Building Resilience: How Emory Healthcare is Redefining Workforce Optimization

SummaryIn this episode of the Elevate Care podcast, host Nishan Sivathasan sits down with Paola Buitrago, Vice President of Workforce Optimization at Emory Healthcare, to explore the future of clinical workforce management. Emory Healthcare is taking a bold approach to retention and operations by placing culture and staff well-being at the center of their strategy.Paola discusses the shift from recruitment to retention, highlighting Emory’s “North Star” of culture and leadership development. She shares insights on co-creating solutions with frontline staff, implementing technology that brings the “human closer to the human,” and the importance of diversifying staffing models to offer clinicians a menu of career options.About Paola BuitragoPaola Buitrago serves as the Vice President of Workforce Optimization at Emory Healthcare, where she oversees workforce contingency strategy, float teams, staffing, and nursing analytics. Her career journey began with unique roles in sickle cell research and global health at the Carter Center while in nursing school, providing her with a broad perspective on healthcare operations. With over 20 years of leadership experience and a PhD in Industrial and Organizational Psychology, Paola is passionate about designing systems that support frontline personnel and improve patient outcomes through operational excellence.Chapters00:00 – Introduction01:07 – Paola’s Journey: Research to Leadership05:07 – Prioritizing Retention and Culture07:54 – Redesigning Work with Technology10:34 – Co-Creating with the Frontline11:50 – Navigating Change through Leadership17:50 – Workforce Diversification & Upskilling25:20 – A Human-Centric Approach to AI  Sponsors: We're proudly sponsored by AMN Healthcare, the leader in healthcare staffing and workforce solutions. Explore their services at AMN Healthcare. Learn how AMN Healthcare's workforce flexibility technology helps health systems cut costs and improve efficiency. Click here to explore the case study and discover smarter ways to manage your resources!Discover how WorkWise is redefining workforce management for healthcare. Visit workwise.amnhealthcare.com to learn more.About The Show: Elevate Care delves into the latest trends, thinking, and best practices shaping the landscape of healthcare. From total talent management to solutions and strategies to expand the reach of care, we discuss methods to enable high quality, flexible workforce and care delivery. We will discuss the latest advancements in technology, the impact of emerging models and settings, physical and virtual, and address strategies to identify and obtain an optimal workforce mix. Tune in to gain valuable insights from thought leaders focused on improving healthcare quality, workforce well-being, and patient outcomes. Learn more about the show here. Connect with Our Hosts:Kerry on LinkedInNishan on LinkedInLiz on LinkedIn  Find Us On:WebsiteYouTubeSpotifyAppleInstagramLinkedInXFacebook Powered by AMN Healthcare Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.