Jacqueline M. Melonas, Vice President, Risk Management Professional Risk Management Services, Inc. (PRMS)

Jacqueline M. Melonas, RN, MS, JD is responsible for the development and implementation of risk management services for clients of PRMS, risk management consultation, publishing articles, and developing seminars to help in the reduction of professional liability risks. Ms Melonas began her career in health care law and risk management and is also a clinical specialist in psychiatric nursing. For over five years, she was the administrative director and clinical specialist of the Child and Adolescent Outpatient Clinic for the University of Maryland Medical Systems. For the past 17 years, Ms. Melonas has been responsible for developing and implementing risk management programs for national behavioral health care companies, as well as providing claims and litigation management. She has provided risk management programs for long-term care providers, rehabilitation facilities, ambulatory care clinics, and individual health care providers. Ms. Melonas has consulted, written, and spoken nationally on various health care law and risk management topics. She received her law degree from the University of Maryland School of Law.

Marynell Hinton, Senior Risk Manager Professional Risk Management Services, Inc.

Marynell Hinton, MA, ARM received a BS in psychology from Mary Washington College, an MA in psychological services from Marymount University, and a legal assistant certificate from Georgetown University. While in graduate school, she worked at the state-run Northern Virginia Mental Health Institute. She has considerable experience in communitybased residential programs and group homes for mentally ill/mentally-retarded adults. Ms. Hinton is a member of the team that staffs the Risk Management Consultation Service Helpline – a toll free service where clients receive on-on-one advice and recommendations on risk management issues encountered in their practice even as they occur. She is the editor of “Rx for Risk”, a quarterly newsletter that incorporates articles on current clinical, legal and risk management topics affecting mental health practitioners. She develops risk management educational tools, has written articles for publications, and oversaw the creation of a comprehensive risk management manual. Ms. Hinton speaks nationally on various risk management topics.