Nicole Dalton
Colorado Springs
Summary
Healthcare executive with 11+ years of progressive leadership across academic health system and multi-site practice operations. Proven record of building and executing division-level strategies, developing policies and procedures, optimizing financial and operational performance, and leading high-performing teams. Experienced in faculty/provider support, credentialing, compliance and accreditation, quality and safety culture, process improvement, metrics and reporting, and systems/hardware/software coordination. Adept at aligning patient care, education, and operational initiatives to support institutional missions.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
Work History
Regional Practice Administrator
UCHealth (Academic Health System)
09.2023 - Current
- Lead short- and long-range operational planning for multi-clinic departments; align academic, clinical, and operational objectives with institutional strategy.
- Develop, implement, and update divisional policies, procedures, and objectives; ensure compliance with institutional standards and regulatory requirements.
- Drive quality, safety, and service excellence initiatives; partner with physician/faculty and nursing leaders to advance patient and staff engagement.
- Promoted a culture of continuous improvement by encouraging employee feedback and implementing process enhancements based on their input.
- Oversee budgets, fiscal stewardship, vendor management, and capital/equipment procurement; plan capacity, staffing, and technology needs.
- Coordinate student/trainee engagements with department education leads; support aligned educational activities and schedules.
- Support faculty/provider recruitment, onboarding, and credentialing workflows; track required trainings, licensure, and compliance.
- Maintain strong physician/practice relationships; ensure transparent communication to department leadership and alignment with institutional plans.
- Streamlined operational workflows to enhance efficiency across multiple practice sites.
- Implemented standardized procedures to improve patient care and service delivery consistency.
- Led cross-functional teams in strategic initiatives to optimize resource allocation and utilization.
- Developed training programs for staff, fostering professional growth and enhancing team performance.
- Analyzed financial reports to identify cost-saving opportunities and improve budget management practices.
- Collaborated with clinical leadership to align operational strategies with organizational goals and objectives.
- Facilitated regular performance reviews, ensuring adherence to compliance standards and best practices.
- Enhanced patient satisfaction scores through targeted process improvements and feedback mechanisms.
- Increased employee retention rates through effective talent management strategies that prioritized professional development opportunities.
- Oversaw financial planning and analysis for the regional practice, ensuring fiscal responsibility and long-term sustainability.
- Developed comprehensive reporting systems to track key performance indicators, enabling data-driven decision-making for the regional practice.
- Coordinated multi-disciplinary teams for seamless operational efficiency and improved patient outcomes.
Chief Operations Officer
Hawaii Dermatology & Plastic Surgery Centers
12.2021 - 12.2023
- Directed multi-site operations and non-clinical practice administration; delivered ~20% YoY revenue growth through strategic planning and efficiency gains.
- Built and maintained policy and procedure infrastructure; ensured compliance with HIPAA, OSHA, CMS, and payer requirements; led internal audits.
- Owned budget, P&L, financial reporting, and revenue cycle oversight; produced monthly/quarterly management reports and dashboard updates for executives.
- Led talent strategy: workforce planning, performance management, coaching, succession, and culture-building focused on teamwork and continuous improvement.
- Implemented EMR enhancements and workflow redesigns; coordinated software/hardware needs and vendor contracts; improved patient access and throughput.
- Advanced quality and safety programs; sustained high patient satisfaction and operational throughput across clinics.
- Partnered with physicians on professional practice needs; resolved operational issues impacting patient care and access.
- Coordinated space planning, inventory, and property control; managed capital planning and equipment procurement.
Practice Manager
06.2019 - 12.2021
- Managed daily operations across five clinics, including in-resident services; optimized staffing models and scheduling to meet demand and capacity.
- Led provider credentialing and payer enrollment for 15 providers across 7 locations; managed contracting with 97+ payers; ensured timely revalidations.
- Achieved and maintained “Excellent Performer” under MIPS; elevated quality reporting and reimbursement.
- Built multi-channel patient acquisition strategies; improved patient scheduling, collections, and front-end revenue integrity.
- Opened and scaled new practice locations; coordinated facilities, IT, equipment, and go-live readiness.
Patient Care Technician
DaVita Dialysis
05.2017 - 05.2019
- Delivered high-reliability patient care in a regulated environment; maintained infection control protocols and supported multidisciplinary workflows.
- Reinforced culture of safety, documentation accuracy, and standards compliance.
U.S. Air Force Administration & Human Resource Management
01.2008 - 06.2016
- Led HR programs for up to 45 personnel; managed evaluations, promotions, merit actions, disciplinary processes, training compliance, and records management.
- Developed and enforced policies/procedures; supported mission readiness, emergency preparedness, and organizational change initiatives.
- Built performance planning and coaching systems that improved engagement and accountability.
Education
MBA - Operations Management
Hawaii Pacific University
Honolulu, HI12-2021
Bachelor of Science - Healthcare Management
Austin Peay State University
Clarksville, TN05-2019
Associate of Science - Nursing
Austin Peay State University
Clarksville, TN12-2016
Associate of Science - Human Resource Management
Community College of The Air Force
Maxwell AFB, AL05-2015
Skills
- Program administration expertise
- Faculty recruitment and onboarding
- Comprehensive practice oversight
- Facilitation of research and educational programs
- SOP and policy formulation
- Regulatory compliance expertise
- Commitment to quality and safety
- Operational process enhancement
- Multi-site expansion, new clinic openings
- Operations management
Accomplishments
- Built policy/procedure repositories and performance management frameworks that improved compliance and coaching consistency across teams.
- Implemented EMR workflow enhancements and coordinated hardware/software upgrades that increased scheduling efficiency and patient throughput.
- Established KPI dashboards and monthly reporting cadence to inform leadership decisions on capacity, staffing, and capital allocation.
- Achieved sustained MIPS excellence and strengthened payer contracting/credentialing, supporting revenue integrity and access growth.
- Planned and launched new sites, coordinating facilities, IT, equipment, and training to ensure on-time, compliant openings.
Timeline
Regional Practice Administrator
UCHealth (Academic Health System)
09.2023 - Current
Chief Operations Officer
Hawaii Dermatology & Plastic Surgery Centers
12.2021 - 12.2023
Practice Manager
06.2019 - 12.2021
Patient Care Technician
DaVita Dialysis
05.2017 - 05.2019
U.S. Air Force Administration & Human Resource Management
01.2008 - 06.2016
MBA - Operations Management
Hawaii Pacific University
Bachelor of Science - Healthcare Management
Austin Peay State University
Associate of Science - Nursing
Austin Peay State University
Associate of Science - Human Resource Management
Community College of The Air Force