She grew up with an outstanding role model: a physician father utterly devoted to serving his patients, with an equally impressive command of his subject matter. From watching his example, Elana Schrader, M.D., Senior Vice President, Health Care Services and President, GuideWell Health, realized at a young age that fulfillment comes from serving others—and knowledge creates the opportunity to do so.
She’s been living by that motto ever since.
In her current role at GuideWell, Elana leads the health care delivery business for the enterprise. She is also responsible for the development of the overarching clinical strategy for Florida Blue and leading clinical activities including care and quality management, pharmacy, health promotions and wellness, care partners and vendors and a new area focused on behavioral health.
It’s a perfect fit for someone who describes herself as having a “passion for the individual—and ensuring that every individual gets the right care at the right place, right price and at the right time.”
Under her leadership, GuideWell Health--which includes Diagnostic Clinic Medical Group, Florida Health Care Plans, GuideWell Emergency Doctors, Capital Health Plan and Sanitas--has taken a patient-centric approach. “We’re delivering on what we call the ‘triple aim,’” Elana explained. “We’re focused equally on improving the health of the population we serve, reducing the cost of care, and providing an exceptional patient experience.”
Elana’s organization is also focused on the transition to value-based care. In a value-based health care delivery model, providers are paid to help patients achieve better health—in keeping with our mission. Elana’s definition of “health” is a broad one that includes mental well-being and is focused on providing patients with a superior care journey from birth through end of life.
The COVID-19 pandemic has created new challenges that Elana’s team has attacked head-on. “Life doesn’t stop because there’s a pandemic,” she pointed out. “The everyday health issues that people face have not gone away. We’re living in a time where patients need help with a new and scary virus but many also need help with their chronic conditions and preventive care. We have to fully serve both needs.”
Although her role at GuideWell is a big one, she still finds time to pursue a love of physical fitness and to serve others as a mother of three, mentor to many, and dedicated community leader.
A graduate of the 2007 class of Leadership Jacksonville and Leadership Florida Cornerstone Class XXXVIII, Elana serves on the boards of the First Coast chapter of the American Heart Association and the University of North Florida Foundation. She is also a member of the Dean’s Council of the University of North Florida Brooks College of Health. In addition, she’s a longstanding member of the GenerationW advisory board, and the executive leader of RESPECT, GuideWell’s LGBT and allies Community. She was honored as a Woman of Influence by the Jacksonville Business Journal in 2016 and since then has been named a Volunteers in Medicine Woman with Heart. She was also recently featured in Jacksonville magazine as one of Jacksonville’s Women of Heart.
When asked to elaborate on her interests, Elana sums up why she’s the right woman to lead both our care delivery efforts and managing the coordination of that care: “I’m passionate about all the things that GuideWell is: innovative health solutions, being a thought leader, being empathetic, and serving with heart.”