- Prepare to dive into the forefront
of healthcare innovation at our 14th annual meeting coming
up on April 8th
through 11th at the Hyatt Regency in Chicago, with thousands
of industry leaders converging over four dynamic days
of discussions on crucial topics from health IT
to executive leadership.
It's where the future of healthcare takes shape.
We can't wait to connect with you in person
and engage in these important conversations.
- This is Laura Dedo with the Becker's Healthcare Podcast.
I'm thrilled today to be joined by Caroline Jao,
senior Vice President of Patient Care Services
and Chief Nursing Officer at Children's Minnesota.
Caroline is a pleasure to have you on the podcast today.
- Thank you for having me, Laura. I'm excited to be here.
- Now, I know we have a lot to talk about,
and I'm certainly looking forward to learning more about
what you're doing at Children's Minnesota.
But before we dive into my broader questions,
can you tell me a little bit more
about yourself and your background?
- Absolutely. So as you mentioned, my name is Caroline,
and I started my career as a nurse almost 18 years ago
and have evolved, evolved in following my passion
for nursing leadership.
That has also led me into executive leadership
for the last three years at Children Minnesota.
Um, I've had the honor of receiving several leadership
and impact awards, um, over the last several years,
including the modern healthcare
top 25 emerging leaders in 22.
Um, also a rising star in healthcare
by Becker Hospital Review.
And then most recently,
the Twin Cities notable Bipoc executives.
Uh, it's an honor in, um, for me to be responsible
for leading patient care services
and operations, which include nursing, child
and family services, support operations
and pharmacy here at Children's Minnesota.
And then, uh, in addition to
that is the chief nursing officer.
I lead nursing strategy, education,
and professional development for one
of the largest pediatric healthcare systems in the country.
I'm also proud to say
that Children's Minnesota is a magnet designated system
for delivering the highest quality care
for nursing excellence.
So that's a little bit about me.
- Fantastic. And you know, it's great to hear
that you've had such a great achievements
and accomplishments throughout your career.
I can imagine it's such a rewarding role, um, you know, to,
to be helping the children on a daily basis
and then to, um, to be recognized is really cool.
So I'm wondering, what are some of the biggest issues
that you're following in healthcare for this year?
- Question, uh, Laura. Uh, I think, uh, I would start
with workforce pressures
that are definitely impacting staffing,
especially in nursing and support operations.
Um, and these pressures have also inspired innovation
and short term and long term strategies that have been one
of my focuses, uh, in my role
as a guidance support recruitment of nurses in a very,
very tight and competitive labor market.
Of course, I'm able to do this in partnership
with our amazing nursing teams and our recruitment teams.
Um, so that's, uh, one of our biggest challenges.
And, um, I'll also say that, you know, we have
to think about, you know, what are we gonna do about this?
And so one of my commitments has been in expanding
our transition to practice programs for new licensed nurses.
Um, and this is a program that, um, bridges the gap
between academic preparation and clinical practice.
This year alone, we'll have four cohorts.
Last year we five cohorts.
Uh, in addition to that, um, innovating, uh,
in thinking of different ways to recruit nurses, um,
especially for children's Minnesota.
We serve a very diverse community.
So, uh, we looked at different ways, uh,
of diversifying the nursing workforce.
Um, and just in 22, we have a 22%, um, rate
of new nurses hired of color across the organization.
Um, it's a joy to work with kids.
And so, um, as I think about, you know, talent,
the challenges we face, I'm also thinking about
what a joy working with kids brings to many,
especially those who are passionate like our kid experts
and we, and honor to support an organization
that has been here for a hundred years, um,
as the key experts in our region.
So those are, you know,
workforce challenges are a big one for me, for sure.
Um, and we'll continue to be this year,
but I'm proud of the work that we have done
and what we continue to do.
Lastly, um, health inequities
and healthcare outcomes across the nation are a challenge
for all of us, myself, including, um, which, um,
as you can imagine, this inequities are driven
by many factors, including social determinants of health.
And so I'm also looking at ways in these,
our organization can address those issues in 2024.
So those are couple of my challenges.
Laura, I hope that's helpful.
- Yeah, I, I, you know, I think that, uh, is really helpful
to know and understand, to think through the, um, you know,
really results driven way that you've looked at kind
of improving patient care as well
as looking at the nursing team.
The retention rate in building more diverse teams is really,
um, impressive to see.
When you look ahead, what are you most excited
about and what makes you nervous?
- Um, good question. I think my current excitement
and which will be for the next few years, is in my role
as I think about supporting our patients in our communities,
the recruitment and, uh, of nurses and our support staff.
Um, I think that's what gives me so much joy right now.
And every other week I get a chance
to welcome new hired people, um, employees and nurses.
The story of why they get into, uh, nursing and healthcare
and why they want to work at Children's Minnesota is
so inspiring and gives me lots of excitement
to continue supporting all of our teams
and our patients, um, as they dedicate their life
and careers to delivering expert pediatric care.
My other excitement is around our organization, been around
for a hundred years, Laura, and that's exciting.
It's solidified our expertise in pediatrics
and we're truly the key experts, um, in our region,
I would argue across the nation.
Um, this also brings a lot of stability to the organization.
So those two things are continuing
to support our patients and our meeting members.
And, um, and also continuing to celebrate a solid,
solid expertise with a hundred, um,
hundredth year anniversary bring me the most joy.
- You know, it's so impressive to have that type
of legacy a hundred years, um, you know, to
of being served the same community
and really grow with the families that live there
and work there to make the community great.
And then too, as you mentioned, just, you know,
the excitement of, of new employees
and new team members coming on.
Um, you know, that seems like it'll be really rewarding.
Um, but you know, I,
I know the flip side I asked about too, Yeah.
Some things that makes you nervous.
And I can imagine, you know, there might be one
or two things that are on your mind there too.
- Uh, absolutely. Yeah.
No, I think, um, and, and makes me nervous.
I is really thinking about, um, as healthcare leaders,
myself included, we are challenged with being able to find
and implement, um, sustainable solutions
that are addressing health outcome inequities, especially
for diverse communities.
It makes me nervous, but it also gives me a passion.
And so when I think about yet Children's Minnesota,
what we are doing, um, that makes me so proud, uh,
in the way we are addressing disparities
and social determin health.
However, I'm nervous about sustainability
for our healthcare system in being able to, um,
close these disparities
because we live in communities of many, um, people
who bring very diverse backgrounds.
So, uh, I'm nervous about can we sustain,
can we find sustainable ways of healthcare
to really close this task?
I think we can, I'm motivated to,
but it also makes me nervous.
- I, I think that's such a great point.
And certainly, you know, it takes, um, time and effort
and resources to make progress, especially, um, in,
in those gaps of care.
And I can imagine there's a lot of different, um,
access points or, or areas that you could focus on.
Is there anything right now, any projects
or initiatives that, um, you know, you're zeroing in on or,
or any segments of, um, whether it's diseases or,
or populations that, you know,
you're really focused on when
you're thinking about health equity?
- Um, as a pediatric system?
Um, I think, you know, we look at, you know,
we talked about access.
Uh, we also look at outcomes
and uh, right now we're looking at immunizations for kids.
Um, and our teams have done a fantastic job
of trying new ways to immunize kids
because we know when we help raise healthier children,
we help our community, we help the next generation.
So, um, I think we look at access and we should,
but immunizations are a big focus for us right now,
and we continue to look at other ways as well.
So, um, and our work here at Children's Minnesota is
building a community collaborative that allows us to know
how we can partner to close this gap.
So we're not doing it alone.
And we have our community teams working with our community,
advising us on how, what we can do best.
So those are my two immunizations collaborations, um,
making sure we're providing access
amongst the list of many other things.
- That's amazing to hear.
Well, before I wrap up here, Caroline, I was wondering,
could you talk about what the most effective healthcare
leaders will need in order
to be successful in the next two to three years or so?
Especially as we think about how healthcare is changing
and some of the new opportunities
that are coming up in the space?
- Yes, thank you.
I'll share the, what I also remind myself of
what makes an effective leader one, uh, is the willingness
to be nimble and to try something different, um,
to innovation in order to solve complex problems.
Um, and, you know, workforce health inequities,
those are complex problems.
I also, you know, um, think that to be an effective leader,
we cannot rely on playbooks of the past, um, as the only way
to solve this issue.
So thinking of different ways in
the next two to three years.
Secondly, as a leader, it's important to center yourself
around, uh, your why or your life's calling.
Leadership is a noble responsibility.
When it gets tough, we'll keep you grounded and committed.
I remind myself of my why often.
And then lastly, can do this alone.
Partnerships, relationships.
It is impossible to address healthcare. Challeng alone.
Find like-minded leaders like you who can be your mentors,
resources, help partners or coaches.
I look for this individual every single day
because I believe that, um, together we are stronger
and we can overcome the challenges that we're facing.
So that would be my advice
for effective leadership over the next few years.
- That's amazing advice and,
and certainly so helpful to know and think about.
Caroline, thank you so much for joining us
on the podcast today.
This has been such a fun conversation.
Um, I really can hear the joy that you bring
to your job every day and passion for what you do.
So I appreciate your time today,
and I look forward to connecting with you again soon.
- All right. Thank you very much, Laura, for having me.
It's been an honest, be part of the podcast.