About Us

Susan Platt – Director of Professional Services

Susan started Spoon River Home Health in 1993.  Although she owns SRHHS, her main role is the “Director of Professional Services.” As an R.N., B.S.N. she oversees all nursing and therapy- internally and externally. She communicates and educates on a daily basis. Susan is responsible for ensuring SRHHS is compliant with all rules and regulations.

Susan’s background is in critical care nursing. She always formed strong relationships with her patients and their families, and wondered what happened to them when they left ICU. It was for this reason, when the opportunity arose, she went into home health care and chose to open a home health agency with the help of her mentor and the best nurse she knows, her mother!

 A friend, on a stressful day in health care, asked her what her ideal job was. After a lot of thought, she has to admit she’s doing her “ideal” job. She gets to meet some of the nicest, funniest, sweetest, strangest people in the world. She loves to hear their stories. She loves to be able to make a difference in their life. Sometimes in home health we have the same client for years and sometimes only days but it is such a privilege to be invited into someone’s home and life and be able to make a difference.

Brian Platt – Administrator

Brian manages all of Spoon River’s business activities in the office. He says that he is lucky because his wife, Susan, manages the clinical and community education activities. Plus, Brian says that Spoon River also has a great staff which makes the business run fairly smoothly.

Following graduation from Western Illinois University, Brian started working for the Soil Conservation Service and also farming with his dad. Susan and he had been married for about 1 year when she started Spoon River Home Health. Being married to a nurse, having a mother-in –law for a nurse, and having a grandmother who was a Navy nurse must have qualified Brian to start helping out with the business side of a homecare company. After 2 years of helping manage the business, he became the administrator when Susan slowed down to have their 2 girls.

Brian likes to ski on the water and snow, as well as horseback riding. He had the chance to show off his horses when he acted in the movie Sand Prairie. His favorite drink is anything that has seen the inside of an oak barrel for at least 12 years.

Mary Ericson – Director of Nursing

I have been with Spoon River Home Health since 2008. I have enjoyed many varied positions with the company and am currently the Director of Nursing. I have been a nurse for 20 plus years and have discovered that Home Health is my passion! I have the pleasure of overseeing the Skilled services we offer along with the Home Service department.  When Spoon River Home Health says we are “Family Caring for Family”, they couldn’t be more accurate!   Spoon River couldn’t be the successful agency we are without our “Families”.   Each and every employee I work with is like my extended family.  Being a smaller, privately owned agency gives us that distinct advantage.  My coworkers are as caring and compassionate to each other as any family member.  And that compassion and caring gets passed along to all our clients, your family.    It is that caring that sets our agency apart from the others.  I couldn’t be more proud than to work with my family to help maintain your family’s health and daily needs.

Lex Walker – Director of Information Systems

Lex has been providing leadership for the computing, networking and communications infrastructure for the entire organization since 2002.  His divisions are responsible for the design of multi-office networking and telecommunications infrastructure.

Lex has an Associate’s degree in Data Processing from a local community college. He attends various classes and training seminars geared toward network administration and security. He has 19 years computer experience and 14 years with Spoon River Home Health.

John Plowman – Accounting Manager

John has been the Accounting Manager for Spoon River Home Health since September 2012.  He joined the Rotary Club of Farmington, Illinois in October 2012, has served as their Secretary since September 2013, and can be found volunteering at their Summer Fest and Spoon River Drive fundraisers.

John performs a variety of accounting and bookkeeping services for the company.  He prepares financial statements required for annual Medicare cost reports and tax returns.  He oversees accounts payable and manages the Billing Department in order to maintain accounts receivable.  He processes payroll, reconciles and pays deductions, and reports statistical data.  He acts as a liaison to our insurance agents by providing necessary information for all insurance coverages. He renews our annual licenses with the Illinois Department of Public Health and works quietly in the background to obtain information requested at regulatory site visits.

John graduated from Western Illinois University with a Bachelor of Business in Accountancy degree in May 1998.  His previous work experience was public accounting in the Northwest Chicago suburbs from July 1999 to April 2010.  During this time, he also served as the Park Ridge Noon Kiwanis Club Treasurer from July 2003 to June 2006 and as a Board Member from July 2006 to June 2008.

John became a first-time homebuyer in September 2015 and was married at a Philippine beach resort in October 2015.  He enjoys attending concerts, movies, sporting events, and his nephews’ and nieces’ extracurricular school activities.

Kelly Hammond – Human Resource Manager

My name is Kelly Hammond and I have been with Spoon River Home Health since 2011. I started part-time as an administrative assistant working pretty much in every department before becoming the Human Resource Manager. I absolutely love people therefore the HR position fits well for me as I get to interact with customers and employees on a daily basis.

I have an Associate’s Degree in Business from a local community college. Before coming to Spoon River Home Health, I worked in insurance for over 20 years and then was a stay-at-home mother of 4 for several years.   Spoon River Home Health made getting back in to the work force such an easy transition for me. One of the many reasons I love working for SRHH is the “Family Caring For Family” motto that the entire company follows.

Jessica Gonazlez – Billing Coordinator

I am a single mom to my 2 beautiful daughters Ashley and Abby.  The first time I came to Spoon River when they were 5 and 3 years old, now they are 21 and 19!  I worked for the company approximately 4 years before finding a job closer to home.  Several years later in November 2014, I returned. I am a billing coordinator in our office in Farmington. I handle billing for our insurance, private pay, VA billing and billing for our Department of rehabilitation Services clients. I also coordinate the information needed between our clients and their long term care insurance companies as well as receiving authorizations from insurance companies to provide care for our clients

I became a CNA in 1994 and have always enjoyed caring for our clients.  They have so many stories to share and are a genuine treat to be around.  The more you are with them, the more they feel like family rather than just a person you have to take care of. I was a previous Client Service Specialist from November 2014 to August 2016. I had previously gone to school and had taken several accounting classes and when an opening came available in the billing department, I was thrilled when I found out that I would be taking on a new role?

What I like most about Spoon River is the fun family friendly atmosphere.  Family comes first and they are the first to recognize this.  Whether needing to take time off for a sick child or having to attend a spring concert, Spoon River allows the flexibility to put family first.  And the fun part!  As an avid Cubs fan, what a treat it was for them to take us to the playoffs in October 2015.  What an experience! Unfortunately, they did not win the world series that year, but what a wonderful and memorable year 2016 turned out to be!

Spoon River Home Health is a wonderful company to work for.  Do we make mistakes sometimes? Sure, but who doesn’t.  If we make a mistake, we try our best to correct it and make sure the client and their family is completely satisfied in moving forward.  We all want the best for our Families, and working for Spoon River allowed me to take care of my loved ones as well as yours!

Brandi Barnes – Case Management Specialist / CNA

Brandi does lots of data entry including but not limited to new sign ups, admitting Patients, entering SOC, transfers and DC oasis, and enter new or update employee information. She acquires background checks; creates supply sheets for employees and patients. To top it off, she handles flu shot billing, and performs patient care when needed.

Brandi has an Associate in Arts and Science along with a 3yr degree/diploma in Nursing.  She has worked in healthcare for 6 years.

Brandi describes herself as pleasant to be around, and always has a good attitude and smile on her face.  On the weekends she enjoys going to the dirt track, stock car races because her boyfriend drives, as do many of her friends. She also enjoy athletics, such as Softball and Basketball.  She LOVES watching Nascar Racing and cheering for #88 Dale Earnheart Jr.   Brandi also has a son who is 2 years old named Braden.  He is her world or rather her world revolves around him.  He is very energetic and outgoing and loves being outside.  He also enjoys going to the stock car races, ballgames and playing outside.  He keeps my life on the go and very interesting because you never know what will happen next.

Ladonna Boxley – Health Information Coordinator

I came to Spoon River Home Health in 2001 and started out as a clerk in the Billing Department. I wasn’t looking for a job, I was looking for a career – and that’s what I found. Spoon River Home Health shared with me their knowledge of the home health industry and their passion to make a difference in the lives that we touch. In the past 15+ years I have worked hard, moving up through the ranks of the Billing Department, the Client Service Department, Human Resource Department and am now the Health Information Coordinator.  My responsibilities include verifying insurance benefits and assisting with referral calls helping families and other providers know know about all of the ways Spoon River Home Health can help someone live independently with the help of our care. I consider myself a Spoon River success story, and I am not the only one here that way. There are many others here at SRHHS that can say the same thing. My career is to help those who have a passion for helping others. My name is LaDonna Boxley and I am proud to be part of the Spoon River Home Health family.

Malerie McDonald – Client Service Specialist

About 12 years ago I worked for SRHHS as a caregiver which then made me want to become a CNA. I then took the course that SRHHS offered to become a Certified Nursing Aide. I have worked as a CNA for about 10 years now. After working in the field and taking care of people I then got interested in furthering my education to move up in the medical field. I enrolled into the University of Phoenix for Healthcare Administration, and since have moved from the field to the office. I am currently working as a Client Service Specialist in the Fulton County area. Since taking the position in the office I have received one diploma, Health and Wellness Administration Foundations. I am currently just weeks away from my second diploma, Electronic Health Records Fundamentals. I really enjoy working for SRHHS as everyone is always smiling and the patients always come first. Not only do I love SRHHS for the people but also because it gives me hands on training for my schooling as its all online.