Health Pro: Early love of healthcare led Rockledge Regional Assistant COO into the business
Michelle Donaldson is the Assistant Chief Operating Officer for Rockledge Regional Medical Center.
Q: Why did you go into this career?
A: I started as a volunteer in hospitals at the young age of 13 and never looked back. This launched my passion for healthcare.
Working in healthcare has proven to be not only challenging but rewarding. I feel the two go hand-in-hand. I love positively interacting with the lives of patients and creating a pathway of best practice that enhances every step of the patient's journey through the hospital.
As I advanced in nursing I realized being a good leader needs to be paralleled with the flexibility of a constantly changing healthcare system.
As an administrator that has a background as a Registered Nurse, I feel it has provided me with an edge of critical thinking and people skills required to handle the day to day hospital operations.
Q. What services do you provide?
A: In my previous roles in healthcare administration, I have developed an array of skills that will enhance the team at Rockledge Regional Medical Center.
From operations in multiple departments to team building, financial analysis, project planning and cost containment, I will be using these skills to improve the patient experience of the hospital in a cost-effective way.
I began my career at Rockledge Regional Medical Center in the ICU because I wanted to work alongside the staff and understand what the real issues were.
After spending time in this clinical area, I realized this is the place I wanted to lead and grow.
Seeing the compassion and commitment from the staff motivated me to want to be part of this leadership team.
Q: When do you realize this was the right medical career path for you?
A: From as long as I can remember, I wanted to work in healthcare and leadership. It has followed me from President of the Student Nurses Association in college to where I am today.
I grew up in hospitals having a sibling who needed medical care at a very young age. The compassion and skill I witnessed through those events began the trajectory of my career path.
The drive began long ago, and I still feel the strong need to make a difference in patients’ lives each and every day.
Q: What’s the latest advancement in your field that will benefit patients?
A: It’s difficult to talk about advancement of patient care without mentioning technology.
The addition of advanced technological systems in healthcare continues to pave the way for not only a more efficient method of treatment, but as AI is used this could be a potential disruptor of how healthcare is practiced and delivered.
AI continues to bring forth the challenge of the quadruple aim — improve population health, improve the patient’s experience, enhance caregiver experience and reduce the cost of providing care.
As advanced technology continues to race into healthcare, balancing the cost of this with keeping the human component a focus will prove to be an opportunity healthcare leadership.
Q: Best advice for current and potential patients
A: My best advice for current and potential patients is to get involved in your health. Find one of our many compassionate, high-quality providers and work with them on improving your quality of life.
There are multiple areas to enhance your health that the facility provides, education services, walks, healthy eating programs and many more.
Pay attention to what your body is telling you and seek advice. The staff and providers at Rockledge Regional Medical Center are the most patient centered, passionate group that I have had the pleasure of working alongside.
Q: Hobbies and Interests?
A: My family has vacationed in this area for more than 30 years and as our families continued to grow, so did our love of the Space Coast.
In June of last year, my husband, 12-year-old daughter and I decided to move here full-time. We love the outdoors and spend a large amount of time at the beach or pool.
We spend as much time together as possible biking, walking or enjoying our “fur babies,” a Rhodesian Ridgeback and Tiger Striped Cat. We attend a local church and volunteer a few times per month.
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Name: Sandra “Michelle” Donaldson, MSN, Assistant Chief Operating Officer
Where you’re based: Rockledge Regional Medical Center, 110 Longwood Ave., Rockledge, FL
On the Web: rockledgeregional.org
Education: BSN from Marshall University, Master's in Health Administration from the University of Southern California
Professional background: Registered Nurse since 1997, co-owner of several companies from Legal Nurse Consultant to Physician Practice Management. Professionally worked as director of variety of hospital-based departments, administrative assistant, healthcare consultant, Chief Revenue Officer, Chief Strategy Officer and VP of New Business Ventures.
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Michelle Donaldson is Assistant COO for Rockledge Regional Medical Center