Meet the VCM Team

From the claims representatives to the President of the company, Vertical Claims Management’s team of professionals brings together the experience, knowledge and insight to make a difference in handling your claims.

Balanced, Diverse and Specialized

The VCM Team was born out of the medical malpractice insurance crisis and consists of experienced professionals who understand what it is like to work in the trenches. We come from hospitals, law firms, and the insurance industry. We have been advocates on behalf of the medical industry from every angle of allegations made against a healthcare facility. The result? The most balanced, diverse and specialized team of experts you need to manage your claims in the alternative risk market.

We are dedicated to staffing each and every insurance program we service with skilled, experience and caring claims professionals in order to assure that each program can meet its unique challenges.

The members of the VCM Team are proud of this reputation and are constantly striving to refine it. We each contribute our talents and energies to continually improve the quality and effectiveness of the claims and litigation management process.

“Every person on the VCM Team is chosen for his or her individual strengths and abilities,” said Clare Bello, President & CEO of VCM. “We consider ourselves, as a team, to be a crucial partner for healthcare entities considering, developing and managing alternative insurance solutions. We are very proud of the AHA endorsement of our Vertical Advantage Program and endeavor to select team members who not only meet, but exceed the high expectations of the AHA and its members.”

THE VCM MANAGEMENT TEAM
The FOUNDATION for successful claims management

Clare M. Bello, Esquire - Co-founder, President & CEO: Mrs. Bello has led VCM from a regional claims and litigation management company to a national company, taking the lead in the healthcare claims management industry. She has lectured in national programs aimed at the healthcare alternative risk market and is certified with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as an instructor of continuing education courses for insurance professionals. Mrs. Bello holds a law degree from the Duquesne University School of Law. Prior to forming VCM, she managed an active law practice in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for over a decade with a focus in insurance regulatory issues and professional liability litigation defense. She is a member of VCIA; SCCIA, AHA, ASHRM, HFMA and PLUS.

Alexandria “Lexie” Darch, CPCU - Senior VP, Insurance Operations: Ms. Darch oversees the day-to-day management of the medical malpractice and general liability claims at VCM. She holds a BA degree from State University of New York (Oneonta), and developed nation-wide experience in claims administration and strategy during her career which includes 5 years of managing the medical malpractice practice for Princeton Insurance Company and 10 years as a claims manager with Pennsylvania Hospital Insurance Company (PHICO). Prior to that, Ms. Darch managed medical claims for Firemen’s Fund Insurance Co. and R.P. Ross and Co.

Karen E. Wright, AIC - CFO: Ms. Wright is responsible for the development and day-to-day administration of VCM internal policies & procedures, as well as the short & long term administrative and organizational business management plans for the company. She oversees the financial and accounting aspects of the company. She holds a BA degree from the University of Pittsburgh, and brings over 25 years of legal administration, organization and business planning experience, along with prior in-house, hands-on hospital experience. Ms. Wright started her career as a medical/surgical technician before transferring those skills to the legal arena where she worked for 12 years as a medical defense paralegal, and then 14 years as a principal legal administrator focused on human resources, network administration, facilities management, corporate accounting and general business and administrative management for two major Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania law firms.