Cheryl's Story on Turning Healthcare Experience into Improvement


Cheryl Kirchner’s career in healthcare began at the bedside, caring for cardiovascular and open-heart surgery patients.

It was an experience that revealed both the complexity of healthcare and the deeply human impact it has on people’s lives.

Before joining RLDatix, Cheryl worked for more than 30 years in healthcare. After beginning her career as a critical care nurse, she transitioned into healthcare quality where she led a statewide coronary artery bypass graft improvement project.

Deepening her commitment to healthcare improvement, this experience inspired her to pursue a master's degree, which she followed up with 10+ years of leading quality, safety, and performance improvement initiatives for large healthcare systems.

Across each chapter of her career, one thing has stayed with Cheryl: the dedication of the people working in healthcare. She worked alongside teams that genuinely wanted to make care safer and better for patients.

Reflecting on her experience, she mentions, "That belief in teamwork, continuous improvement, and doing what's right for patients continues to shape the way I approach my work today."

And wouldn't you know it, Cheryl’s first connection to RLDatix began before she joined us.

As a former PolicyStat customer and later an outside consultant working with PolicyStat, she  experienced its value firsthand.

Knowing the challenges healthcare leaders face when managing policies, compliance, quality, and safety initiatives, Cheryl mentioned that "when PolicyStat became part of RLDatix, joining the company felt like a natural next step."

Now, as a Senior Solution Consultant in the U.S., Cheryl brings her healthcare experience into every customer conversation letting that perspective shape how she approaches her role because “in some ways, I think of our customers as patients,” Cheryl says.

She described how rewarding it is to step back and walk customers through the value in their current work and how every improvement upon that has the potential to impact patient care.

From critical care nursing to quality leadership to solution consulting, Cheryl’s work has always centered on helping healthcare teams improve care, strengthen safety, and create better experiences for patients. Her role on Team RLD is just a continuation of the mission that guided her career.

Stay tuned for more stories from our team members!

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