- Enjoy participating in biking for overall physical and mental well-being
- Camping
- Running
David Kruger, DNP
Arlington Heights,IL
Summary
Senior healthcare executive and nursing leader with more than 20 years of progressive experience across pediatric academic medical centers, nonprofit organizations, and complex care delivery systems. Deep expertise in Medicaid and Medicare reimbursement, alternative care models, population health initiatives, and multi-payer environments. Proven track record in operational transformation, regulatory compliance, government relations, and financial stewardship. Recognized for strategic leadership, systems thinking, and the ability to translate policy and clinical priorities into sustainable, high-quality care delivery models. Known for strong decision-making abilities and unwavering focus on achieving measurable outcomes.
Overview
23
23
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
President & Executive Director
Almost Home Kids – Lurie Children’s Hospital
12.2024 - Current
Chief Operating Officer
Almost Home Kids (Affiliate of Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital)
04.2023 - 12.2024
- Oversees all organizational operations, including clinical, financial, human resources, and compliance functions.
- Leads quality improvement strategy to ensure safe, high-quality, and mission-aligned care delivery.
- Partners with the Chief Medical Officer to expand and sustain education and simulation programs, including Medical Education Program, APRN Scholars Program, Educate to Elevate Simulation Lab, and De-escalation Simulation Lab.
- Directs workforce strategy, including recruitment, retention, succession planning, and leadership development.
- Manages organizational finances in collaboration with senior business leadership, including annual budget development, cash flow monitoring, census and reimbursement oversight, and internal controls.
- Ensures compliance with board policy and all applicable local, state, and federal regulations.
- Serves as primary liaison with state agencies including HFS, DHS, DSCC, IDPH, and commercial payers.
Director of Patient Care Services
Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago
08.2017 - 04.2023
- Led department-wide cultural transformation initiatives focused on implicit bias, inclusion, and anti-racism.
- Established the Emergency Department Operations Committee (EDOC) to oversee governance, analytics, project management, and communication.
- Directed strategic planning, budgeting, and resource allocation for a high-volume pediatric emergency department.
- Led multidisciplinary teams to improve operational efficiency and patient experience.
Interim Director of Patient Care Services
Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago
01.2017 - 08.2017
- Conducted comprehensive operational review of workflows, staffing, and throughput to reduce length of stay and LWBS rates.
- Managed capital and operating budgets in partnership with medical and nursing leadership.
- Developed phased operational plans to maintain patient flow following a reduction of 48 inpatient beds.
Director of Patient Care Services
Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago
02.2010 - 08.2017
- Led clinical operations, quality improvement, and regulatory compliance for complex oncology and transplant services.
- Managed departmental budgets and aligned resources with organizational strategic priorities.
- Collaborated with senior leadership and physicians to expand programs and outreach initiatives.
Director, Patient Care Services
Children’s Hospital Los Angeles
01.2009 - 01.2010
- Provided operational and clinical leadership for a 55-bed inpatient unit and 36-bed outpatient unit with over 21,000 annual visits.
- Led integration of inpatient and outpatient hematology-oncology services into a unified service line.
- Directed budgeting, staffing, and professional development initiatives.
Manager, Operations
Children’s Hospital Los Angeles
01.2003 - 01.2009
- Managed operations of a 35-bed Level I pediatric trauma emergency department with 63,000 annual visits.
- Oversaw clinical operations, staffing, and financial performance.
Education
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) - Systems Leadership
Boise State University
Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) - Nursing Administration
University of California, Los Angeles
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) - undefined
Concordia University
Skills
- Executive & Multi-Site Operations Leadership
- Medicaid & Medicare Policy and Regulatory Compliance
- Government Relations & Legislative Advocacy
- Budget Development, Financial Management & Sustainability
- Service Line Development & Care Model Redesign
- Board Governance & Nonprofit Leadership
- Quality Improvement & Patient Safety
- Workforce Development & Talent Strategy
- Strategic Planning & Change Management
- EHR Optimization & Health Technology Implementation
- LEAN & Process Improvement
- Matrix & Interdisciplinary Leadership
- Leadership team building
- Organizational leadership
Accomplishments
- Secured a $2.4 million annual State of Illinois legislative transitional rate increase, effective January 1, 2025, through direct advocacy and stakeholder engagement.
- Increased census at Almost Home Kids by 30% in FY24 by streamlining identification and intake of medically complex children.
- Designed and implemented Dynamic Queuing within EPIC, improving Emergency Department throughput and reducing “left without being seen” rates through weighted acuity and length-of-stay prioritization.
- Led operational redesign of Lurie Children’s Ambulatory Infusion Center, expanding hours and weekend access and enabling care for an additional 450 patients annually.
- Reduced chemotherapy-related medication errors by 67% over three years through protocol redesign and safety standardization.
- Developed an Advanced Practice Nurse care delivery model that improved patient safety and increased billing accuracy by 30%.
- Improved inpatient pain outcomes by implementing the Get Well Network Pain Pathway, increasing pain improvement scores from 63.2% to 83.8% within one year.
- Led Oncology Outpatient Urgent Care redesign, reducing Emergency Department utilization and increasing financial performance by 23%.
- Provided executive coaching and mentorship to emerging healthcare leaders.
Affiliations
- American Organization of Nurse Executives
- American Nurses Association / ANA-Illinois
Certification
- Registered Nurse (RN), Illinois
- Certified Nurse Manager & Leader (CNML)
Interests
Timeline
President & Executive Director
Almost Home Kids – Lurie Children’s Hospital
12.2024 - Current
Chief Operating Officer
Almost Home Kids (Affiliate of Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital)
04.2023 - 12.2024
Director of Patient Care Services
Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago
08.2017 - 04.2023
Interim Director of Patient Care Services
Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago
01.2017 - 08.2017
Director of Patient Care Services
Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago
02.2010 - 08.2017
Director, Patient Care Services
Children’s Hospital Los Angeles
01.2009 - 01.2010
Manager, Operations
Children’s Hospital Los Angeles
01.2003 - 01.2009
Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) - Nursing Administration
University of California, Los Angeles
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) - undefined
Concordia University
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) - Systems Leadership
Boise State University
PUBLICATIONS
- Reducing Length of Stay in the ED. NEJM Catalyst, 2018
- Leveraging Interactive Patient Care Technology to Improve Pain Management Engagement. Pain Management Nursing, 2017
- Selected national and international presentations on pediatric pain management, oncology care, patient engagement, and safety, including conferences hosted by Get Well Network and Children’s Cancer Hospital 57357 (Cairo, Egypt).