Leaders

Women have long been the backbone of healthcare, shaping patient care and redefining leadership in a traditionally male-dominated space. Many are advancing through the ranks despite the disparity, promoting patientcentred care, spearheading creative health policies, and coaching the upcoming generation of professionals. Their capacity to lead with compassion, fortitude, and clinical knowledge is assisting in the transformation of the healthcare system into one that is more responsive, inclusive, and holistic. Dr Priyanka Velagapudi, Vice President (Nursing Operations) of Healthonus, exemplifies this transformation with her remarkable journey from a strong nursing background to an influential leadership role.

Dr Priyanka Velagapudi’s knowledge goes beyond clinical treatment to include hospital quality management and medical tourism, ensuring that facilities adhere to accreditation requirements such as NABH, JCI and QAI. Dr Priyanka is enrolled in Oxford University's Executive Leadership Program to refine her leadership abilities further, demonstrating her unwavering commitment to growth and excellence. Through her journey, Dr Priyanka inspires the next generation to pursue meaningful careers in healthcare, serving as a powerful example of the growing influence of women in leadership roles in the industry.

In a close interview with us, Dr Priyanka shared her incredible journey and her thoughts on the future of the healthcare industry.

What key moments in your professional journey have played a crucial role in shaping your career?

There were moments when I was demotivated and wondered why I had chosen to become a nurse. Despite numerous obstacles, I progressed from a ward nurse performing clinical and infection control tasks to an assistant, deputy, and eventually nursing superintendent. Bedside care eventually gave way to my current position as Vice President of Nursing Operations. The encouragement of Jaya Bharat Reddy Damireddy, General Secretary of ANES and Founder of Healthonus, who saw my talent and pushed me to pursue a career in clinical administration, was a significant turning point. His advice was extremely important to my development and achievement.

What essential skills have you developed in this field over the years? Which professional experiences have had the greatest impact on your journey?

I have always prioritised delivering high-quality care to patients. Over the years, one of the most essential skills I've developed is the ability to train and guide others, especially because many of the new professionals entering the field today come in with less hands-on experience than in the past. That’s why we strongly emphasise continuous training to enhance their skills and confidence. I am also a POSH External Member and a Certified POSH Trainer for compliance and training purposes.

Alongside clinical excellence, I believe strong communication is just as important, not only for patient welfare but also to ensure smooth coordination among the care team.

Since we specialise in home care nursing at Healthonus, the environment is very different from that of a hospital. In hospitals, staff are usually surrounded by senior nurses, doctors, and other medical support in case they face a difficult situation. However, in home care, nurses often work independently in the patient's home without immediate backup. This demands a greater level of critical thinking, confidence, and quick decision-making. It has taught me the importance of empowering nurses with the right training and resources so they can handle challenges on their own while maintaining a high standard of care.

Can you introduce us to Healthonus? As the Vice President of Healthonus, what are your key roles and responsibilities?

Healthonus delivers high-quality home care nursing, physiotherapy, and transition care services, bringing personalised healthcare to patients’ homes. Our offerings range from basic procedures like wound dressing and injections to complex post-operative and transplant care. 

We provide 12-hour and 24-hour nursing, general duty assistance, and specialised services such as tracheostomy care and critical care monitoring. Through our app, patients may schedule 30-minute services, follow their progress, and access their records. We operate in Hyderabad, Vijayawada, and Vizag and have a 20-bed rehabilitation unit and a 6-bed intensive care unit. I oversee growth, digital strategy, and nursing in my role as vice president. 

What key challenges do you face as a leader at Healthonus?

The lack of knowledge about high-quality home care nursing is one of the main issues I deal with as a leader at Healthonus. It is challenging to inform the public about the advantages of receiving care at home and to recruit skilled nurses because many people still only identify nursing with hospitals. Nursing attrition is another significant problem. Even with 15 days of training, many nurses depart for hospital positions because they are attracted to the controlled work conditions and prompt senior support. Because home care requires independence and specialised abilities, and because there is a shortage of experts qualified to provide this type of care, it is also challenging to retain competent nurses.

What guiding principles have contributed to your success as a healthcare practitioner?

As a healthcare professional, I think that the secret to successful teamwork and effective leadership is to listen well and remain approachable. Regardless of position, I make it a point to make sure that all of my staff members are at ease speaking with me. I respect different points of view and am aware that my own may not always coincide with others', which promotes candid communication and improved problem-solving. Creating an atmosphere where everyone feels heard and valued greatly improves team performance and the standard of patient care in the healthcare industry, where each team member plays a critical role.

Looking ahead, how do you envision the evolution of healthcare management in India? Which industry trends do you believe will have the most significant impact shortly?

With the use of technology, competent management, and patient-centred treatment, India's healthcare system is changing quickly. Patients are increasingly receiving individualised care as partners. Trained administrators guarantee quality as systems become more complicated. EHRS and telemedicine provide access, but they need to be scalable. Recovery depends on nurses, yet there are still shortages because of migration. Pay and recognition increases can be beneficial. A tech-driven, effective, and patient-centred system is being shaped by these changes.

Dr Priyanka Velagapudi, Vice President (Nursing Operations), Healthonus

 Holding a Bachelor’s, Master’s, a PhD in Nursing, and an MBA in Healthcare Management, Priyanka brings a comprehensive approach to healthcare leadership. As the Vice President (Nursing Operations) of Healthonus, Dr Priyanka is instrumental in driving operational excellence and ensuring patient-centred care.