Whitney Anthony
Gainesville,GA
Summary
Innovative, curious, and action-oriented leadership coach with over 10 years of experience in coaching leaders within the healthcare industry. Proven track record of guiding NGHS leaders towards organizational success through continuous improvement and adherence to NGHS's Core Values and Competencies. Recognized for strategic insights and the ability to transform complex challenges into opportunities, unlocking leadership potential and driving impactful outcomes. Highly skilled communicator, adept at collaborating with leaders at all levels to foster growth.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Senior Lean Coach
Northeast Georgia Health System
08.2022 - Current
- Developed and implemented Lean Leadership Coaching Program; coached over 40 leaders across health system; client rating for value of coaching consistently 8/10.
- Collaborated with Organizational Development partner to include A3 Problem Solving as a part of the Leadership Academy; developed 9 different problem solving simulations for Capstone Projects; coached 15 Capstone project teams on A3 process and final presentation to senior leadership.
- Implementation of FY25 Quest Rewire for NGPG and Rev Cycle, including 1:1 coaching for 26 leaders and training for 169 leaders on new huddle standards and leader standard work.
- Designed and implemented a Senior Leader Rounding Program with intent of creating accountability around NGHS's Quest Management System, role modeling rounding behaviors, and engaging staff through presence and visibility. Leaders were coached on using active listening and humble inquiry when rounding. During the course of the program, senior leaders completed 81 rounds across the organization.
Interim Director, Operational Excellence
Northeast Georgia Health System
08.2021 - 08.2022
- Lead Operational Excellence for 10,000 employees and medical staff across over 100 locations, facilitating system-wide strategy deployment, leadership development, cross-functional improvement and daily management system operation.
- Responsible for development of lean thinking in support of achieving strategic outcomes, development of internal Operational Excellence team, and for coaching operational leaders to develop systems and behaviors to support continuous improvement.
- Built consensus around roll-out of a more robust metrics cascade process, with focus on ensuring alignment of strategic initiatives across system, eliminating non-value added meetings, and developing problem solving skills in leaders.
- Partnered with operational leaders to implement the Pandemic Partners Staffing Office, which redeployed non-clinical employees in clinical areas needing support during COVID surge.
Senior Quest Coach/Senior Lean Facilitator
Northeast Georgia Health System
01.2017 - 08.2021
- Manages the design, development, delivery, and evaluation of improvement work and Lean education across the system.
- Responsibilities include overseeing improvement initiatives, facilitating interdisciplinary operational teams, delivering management system coaching, education, people development, and functioning as a champion for the NGHS Quest for Excellence.
- Facilitated numerous cross-functional value stream mapping events and rapid improvement workshops (Human Resources, Perioperative Services, Stroke, Heart and Vascular, Breast Center of Excellence).
- Facilitated Value Stream Mapping for Breast Cancer Care with providers and staff from NGHS and Longstreet Clinic, resulting in the identification and prioritization of 40+ opportunities to improve patient experience, staff and provider engagement, and improve quality.
- Facilitated the design and implementation of a standard work process for Talent Acquisition team, including a process for contacting all applicants within 72 hours of applying, and RNs within 24 hours of applying.
- Built consensus with HR leadership to design process for obtaining and monitoring key performance metrics.
- Presented improvement work at 2 national conferences in 2019 (Simpler Lean Practitioners Conference and IBM-Watson Health Advantage Conference); voted top presentation.
Quest Coach/Lean Facilitator
Northeast Georgia Health System
10.2015 - 01.2017
- Provide coaching, education, improvement activity facilitation, and function as champion for Lean; act as a positive change agent and role model in support of organizational initiatives.
- Coach operational leaders on implementation of Lean methods and tools, including Leader Standard Work, A3 Thinking, development of standard work with confirmation, and use of visual management.
- Integrated Quest training materials with Patient Safety/HRO content.
- Developed and delivered training material on 20+ topics related to Lean methods and tools.
- Educated and coached 100+ leaders and/or staff on A3 Problem Solving, creating Leader Standard Work, developing and using Metrics, Huddle Facilitation, and Coaching skills.
- Led implementation of Daily Management System in 12 nursing units.
Speech-Language Pathologist
Northeast Georgia Health System
02.2008 - 10.2015
- Evaluation and treatment for adult/geriatric patients with speech and swallowing disorders, provide patient and family education, perform and interpret video fluoroscopic diagnostic swallowing assessments.
- Assumed leadership role for Speech Therapy team (14 speech therapists in settings across the system); tasks included training and coaching of new hires; development, coaching and monitoring of annual staff skills; managing weekend coverage at all campuses; coordinating educational opportunities.
- Led interdepartmental team in development of procedures to prevent patient harm events related to oral intake; resulted in decrease in patient diet-related variances.
- Implemented Fiberoptic Endoscopy Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES) program at NGHS; for instrumental swallowing assessment of patients using fiberoptic endoscopy. Developed facility-specific guidelines for use of device, organized training course for staff certification. Resulted in improved assessment of patient swallowing ability, which reduced throughput delays to next level of care.
Education
Master of Education - Communication Sciences And Disorders
University of Georgia
Athens, Ga12.2007
Bachelor of Science - Communication Sciences & Disorders
University of Georgia
Athens, Ga05.2005
Skills
- A3 problem solving
- Continuous improvement
- Cross-functional collaboration
- Leadership development coaching
- Facilitation
- Change management
- Persuasive communication
- Authenticity
- Data-driven performance assessment
- Lean methodology coaching
- Strategic problem-solving skills
- Data analysis
Certification
- Personal A3 Development & Coaching, 10/01/21, Catalysis
- Business Process Design for Strategic Management, 11/01/20, MIT Sloan School of Management
- Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, 08/01/19, American Society for Quality
- Rapid Improvement Event Facilitation Certification, 02/01/19, Joan Wellman & Associates
- Certified Emotional Intelligence Coach, 10/01/18, Simpler Consulting on behalf of MHS Talent, Inc.
- Daily Management Systems Implementation Certification, 10/01/16, Joan Wellman & Associates
- Board Certified Specialist in Swallowing Disorders, 10/01/15, American Board of Swallowing Disorders
Accomplishments
- Senior Leader Rounding: # of leaders coached; coaching satisfaction scores
- Built coaching book of business independently, including structure, coaching agreements, measures of success
- Experience in coaching at all levels of leadership
Timeline
Senior Lean Coach
Northeast Georgia Health System
08.2022 - Current
Interim Director, Operational Excellence
Northeast Georgia Health System
08.2021 - 08.2022
Senior Quest Coach/Senior Lean Facilitator
Northeast Georgia Health System
01.2017 - 08.2021
Quest Coach/Lean Facilitator
Northeast Georgia Health System
10.2015 - 01.2017
Speech-Language Pathologist
Northeast Georgia Health System
02.2008 - 10.2015
Bachelor of Science - Communication Sciences & Disorders
University of Georgia
Master of Education - Communication Sciences And Disorders
University of Georgia
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