Meet The Team

Join Us in Celebrating Our Team

Our American Premier family continues to grow stronger together through dedication, teamwork, and heart. We are grateful for each member’s unique contributions, driving meaningful change in the lives we touch daily.

We are proud to introduce the exceptional individuals who make up our compassionate and growing family here at American Premier. Each team member plays a vital role in delivering the highest standard of care to our patients and their families.

Stacy Cole, Managing Director

Stacy Cole

Managing Director

A dedicated and accomplished registered nurse with over 15 years of progressive leadership experience, she has built a distinguished career spanning hospice and Transitional Care Program, medical-surgical nursing, behavioral health, and healthcare administration.

Her work reflects a deep commitment to patient-centered care, clinical excellence, and compassionate service across a wide range of healthcare settings.

She began her nursing career at Trillium Family Services in Corvallis, Oregon, where she served as a Mental Health Nurse caring for adolescents in a secure residential unit. In this role, she developed a strong foundation in psychiatric nursing, performing admissions, assessments, and medication management while collaborating closely with psychiatrists, mental health specialists, and multidisciplinary teams to support the well-being of vulnerable youth.

From there, she transitioned into home care administration at New Horizons InHome Care, where she served as both Case Manager and Administrator. In this capacity, she helped license the Corvallis office, developed caregiver training programs, and worked closely with hospital discharge planners and long-term care coordinators to ensure clients received seamless, high-quality in-home support.

Her passion for end-of-life care led her to Lumina Hospice, where she spent over five years growing from an RN Case Manager into a Clinical Manager. As a case manager, she provided holistic, compassionate nursing care to terminally ill patients and their families, coordinating interdisciplinary services and ensuring full compliance with Medicare regulations. Promoted to Clinical Manager, she oversaw nursing staff and hospice aides, led IDT conferences, drove quality improvement initiatives, and contributed to the agency’s strategic planning and fiscal health.

Continuing her hospice leadership journey, she joined American Premier Hospice in Phoenix, Arizona as Director of Nursing, a role she held for over two years. There she directed all clinical services — including RNs, CNAs, social workers, chaplains, and bereavement coordinators — while maintaining rigorous compliance with regulatory and accreditation standards, including The Joint Commission. She spearheaded quality assurance programs, developed clinical education tools, coordinated with the medical director, and mentored her team to deliver exceptional end-of-life care.

Expanding her scope of practice, she returned briefly to Trillium Family Services as Health Services Manager, overseeing the nursing department for an adolescent behavioral health campus. She led infection prevention programs, vaccination initiatives, EMR development, and interdisciplinary care planning — demonstrating her versatility across care settings.

She then served as a Clinical Alignment Specialist at Banner Hospice, where she collaborated with Transitional Care Program teams and hospital physicians to coordinate hospice transitions for both home care and inpatient patients, conducting assessments, developing care plans, and providing end-of-life education.

She went on to serve as Associate Director of the 3W3B PCU Unit at Banner Del E. Webb Medical Center in Sun City West, Arizona. In this executive nursing leadership role, she oversaw unit operations, managed budgets, drove quality and process improvement initiatives, and developed the next generation of nursing leaders through coaching, shared governance models, and career development opportunities. She served as a real-time clinical expert for staff and physicians, ensuring exceptional patient outcomes and regulatory compliance.

Most recently, she has returned to American Premier — now in the elevated role of Managing Director — where she provides executive oversight across all three of the organization’s programs: home health, hospice, and Transitional Care Program. In this expanded capacity, she draws on the full breadth of her clinical and leadership experience to drive organizational excellence, ensure the highest standards of patient care, and guide a multidisciplinary workforce dedicated to serving patients and families at every stage of the care continuum.

She holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Grand Canyon University and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology (Cum Laude) from Utah State University — a dual academic foundation that uniquely informs her whole-person approach to patient care and leadership.

Rachelle Urban, Operations Support Manager

Rachelle Urban

Operations Support Manager

Rachelle’s passion for healthcare began early—at just 14, she started volunteering as a candy striper at her local hospital, where she discovered the joy of connecting with patients and supporting the healthcare community.

While those formative experiences revealed that direct patient care wasn’t her calling, they solidified her commitment to making a difference in healthcare through other meaningful ways.

Over the past 12+ years, Rachelle has found her niche on the administrative side of healthcare, where she’s become a valued member of the home health community. Her journey with American Premier has allowed her to expand her expertise across home health, hospice, and Transitional Care Program—areas where compassionate, behind-the-scenes work directly impacts patients’ quality of life.

What drives Rachelle is healthcare’s dynamic nature and the constant opportunity to learn and grow. She embraces the ever-evolving landscape of the industry, always seeking new ways to bring exceptional care to those who need it most. In everything she does, Rachelle embodies American Premier’s core values: always does what it takes, always does the right thing, always at your service, always learning, and always innovating.

Her blend of early hands-on experience and years of administrative expertise makes Rachelle a bridge between the clinical and operational sides of healthcare—someone who truly understands that excellent patient care happens through dedicated professionals working at every level of the system.

Julia

Julia

Team Morale Booster

Julia’s infectious positivity and uplifting spirit brighten the workplace every day. She inspires and motivates those around her, creating a warm and encouraging environment for all.

Cindy

Cindy Van Meter

Clinical Operations Manager

Cindy Van Meter is Clinical Operations Manager at American Premier, where she provides clinical guidance and operational leadership across the company’s growing hospice and home health service lines.

Cindy brings more than 14 years of hands-on clinical experience spanning hospice (6 years), acute care (2.5 years), home care (3 years), home health (1.5 years), and long-term care (1.5 years). That breadth shapes how she supports field teams — pairing bedside instincts with the operational discipline today’s regulatory environment demands.

She has led two notable systems initiatives. At Lumina Hospice in Oregon, Cindy trained staff and helped launch a new electronic medical record, streamlining clinical documentation and easing compliance with CMS guidelines. In Arizona, she supported the Iware and EMR integration at Banner Boswell, improving IV fluid capture.

Cindy began her medical career as a Hospital Corpsman in the United States Navy. She earned her Associate degree of Applied Science at Linn-Benton Community College and a Bachelor of Applied Science in Nursing from Grand Canyon University.

Outside of work, Cindy can usually be found walking her dog Chester or relaxing by the pool.

Tara Miranda, Intake/Scheduling Coordinator

Tara Miranda

Intake/Scheduling Coordinator

Tara Miranda is Intake/Scheduling Coordinator at American Premier, where she draws on 15 years of intake coordination experience and a background in medical billing and coding from Brookline College to support seamless care coordination for patients and families. She is passionate about connecting patients with the right care at the right time, and enjoys lifelong learning in the healthcare field.

I have always had a passion for working in healthcare. I attended Brookline College, where I studied Medical Billing and Coding. While attending school, I considered changing my program to become a Medical Assistant, but I soon realized that direct patient care was not the right path for me.

Fifteen years ago, I began my career as an Intake Coordinator, which opened the door to a rewarding career in healthcare coordination. Since then, I have gained experience in intake, authorizations, referrals, scheduling, and care coordination. I take pride in helping patients navigate the healthcare system and ensuring they receive the services and care they need.

One of the things I enjoy most about working in healthcare is that there is always something new to learn. Every day gives me the opportunity to expand my knowledge—not only to better assist patients and healthcare professionals, but also to share valuable information with my friends and family.

I am passionate about care coordination and committed to providing organized, compassionate, and efficient support to help patients access the care they need.

Carley Crawford, Family Nurse Practitioner

Carley Crawford

Family Nurse Practitioner

Carley Crawford is a Family Nurse Practitioner at American Premier, bringing eight years of nursing experience in trauma, critical care, and leadership before advancing her career as an FNP. She has a special passion for hospice and end-of-life care and feels honored to walk alongside patients and their families during life’s most meaningful moments.

I’m a Family Nurse Practitioner and Nebraska native who has called Arizona home for the past three years. Before becoming an FNP, I spent eight years as a nurse working in trauma, critical care, and leadership. I have a special passion for hospice and end-of-life care and feel deeply honored to walk alongside patients and their families during some of life’s most meaningful moments.

Outside of work, I love spending time with my husband and daughter, usually with our two golden retrievers close by. I enjoy finding new coffee shops, baking, reading a good mystery, taking family trips, and cheering for Husker volleyball and football.

Team Highlights & Celebrations

Our team’s dedication shines brightly, reflected in the heartfelt feedback we receive. One glowing message came from Melanie, daughter of a patient, who praised the seamless communication and swift responsiveness of our team members like Lindy Abts and George Pirkle. Melanie, a veteran hospice social worker, shared:

“In 25 years, I’ve never seen better coordination of services.”

Her oncologist partner also commended us for catching and addressing issues missed by the hospital. This powerful testimony reflects the unity, compassion, and genuine care that define our team.

Ready to Make a Difference?

Join our compassionate American Premier family and help us continue delivering exceptional care and support to those who need it most. Whether you’re interested in joining our team, volunteering, or learning more about our services, we’d love to hear from you.