by Nancy Humphrey
Jennifer DeBruler, MD, will join Vanderbilt University Medical Center in February as its new Vice-President, Patient Access Services, Adult Ambulatory Operations.
She comes from Advocate Aurora Health (AAH) in Downers Grove, Illinois, where she has served as Vice President of Access.
DeBruler brings a wealth of experience as a result of her eight years leading the access operation at AAH.
“She is a transformative leader, overseeing an access operation providing 24/7 telephone and nurse triage support for 1,200 physicians and servicing 3.6 million calls annually,” said Tom Nantais, MBA, Executive Vice President of Adult Ambulatory Operations at VUMC.
In addition, at AAH, DeBruler has provided strategic direction to a team of physicians, operators and call agents to design and implement clinical and non-clinical workflows, to support the care of AAH patients. She has worked closely with clinical departments to ensure connectivity between Access, Operations, Marketing and the Epic build team, all of which links to the AAH system strategic plan.
DeBruler will report directly to Nantais and partner with Rick Wright, MD, Dan Spengler, MD, Professor and chair of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Patient Access Services medical director, in the expansion and enhancement of key relationships with clinical leadership.
“We look forward to a collaborative partnership with Dr. DeBruler and the Patient Access Services across our clinical enterprise as we provide a variety of ways for patients to engage our health care system,” said Wright.
“We welcome Dr. DeBruler to this important role for our patients, our clinicians and staff. We look forward to taking access, via many portals of entry, to the next level of convenience for our patients and the next level of communication coordination for our outpatient clinic teams,” said C. Wright Pinson, MBA, MD, Deputy CEO and Chief Health System Officer.
DeBruler’s primary office will be located in the Green Hills Office Building, with an ancillary office in The Vanderbilt Clinic.
