Kristel Hladky
Chief Operating Officer
What I Do Here
I joined SparkChange in 2019 as the first team member outside the co-founder group. As we have grown, I have worked in several capacities and have loved all aspects of helping our team and clients. My current role positions me exactly where I want to be—supporting our team in everything from strategic decision-making to day-to-day operations.
My SparkChange "Why"
In an industry as important as healthcare, it shouldn't be too much to ask for our clients to have what they need to run their businesses successfully. Making things easy is at the heart of what we do at SparkChange. While it's rewarding to hear from clients when we've solved a problem they didn't think could be solved, it is also a reminder of how much work remains.
What I Love About SparkChange
We have a team of intelligent, creative DOers, and we solve problems. Whether working with clients to understand a need or internal collaboration, critical thinking, creative problem-solving, and the capability to leverage technology to enact change never ceases to refresh and energize. I hear from our clients the impact we are making, and I also see it with our team—there is a deep sense of satisfaction in empowering someone to improve things.
Before SparkChange
I am entering my second decade in the healthcare revenue cycle, having spent the first 5+ years in the support organization of a large EHR vendor. From a technical support analyst role to management across several Revenue Cycle support teams, I learned firsthand the needs of our clients and the tenacity of smart people dedicated to solving problems. The experience molded me as a leader capable of tackling challenging circumstances to transform escalated solution spaces into high-performing, efficient teams. It also solidified the importance of putting the right people together with a vision to challenge the status quo.
When I'm Not Working
My husband, JR, and I are the proud parents of 6 amazing children who fill our home with lots of love and chaos. Together, we are navigating everything from the advent of teen years to changing diapers and everything in between, including our busy and fulfilling careers. You will find us, with our hands full, watching our kids in meets/matches/games/performances of all kinds, taking road trips, and enjoying the company of our loving and supportive family and friends. An avid reader since childhood, I continue to find any opportunity to expand my reading goals each year, including an ever-growing number of audiobooks and read-alouds.
The February 2024 cyberattack on a key healthcare vendor threw the industry into chaos, disrupting operations and leaving a mess that still isn’t fully cleaned up. Months later, hospitals are still dealing with delayed claims and cash flow issues, yet no one’s talking about it. In this post, Kristel Hladky sheds light on why this crisis still matters and why we can’t afford to ignore it.