Company: symplr
Nomination Submitted by: Matter Health
Company Description: symplr is the leader in enterprise healthcare operations software and services. For more than 30 years and with deployments in 9 of 10 U.S. hospitals, symplr has been committed to improving healthcare operations through its cloud-based solutions, driving better operations for better outcomes.
Nomination Category: Individual Awards Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Woman of the Year - Healthcare
 Nomination Title: Karlene Kerfoot
- Which will you submit for your nomination in this category, a video of up to five (5) minutes, explaining the achievements since July 1, 2021 of the nominated woman, OR written answers to the questions? (Choose one):
Written answers to the questions
- If you are submitting a video of up to five (5) minutes in length, provide the URL of the video here, OR attach it to your entry via the "Add Attachments, Videos, or Links to This Entry" link above, through which you may also upload a copy of your video. If you are submitting written answers to the questions for this category, provide them in the spaces below:
- Briefly describe the nominated individual: history and past performance (up to 200 words):
Total 180 words used.
Karlene Kerfoot serves as chief nursing officer at symplr, the leader in enterprise healthcare operations software and services. She is an icon in healthcare and recognized for her dedication, leadership, mentorship and advocacy for fellow nurses and for patients. At symplr, she is responsible for integrating the science of patient care, staffing, and clinical informatics into workflows and symplr solutions to redirect time back to patients. She serves as a board member for the DAISY Foundation, a not-for-profit organization, which provides recognition for extraordinary nurses across the world who are making a profound difference in the lives of their patients and patient families. Kerfoot has been elected as a Fellow to the American Academy of Nursing (FAAN) and has received numerous awards and honors for her achievements.
Prior to joining symplr in 2011, Kerfoot held leadership positions at three of the United States’ largest healthcare systems and has held positions in clinical practice, healthcare consulting, project management, and academia. Kerfoot is an accomplished author with over 400 articles published and contributes to a popular column on leadership for Nursing Economics.
- Outline the nominee's achievements since July 1 2021 that you wish to bring to the judges' attention (up to 250 words):
Total 247 words used.
Kerfoot has successfully led symplr as CNO, spearheading the bridging of technologies to assist nursing workflows. She plays an instrumental role in helping health systems and their leaders tackle the critical issue of nursing retention and recruitment. As a nurse, Kerfoot understands first-hand the challenges of the profession and is a strong advocate for the appreciation of nurses and the implementation of technologies (and incorporating clinician perspectives in the selection process) that support and empower front-line healthcare workers. During a time of clinician shortages and burnout across the country, Kerfoot's proactive efforts have activated symplr workforce management tools, which help to mitigate these issues through industry-leading symplr Workforce technology, talent management, and clinical communications proven to help health systems boost employee satisfaction, save staff time by optimizing tasks, and stem turnover, in turn improving care outcomes for patients.
As an accomplished leader, Kerfoot has received multiple recognitions for her efforts, most recently the 2023 Lifetime Achievement Award from the DAISY Foundation, which proudly honors nurses throughout their careers. This award is given every year to one standout nurse leader who has dedicated their life’s work to the field. In addition to her board seat with the DAISY Foundation, she is an active supporter of the American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL). This year, she spearheaded a joint launch of the “Beyond Gratitude” campaign with DAISY and AONL. Beyond Gratitude’s mission is to provide meaningful recognition to nurses and nurse managers and support their emotional health and well-being.
- Explain why the achievements you have highlighted are unique or significant. If possible compare the achievements to the performance of other players in your industry and/or to the nominee's past performance (up to 250 words):
Total 237 words used.
Kerfoot’s ongoing dedication and commitment to the nursing field amplifies her as both a business and healthcare industry leader. Her impact is displayed through her standout achievements and collaborations amongst other industry professionals and is showcased in her numerous prestigious award recognitions as well as a congratulatory video with leaders from AHA and AONL testifying to her immeasurable positive impact in the nursing space. Kerfoot’s achievement as the first recipient of the 2023 DAISY Lifetime Achievement Award further proves her as a sensational leader. She brings the heart and soul of nursing to her position as CNO, bettering the lives of healthcare staff and their patients.
What sets Kerfoot apart from her peers is her unique viewpoint as a nurse. This perspective is crucial to her and symplr’s success, as her expertise helped the company successfully navigate through unprecedented challenges within the healthcare industry. Kerfoot’s council has been instrumental in the successful implementation of symplr’s solutions in hospitals. She is successfully incorporating the nursing and clinician perspectives into hospitals’ technology decision-making process before implementation. Doing so provides nurses with a platform to have their voices heard, as they are the ones who are using these solutions day-to-day. These initiatives led to a greater retention rate among nurses and healthcare staff for hospitals that utilize symplr, and with the continuing workforce shortage in the healthcare industry, she has aided in the retention of hospital staff across the country.
- Reference any attachments of supporting materials throughout this nomination and how they provide evidence of the claims you have made in this nomination (up to 250 words):
Total 61 words used.
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