Sara Sanderman, DSW
Highland Park,Illinois
Summary
Highly motivated healthcare operations leader with a strong interest in Health Equity and Social Justice. Maintains a broad background in counseling, care management, business development, and project management. Skilled social worker, looking for opportunities to improve and enhance healthcare operations using a critical lens focusing on equity, inclusion, and justice.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
Work History
Manager, Value Based Care
Endeavor Health, formerly NorthShore University HealthSystem
Evanston, Illinois
06.2017 - Current
- Responsible for clinical and operational leadership for care management department. Manages care management staff with the purpose of monitoring departmental performance, facilitating growth, and development of leadership skills. Provides direct oversight of care management operational responsibilities for a large, urban Magnet hospital. Accountable for following standards of clinical care management practice, operationally leading and overseeing the implementation of programs for the provision of high quality, resource-appropriate services and continuously improving quality and value of service provided. Responsible to achieve care management clinical outcomes and utilization management resource stewardship outcomes consistent with identified benchmarks.
- Additional oversight assumed of assigned ambulatory and post-acute service delivery sites.
- Recognized as a collaborative leader with physicians and other clinical leaders in acute inpatient, ambulatory and post-acute community settings.
- Responsible for and achieves outstanding clinical and care transition quality and outcomes, excellent utilization and resource management outcomes and performance excellence.
Director of Research and Strategic Alliances
Silverado Senior Living
Irvine, California
07.2015 - 06.2017
- Promoted to convey Silverado’s mission of changing the way services are delivered to those with memory-impairing diseases. Promoted the company’s services to decision-makers and key stakeholders of regional healthcare centers and nontraditional entities (insurance companies, commercial payers, and ancillary service providers) in the Utah and Illinois territory. Developed strategic account plans for all product lines (hospice, home care, and assisted living), including performance objectives, financial forecasts, and census targets.
- Planned and implemented clinical trials and other research-based projects in Silverado communities throughout the Midwest, including analysis of capabilities, appropriateness of the communities, IRB approval, participant recruitment, data analysis, and protocol compliance. Served as a liaison to principal investigators.
- Developed innovative programs and solutions to improve the delivery of Silverado’s hospice, home care, and assisted living services.
- Educated healthcare practitioners better understand dementia and how to reduce readmissions.
Executive Director
Silverado Senior Living
Highland Park, Illinois
04.2012 - 07.2015
- Operational lead of a new community from the ground up and oversaw all administrative operations of this 88-bed assisted living facility.
- Developed and managed budgets supporting $2.0 in annual revenue.
- Recruited, screened, and hired five managers overseeing more than 100 staff members. Developed and presented new-hire orientation programs and ongoing training in dementias, industry best practices, and regulatory changes.
- Prepared for and managed state license acquisition and compliance. Called on hospital executives to promote the community’s services.
- Participated in readmission planning and educated emergency department personnel in the management of dementia patients. Tracked clinical outcomes to help hospitals improve their readmission percentages.
Social Worker
CJE SeniorLife, Friend Center
Chicago, Illinois
08.2009 - 04.2012
- Managed the Friend Center of this high-end, 35-bed assisted living facility, providing long-term dementia care from support through hospice and end of life. Provided evidence-based social services to Alzheimer’s and dementia patients and their families.
- Conducted initial and ongoing assessments of each resident’s cognitive, physical, and functional status.
- Determined appropriateness for assisted living and/or adult day services.
- Served as the primary leader of a team of medical doctors, psychiatrists, nurses, and therapists charged with developing and executing individualized treatment plans.
Social Worker
Loyola Medical Center
Maywood, Illinois
06.2006 - 06.2010
- Provided direct, acute social work services for patients ranging in age from infancy through adulthood in the emergency department of an academic medical center nationally recognized for providing exceptional clinical care, pursuing important research, and advancing medicine in a culture that values the whole person.
- Worked collaboratively with a multidisciplinary team to provide excellence in patient care. Provided individual counseling to modify behavior, improve life skills, and resolve conflicting opinions/values.
- Collaborated with other agencies, healthcare professionals, police, health department, and schools to gather information and to make appropriate referrals.
- Acquired knowledge of the legal requirements for vulnerable patients and involuntary treatment for psychiatric patients and those with chemical dependencies.
- Developed an extensive list of community resources available for education and social/health services.
Social Worker, Subacute Rehabilitation
CJE SeniorLife, Lieberman Centre for Health and Rehabilitation
Chicago, Illinois
06.2006 - 08.2009
- Delivered ongoing case management for 200+ long-term care residents and for clients undergoing short-term, subacute rehabilitation.
- Led care plan meetings with residents, family, and staff; collaborated with psychiatrists in the management of mental health concerns. Assessed each resident’s cognitive status, decision-making capabilities, and psychosocial needs.
- Coordinated discharge planning and linked families to valuable community resources.
Education
Doctorate - Social Work
Simmons University
Boston, Massachusetts05-2026
Master of Social Work - undefined
Loyola School of Social Work
Chicago, Illinois06-2001
Bachelor of Arts - Political Science, Minor in Sociology
University of Illinois
Chicago, Illinois06-1999
Skills
- Team leadership
- Time management
- Decision-making
- Verbal and written communication
- Complex Problem-solving
- Staff training and development
- Goal setting
- Documentation and reporting
- Relationship building
- Operations management
- Project management
- Strategic planning
- Performance management
- Staff development
- Key performance indicators
- Emergency response
- Clear communication
- Coaching and mentoring
- Policy and procedure development
- Partnership development
- Resource allocation
- Effective communication
Affiliations
Member: NASW, Illinois Chapter
Member: CSWE
Timeline
Manager, Value Based Care
Endeavor Health, formerly NorthShore University HealthSystem
06.2017 - Current
Director of Research and Strategic Alliances
Silverado Senior Living
07.2015 - 06.2017
Executive Director
Silverado Senior Living
04.2012 - 07.2015
Social Worker
CJE SeniorLife, Friend Center
08.2009 - 04.2012
Social Worker
Loyola Medical Center
06.2006 - 06.2010
Social Worker, Subacute Rehabilitation
CJE SeniorLife, Lieberman Centre for Health and Rehabilitation
06.2006 - 08.2009
Master of Social Work - undefined
Loyola School of Social Work
Bachelor of Arts - Political Science, Minor in Sociology
University of Illinois
Doctorate - Social Work
Simmons University
Publications
- PRESENTATIONS: Shifley, D., Sanderman, S., Kelly, J., Boyle, C.: Care Navigation for COVID-19 Patients Promotes Successful Transition from Hospital to Home. IHI Forum. 2021 Dec 5-8.
- Quinn, J.J., Demorest, S., Sanderman, S., Gustafson, N., Morhardt, D.: Songs By Heart: A Music Intervention for Persons with Dementia. Northwestern Medicine Alzheimer’s Day, 2017 May 11.