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Guest Post by Brandy Wilkins

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Dana Prommel Strauss & Brandy Wilkins
July 31, 2024

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Hi Timeless Autonomy Community,

I’ve been head down at work for a few weeks, so it’s awesome to have another guest post, this time from the talented Brandy Wilkins. Brandy’s story is below, and she doesn’t need much introduction.

Brandy works in healthcare quality and is, like me, a doctor of physical therapy. We met through the Humans in Healthcare Community, where I also met Jackie Boyle, who authored the last article and Ruth Vo, whose guest post will be out next week.

Quality is a great career path option and an important part of value-based care programs. It’s a great career direction for healthcare professionals who want a one-to-many impact, non-clinical career track that’s aligned with the direction payers are going. 👇️ 

As you hear me say frequently, providers are and will increasingly be paid based on the quality and cost of care provided to manage a population or an episode of care.

How I transitioned from direct patient care to healthcare quality (and how you can too)

by Brandy Wilkins

I remember when I applied for what I thought was my dream job.

And I didn't get it. 

It was the natural next step in my career, and I was devastated when I was passed over for a role that felt like a perfect fit. 

Looking back, if it weren’t for that “No,” I may never have ended up where I am today. Not getting that job opened up a new path for me, one that led me to healthcare quality. My journey has been challenging and enlightening, exciting and inspiring. It’s certainly been unconventional. Going from a bedside provider to a non-clinical role has taken determination and resilience, but if I can do it, you can do it. 

Shifting my focus from PT to HQ

In 2013, I had been working as a physical therapist for eight years. I can’t say I was burnt out from my PT role; I loved directly impacting patients. And I had spent the previous four years traveling, working in different states in addition to a variety of environments, from hospitals to hospital-based outpatient settings to free-standing rehab clinics. I was used to taking on new challenges. 

When an outpatient supervisor role opened up in the rehab department of the acute care hospital where I was employed, I decided to apply. My experience had taught me to think on my feet, I had previously supervised physical therapist assistants and students, and it was with my current employer, who knew me well. I thought I was the ideal candidate. 

I wasn’t chosen for that role, and I was extremely disappointed, so much so that I considered quitting and finding a new employer. A friend’s advice changed my perspective - and the trajectory of my career. She said, “BE STILL and wait.”

I spent time reflecting on what I wanted to do with my life. Remaining a generalist rather than focusing on a specialty had given me a broad look at the healthcare system, and I started to see how things could improve from a big picture perspective. 

That “No” shifted my focus to a non-clinical role. I’m someone who likes to solve problems and focus on the steps to get there, and I recognized I could have a greater influence on patients from a system-level. While I wasn’t personally facing burn out, plenty of frontline healthcare workers were (and still are). Working in healthcare quality would give me more reach to impact the patients and their caretakers by addressing the system-wide issues.

Taking advantage of every opportunity 

I wanted to learn as much as I could, so I completed Open School courses through the Institute for Healthcare Improvement and conducted my own research, including talking to people I knew who had experience in the field of healthcare quality. However, I learned the most by simply doing. 

Because I heeded my friend’s advice and stayed working with my then employer, I positioned myself for growth. While I wasn’t selected for that first supervisor role, I had planted the seed that I was interested in more responsibility. When a newly created role became available with that same employer about six months later, I landed it. 

The role evolved over time, and I was entrusted with autonomy to mold it to my skillset. I volunteered to try new things, and I inserted myself into conversations, even when I hadn’t explicitly been invited. I was responsible for standardizing processes across hospital campuses; collecting, analyzing, and trending data; getting our teams ready for regulatory surveys; and managing our student program. 

This was my introduction to a healthcare quality role, and I fell in love with it. 

I didn’t gain much in salary, but I gained invaluable experience. I learned in-depth how the healthcare system works and recognized the influence over patient safety I could have by working collaboratively with multiple departments.  

Over the course of the next several years, I have had the amazing opportunity to work for some of the best employers and learn from the most brilliant and caring healthcare professionals. 

I have influenced countless clinicians and leaders to improve patient safety and patient outcomes. 

I have moved, step-by-step, into healthcare quality and now want to help others do the same. 

Forging your own path

Everyone’s journey from direct patient care to healthcare quality will be unique. When I was looking to make the transition, resources and pathways for pivoting into the non-clinical space were limited. In fact, the only paths known to me were

  1. Supervisor > Manager > Director route (but this felt oversaturated and often a glass ceiling where people go to retire) 

  2. Academia (but lesson planning was not my cup of tea - or rather, hot chocolate)

  3. Clinical specialist (but this would limit my ability to see a variety of patient populations and build a well-rounded skill set)

None of those felt right, so I created my own path. Here’s how you can do the same:

  1. Define your path. What are you truly passionate about? What skills do you possess to support that passion? Spend some time reflecting on your strengths and identifying your passions. This will help you narrow down your search.

  2. Build your network: Connect with people in-person and on social media such as LinkedIn and Facebook Groups. You may be one connection away from your dream job.

  3. Develop Transferable Skills: What skills do you currently use that would be applicable to your future role? Do everything you can to build those up and gather proof. Use your current role to develop skills that can easily be applied to a new role. Identify problems within your workplace or community group and create solutions. This allows you to build a portfolio with a proven track record. 

  4. Establish your Brand: The resume you created to land your clinical role won’t cut it when applying for a non-clinical one. Be sure to highlight those transferable skills and relevant experience. Optimize your LinkedIn profile as well so that your network - and potential employers - know what you have to offer the healthcare quality field. 

  5. Apply for the job: When you’re looking to change careers, you won’t meet 100% of the job description criteria. Apply anyway! 

  6. Prepare for the interview: Consider the job responsibilities and make a direct connect to your transferable skills. Also prepare questions to ask the interviewer(s). 

  7. Accept your new job and be proud that you’re making moves! Move forward confidently.

Transitioning into healthcare quality from a clinical background takes time and resilience. And it is absolutely possible. 

For a free resource on the Top 3 Mistakes Clinicians Make When Transitioning into a Non-Clinical Role (and what to do about it), grab it here. 

If you want to hear the journeys of other professionals who have made the transition into a role with impact, check out my podcast at www.definingpointcc.com/podcast 

Brandy Wilkins

Founder, CEO - Defining Point Coaching & Consulting, LLC.

Many thanks to Brandy, and please check out her resources!

Brandy mentioned the importance of optimizing your Linked In profile.

A course I personally took and have rewatched, reference, and recommend to anyone who asks “How do I improve my Linked In profile” is Justin Welsh’s Linked In OS. I’m an affiliate because it’s fantastic and very high-value, of course! 😁 If you have any questions about it, let me know! He updates it now and then and adds resources.