Joanna Palac
Lafayette Hill
Summary
Results-driven clinical manager focused on advancing pediatric healthcare through strategic policy development and quality improvement initiatives. Proven track record of optimizing patient flow and leading multidisciplinary teams to enhance patient care and compliance with regulatory standards.
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Clinical Manager - Advanced Practice Provider
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, CHOP
King of Prussia
11.2025 - Current
- Managed daily operations of pediatric clinical services at renowned children's hospital.
- Supervised multidisciplinary team to ensure high-quality patient care delivery.
- Developed and implemented policies for clinical best practices and safety protocols.
- Oversaw patient flow processes to optimize service efficiency in busy environment.
- Facilitated communication between departments to improve collaborative care efforts.
- Evaluated clinical performance metrics to identify areas for improvement and training needs.
- Led initiatives for compliance with regulatory standards and accreditation requirements.
- Managed daily operations including staffing levels, budgeting, scheduling and resource allocation.
- Encouraged high morale and staff retention through effective communication, prompt problem resolution, proactive supervisory practices and facilitation of proactive work environment.
- Assisted with recruitment, selection, orientation and training activities for new employees.
- Improved policies and procedures through development, implementation, revision and evaluation of new protocols.
- Enforced compliance with local, state and federal healthcare regulations, including Medicare and Medicaid requirements, HIPAA, OSHA and CLIA.
Hospital Provider- Advanced Practice Provider
The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, CHOP
King of Prussia
11.2022 - Current
- Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to deliver comprehensive patient care.
- Assessed patient conditions and developed personalized treatment plans.
- Conducted routine examinations and diagnostic procedures for pediatric patients.
- Documented patient progress and maintained accurate medical records.
- Implemented evidence-based practices to enhance clinical workflows.
- Participated in quality improvement initiatives within the healthcare setting.
- Utilized computerized Resource and Patient Management System (RPMS) and Electronic Health Record (EHR) system.
- Collaborated with a multidisciplinary team to enhance client care plans routinely.
- Demonstrated excellent interpersonal skills while interacting with clients, family members, physicians or other healthcare professionals.
- Adhered to strict confidentiality guidelines while handling sensitive information related to patients' health conditions or personal matters.
Clinical Adjunct Instructor
Thomas Jefferson University College of Nursing
09.2021 - Current
- Provide compassion, equitable and evidence-based care of adolescent and young adult patients through; up to 12 acute patients, in the inpatient setting, implement medical interventions and develop individualized care plans in accordance with policy and evidence-based interventions.
- Counsel and educate patients and family of disease process and related therapies/ treatment plans.
- Coordinate appropriate follow-up services for continuity of care post-discharge.
- Collaborate with an interdisciplinary team on an ongoing basis to provide medical and behavioral health interventions through individualized care plans to meet the needs of the patient and families to support their medical needs in the acute care setting and to further establish needs for ongoing care post-discharge.
- Participate in and support continuous quality improvement initiatives to improve patient and family satisfaction, increase safety and care management and compliance with industry regulations.
- Collaborate with faculty and clinical interprofessional team to provide a safe and supportive learning environment that fosters development of nursing skills and clinical decision making.
- Model integration of clinical expertise of nursing knowledge, interprofessional communication and professional values.
- Develop teaching objectives that deliver clinical learning outcomes in conjunction with undergraduate course objectives and identify areas of improvement to foster clinical growth in the novice nurse.
Clinical Nurse Representative; Center for Public Health, Response and Readiness (CPRR)
Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia
04.2020 - 11.2022
- Lead Nurse: curate, maintain and lead department training for new hires, contractors, and current employees to ensure quality metrics and knowledge base competencies are met for a rapidly evolving department; identify opportunities for educational growth and remediation; meet with medical directors and department chairs to identify need for policy changes and education, and orchestrate multidisciplinary projects within the Office of Prevention Preparedness, Response and Readiness.
- Infection Prevention and Control, Occupational Health and the Poison Control Center: cross-trained to assist in a multidisciplinary team approach to triage calls and apply clinical judgement to facilitate interventions in accordance with CHOP, CDC, Department of Health and OSHA policies and standards for infectious agents, blood borne pathogens, and poisonings.
- Clinical representative for the Greater Philadelphia COVID-19 Hotline - public, CHOP employees and CHOP patients and families: triage related to COVID-19 illness and vaccines in accordance to the CDC and Philadelphia guidelines; allocate COVID-19 testing and vaccines through the CHOP enterprise; complete contact tracing for the CHOP enterprise; maintaining up-to-date information from state, local and government officials in regard to guidelines and education disseminated to public and CHOP enterprise; act as a public health resource for national product recalls (Similac formula; Philips Respironics) or infection outbreaks (Measles) for the CHOP enterprise and consumers, triage concerns, facilitate remediation strategies, and document information in accordance to reporting and research standards.
- Acute Care; Emergency Medicine - January 2020 to June 2021: follow nursing procedure, recognize need for intervention, and deliver safe, compassionate, and culturally competent care to children and families presenting to the Emergency Department and held in the Observation Unit for psychiatric and medicate stabilization.
- Develop, implement and/or revise the patient's plan of care in preparation for discharge or hospital admission and subsequent testing and procedures.
- Provide teaching to patients and families for continued treatment and safe medical follow-up.
Registered Nurse
Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia
10.2018 - 01.2020
- Assess and implement appropriate nursing interventions for infants through adolescents; phone triage; administration of medication and immunizations; provide education to families on medications, vaccines, breastfeeding and other patient health related topics.
- Triage patient calls utilizing clinical judgment and CHOP protocols to advise families of appropriate medical attention and education; directing high priority calls and information to appropriate clinicians and carry out subsequent directives; providing follow-up calls to patients to maintain care coordination.
- Office auditor: perform monthly audits and clinical data abstraction of medical records to ensure accuracy and completeness according to organizational guidelines for billing compliance.
Registered Nurse; Nurse Resident
Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia
08.2017 - 09.2018
- Provide safe direct patient care through assessment, documentation, care planning, medication administration and prescribed therapy implementation; utilizing clinical judgment and evaluating intervention outcomes and individual developmental, physical and psychosocial aptitude to adjust plan of care to meet patient and family needs.
- Communicate and collaborate with interdisciplinary health care team as patient advocate to ensure patient and family needs are met to facilitate continuous care from admission through discharge.
- Educate patient and family of disease process and related therapies to ensure patient and family achieve and demonstrate understanding for safe discharge; coordinate follow-up services as appropriate.
Executive Suite Coordinator
Vertical Screen Inc.
02.2013 - 01.2014
- Provide administrative support and assist with execution and planning of public relations for CEO, President, and Vice President.
- Review and summarize miscellaneous reports and documents, prepare background information, PowerPoint presentations, and outgoing correspondence for the Executive Suite.
- Maintain and organize executive suite calendar, assuring appropriate timelines for agendas and meetings; coordinating client visits, maintaining finances and adhering to departmental budgets.
Public Records Researcher
Vertical Screen Inc.
08.2012 - 01.2014
- Performed criminal and civil background investigations, verifying information through various methods, including internet resources, phone, mail, and direct contact with agents and courts.
- Delivered final reports to clients after thorough review to ensure accuracy and completeness.
- Comply with county, state and federal regulations for reporting procedures.
- Coordinated with internal departments and external vendors to efficiently resolve inquiries and discrepancies.
- Input and process data through proprietary software.
Education
Masters of Science - Nursing
Thomas Jefferson University
Philadelphia, PA05-2022
Associate of Applied Science - Nursing
MONTGOMERY COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Blue Bell, PA12-2015
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
Thomas Jefferson University
Philadelphia, PA05-2012
Bachelor of Arts - Criminal Justice
TEMPLE UNIVERSITY
Philadelphia, PASkills
- Clinical management and operations
- Clinical operations planning
- Patient flow optimization
- Direct patient care delivery
- Quality improvement initiatives
- Evidence-based practice application
- Policy development and compliance
- Healthcare compliance standards
- Regulatory guidelines adherence
- Electronic health records management
- Multidisciplinary collaboration
- Patient education strategies
Certification
- CRNP - BC, PNP; Pennsylvania & Florida
- RN, BSN; Pennsylvania & Delaware
- Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers, American Heart Association
- Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)
- Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
- Child Abuse Clearance
- COVID Contact Tracing Certification, John Hopkins University
- IS-00907 Active Shooter Certification, Department of Homeland Security
Accomplishments
- Led reviews and publication of department-specific order-sets and clinical pathways for enterprise-wide implementation, ensuring standardization and consistency with best practices.
- Co-Authored public and enterprise-wide clinical pathway for medical stabilization of malnutrition in the pediatric patient.
- Co-authored the abstract titled 'Inpatient Adolescent Family Table Rounds: Streamlining Communication with Families of Patients with Eating Disorders', presented at the International Conference on Eating Disorders, showcasing innovative approaches to improving communication in clinical settings (Future date: 06/01/26).
- Led the development and delivery of interdepartmental and external education sessions focused on the specialized care of service specific subset of patient populations, enhancing cross-functional understanding and improving patient outcomes.
- Presented at the National conference for Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (2024).
- Published in an interview by the Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics on eating disorder management in primary care (06/01/24 edition).
Memberships Activities
- National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP)
- American Nursing Association (ANA)
- Behavioral Health Steering Committee (CHOP)
- Team Lead for Escalation and Debrief Team
- Restraint and Seclusion Committee (CHOP - KOPH)
- Stakeholder; QI Project for Behavioral Health Table Rounds (CHOP - KOPH)
Timeline
Clinical Manager - Advanced Practice Provider
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, CHOP
11.2025 - Current
Hospital Provider- Advanced Practice Provider
The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, CHOP
11.2022 - Current
Clinical Adjunct Instructor
Thomas Jefferson University College of Nursing
09.2021 - Current
Clinical Nurse Representative; Center for Public Health, Response and Readiness (CPRR)
Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia
04.2020 - 11.2022
Registered Nurse
Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia
10.2018 - 01.2020
Registered Nurse; Nurse Resident
Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia
08.2017 - 09.2018
Executive Suite Coordinator
Vertical Screen Inc.
02.2013 - 01.2014
Public Records Researcher
Vertical Screen Inc.
08.2012 - 01.2014
Masters of Science - Nursing
Thomas Jefferson University
Associate of Applied Science - Nursing
MONTGOMERY COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
Thomas Jefferson University
Bachelor of Arts - Criminal Justice
TEMPLE UNIVERSITY