building in the event of an emergency.
Published:
January 5, 2023
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Frank Marshall Valier, D.B.A., CAIBP

Professor of Healthcare Administration & Technology

Health Sciences & Technology Department

Charter Oak State College

New Britain, CT
Email:  fvalier@charteroak.edu

Dr. Frank Marshall Valier is a Distinguished Charter Oak Professor and a Certified Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain Technology Management Healthcare Professional whose career exemplifies the highest ideals of scholarly leadership, transformative teaching, and academic innovation. As the founder, publisher, and editor of the Journal of Healthcare Administration and Policy (JHCAP), he has created a vital forum for advancing knowledge at the intersection of healthcare administration, policy, and emerging technology.

Over a distinguished 25-year career, Dr. Valier has made enduring contributions to healthcare administration education through excellence in faculty leadership, graduate-level instruction, scholarly research, and academic publication. At Charter Oak State College in New Britain, Connecticut, he serves as Lead Faculty Instructor for the Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) program, where he has played a pivotal role in shaping the program's academic identity — most notably through the development and teaching of the MHA Capstone course. His curriculum design reflects a sophisticated command of both healthcare administration and information technology management, preparing students to lead with confidence in an increasingly complex and technology-driven healthcare landscape.

Dr. Valier earned his Doctor of Business Administration in Information Technology Management, with a specialization in Healthcare, from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. His doctoral dissertation, "A Primary Study of the Perception of Characteristics of Innovation during Pre-Diffusion Stage," earned a Best Paper Award nomination from the Association of Information Systems and was subsequently published in the Journal of International Technology and Information Management — a testament to his significant scholarly contributions to the study of technology adoption in healthcare settings.

As an educator, Dr. Valier is widely recognized for his ability to make complex healthcare concepts both accessible and meaningful. He brings to the classroom a rare combination of rigorous academic standards and genuine investment in student success, consistently bridging theoretical frameworks with real-world application. His pedagogical approach reflects a deep alignment with Charter Oak State College's mission of delivering relevant, career-focused, and student-centered education.

Dr. Valier's professional interests continue to evolve at the forefront of healthcare innovation. His expertise in artificial intelligence and blockchain technology management positions him as a thought leader in the digital transformation of healthcare administration — and as a tireless advocate for preparing the next generation of healthcare leaders to meet that challenge.

© 2026 Journal of Healthcare Administration Practice. all rights reserved
Updated 6/1/26