Pamela Elser
Santee,CA
Summary
Accomplished neuroscience nurse leader with progressive industry background and decisive leadership style. Offers strategic planning abilities, background in change management and forward-thinking mindset. Ready for challenges and focused on meeting future demands.
Overview
36
36
years of professional experience
Work History
Vice President Orthopedics and Neurosciences
Sharp HealthCare
09.2022 - Current
- Sharp Health Care is a not for profit health system located in San Diego CA. The health system has 4 acute care hospitals and 2 specialty hospitals with neuroscience hospital opening Oct 2024
- Direct supervision of 17 employees including 2 service line directors, data analyst, orthopedic and stroke program managers, APPs and orthopedic and spine educator.
- Led cross-functional teams for the successful launch of new programs and major initiatives to include comprehensive movement disorder program, comprehensive spine program, standardization for stroke system of care and neuroscience hospital implementation and operational planning
- Developed new revenue streams by identifying growth opportunities within neurosciences including neurosurgery and neurology recruitment resulting in 5% net revenue growth.
- Directed marketing strategies to increase brand awareness, and grow market share within highly competitive neuroscience industry.
- Implemented advanced data analytics tools (financial data, market data and national trends) to drive strategic direction.
- Achieved significant cost savings through supply chain optimization efforts such as strategic sourcing initiatives and logistics improvements resulting in $354,000 in spine implant savings, $150,000 in neuro interventional catheter and coils savings, $250,000 in neurosurgery cranial plates and screws and $650,000 in primary hip and knee implants.
- Collaborated with stakeholders to develop 5 year strategic plan for orthopedics and neurosciences.
- Enhanced company profitability by optimizing operational processes resulting in decrease mortality and decrease LOS for neuroscience and orthopedic patient populations. Initiatives included documentation and coding improvement process to capture true DRG MCC and CC and establishing efficient process to help decrease unnecessary hospitalization days. This resulted in decreasing O/E ratios for neuroscience and orthopedics LOS and mortality to
Market Vice President Neurosciences
CHI Health - Midwest Division
09.2020 - 06.2022
- 14 hospital system throughout Nebraska and Western Iowa
- Includes 1 tertiary, level 1 trauma center, 6 primary stroke centers, 1 thrombectomy stroke center, 1 acute stroke ready hospital, 6 critical access hospitals
- 17 direct staff oversight to include neurodiagnostic staff, system stroke coordinators and system neuroscience director
- Partnered with physician enterprise to identify clinic opportunities to improve efficiencies and access for employed neurology practice
- Developed and led optimization plan for neurology clinic to increase physician productivity and efficiencies
- Developed a long-range strategic plan which included physician and staff recruitment, capital equipment needs, and new program development geared towards value-based care models
- Collaborated with physician enterprise to successfully align service line initiatives (Neurosurgery and Neurology) with clinic services
- Developed system level service line scorecard to include baseline and goals to optimize service line performance
- Successfully led teams through operationalizing new neuro biplane suite
- In collaboration with key stakeholders, developed process flow for teleneurology service to capture missed revenue opportunities
- Implemented teleneurology for Lincoln area hospital
- Collaborated with Chair of Neurosurgery to develop a plan for neurosurgery residency program within 5 years
- Increase neurosurgery presence in the Omaha market with 4 FT neurosurgery recruitment in CY21-22
- Increase system neuroscience net revenues 7% (FY21 - FY22) despite COVID-19 pandemic challenges
Senior Regional Director of Neurosciences and Spine
University of Colorado Health System- Southern CO
08.2016 - 08.2020
- UCHealth system with 13 hospitals and 3 affiliates
- Southern Colorado region with four hospitals and mobile stroke treatment unit
- Achieved contribution margin growth of 16% since 2016 through volume growth of 6% and decrease in direct costs
- Directed net revenue of $58 million with an operating budget of $7.5 million
- Initiated funding for a variety of capital projects ranging from $165,000 to $2.1 million
- Developed a strategic priority vision and value-based strategy for neuroscience and spine services in collaboration with physician dyad partners
Regional Director Neuroscience and Spine Services
Centura Health - South State Operating Group
02.2013 - 07.2016
- 17 hospital system with 13 affiliate hospitals
- Promoted within Centura Health from director of neurosciences at (Parker Adventist Hospital) to regional director for neuroscience and spine services for the South Operating Group
- Developed system wide neuroscience strategic plan
- Collaborated with neuro hospitalists group to provide a teleneurology inpatient program to support Primary Stroke and neurology needs resulting in a 30% decreased length of stay
- Developed the infrastructure needed to advance stroke care from primary stroke to stroke thrombectomy capable hospital
- Recognized missed revenue opportunities with provider documentation resulting in an increase revenue of $800,000 per year
- Achieved the Gold Plus award for the tertiary center and the Gold Plus award at regional stroke center through the American Heart Association
- Successfully achieved re-certification for regional Primary Stroke centers
- Developed strategic plan for interdisciplinary approach for elective spine services
Manager / Director Neuroscience Spine and Sleep Medicine Services
Centura Health - Parker Adventist Hospital
04.2010 - 02.2013
- Developed and implemented the stroke program and led the team to achieve Primary Stroke Certification in one year (Increased stroke volume from 25/ year walk ins to 125/year with EMS involvement)
- Revised stroke education book for system wide distribution leading to a 50% cost savings throughout the system
- Achieved Bronze, Silver and Gold awards of quality stroke care through the American Stroke Association
- Successfully achieved Surgical Spine Certification through the Joint Commission, achieved Blue Cross Blue Shield Centers of Distinction and United Centers of Excellence for surgical spine care
ICU Educator and Stroke Coordinator
Boulder Community Hospital - Boulder CO
04.2007 - 03.2010
- Developed and implemented critical care core competencies for neurosciences and cardiac critical care nurses
- Developed a process improvement program to improve stroke core measure compliance
- Created neuro preceptor training
- Tracked education compliance and provided monthly nursing education for a variety of critical care topics
Neuroscience Clinical Coordinator
HCA The Medical Center of Aurora
01.2006 - 04.2007
- Assisted with clinic follow ups and inpatient rounding for clinic patients
- Refined stroke program processes to help streamline care and position hospital for Primary stroke certification
- Developed neuroscience core curriculum for nursing staff (acute med surg, ED and critical care)
Neuro Clinical Resource Nurse
Boulder Community Hospital- Boulder CO
06.1999 - 01.2006
- Promoted from staff nurse to neuro clinical resource nurse Developed stroke protocols (2nd in the state - 2000)
- Assisted with implementation of a 6 bed neuro ICU
- Initiated community outreach program for brain injury and stroke prevention and awareness
- Developed stroke coordinator role
Intensive Care Nurse
Intensive Care Nurse Boulder Community Hospital, Boulder CO
01.1998 - 06.1999
Neuro Intensive Care Nurse
Neuro Intensive Care Nurse St. Anthony Hospital, Denver CO
10.1998 - 04.1999
Neuro Intensive Care Nurse
Neuro Intensive Care Nurse - UCLA Los Angeles, CA
01.1993 - 10.1998
Charge RN, Home care and Hospice
Charge RN, Home care and Hospice Little Company of Mary - Los Angeles CA
11.1988 - 03.1993
Medical Surgical Nurse
Medical Surgical Nurse Cedar Sinai Medical Center
01.1988 - 11.1988
Education
Executive Leadership Program -
"Nebula" Centura Health
Masters of Business Administration -
University of Phoenix
02.2012
Bachelor of Science | Nursing -
Eastern Kentucky University
12.1987
Skills
- Developing and leading high-performance teams
- Business growth and marketing strategies
- Proposals and presentations
- Market trends and analysis
- Performance monitoring and evaluation
- Public speaking
- Operational improvements for enhanced efficiencies
- Trend Identification and Forecasting
- Performance data analysis
- Rules and regulations
- Budget oversight
- Project and vendor oversight
- Training and mentoring
- Metrics Tracking
Affiliations
- American Association of Neuroscience Nurses (1998 - Present)
- American Congress of Healthcare Executives (2014 - Present)
Certificates And Licensure
- Certified Neuroscience Registered Nurse
- California RN #424472
Honors And Awards
- Outstanding Graduate Student of the Year (2012) University of Phoenix
- Nightingale Nominee (2007) Colorado Nurses Foundation
- The Caring Heart Nominee (2007) The Medical Center of Aurora
- Nightingale Luminary Award (2003) Colorado Nurses Foundation
Publications
- Poster Presentation, Trauma: Implementation of a Collaborative Stroke and Trauma Alert Process, Schroeder, N., Hildebrand, R., Stringer, D., Brockman, V., Finch, H., Flayter, R., Krueger, K.l, Russell, S., Elser, P., Haidar, S., MacIndoe, C., Miller, J., Schroeppel, T., September 2020 ENA conference (conference cancelled due to COVID)
- Journal Article, The impact of a Statewide Stroke Quality Improvement Program: Colorado Stroke Alliance and Colorado Stroke Registry, Murphy, P., Smith, D.B., Vislosky, M., Tripputi, M., Cumbler, E., Blakie, J., Wilde, M., Jones, W., Zachrich, C., Elser, P., Leonard, K., Journal of Neuroscience Nursing, 43, 5, 246-252, Oct 2011
- Podium Presenter, Development of Evidenced Based Protocols for Acute Ischemic Stroke that Minimizes Unnecessary Radiation Exposure, Shah, R., Bryant, S., Elser, P., Price, D., Wood, C., Nov 2010 3rd Annual Centura Health Evidence-Based Practice, Research and Innovation Conference
- Lead Writer, Stroke Program Implementation Guide: A Collection of State Examples - Chapter 5 State Stroke Plans, Nettro-Elser, P., Stoeckle-Roberts, S., Smith, J., Pryor, B., Tsai, A., Allen, S., Latimer, G., Masters, D., Pheatt, N., National Stroke Association,
- 2005 Co-Chair, Stroke in Colorado: A report to the Colorado Legislature from the Colorado stroke Advisory Board, Barnett, P., Boyd, J., Calonge, N., Francis, M., Frei, D., Leary, E., Lindauer, J., Mulligan, D., Munch, D., Myers, B., Nettro-Elser, P., Nichols, J., Paradis, N., Pellini, D., Smith, DB., Wham, D., Wittenberg, W., Schuster, C., Nov 2003
Volunteer Experience
- Brain Injury Association of Colorado - Board of Directors 2019 - 2020
- UCHealth Foundation - Women Investing in Strategies for Health - Steering Committee Member 2017 - 2020
- Colorado Stroke Alliance - Chair Position 2009 - 2011
- Colorado Stroke Advisory Board - Co-Chair Position 02/2003 - 11/2003 Denver, CO
- American Heart Association - Board of Directors Boulder Board Member 2000 - 2002
Timeline
Vice President Orthopedics and Neurosciences
Sharp HealthCare
09.2022 - Current
Market Vice President Neurosciences
CHI Health - Midwest Division
09.2020 - 06.2022
Senior Regional Director of Neurosciences and Spine
University of Colorado Health System- Southern CO
08.2016 - 08.2020
Regional Director Neuroscience and Spine Services
Centura Health - South State Operating Group
02.2013 - 07.2016
Manager / Director Neuroscience Spine and Sleep Medicine Services
Centura Health - Parker Adventist Hospital
04.2010 - 02.2013
ICU Educator and Stroke Coordinator
Boulder Community Hospital - Boulder CO
04.2007 - 03.2010
Neuroscience Clinical Coordinator
HCA The Medical Center of Aurora
01.2006 - 04.2007
Neuro Clinical Resource Nurse
Boulder Community Hospital- Boulder CO
06.1999 - 01.2006
Neuro Intensive Care Nurse
Neuro Intensive Care Nurse St. Anthony Hospital, Denver CO
10.1998 - 04.1999
Intensive Care Nurse
Intensive Care Nurse Boulder Community Hospital, Boulder CO
01.1998 - 06.1999
Neuro Intensive Care Nurse
Neuro Intensive Care Nurse - UCLA Los Angeles, CA
01.1993 - 10.1998
Charge RN, Home care and Hospice
Charge RN, Home care and Hospice Little Company of Mary - Los Angeles CA
11.1988 - 03.1993
Medical Surgical Nurse
Medical Surgical Nurse Cedar Sinai Medical Center
01.1988 - 11.1988
Executive Leadership Program -
"Nebula" Centura Health
Masters of Business Administration -
University of Phoenix
Bachelor of Science | Nursing -
Eastern Kentucky University
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