Corewell Health

Imana Mo Minard, a seasoned healthcare professional, thinks outside the box to ensure exceptional outcomes. Prioritizing work-life balance for staff and coherent care for patients, Minard leverages their feedback to improve Corewell Health’s services.

What are your roles and responsibilities at Corewell Health?

As the director of nursing at Corewell, I oversee various emergency departments at the Farmington Hills and Lavonia outpatient campuses. Additionally, I supervise our five north medical-surgical units, nursing resource school, and hemodialysis procedures.

Every day is different at Corewell because the process of providing patient care changes with every patient. We have many patients coming to our facility with different concerns. The job entails numerous responsibilities, including leading projects, collaborating with other departments, meeting patient care standards, and staying compliant with regulatory agencies. I also focus on improving the patient care experience and represent Corewell on different administrative boards.

Can you take us through the journey that you’ve had so far?

I started my career as a paramedic at the emergency medical services division of the Detroit Fire Department, and after working for over a decade there, I moved to nursing. I joined Corewell five years ago, and it has been an extensive learning experience. I have collaborated with different departments outside the nursing field, which is incredibly gratifying. Refusing to say no to opportunities has made me a better leader.

“As leaders, we guarantee that highquality care is provided to our patients by our competent staff, who are trained continuously”

What are the major challenges that you see in the field of nursing?

The shortage of qualified professionals, specifically in medical-surgical fields, is a major challenge. The new graduates move to specializations rather than pursuing a master’s degree, which is understandable. Along with focusing on academics, we also examine how the delivery system will look in the future.

What are the strategies implemented by Corewell to overcome the existing pain points?

Corewell plays an important role in getting licensed practical nurses (LPNs) back in the acute care setting. Many misconceptions prevail about the training they receive, causing hesitancy in employing them in acute care. We must understand that the LPNs undergo a rigorous vocational training program.

We also have a different staffing model through which we hire contingent personnel. We provide them with details of the shift timings and work structure, and the staff can choose the day they want to work. This flexibility in scheduling proves that we’re constantly working for our nursing staff. To ensure successful patient outcomes, we ensure our department implements measures that are out of the box. At Corewell, we leverage technology and have designed a virtual nursing program. This is a challenging arena, and consistently improving is the key.

How do you ensure patient safety at Corewell?

This is a human-centric profession, and only a partnership between the health care providers and patients can ensure excellent outcomes. As leaders, we guarantee that high-quality care is provided to our patients by our competent staff, who are trained continuously. We provide the best medical facilities and use the finest equipment. Collecting feedback from the patients and the staff and engaging them to address concerns is also essential. At times, they’ll be able to draw your attention to aspects you might overlook as a leader.

What is your advice to the professionals in your field?

Always stay true to your authentic self and lead with who you are. Try to improve when you notice an area where you need to be more efficient. We might think our staff will not know it, but they do. They know when you aren’t engaged in your work. Don’t ever lose your authentic self.