Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Certification
Community Service
Hobbies and Interests
Timeline
Generic

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, IL
12.1994

Bachelor of Science in Nursing - undefined

INDIANA UNIVERSITY
Indianapolis, IN
12.1988

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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Deborah Cort