Zahira Delacruz
Orlando,FL
Summary
Clinically grounded, strategy-minded healthcare professional with over 16 years of experience leading teams, optimizing operations, and improving outcomes across critical care, procedural services, and digital health care systems. Specializing in bridging the gap between clinical insight and operational strategy.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Clinical Solutions Delivery Consultant
Philips Healthcare
Orlando, FL
07.2024 - Current
- Served as strategic partner to healthcare systems, leading clinical performance improvement initiatives and digital health solutions.
- Applied consultative approach to drive outcomes aligned with clinical innovation and operational goals.
- Led implementation and optimization of Philips' clinical software for major healthcare clients, ensuring successful go-live processes.
- Collaborated with hospital executives, clinical leaders, and technical teams to identify workflow optimization opportunities.
- Provided consultative support using clinical expertise to translate complex system requirements into actionable solutions.
- Delivered data-driven insights to enhance decision-making and align with strategic priorities.
- Applied Lean Six Sigma methodologies to assess current operations, identify gaps, and implement improvements.
- Supported opening of Orlando Health Lake Mary Hospital, ensuring full implementation of upgraded Philips software.
APACHE Outcomes Manager
AdventHealth Corporate
11.2022 - 06.2024
- Collaborated with program directors and analysts to develop replacement outcomes tracking software.
- Oversaw daily operations of abstractor team, ensuring efficient workflow.
- Provided clinical insights and support to analytics team for data-driven decisions.
- Facilitated clear communication between corporate and clinical stakeholders.
- Managed go-live events company-wide, ensuring seamless transitions.
- Delivered clinical data insights to enhance collaboration with clinical sites.
- Coordinated stakeholder meetings to align on organizational objectives.
- Evaluated operational processes, identifying areas for optimization and compliance.
APACHE Outcomes Coordinator
AdventHealth Corporate
08.2022 - 11.2022
- Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) Coordinator.
- Ensured data integrity by auditing and maintaining oversight, carefully reviewing and collecting data from adult critical care patients, assuring their accuracy, and making changes accordingly.
- Preceptor: responsible for the orientation and active training of new team members. Developed interview assessment tools and onboarding process guides for the team.
- Critical care knowledge: comprehensive knowledge of active treatments and modalities currently utilized in a critical care setting across AdventHealth Systems.
Sr. Nurse Manager- Central Monitoring Unit & Vascular Access Services
AdventHealth Orlando
Orlando, FL
01.2022 - 08.2022
- Provide oversight of daily operations and education of the Central Monitoring Unit and Vascular Access Services team members, including nurses and monitor techs.
- Oversaw the daily operations for the telemetry monitoring systems on the Orlando campus, and coordinated patient monitoring systems upgrades at the Orlando campus.
- Operationalize plans to achieve clinical and efficiency goals for the Vascular Access Services, such as patient discharge, central line placements, turnover, and assisting with throughput processes for the campus, budget savings, and AHCA risk mitigation for both the Central Monitoring Unit and Vascular Access Services departments.
- Deliver progressive disciplinary action when required.
- Complete employee evaluations on direct reports.
- Assist in onboarding team members.
- Strategize and partner with multidisciplinary teams to promote patient care and efficiency.
- Assist in the review and maintenance of the allocated departmental budget.
- Track labor variances to proactively eliminate inefficiency.
- Provide mentorship to new and existing leaders.
- Achievements: Successfully increased Glint Survey by 18% in a 3-month period.
APACHE Outcomes Coordinator
AdventHealth Corporate
09.2020 - 01.2022
- Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) Coordinator.
- Ensured data integrity by auditing and maintaining oversight, carefully reviewing and collecting data from adult critical care patients, assuring their accuracy, and making changes accordingly.
- Preceptor: responsible for the orientation and active training of new team members. Developed interview assessment tools and onboarding process guides for the team.
- Critical care knowledge: comprehensive knowledge of active treatments and modalities currently utilized in a critical care setting across AdventHealth Systems.
Cath Lab Tech IV- Cardiac Cath Lab
AdventHealth Orlando
Orlando, FL
05.2018 - 09.2020
- Monitored, circulated, and scrubbed diverse Cath Lab procedures, including diagnostic and interventional imaging.
- Collaborated with healthcare professionals to support patient care decisions.
- Documented test results in electronic health record systems for review.
- Trained new staff on laboratory procedures and safety protocols.
- Trained catheterization lab technologists and registered nurses at outlying AdventHealth campuses in interventional cases.
- Applied advanced clinical skills as part of Structural Heart Team at AdventHealth Orlando for Mitral Clips, Watchman, and TAVR procedures.
Registered Nurse- Procedural Support and Recovery
AdventHealth Orlando
Orlando, FL
10.2015 - 05.2018
- Oversaw patient care flow and daily staff assignments as necessary.
- Provided critical support to Cath and EPS lab staff during emergency situations requiring ICU-level care.
- Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to establish comprehensive patient care plans.
- Educated patients and families on effective health management and treatment options.
- Demonstrated proficiency in TEE, cardioversions, and LOOP recorder implants and explants.
- Managed complications such as hematomas using femostop protocols effectively.
Nurse Educator- CVICU & Rapid Response Team
AdventHealth Orlando
Orlando, FL
10.2014 - 10.2015
- Oversaw clinical excellence initiatives in CVICU and Rapid Response Team through orientation and training.
- Developed and implemented educational programs to enhance nursing staff competencies.
- Conducted needs assessments to identify knowledge gaps and strategize learning opportunities.
- Mentored new nurse educators to promote professional growth and enhance teaching skills.
- Facilitated workshops on best practices, improving nursing education effectiveness.
- Managed staff education records, ensuring compliance with licensure and certification requirements.
- Acted as preceptor for skill development of nursing staff through in-services and patient care assignments.
- Evaluated training programs through performance analysis and feedback to ensure continuous improvement.
Registered Nurse- Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit (CVICU)
AdventHealth Orlando
Orlando, FL
01.2010 - 10.2014
- Utilized advanced clinical skills for direct patient care post-open heart and thoracic surgery.
- Coordinated with nurse staffing team to ensure optimal coverage during critical situations.
- Assisted in emergency interventions, including rapid re-intubation and chest tube insertions.
- Oversaw progression of graduate nurses as an advanced preceptor, ensuring effective training.
- Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to create and implement comprehensive care plans.
- Administered medications and monitored patient responses in high-pressure environments.
- Educated patients and families on health management and disease prevention strategies.
- Conducted thorough assessments to evaluate patient needs and health status.
Registered Nurse- Cardiac Progressive Care Unit
AdventHealth Orlando
Orlando, FL
01.2008 - 12.2009
- Provided direct patient care during post-diagnostic and interventional heart catheterization procedures.
- Monitored and discontinued arterial and venous sheaths to manage potential complications.
- Achieved Pulmonary Hypertension Registered Nurse Certification to enhance clinical expertise.
Education
Master of Health Administration -
Southern New Hampshire University
Manchester, NH01.2023
BSN - Nursing
Adventist University of Health And Sciences
Orlando, FLASN - Nursing
Florida Hospital College of Health And Sciences
Orlando, FLSkills
- Lean Six Sigma
- Large Scale Clinical software implementation
- Process improvement
- Healthcare consulting
- Project management
- Team leadership
- Data management
- Digital health solutions
- Outcomes analysis
Certification
- Lean Six Sigma Green Belt
- Registered Nurse- FL License #RN9283336
Languages
Spanish
Native/ Bilingual
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Clinical Solutions Delivery Consultant
Philips Healthcare
07.2024 - Current
APACHE Outcomes Manager
AdventHealth Corporate
11.2022 - 06.2024
APACHE Outcomes Coordinator
AdventHealth Corporate
08.2022 - 11.2022
Sr. Nurse Manager- Central Monitoring Unit & Vascular Access Services
AdventHealth Orlando
01.2022 - 08.2022
APACHE Outcomes Coordinator
AdventHealth Corporate
09.2020 - 01.2022
Cath Lab Tech IV- Cardiac Cath Lab
AdventHealth Orlando
05.2018 - 09.2020
Registered Nurse- Procedural Support and Recovery
AdventHealth Orlando
10.2015 - 05.2018
Nurse Educator- CVICU & Rapid Response Team
AdventHealth Orlando
10.2014 - 10.2015
Registered Nurse- Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit (CVICU)
AdventHealth Orlando
01.2010 - 10.2014
Registered Nurse- Cardiac Progressive Care Unit
AdventHealth Orlando
01.2008 - 12.2009
Master of Health Administration -
Southern New Hampshire University
BSN - Nursing
Adventist University of Health And Sciences
ASN - Nursing
Florida Hospital College of Health And Sciences