People of PointClickCare: Nikki Starrett

Introducing Nikki Starrett, a State Director for the Acute & Payer business unit. Nikki joined the PointClickCare team four years ago and is driven by her passion for providing better solutions to meet the healthcare needs of vulnerable populations. Let’s get to know Nikki, starting with a few rapid-fire questions.

Rapid Fire 🔥

• Describe yourself in 3 words: Thoughtful, driven, and collaborative. 
• If you could have any superpower, what would it be? Getting my kids to eat what I make for dinner!
• If you could only eat one cuisine for the rest of your life, which one would it be? I love Spanish cuisine — paella, meatballs, tapas, everything. When I was in college, my friends and I designed our own independent study on Spanish tapas. It was a highlight of my college career!
• What are your hobbies outside of work? I have a toddler and a baby right now, so my free time is a bit limited. When I’m not doing activities such as Play-Doh and MAGNA-TILES with my little ones, I enjoy running. I’m also trying to get into gardening.

Journey to PointClickCare

Nikki’s healthcare career began more than 10 years ago, at a health system in Massachusetts, where she focused on creating strategic programs and initiatives that improved the Account Care Organization’s (ACO’s) performance in value-based reimbursement contracts. Nikki then joined Collective Medical, as a Director of Value-based Care (VBC). “As a former customer, I was a huge fan of the technology and how it enabled my ACO to more easily track our patients and coordinate care across our local ecosystem and beyond. So, when I was offered an opportunity to join the team, I jumped at it,” she said.

Nikki officially joined us in 2020 when PointClickCare acquired Collective Medical. Here, she continued her journey to her current role as State Director. “I am very inspired by PointClickCare’s purpose. It’s fulfilling to know that by connecting providers and care teams and delivering insights, we’re allowing them to make more informed treatment and care coordination decisions that make a difference in in an individual patient’s health and wellbeing,” she shared.

What Makes Her Job Rewarding

Nikki focuses on PointClickCare’s strategy for Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Her work requires a lot of relationship-building and collaboration between departments within the company as well as between PointClickCare and state-level organizations. “I get to bring people with different skill sets and experiences together to problem solve and collaborate. I’m particularly proud of a new product we’re bringing to the market that will address significant challenges with emergency department (ED) psychiatric boarding. It will greatly improve care for patients with behavioral health needs.”

On Leadership

As a leader at PointClickCare, Nikki feels that being adaptable and being able to excel at navigating and managing change are necessary for any leadership position in the healthcare industry. Being able to pivot quickly is a must as regulations are always evolving, new technologies are being added to the market, and consumer expectations are constantly changing.

Strong communication skills are also an essential quality. Leaders must ask for feedback, listen, and provide transparency around business decisions. “Great leaders create a safe space where everyone is encouraged to ask questions, challenge existing norms, and share different points of view.”

Innovating for the Acute and Payer Markets

“In the Northeast markets I focus on, and elsewhere in the country, healthcare systems are struggling with challenges such as higher patient acuity and workforce shortages that manifest as capacity issues. This includes ED overcrowding and inability to discharge patients from medical and surgical floors to provide beds for patients in need. Addressing preventable ED visits, readmissions, and long lengths of stay, as well as improving collaboration between acute and post-acute partners, are key to reducing the impact.”

Technology is essential for solving these challenges and others in the acute and payer markets. Having access to a platform like PointClickCare allows providers to deliver the most effective treatment, improve transitions of care, and coordinate care among shared patients. “In order to succeed in value-based care, it’s essential for organizations to leverage technology that allows care teams to easily monitor patients in real-time. It’s vital that everyone caring for the same patient has access to the same playbook.”

Off the Clock

Nikki knows how to make the most of her time away from work. For her, it’s all about spending time with family and embracing the great outdoors. Whether it’s a sunny day at the beach or a peaceful retreat to her family’s camp in Maine, you can find her enjoying some sun and sand with her loved ones!  

Thank you, Nikki, for sharing with us!

This piece is part of our ongoing series, People of PointClickCare. Watch out for next month’s feature!