Carrie Phillips MSN, RN, NE-BC
Elkhorn,NE
Summary
Accomplished service line executive with a proven record of leading complex healthcare operations, building high-performing teams, and driving strategic initiatives that advance quality, patient outcomes, operational excellence, and financial performance. Recognized for aligning people, resources, and strategy to achieve measurable organizational results.
Overview
1
1
Certification
22
22
years of professional experience
Work History
Cardiovascular Service Line Executive
Nebraska Methodist Hospital
02.2021 - Current
- Leads core service line of 400+ employees with oversight of all cardiovascular services including 69 acute care offering medical, intermediate and critical care, 4 cardiac catheterization and electrophysiology labs, cardiovascular imaging, cardiothoracic and vascular surgery, perfusion and cardiopulmonary rehabilitation.
- Collaborated with system-wide Cardiovascular Service Line Executive Council physician and executive leaders to develop and execute strategic plans, establish organizational priorities, and drive service line growth.
- Achieved volume increases of 40% in cardiothoracic surgery, 24% in vascular surgery, and 20% in cardiology from 2021–2025.
- Partnered with service line medical directors and Quality to establish actionable performance improvement strategies.
- Implemented multiple new procedures, practices and systems to improve patient outcomes.
- Selected to participate in 2025 and 2026 Methodist Hospital budget forecasting with senior leadership and Finance.
- Designated by the Chief Nursing Officer and Vice President of Patient Care to direct 2025 and 2026 division capital.
Service Leader, Care Management and Acute Dialysis
Nebraska Methodist Hospital
11.2013 - 01.2021
- Leadership of 32 FTEs consisting of Care Coordinators, Social Workers, Bed Coordinators and Health Service nurses at Methodist Hospital and Social Workers at Methodist Women's Hospital.
- Manage daily operations of Methodist Hospital acute dialysis unit and 23 contracted dialysis nurses while maintaining strong relationships with dialysis physicians.
- Developed Post-Acute Care Collaborative alongside Methodist Physician's Clinic and Methodist Jennie Edmundson.
- Partnered with Select Specialty to decrease LTAC appropriate patients' length of stay by 9 days.
- Partnered with Visiting Nurses Association on quality improvement project that impacted CMS reporting as well as patient satisfaction. Improved 48 hour admission times from 79% to 93% and CMS timeliness from 91% to 100%.
- Responsible for daily staffing based on patient care needs, annual operating budget and forecasting future capital expenditures.
Care Coordinator
Nebraska Methodist Hospital
03.2008 - 04.2014
- Performed discharge planning and worked to eliminate discharge barriers for patients in acute care.
- Coordinated care transitions throughout admission to discharge ensuring safe hand off to post-acute care providers.
- Provided patient-centered care while seeking opportunities for improvement of patient's length of stay and decreasing readmissions.
- Developed strong working relationships and communication strategies with multiple providers that aided their hospital workflow.
- Ensure thorough patient education was completed prior to discharge.
Registered Nurse, General Medical Unit
Nebraska Methodist Hospital
06.2004 - 03.2008
- Provided day to day care of patients by performing nursing assessments, medication administration, treatments, and helping patients with activities of daily living.
- Accurately documented all elements of nursing assessment, treatments, medications, discharge instructions and follow-up care.
- Communicated and collaborated with patient's health care team.
- Served as Unit Based Council Chair and Co-Chair
Education
Master of Science - Nursing-Executive
Nebraska Methodist College
Omaha, NE05-2020
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
University of Nebraska Medical Center
Lincoln, NE05-2004
Skills
- Strategic planning and development
- Analytical & organized leader
- Clinical operations management
- Workforce engagement
- Leadership mentoring
- Procedure implementation
- Collaborative relationship builder
- Effective communicator
- Quality management
Certification
- Master of Science in Nursing- Nurse Executive, Nebraska Methodist College 2020
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing, University of Nebraska Medical Center-Lincoln 2004
- Registered Nurse in the State of Nebraska, License 61874
- Nurse Executive Certification (NE.BC), American Nurses Credentialing Center, 2023-2028
Presentations
The Advisory Board Cardiovascular Roundtable Panelist- 2016 "How Nebraska Methodist Beat the National CABG Readmission Rate"
VHA Care Transitions Presenter- 2015 "Methodist Hospital and Methodist Women's Hospital Care Transitions"
Recognitions
40 Under 40 Emerging Nurse Leader Honoree 2018 The Nebraska Action Coalition – Future of Nursing
Methodist Nurse Excellence Award Nominee 2008, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020
Community Service
Clarkson College Nursing Advisory Council Member 2024-Present
American Heart Association Go Red For Women Chair 2025
Visiting Nurses Association Board of Directors Member 2018-2023
Timeline
Cardiovascular Service Line Executive
Nebraska Methodist Hospital
02.2021 - Current
Service Leader, Care Management and Acute Dialysis
Nebraska Methodist Hospital
11.2013 - 01.2021
Care Coordinator
Nebraska Methodist Hospital
03.2008 - 04.2014
Registered Nurse, General Medical Unit
Nebraska Methodist Hospital
06.2004 - 03.2008
Master of Science - Nursing-Executive
Nebraska Methodist College
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
University of Nebraska Medical Center