Most Empowering Chief Nursing Officers Making an Impact In 2024

Preserving Sanity Nursing Strategies for Burnout and Well-Being

Data Empowerment Nursing Informa cs in Healthcare Evolu on

Editor’s

Note Enhancing Care with Empathy and Empowerment

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erving as caregivers for patients, nurses play a fundamental role in healthcare and are duly regarded as frontline healthcare workers. Leading these skilled and vital professionals are Chief Nursing Officers (CNOs), who serve as top-level executives in healthcare institutions. CNOs are tasked with overseeing the nursing department to guarantee the provision of exceptional patient care. In today's world with the ongoing global pandemic and shifting demographics, the role of CNOs has become even more important. Through their strategic leadership, compassion, and commitment to excellence, they not only enhance the quality of patient care but also cultivate a culture of empowerment and innovation among nursing teams. Insights Care is privileged to honor some of the exemplary figures in this exclusive edition of 'Most Empowering Chief Nursing Officers Making an Impact In 2024.' As the backbone of patient care, CNOs play a key role in shaping the future of healthcare delivery with their innovative approaches and dedication.

While flipping through the pages of this edition, you will discover stories of strength, courage and determination. From heading initiatives to improve patient outcomes to advocating for diversity, equity, and inclusion within the nursing profession, these architects of care are driving transformational change. As we celebrate the achievements of these remarkable leaders, let us also reflect on the broader significance of their work. Through their tireless dedication, they are not just driving meaningful change within healthcare but also inspiring millions of aspiring professionals with their exceptional work. By ensuring the delivery of safe, effective, and compassionate nursing care within healthcare organizations, CNOs contribute to improved patient outcomes and organizational success. This edition serves as a tribute to the most empowering Chief Nursing Officers of 2024 and inspires others to continue striving for excellence in their own leadership journeys. Have an empowering read ahead!

Managing Editor

CON T N

Profiles 08

Crystal Farmer

A Dedicated Leader in Providing Pa ent Care

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Donna Richardson

Compassion in Ac on: Leading the Way in Pa ent-Centered Care

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Katherine Abraham Evans Empowering Pa ents With Value-Based Cardiology Care

Articles

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Preserving Sanity

Nursing Strategies for Burnout and Well-Being

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Data Empowerment

Nursing Informa cs in Healthcare Evolu on

Editor-in-Chief Chidiebere Moses Ogbodo

Managing Editor Pearl Shaw

Executive Editor Natalie May

Visualiser

Art & Design Head

Co-designer

Art & Picture Editor

David King

Samuel Martinez

Paul Belin

Grace Brown

Business Development Manager Emily Jones

Marketing Manager Bill Thompson

Business Development Executives Anna Smith, Jack Miller

Assistant Technical Head Joseph Taylor

Technical Head Jacob Smile

Digital Marketing Manager

Assistant Digital Marketing Manager

Alina Sege

Daniel Jones

Sales Executives Mike, Carl, John

Technical Consultants David, Robert

SME-SMO Executives Gemson

Research Analyst

Circulation Manager

Eric Smith

James Carter

[email protected]

March, 2024 Contact Us: Insights Success Media Tech LLC 555 Metro Place North, Suite 100, Dublin, OH 43017, United States Phone - +1614-602-4132 Email: [email protected] For Subscription: www.insightscare.com

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Featuring Person

Company

Crystal Farmer Senior Vice President, Augusta Health Chief Operating Officer augustahealth.com and Chief Nursing Officer

Donna Richardson Chief Nursing Executive and EVP

Parkland Health parklandhealth.org

Katherine Abraham Evans Chief Nursing Officer

Novocardia novocardia health.com

Laura Bignell Chief Nursing Officer

The Royal Women's Hospital thewomens.org.au

Laura Wood Chief Nursing Officer

Boston Children's Hospital childrenshospital.org

Brief

rystal Farmer A Dedicated Leader in Providing Pa ent Care

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leader's actions are the support system of their thoughts. Things from managing teams to executing tasks within any department are crucial for an effective leader. For a leader in healthcare, effective communication and fostering relationships with patients strengthen the hospital's position.

Exemplifying all these skills is Crystal Farmer- Senior Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, and Chief Nursing Officer who oversees the financial operations of the nursing department at Augusta Health. Crystal balances the organization's financial realities with delivering high-quality patient care. Her role is all about providing personalized care and maintaining effective communication with an unwavering focus on patient satisfaction and outcomes. Let's learn more about her approaches and how it all started: Patient-Centered Approach Crystal is passionate about ensuring that her nursing staff understands the importance of empathy, compassion, and respect when interacting with patients. She and her team prioritize comfort, safety, and well-being throughout their healthcare journey for patients. When dealing with a difficult situation, she always asks her team, "Where is the patient in this?" This helps her refocus her attention and prioritize the work that needs to be done.

Crystal Farmer Senior Vice President, Chief Opera ng Officer, and Chief Nursing Officer

Augusta Health

Effective Staffing: Crystal works closely with her staffing team to ensure appropriate nurse-to-patient ratios. By maintaining optimal staffing levels, she recognizes that the team can provide individualized care, address patient needs promptly, and enhance overall patient outcomes. Ÿ Quality Monitoring and Improvement: Augusta Ÿ

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Crystal has a strong desire to make a difference and a posi ve impact on people's lives. 8

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Most Empowering Chief Nursing Officers Making an Impact In 2024

Health establishes systems to continuously monitor and evaluate patient care quality. Crystal notes that this includes regular assessments, audits, and feedback loops to identify areas for improvement and implement necessary changes.

also collaborates with the supply chain and procurement teams to identify cost-effective options without compromising patient safety and quality of care. Key Steps in Enhancing Nursing Care Ensuring that all nursing staff provide quality care and follow established protocols is top of mind for Crystal, which is why she focuses on the following steps to continue to enhance care:

How It All Started Both personal and professional motivations inspired Crystal to enter the healthcare sector. She strongly desired to make a difference and positively impact people's lives. For these reasons, Crystal saw nursing as an opportunity to contribute to the well-being and recovery of people. Before becoming a nurse, she always found fulfillment in being there for others in times of need, providing comfort, compassion, and support.

Comprehensive Training and Orientation: Crystal provides thorough training and orientation programs to all nursing staff members, ensuring they have the knowledge and skills to deliver high-quality care while adhering to protocols. Ÿ Clear Communication Channels: Crystal fosters open communication channels within the nursing department by rounding, attending staff meetings, leveraging social media platforms, and attending shared governance, where staff members can ask questions, seek clarifications, and report concerns. This facilitates knowledge sharing and helps address any deviations from established protocols promptly. Ÿ Establishing Metrics and Quality Performance Evaluations: Regular quality performance evaluations with dashboards and constructive feedback sessions are conducted to assess adherence to protocols and identify areas for improvement. These evaluations also recognize and appreciate exemplary performance.

Ÿ

Professionally, Crystal was interested in science, the human body, and lifelong learning. The ever-evolving nature of healthcare offered her a dynamic and intellectually stimulating environment. She always felt that healthcare was the best of both worlds- it combines her passion for science and learning with the ability to help others. Building a Unified Healthcare Team To promote collaboration and teamwork among nursing staff and other healthcare professionals, Crystal Organizes regular interdisciplinary meetings where healthcare professionals from various departments can exchange ideas, share best practices, and collaborate on patient care and organizational projects Ÿ Is actively involved in licensed, unlicensed, and nonnursing professionals to participate in Shared Governance Council Ÿ Conducts team-building activities and events that foster strong relationships, trust, and effective communication among the nursing and non-nursing staff Ÿ Encourages nurses to join committees and project teams in the organization to improve ownership and strengthen team collaboration Ÿ

Efficient Use of Tech It can be challenging to stay updated with advancements in nursing practice and technologies with a busy schedule. However, it remains a professional and personal priority for Crystal. The easiest way to stay abreast of the latest advancements is to join professional organizations such as the American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL), American Nursing Association (ANA), and American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE). She proactively seeks local and national professional development opportunities such as webinars, seminars, conferences, and workshops.

Skillful Healthcare Leader

Collaboration and networking with industry experts is another excellent way to stay current. Crystal remains a lifelong learner by regularly researching scholarly articles, journals, and online resources. She engages with nurses and nursing within the organization to stay informed about emerging trends and innovations at the bedside.

Crystal notes that staffing optimization and resource allocation are the skills she uses most in her role. A significant portion of the nursing budget is allocated to staffing. Her team optimizes staffing levels to meet patient care needs while balancing our financial constraints. She

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Nursing Leadership and Empowerment: Fostering an environment where nursing team members are empowered, engaged, and recognized as leaders. This involves providing opportunities for professional growth, supporting leadership development initiatives, and creating a supportive work environment that values nursing expertise and contributions.

A Strategic Thought Leader Crystal developed a formal collaboration structure with educational institutions to expand nursing programs, increase the number of nursing graduates, and ensure that graduates are equipped with the necessary skills to meet the demands of the healthcare industry. She invested in nurse leadership development, nurturing, empowering, and preparing nurses for leadership roles. Elaborating more on it, Crystal highlights that they have,

Addressing Health Disparities and Social Determinants of Health: Her vision for the future includes nursing actively addressing health disparities and recognizing the impact of social determinants of health on patient outcomes in our community. This involves advocating for equitable access to healthcare, implementing culturally sensitive care practices, and collaborating with community organizations to improve health outcomes for all patients.

1. Implemented mentorship programs to attract and retain new nursing graduates by leveraging and engaging experienced nurses to provide guidance, support, and professional development opportunities to new nurses. This has resulted in a nurturing environment that encourages them to stay in the profession. 2. Leveraged technology and streamlined workflows to improve efficiency and alleviate some burdens on nursing staff by automating administrative tasks and documentation. 3. Crystal actively advocates for the nursing profession at organizational and policy levels. This work includes highlighting the importance of nursing, addressing legislative and regulatory issues that impact nursing practice, and promoting the value of nursing in healthcare delivery.

Advice to Fellow Healthcare Professionals Crystal has the following key takeaways for fellow healthcare professionals: Embrace Lifelong Learning: Nursing is a dynamic field with continuous advancements. Stay committed to ongoing learning, seek opportunities to expand your knowledge and skills, and be open to embracing new technologies and practices. Ÿ Build a Strong Support Network: Surround yourself with mentors, colleagues, and other healthcare professionals who can guide and support you in your journey. Collaborate with others to enhance your knowledge and contribute to the field. Ÿ Cultivate Resilience and Adaptability: Nursing can be challenging, but it is also highly rewarding. Cultivate resilience, adapt to change, and maintain a positive mindset. Embrace new opportunities, challenges, and innovations that arise in the field. Ÿ Advocate for Patients and the Profession: Remember your "why." Remember why you wanted to be a nurse. What attracted you to the profession? Participate in activities that help you connect with patients and families. As a nurse, you have a unique opportunity to advocate for your patients and influence healthcare policies. Stay informed about healthcare issues, engage in professional organizations, and advocate for the best interests of patients and the nursing profession. Ÿ

Vision for the Future Crystal recognizes the importance of being a forwardthinker and her vision for the future includes: Patient-Centered Care: Providing personalized care plans, effective communication, and an unwavering focus on patient satisfaction and outcomes. Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Striving for a future where nursing collaborates seamlessly with other healthcare professionals, fostering a culture of teamwork and shared decision-making. Excellence in Clinical Practice: Continuing the tradition of having a nursing team that consistently demonstrates excellence in clinical practice. This involves remaining upto-date with the latest evidence-based guidelines, participating in ongoing professional development, and providing high-quality, safe, compassionate care.

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Preserving Sanity

Nursing Strategies for Burnout and Well-Being

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n the demanding and high-pressure environment of healthcare, nurses often face significant challenges that can lead to burnout and impact their well-being. Addressing these issues is crucial not only for the mental and physical health of nurses but also for the quality of patient care they provide. This article explores effective strategies for nurses to combat burnout, prioritize wellbeing, and preserve their sanity in the face of demanding work environments. Understanding Burnout in Nursing Burnout among nurses is a prevalent issue characterized by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and a reduced sense of personal accomplishment. Factors such as heavy workloads, long hours, inadequate staffing, and exposure to traumatic events can contribute to burnout, leading to decreased job satisfaction and potential negative impacts on patient care. Strategies for Combating Burnout Nursing Strategies for Burnout and Well-Being focus on promoting a healthy work environment and supporting nurses' mental and emotional health. These strategies include: 1. Self-Care Practices: Encouraging nurses to prioritize self-care through activities like mindfulness, exercise, and hobbies to reduce stress and prevent burnout. 2. Peer Support Programs: Implementing peer support programs where nurses can share experiences, seek

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advice, and provide emotional support to one another, fostering a sense of community and reducing feelings of isolation. 3. Mental Health Resources: Providing access to mental health resources such as counseling services, support groups, and stress management workshops to help nurses cope with the emotional demands of their work. 4. Work-Life Balance: Promoting work-life balance by offering flexible scheduling, time off, and opportunities for rest and relaxation to prevent exhaustion and improve overall well-being. 5. Training and Education: Offering training on stress management, resilience building, and coping strategies to equip nurses with the skills needed to navigate challenging situations and maintain their well-being.

engagement, leading to a more positive work environment, increased job motivation, and a sense of fulfillment in their roles. This, in turn, fosters a culture of excellence and continuous improvement in healthcare delivery. 5. Prevention of Burnout and Mental Health Issues: Prioritizing well-being initiatives helps in preventing burnout, stress, and mental health issues among nurses. By addressing these challenges proactively, healthcare organizations can create a supportive environment that promotes mental wellness and resilience among their nursing staff. The importance of well-being in nursing extends beyond individual nurses to impact patient care quality, organizational performance, and overall healthcare outcomes. Prioritizing well-being initiatives is essential for creating a sustainable and thriving healthcare environment

Recognition and Appreciation: Recognizing and appreciating nurses for their hard work and dedication through rewards, incentives, and acknowledgment of their contributions to boost morale and job satisfaction.

Conclusion

By implementing these nursing strategies for burnout and well-being, healthcare organizations can create a supportive and nurturing environment that prioritizes the mental health and overall well-being of their nursing staff.

By implementing strategies to combat burnout, prioritize well-being, and preserve sanity, nurses can safeguard their mental and physical health while maintaining their passion for nursing. Creating a supportive work environment, promoting self-care practices, and fostering a culture of well-being are essential steps in ensuring the resilience and longevity of nurses in the healthcare profession. Ultimately, by investing in the well-being of nurses, healthcare organizations can enhance patient outcomes, improve staff retention, and cultivate a culture of compassion and excellence in patient care.

Importance of Well-Being in Nursing The importance of well-being in nursing cannot be overstated, as it directly impacts both nurses and patient care. Here are key points highlighting the significance of well-being in nursing:

-Natalie May

1. Patient Safety and Satisfaction: Well-being among nurses is crucial for ensuring patient safety and satisfaction. When nurses are well-supported and mentally healthy, they can provide better care, leading to improved patient outcomes and experiences. 2. Workforce Retention and Cost Savings: Prioritizing well-being in nursing helps in retaining experienced nurses, reducing turnover rates, and ultimately saving costs associated with recruitment and training of new staff. This contributes to the stability and efficiency of healthcare organizations. 3. Quality of Care: Nurses' well-being directly influences the quality of care they provide. By promoting wellbeing, nurses can maintain high levels of job performance, compassion, and resilience, which are essential for delivering quality healthcare services. 4. Professional Satisfaction and Engagement: Wellbeing enhances nurses' professional satisfaction and

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Donna D

Richardson Compassion in Ac on: Leading the Way in Pa ent-Centered Care

C

Let's dive in to learn about Donna's contribution to the field of nursing that makes her worthy of the title "Most Empowering Chief Nursing Officers Making an Impact in 2024."

ompassion is an essential component of nursing care that ensures patients receive the best possible care and support during their health journey. For Donna Richardson, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, Chief Nursing Executive and Executive Vice President at Parkland Health, compassion has been a guiding principle in her career as a nurse. Donna's interest in a career that focuses on giving back to others led her to pursue nursing as a profession, and her dedication to patient-centered care has been at the forefront of her success.

Journey So Far Donna's journey as a nurse began as a staff nurse in Labor and Delivery. She gradually came up through the ranks to a Chief Nursing Officer position at another organization. She obtained her Doctorate in Nursing Practice and started looking for opportunities that aligned her personal mission with the mission of a healthcare organization in serving the underserved community. This led her to Parkland Health. "I have enjoyed the journey for nursing at Parkland and have seen the passion and quality excel as the nursing practice voice has grown," she adds.

In her role at Parkland Health, Donna oversees and leads all nursing practice, ensuring that the nursing staff has the necessary resources, tools, and autonomy to provide the highest level of nursing care to patients. Her commitment to creating a culture that values the hospital's staff and supports their growth and development has been a guiding principle throughout her career.

Values and Mission Donna's leadership has been critical in advancing the nursing profession's goals, such as promoting evidencebased practice, patient-centered care, and interprofessional collaboration. She has also played a key role in ensuring that the nursing staff at Parkland Health is well-equipped to provide high-quality care during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The mission of Parkland is to advance wellness, relieve suffering, develop and educate. Parkland serves as our community's public health system and our vision and passion is advancing healthcare for the people we serve. The Nursing Vision is the following:

Donna Richardson's impact on the nursing profession is evident in her dedication, leadership and commitment to advancing nursing practice. She is a role model to many nurses and an inspiration to those who aspire to make a difference in healthcare. It is this dedication and passion for nursing that have been a driving force behind her success in the industry.

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We are as diverse and unique as the patients we serve. We promote wellness, healing and alleviation of suffering through compassionate care. Ÿ We lead our profession by fostering a positive practice environment and transforming care through collaborative relationships, education, research and evidence-based practice. Ÿ We create a lasting impact and take pride in achieving exemplary nursing outcomes. Ÿ Ÿ

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Donna Richardson DNP, RN, NEA-BC, Chief Nursing Execu ve, EVP Parkland Health

Donna says, "As you walk the halls of Parkland, you will see compassion in every interaction with patients and our staff. Our patients come from a variety of backgrounds, cultures and socioeconomic settings seeking care with limited or no funding, and our staff pride themselves in taking care of our patients as if they were our family members. We have many internal recognition programs and platforms where staff can recognize one another for going above and beyond, living out our mission, vision and values."

Donna's Key Role at Parkland Health Donna's role as the Chief Nursing Executive and Executive Vice President at Parkland Health involves being responsible for overseeing and leading all nursing practice. "I represent over 4000 nursing voices, which include LVNs, RNs and APRNs. It is my job to ensure that the nursing staff has the resources, tools and autonomy to provide the highest level of nursing care to our patients. Creating a culture in which our staff feel valued, supported, and have opportunities to grow and give back to the nursing profession, has been a guiding principle for nursing," she emphasizes.

Overcoming Challenges Donna highlights that one of the biggest challenges after the pandemic has been staffing. "During the pandemic, we saw many nurses leave traditional nursing roles, which has created staffing challenges. We have worked diligently to assure our nursing staff are recognized, appreciated, and have a voice in their nursing practice. Attention on both recruitment and retention has been a continued focus and priority," she adds.

Leveraging Technological Advances "COVID-19 helped expedite some of our technology advancements over the past few years," Donna said. "We have made significant progress in the virtual care space, increasing tele-visits for our patients and staff, and have included our direct care nurses in various other technology enhancements."

"The other greatest challenge has been the increase in workplace violence. There has been a great deal of work done in this area to support and protect our staff, but it continues to be an area that will be a focus for the immediate future."

"During the COVID-19 pandemic, when visitors were not allowed on campus, a group of inter-professional team members created a virtual support group for our patients to interact virtually with other patients and trained personnel to offer support and counseling services."

Words of Wisdom To the budding entrepreneurs and enthusiasts who desire to venture into the nursing field, Donna advises, "Nursing is an amazing career with so many possibilities for the future. The nursing profession has long been recognized as the most trusted and ethical profession by the Gallup poll for 21 consecutive years. It is both a rewarding, inspiring and challenging career. Every day is different, and at the end of the day, you know you impacted someone and made a difference in their life."

She continues, "The visitor restrictions led to the improvement of the inpatient "footwall" experience, enabling patients, and loved ones to visit with one another through the tv in the patient rooms. As these virtual care and technology advances continue to grow with telehealth, this increases patients' access to healthcare through virtual means and reduces their travel time for appointments." Compassion as the Key to Care

Scaling Services in 2024 and Beyond Parkland's ICARE core values guide nurses' behaviors and interactions with each other, and how they serve the community. Compassion is one of Parkland's core values: Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ

Nursing services will continue to support the growth of Parkland in the health care system and community. Donna's role will be aligned with the strategic plan for Parkland over the next few years, focusing on:

I: Integrity C: Compassion and Collaboration A: Accountability R: Respect E: Equity

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Health Equity-decreasing health disparities Quality and Patient Safety-working toward zero harm Staff and Provider Engagement-making Parkland a place where people thrive and succeed

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I represent over 4000 nursing voices, which include LVNs, RNs and APRNs. It is my job to ensure that the nursing staff has the resources, tools, and autonomy to provide the highest level of nursing care to our pa ents. Crea ng a culture in which our staff feel valued, supported, and have opportuni es to grow and give back to the nursing profession, has been a guiding principle for nursing.

Teaching, Research and Innovation Integrated Healthcare Model-providing the right care for patients, that is centered on their needs Ÿ Digital Health Solutions-Advance access through digital health technologies Ÿ Taxpayer investment addresses the cost of care while improving outcomes. Ÿ Ÿ

Recognition and Achievements Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ

Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ

2008 DFW Great 100 Nurses Recipient 2015 GEM Nursing Regional Winner for Advancing and Leading the Profession 2018 D Magazine Nursing Excellence Award Active member of the Texas Organization of Nurse Executives, the American Nurses Association, and the Texas Nurses Association (TNA). Chair of TNA Nursing Practice Committee (2012-2016) Nursing Representative on Governmental Affairs Committee for TNA TNA representative for Texas Board of Nursing – Nursing Practice Advisory Committee National Scholars Honor Society ANCC Nurse Executive Advanced - Board Certification (NEA-BC)

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Data Empowerment

Nursing

Informatics in Healthcare

Evolution

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s the world moves further into the digital age, where convenience is just a click away, the healthcare sector also embraces the benefits of this technological shift. Amidst this evolution is the specialized field of nursing informatics that blends nursing, computer, and information sciences to maintain and advance medical data and systems to support nursing practice and enhance patient care outcomes. This fusion of tech and care has demonstrated its value across global healthcare systems by improving communication and guaranteeing the provision of secure and high-quality care in healthcare environments.

These specialists are instrumental in analyzing, designing, implementing, and evaluating information systems that streamline nursing workflows and support evidence-based practice. By leveraging data and technology, these professionals foster efficient communication, facilitate decision-making, and ensure the delivery of safe and quality care. Benefits Nursing informatics offers numerous advantages in healthcare, enhancing patient care, safety, and outcomes. Some key benefits include:

Let us take you into the world of futuristic nursing where every touchpoint of care is elevated with a simple click.

1. Improved Communication: Nurse informaticists enhance communication between healthcare organizations by analyzing critical data and facilitating efficient information exchange. 2. Enhanced Patient Care and Safety: Nursing informatics systems ensure more efficient electronic health records, better IT infrastructure, and improved patient care outcomes, ultimately enhancing patient safety and quality of care. 3. Streamlined Workflows: By automating care processes and transitioning from paper-based to electronic systems, nursing informatics streamlines workflows, reduces errors, and ensures accurate and timely documentation, leading to more efficient healthcare delivery. 4. Empowerment Through Technology: Nursing informatics empowers patients by providing easier

Driving Forces behind Nursing Informatics Nursing informatics involves utilizing technologies like computerized provider order entry (CPOE), electronic medical records (EMRs), and various data systems to ensure efficient communication, facilitate decision-making, and deliver safe and optimal care to patients. Nurse informaticists, also known as nursing informatics specialists, are registered nurses who integrate nursing science, computer science, and information science to manage and communicate data, information, and knowledge in nursing practice. They play a key role in developing evidence-based policies, procedures, and technologies in healthcare organizations, ultimately contributing to the continuous improvement of healthcare technology and patient safety.

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access to their medical records, enabling them to track symptoms, medications, and treatments more effectively, thus promoting patient engagement and self-care. 5. Time-Saving Solutions: By automating tasks like warning healthcare professionals of potential contraindications and providing quick access to clinical guidelines, nursing informatics saves time for nurses, allowing them to focus more on direct patient care and decision-making.

The Future of Nursing Informatics The future of nursing informatics holds immense promise in advancing healthcare delivery. Rapid technological advancements, including artificial intelligence, machine learning, and big data analytics, will empower nurses to harness vast data for predictive and personalized care. Interoperability and seamless integration of systems will facilitate information exchange and care coordination across various healthcare settings. Telehealth and remote monitoring technologies will enable nurses to provide virtual care, reaching underserved populations and enhancing patient engagement and self-management.

Challenges Some of the challenges that healthcare organizations face when implementing nursing informatics systems include:

Conclusion

1. User Adoption: One significant challenge is ensuring that users, including nurses and other healthcare professionals, accept and effectively use the informatics technology in their daily practice. Factors such as user attitudes, beliefs, motivation, skills, and support can influence the adoption of these systems. 2. Technical Issues: Implementing informatics technology can be complex, especially for users who are not familiar with its features and functions. Overcoming technical challenges and ensuring that users are proficient in using the technology is crucial for successful implementation. 3. Organizational Barriers: Healthcare organizations may encounter resistance to change, lack of resources, or incompatible organizational cultures that hinder the smooth integration of nursing informatics systems. Overcoming these barriers requires effective communication, training, and support throughout the implementation process. 4. Ethical Dilemmas: Implementing informatics technology raises ethical considerations related to patient privacy, data security, and the responsible use of technology in healthcare. Addressing these ethical dilemmas and ensuring compliance with regulations are essential challenges for healthcare organizations.

In the field of healthcare, the integration of technology has become crucial to improving patient outcomes and streamlining processes. At the forefront of this transformation lies the field of nursing informatics, a discipline that empowers nurses to deliver evidence-based, patient-centered care, enhance clinical workflows, and advance medical research by strategically leveraging data and technology. As healthcare continues to embrace a data-driven approach, nursing informatics stands as a cornerstone in transforming care delivery, improving patient outcomes, and shaping the future of nursing practice. By harnessing the power of data and technology, nursing informatics empowers nurses to navigate the complexities of modern healthcare, ensuring that patients receive the highest quality of care in an increasingly digital world.

-Natalie May

By addressing these challenges through strategies like user training, stakeholder engagement, and organizational readiness assessments, healthcare organizations can successfully implement nursing informatics systems to enhance patient care outcomes and streamline healthcare delivery.

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Abraham Evans

Empowering Pa ents With Value-Based Cardiology Care

A

Inspiration Behind

healthy heart equals a healthy life. As a society, we are living far away from this motto.In the United States, there is a heart attack every 40 seconds, which equates to 805,000 people annually. Our healthcare system needs innovative tools to help patients avoid major cardiovascular events by providing care that is easily accessible and affordable.

Dr. Evans's inspiration to venture into the healthcare sector comes from her grandparents. She has always enjoyed spending time with older adults, in particular with her grandparents. However, she has seen the struggles that they had when venturing through the healthcare system and that drew her to nursing. "It is extremely difficult to be a patient and I wanted to find ways to improve the healthcare experience," says Dr. Evans.

Considering the severity of cardiovascular illness in our country, implementing new models of care is critical. Katherine Abraham Evans, the Chief Nursing Officer has decades of experience caring for heart failure patients. After working in a variety of different care settings, she understands value-based care must involve preventing hospitalizations, nurturing care team relationships, and developing trust. To meet this need, she launched an innovative heart failure program at Novocardia (a valuebased cardiovascular disease platform)—combining individualized health coaching and remote patient monitoring—to improve the lives of heart failure patients, focus on proactive and preventive care, and decrease the need for hospitalizations.

Climbing the Ladder Dr. Evans began her nursing career in intensive care and cardiology. Her first job as a nurse practitioner was working for a private cardiology practice. From there, she transitioned to value-based care delivery with Optum for ten years. During that time she also served as the Director of the Doctor of Nursing Practice program at Georgia State University.

Through this innovative program, Dr. Evans has empowered patients seeking cardiology care by reducing their financial healthcare burden (as the program decreases costs by avoiding ER and hospital visits) and building stronger care team relationships,leading to better health for patients with heart failure. Let's dive in to read more about Dr. Evans innovative heart failure program empowering patients with value-based cardiology care.

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Then she moved to the health plan side of health care with UnitedHealthcare Retiree Solutions where she served as Chief Nursing Officer. She joined Novocardia with a unique breadth of experience in healthcare, understanding the needs of patients, payers and value-based care delivery. Using this knowledge, she worked with her team to create a novel heart failure program, a hypertension program, as well as a care delivery model in value-based cardiology arrangements. Her goals are always aligned with patients at the forefront to ensure an improved experience with the highest quality care. Key Services at Novocardia At Novocardia, the goal is to always provide the highest quality of care to any patient who is seen by the staff. This is reflected in the company's core values, mission, and vision which are as follows: Core values: Connectedness, resilience, integrity, visionary, joyfulness. Ÿ Mission: Transforming the delivery of cardiovascular care for all. Ÿ Vision: To be the national cardiovascular network of choice for high-quality, high-value care. Ÿ

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Dr. Evans ensures this care objective is met across the spectrum from the front desk staff greeting patients, the clinical staff and all team members who work to improve the patient's care.

ensure everything we do considers the patient, their family and their experience with our teams," says Dr. Evans.

"We have enabled new and innovative programs to bring value-based care upstream. This includes our flagship heart failure program which is a nurse practitioner-led model involving a multidisciplinary team for patients with chronic heart failure. The team delivers care in person, virtually and receives data from remote patient monitoring devices," highlights Katherine. This program allows staff to identify exacerbations early so patients are readily treated on an outpatient basis, avoiding hospitalization. The patients are also provided with intensive education to ensure that they can manage and understand how to remain healthy. With this program, patients have seen huge success by feeling more empowered and staying healthier.

The care practices at Novocardia have incredibly high NPS scores demonstrating that patients are very satisfied with the care that they receive. "We continue striving to increase those scores through improved patient access opportunities with our clinical programs and technology advancements," adds Dr. Evans. She aims to meet patients where they are on their healthcare journey providing personalized approaches to access.

Current Endeavours

The Challenge to Balance the Nursing Profession with Patient Care Delivery "Our country is suffering from one of the largest nursing shortages in recent history and it continues to worsen. Nurses are enduring burnout and need new models of care that support the nursing profession as and improve patient care delivery," highlights Dr. Evans.

Leaning Towards Patient Empowerment Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States for both men and women. Several critical areas call for attention: prevention, gender disparities and social determinants of health. When it comes to women, they often do not realize their risks for cardiovascular disease and many times symptoms present in non-specific ways. For example, symptoms of a heart attack in a female may be nausea and stomach pain. Women may dismiss these symptoms, when in fact they need to seek treatment. "The goals of our programs are to empower patients with the knowledge to manage their disease process and seek care when necessary," adds Dr. Evans

She continues, "Finding the balance of supporting our nursing teams and delivering excellent care can be challenging but is critical work to the future of our workforce. Listening to our nurses, hearing their concerns and keeping their needs at the forefront of decisions is imperative." Words of Wisdom To budding entrepreneurs and enthusiasts who desire to venture into the field of nursing, Dr. Evans advises, "There are infinite opportunities to improve patient care. Find the one that excites you and where you know you can make a difference."

Leveraging Technological Advances Technology creates many new opportunities to bring continuity of care to patients in a convenient fashion. "Technology is critical to our programs and many of our programs are a virtual first approach. We utilize telehealth and remote patient monitoring devices to make care accessible. At the same time, there is no replacement for face-to-face provider interaction. Our programs find the balance between the convenience and access of technology and the in-person provider relationship," adds Dr. Evans.

Looking Ahead Dr. Evans sees an incredible opportunity to create value in cardiology through value-based models. This includes improving the care of heart failure patients, helping patients prevent new coronary disease and overarchingly improving access to high-quality cardiovascular care. "Our models are uniquely designed to scale and care for large populations. We will bring the best cardiology value models to patients nationally through a hybrid model of virtual and in-person care," she concludes.

Role of Connectedness in Patient Care Connectedness is one of the core values at Novocardia values. And this permeates throughout all interactions within the organization from employees to patients. "We

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