RPI Black Belt Bios

Bonnie Poole

Bonnie Poole has been with the Division of Behavioral Health since 2014 as the Quality Assurance Specialist at Center for Behavioral Medicine. Bonnie has been working in the field of healthcare QM since 2010 and before that, spent some time as a Clinical Data Coordinator for Quintiles. Bonnie received a Master’s degree in Psychology in 2003 with a focus in Forensic Psychology. She is a trained RPI Black Belt and Certified RPI Green Belt. Her Black Belt project focused on the treatment efficacy of IST (Incompetent to Stand Trial) competency restoration. Her Green Belt project focused on improving Human Resources hiring turnaround time. In her spare time, Bonnie is an amateur fiction writer and soapmaker.

Heather Osborne

Heather Osborne has been with the Department of Behavioral Health since 2011. She started out as a ward therapist, and has also served as the Utilization Management Coordinator and most recently as the Director of Treatment Services for Southeast Missouri Mental Health Center-Adult Psychiatric Services. Heather received a Master’s degree in Clinical Counseling in 2011 and a graduate certificate in Gerontology in 2017. She is a trained RPI Black Belt and Certified RPI Green Belt. Her Black Belt project focused on the tracking of employee sick leave usage, and her Green Belt project focused on the turnaround time and tracking process of employee Adverse Action documentation. In her spare time Heather volunteers for the Multiple Sclerosis Society and enjoys going to St. Louis Cardinals baseball games.

James Busalacki

James Busalacki has been with the Department of Behavioral Health, namely Fulton State Hospital, since 2015 in different capacities with the most recent position being the Strategic Initiatives Coordinator. Prior to working for Fulton State Hospital, he spent almost 16 years in customer service and retail in various supervisory and managerial positions. James received his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Missouri - Columbia and has taken Master’s level courses in Education from Columbia College. He is a trained RPI Black Belt and Certified RPI Green Belt. His Black Belt project focused on Program Based Scheduling within Fulton State Hospital, Green Belt project focused on Security Consolidation with the facility, but more specifically on escorted medical and court trips off campus for clients.

Tara Yates

Tara Yates has been with the Department of Behavioral Health since 2003 with the most recent position being Director of Quality Management for the Eastern Region (St. Louis Psychiatric Rehabilitation Center, Metropolitan St. Louis Psychiatric Center and Hawthorn Children Psychiatric Hospital). Tara received her Bachelors of Science in Parks, Recreation and Tourism with an Option in Therapeutic Recreation in 2001 and is currently working on her Masters of Science in Healthcare Administration. She is a trained RPI Black Belt, Certified RPI Green Belt and Certified SOS Yellow Belt. Her Black Belt project focused on RN overtime, Green Belt project focused on increasing active treatment and Yellow Belt project focused on decreasing the amount of time for a client to retrieve funds for out trips. In her spare time Tara enjoys attending the extracurricular activities of her daughter and baking.

Lisa Franz

Lisa Franz has been with the Department of Behavioral Health since 2017 as the Chief Performance Improvement Officer for the Western Region, focusing on the Center for Behavioral Medicine and Northwest Missouri Psychiatric Rehabilitation Center. Prior to working for DBH, she served over 30 years in healthcare, focusing 20 of those years on process improvement. Lisa holds a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Missouri and is a Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt, a Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality and a Certified Joint Commission Professional. Lisa’s RPI Green Belt project focused on decreasing delays in visitor check-in at CBM. In her free time, Lisa enjoys travel and genealogy.