Deborah Cort
Clermont,Florida
Summary
Persistent leader eager to lead and grow organizations. Skilled in strategic planning, problem-solving, and communication with good understanding of business principles, project management and team leadership. Collaborative with relentless work ethic.
Overview
36
36
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Chief Operating Officer
Veterinary Healthcare Associates
01.2024 - Current
- COO for a Veterinary Hospital that includes an emergency department, ICU, internal medicine, oncology, rehabilitation, and general practice
- Responsible for clinical operations, human resources, education, and marketing
- Streamlined hospital operations, reducing client wait times by 20% and improving overall service delivery
- Facilitated cross-functional team collaboration, increasing efficiency in care delivery
- Directed cost-saving initiatives, reducing waste by 10% and saving $80 thousand annually without compromising care quality
- Enhanced client engagement by 18% through increased communication strategies including rounding in exam rooms and waiting rooms
- Right-sized clinical staff due to decrease in clinic volume
- Implemented leadership training and clinical education program.
DIRECTOR/ACCOUNT LEADER/COACH
Huron Consulting Group- The Studer Group
01.2017 - 12.2020
- Consultant and Coach working with healthcare organizations in the United States and Canada to help them achieve and sustain exceptional improvement in clinical outcomes, patient experience, and financial results
- Partners with organizations to build a sustainable culture that promotes accountability fosters innovation, and consistently delivers a great patient experience and the best quality outcomes over time
- Partner with healthcare organizations to become a trusted advisor to create an aligned culture that is accountable for achieving outcomes
- Executive coaching and Physician coaching in FQHCs
- Strategic Planning
- Working side-by-side with senior executives and hospital leadership to establish, accelerate, and hardwire the necessary changes through a systematic coaching approach
- Coached four healthcare organizations to CMS 5-star rating in one year
- Increased HCAHPS scores from the 1st percentile to the 85th percentile in 18 months at a partner hospital in TX
- Account Leader and Coach for a variety of Health Care Systems, from large system hospitals to rural hospitals
- Experienced with Inpatient, Rehabilitation Service (inpatient and outpatient) Emergency Department, Outpatient, Perioperative Services, Case Management, Pharmacy, and Physician Practice Coaching
- Deliver multiple presentations to large and small groups – Motivational Messages, Leadership Education, High-Reliability Organizations, Customer Service, Quality and Safety, DEI
- Provides one-on-one executive coaching.
MANAGER ORTHOPEDICS, NEUROLOGY, STROKE CENTER
Winter Haven Hospital
01.2013 - 12.2016
- Managed 98 FTEs and 64 beds
- Improved HCAHPS scores in Ortho from the 20th percentile to the 98th percentile in 12 months
- Improved HCAHPS scores in Neuro from the 1st percentile to the 85th percentile in 24 months
- Responsible for all stroke and orthopedic education to maintain compliance, safety, and advanced skills
- Transformed culture in the Neuro unit by leader rounding and daily huddles
- Decreased cost by 35% by hiring and retaining new staff
- Responsible for the development of a new 24-bed orthopedic unit with concierge services.
CHIEF NURSING OFFICER
South Lake Hospital
10.2004 - 08.2012
- Coached and mentored 10 directors, 15 managers, 8 supervisors (nursing and ancillary), and over 500 FTEs
- Decreased agency and traveler usage by 95% in 18 months through behavioral/peer-based interviews and focusing on employee engagement
- Implemented a new EMR Hospital Wide
- Implemented Shared Governance
- Developed and operationalized a new nursing organizational structure
- Developed and implemented Nursing Clinical Ladder
- Successfully managed 40% inpatient growth, opened several new nursing units, expanded Emergency Department and new cath labs
- Decreased ALOS by 2.7 days through case management and physician collaboration
- Restructured the Emergency Department by reducing hold time by 75% and streamlined triage process and remodeled by adding 20 beds
- Doubled cath lab capacity by adding addition cath lab and beds
- Redesigned marketing strategy to increase census in the Women’s Center
- Reduced re-admission rate by 30% in 1 year through physician collaboration.
DIRECTOR OF NURSING FOR THE ORTHOPEDIC INSTITUTE AND REHABILITATION SERVICES
Florida Hospital
08.2003 - 10.2004
- Responsible for three nursing units in two different hospital campuses and the development of a fourth nursing Unit
- Changed the model of care on all nursing units from primary care to a team-based model
- Implemented team building and communication classes
- Co-facilitator for the Orthopedic Clinical Best Practice Program.
BRAIN ATTACK CENTER MANAGER/OPERATIONS MANAGER-NEUROSCIENCE INSTITUTE
Florida Hospital
09.2000 - 08.2003
- Developed, implemented, and managed the Brain Attack Program system-wide, which includes seven hospital campuses
- Developed the first Comprehensive stroke center in Central Florida
- Developed and provided stroke education for the Central Florida community, hospital staff, and EMS
- Established Brain Attack protocols for the EMS in Orange, Seminole, Osceola and Lake counties in Florida
- Developed community education programs and organized stroke screenings for three counties
- Served in key leadership role instituting research trials and grant writing for Brain Attack
- Developed a seizure-monitoring program for the neuro-nursing unit.
Manager-Inpatient Rehabilitation
Tampa General Hospital Rehabilitation Institute
01.1997 - 01.2000
- Manager-Inpatient Rehabilitation for Stroke, Brain Injury, Spinal Cord Injury, General Rehabilitation Services.
Administrative Director-Orthopedics, Neurology, and Rehabilitation
Northwest Community Hospital
01.1993 - 01.1997
- Administrative Director for Orthopedics, Neurology, and Rehabilitation
- Inpatient Nursing units, Inpatient and Outpatient therapy, Wellness Center, Subacute Center
- Developed Outpatient Pediatric Rehabilitation program.
Assistant Clinical Director-Brain Injury Program
Shirley Ryan Ability Lab (formerly The Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago)
01.1989 - 01.1993
- Assistant Clinical Director for Brain Injury Program.
Education
Master of Science in Nursing Administration -
LOYOLA UNIVERSITY
Chicago, IL12.1994
Bachelor of Science in Nursing - undefined
INDIANA UNIVERSITY
Indianapolis, IN12.1988
Skills
- Clinical Operations and working with diverse teams
- Certified Executive Coach
- Demonstrates strong critical thinking and strategic planning skills
- Excels in leadership skills, performing, and educating others
- Certified Diversity Professional and works with teams on DEI
- Excels in Customer Service and Service Recovery
- Excellent communication skills Able to break down complex messages for all team members
- Dynamic presenter who connects with audience and receives high ratings from participants
- Experienced team builder and champion for change
- Passionate about coaching and mentoring others for personal optimization and organizational success
- Strategic Planning
- Process Improvement
- Cross-Functional Teamwork
- Executive Leadership
- Organizational Development
- Recruitment and retention
- Operations administration
Certification
- Certified Trainer for Interaction Management and Team Building from Developmental Dimensions International.
- Certified Nurse Executive-Board Certified – December 2014.
- Certified Diversity Professional - January 2021
- Certified Executive Coach - July 2023
Community Service
- American Heart Association, Orange County, Florida- Board Member 2001-2003
- American Cancer Society Board Member- Lake County, Florida 2009-2012 and co-chair of the Cattle Barron’s Ball 2011. Fund Raising and event coordination
- Leadership Lake County 2011
- International Business Academy Board Member, East Ridge High School 2012-2014
- Volunteer Humane Society of Central Florida- July 2019
- AARP Volunteer Lake County Florida- Current
Hobbies and Interests
- Gourmet Cooking
- Swimming
- Reading
- Published author of Letters to My Sister, August 2012, True Perspective Publishing House
- Spending quality time with my family
- Rehabbing Furniture
Timeline
Chief Operating Officer
Veterinary Healthcare Associates
01.2024 - Current
DIRECTOR/ACCOUNT LEADER/COACH
Huron Consulting Group- The Studer Group
01.2017 - 12.2020
MANAGER ORTHOPEDICS, NEUROLOGY, STROKE CENTER
Winter Haven Hospital
01.2013 - 12.2016
CHIEF NURSING OFFICER
South Lake Hospital
10.2004 - 08.2012
DIRECTOR OF NURSING FOR THE ORTHOPEDIC INSTITUTE AND REHABILITATION SERVICES
Florida Hospital
08.2003 - 10.2004
BRAIN ATTACK CENTER MANAGER/OPERATIONS MANAGER-NEUROSCIENCE INSTITUTE
Florida Hospital
09.2000 - 08.2003
Manager-Inpatient Rehabilitation
Tampa General Hospital Rehabilitation Institute
01.1997 - 01.2000
Administrative Director-Orthopedics, Neurology, and Rehabilitation
Northwest Community Hospital
01.1993 - 01.1997
Assistant Clinical Director-Brain Injury Program
Shirley Ryan Ability Lab (formerly The Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago)
01.1989 - 01.1993
Master of Science in Nursing Administration -
LOYOLA UNIVERSITY
Bachelor of Science in Nursing - undefined
INDIANA UNIVERSITY
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