Seanna-Kaye Denham-Wilks, PhD, FPCC, Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Administrator of Nursing Home Operations at NYC Health + Hospitals | McKinney
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Dr. Seanna-Kaye Denham-Wilks, Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Administrator of Nursing Home Operations at NYC Health + Hospitals McKinney, shares her journey as a clinical psychologist and healthcare executive leading transformative change across New York City's public health system. With nearly two decades of experience, she discusses her transition from Kings County Hospital—where she led a culture transformation focused on patient and staff experience—to McKinney, a nationally recognized five-star skilled nursing and rehab center. She emphasizes the inseparability of workforce well-being and patient care, highlighting measurable improvements in satisfaction, engagement, and grievance reduction. Looking ahead, Dr. Denham-Wilks outlines three key priorities: sustaining excellence amid regulatory and financial constraints, ensuring workforce stability and well-being, and innovating care models to reduce hospital readmissions and strengthen community integration. She reflects on the challenges of leading through external pressures while maintaining high standards, advocating for transparent, empathetic leadership. Her vision for the future centers on redefining post-acute care as a hub for integrated, person-centered services and advancing health equity as a core operational mission.
Workforce well-being and patient experience are inseparable and must be prioritized together.
Sustaining a five-star CMS rating requires constant vigilance, operational discipline, and a culture of dignity.
Leadership in safety net healthcare demands transparency, empathy, and the courage to say 'no' to protect core standards.
Innovating care models can reduce hospital readmissions and strengthen transitions between acute, post-acute, and community care.
Investing in early-career staff and fostering a culture of belonging drives performance and retention.
…and 1 more takeaway available in PodZeus
Introduction and Background
Laura Deardo introduces Dr. Seanna-Kaye Denham-Wilks, COO and Deputy Administrator at NYC Health + Hospitals McKinney, highlighting her dual role as a clinical psychologist and healthcare executive with 19 years of experience in New York City's public health system.
Transition to McKinney and Five-Star Excellence
“Because McKinney holds those ratings across all domains, being five-star, it's the only facility in New York State to achieve that distinction across the board.”
Culture Transformation at Kings County
“When you're able to see the fruits of your efforts to shift culture from transactional care to relational care... then you really see that this work is the right work.”
Future Priorities: Excellence, Workforce, and Innovation
“Leadership in this time requires prioritizing resources more than ever, and really doing that in a way that holds the line on standards.”
Challenges and the Role of Leadership
She addresses the difficulty of maintaining high performance under financial pressures, rising expectations, and regulatory complexity. Emphasizing the need for transparent, empathetic leadership and the courage to make tough decisions, she underscores the importance of involving stakeholders in decision-making.
“This is where it's done. This is where we set the pace for other areas of the healthcare world, because here it's not just a concept, but it's embedded as an operational priority.”
“When you're able to see the fruits of your efforts to shift culture from transactional care to relational care... then you really see that this work is the right work.”
“Because McKinney holds those ratings across all domains, being five-star, it's the only facility in New York State to achieve that distinction across the board.”
Host
Guest
Seanna-Kaye Denham-Wilks
person
NYC Health + Hospitals
organization
McKinney
organization
New York City
place
Kings County Hospital
organization
Laura Deardo
person
CMS
organization
Becker's Healthcare Podcast
media
Central Brooklyn
place
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