Assistant Professor
Health Care Management
parksav@appstate.edu
(828) 262-6665
Ashley Parks, DrPH
Achievements
Dr. Parks has over 20 years of experience in health services administration across various settings, including acute care, ambulatory care, managed care and community health. She’s been pivotal in expanding access and implementing quality improvement in a nationwide HIV referral network, for which she was awarded the Ruth Roemer Social Justice Leadership Award. Dr. Parks has also significantly contributed to the field by co-founding the Supporting Rural Health Equity Practice and Academic (SHERPA) Network, which is funded by the Human Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and addresses social determinants of health in rural Western North Carolina through academic practice partnerships.
Areas of Specialty
Dr. Parks specializes in health care financial analysis, quality analysis and performance improvement, data reporting and information technology, health policy, health services research, and project management. She’s obtained numerous certifications in public health and health care, including Master Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES) and Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ). Her research interests include health care quality improvement, mental health, information technology, telehealth and health care workforce preparation.
Publications
- Accepted: Isaacs, S. Schroeder-Tyson, J. Parks, A. (2024). Content Validation of Provider and Staff Surveys in Healthcare: A Systematic Review. Journal of Appalachian Health.
- Munoz-Cornejo, G., Sakowski, J., Lee, J., Parks, A. (2024). Analyzing the urban–rural divide: the role of location, time, and breach characteristics in U.S. hospital security incidents, 2012–2021. Discov Health Systems 3, 38. https://doi.org/10.1007/s44250-024-00105-6
- Cleverley, W., Cleverley, J., Parks, A. (2023). Essentials of Health Care Finance (Ninth). Jones & Bartlett Learning. ISBN: 9781284203783
- Parks, A.; Sakowski, J; Wear, A; Russell, A; Nunnery, D. (2023). Free and Charitable Clinic Perspectives on the Implementation and Utilization of Telehealth Services During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Journal of Primary Care and Community Health. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F21501319231213783.
- Sakowski J, Parks, A.; Nunnery D.; Wear, A. Free and Charitable Clinic Telehealth Adoption and Utilization During the COVID-19 ERA: The North Carolina Experience. Telemedicine Reports. https://doi.org/10.1089/tmr.2023.0029.
- Parks, A., Lazari, M., O’Dell, B., Avalos, R. (2022). Provider and Staff Responses to Non-Facility Specific Patient Experience Feedback with Post-Acute Care Transitions. Journal of Quality in Health Care and Economics. doi:10.23880/jqhe-16000257
- Parks, A., Lazari, M. (2022). Evaluating Self-Reported Patient Experience with Transitions from General Acute Care to Post-Acute Care Settings. Journal of Quality in Health Care and Economics. doi:10.23880/jqhe-16000258
- Parks, A. (2019). “Best Practices for Preparing Students for the Workforce through Mentorship.” The Chronicle of Mentoring.
- Parks, A. (2019). “Mentorship in the Health Professions.” The Chronicle of Mentoring.
Courses Taught
- Introduction to Health System Organization (Undergraduate)
- Principles of Financial Management for Health Care (Undergraduate)
- Quality Management and Process Improvement in Health Care (Undergraduate)
- Health Services Organization Behavior & Design (Undergraduate)
- Organizational Behavior and Design (Graduate)
- Performance Improvement Concepts and Applications in Health Care (Graduate)