#42 – Joe Moscola, EVP System Operations at Northwell Health

Expanding Responsibilities in Health Operations

Joe Moscola, EVP at Northwell Health, has worn many hats over his 17-year tenure, from HR leader to his current role overseeing system operations. As Moscola describes, his current role involves supervising Northwell Health’s shared services, which include IT, digital, facilities, and real estate management—amounting to nearly $1.8 billion in organizational budget. These areas cover diverse yet essential facets of operational and patient support services, allowing him to work across the board without constraints, which he considers an ideal setup to foster impactful changes.

Building New Companies within Northwell Health

Under Moscola’s leadership, Northwell Health has developed several entrepreneurial ventures aimed at enhancing patient experience and internal efficiency. Among these are Northwell Direct, a direct-to-employer healthcare service; FlexStaff, a staffing and recruitment service Moscola initiated during his HR tenure; and Northwell Construction, which centralizes construction and facility management services. Each company represents a commitment to operational excellence, blending profit-driven efficiency with the health system’s not-for-profit mission to enhance healthcare access and experience.

A Personal Journey from Clinical to Operational Excellence

Moscola’s career path began in clinical care as a cardiac surgery physician assistant, a role that profoundly shaped his understanding of patient needs. This clinical foundation drove his eventual shift to leadership and administration, where he saw the potential to amplify his impact on a larger scale. Recalling pivotal moments in his clinical rotations, Moscola reflects on his experiences with underserved communities, which fostered his dedication to addressing the complexities of healthcare through both operational and human-centric solutions.

Prioritizing Strategic Partnerships for Innovation

Northwell Health’s approach to technological advancement often involves strategic partnerships, a decision Moscola navigates with care. Highlighting partnerships with industry leaders like Google for cloud infrastructure and Salesforce for CRM systems, Moscola describes how they evaluate each decision to either build internally or partner externally based on long-term efficiency and growth. Such collaborations enable Northwell to leverage best-in-class technologies while preserving resources for in-house innovations in areas like ChatGPT-powered assistance tools.

Fostering a Patient-Centric Healthcare Ecosystem

In his conversation, Moscola emphasizes that Northwell Health is not just a health system but an ecosystem, committed to becoming a national leader in quality, efficiency, and patient-centered care. This philosophy shapes decisions from enhancing digital platforms to pioneering patient access initiatives, as seen with Northwell’s foray into virtual care models and phase-one clinical trials in collaboration with private equity-backed partners.

Embracing the Future of Personalized Care with Ethical Caution

Looking ahead, Moscola speaks passionately about the importance of balancing technological advancements with ethical considerations, particularly in the context of rapidly developing fields like gene therapy and precision medicine. He envisions a healthcare future that upholds equity while pushing the boundaries of personalized care, even as costs and access disparities present ongoing challenges. His wish list? A healthcare model that not only leverages advanced technology but also preserves the essence of human-centered care, where each patient receives treatment tailored to their unique circumstances and needs.

Joe Moscola’s insights reveal a clear-eyed approach to transforming healthcare operations, focused on strategic innovation, partnerships, and an unwavering commitment to enhancing patient care at Northwell Health. Through calculated decision-making and a willingness to challenge conventions, Moscola is helping Northwell Health shape the future of patient care delivery on a local and national scale.