At Accumen, our focus is helping healthcare get better, faster. Accumen is a technology enabled organization that partners with hospital, health system, commercial laboratory, and payer clients to provide strategic solutions and services that deliver sustainable performance improvements. Our offerings include lab and imaging transformation, consulting, supply chain optimization, lab outreach, 3D post-processing, patient blood management, test utilization, anemia management, and clinical data exchange. Accumen’s offerings enable our clients to achieve and exceed their cost, quality, and service targets, as well as deliver excellent patient care through evidence-based data and clinical decision support capabilities.

My position is focused on designing and maintaining a process for the safe administration and prevention of blood transfusions in the clinical setting, across the enterprise. In the collaboration with the hospital Transfusion Service Department, my role includes development of safety processes for clinicians and nursing as outlined in the standards of The Joint Commission, College of Anatomic Pathologists (CAP), AABB and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Through collaboration with all clinicians across the enterprise I assist in developing a comprehensive plan for every patient to mitigate their need for transfusion by managing their anemia appropriately. In addition to the management of anemia the strategies also include the development of surgical strategies that decrease the amount of blood lost, resulting in decreased risk and improved quality and safety. Since 2010, we have been able to decrease our transfusions by almost 50% resulting in a $3 million dollar per year acquisition cost savings that has been maintained over the last 9 years despite a 20-30% increase in patient discharges.FDA, CAP, and AABB Standard Implementation: Blood banking is one of the most regulated departments in the hospital. Understanding and implementation of all of the standards across the hospital is crucial to safe blood administration. Implementing those standards in the clinical setting is a very large part of my job. Anemia Management Optimization Clinic: Anemia is the number one health problem in the world according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Created and designed an Anemia Management Program for optimization of anemia prior to surgery and in hospital medical management of anemia. A business plan was developed that I presented to executive leadership for approval. Protocols were developed for nursing in Iron deficiency anemia and anemia of chronic disease.

I am working as a member of the contact tracing and tracking team supporting the Kansas University Health System response to COVID-19. Contact tracing and tracking is one key aspect in supporting patients with suspected or confirmed infection. As part of this process, health staff work with individuals to help them recall everyone with whom they have had close contact during the time frame where they may have been infectious.

Served as primary liaison to referring physicians and hospital personnel in caring for patients who are requesting non-blood management of their care. Developed and monitored the Blood Conservation and Outpatient Infusion Center operational budget. Collaborated with both internal and external healthcare providers and served as a resource regarding non-blood management. Assumed responsibility for providing programs and in-services to educate nursing staff regarding blood management including anemia management. Developed metrics and data bases for the auditing of blood transfusions. Utilized Six Sigma methodology to develop process improvement projects related to monitoring transfusions based on physician use. Collaborated with nursing staff, physicians, and other healthcare team members in identifying and implementing cost reduction initiatives which result in improving efficiency while maintaining quality of care. Provided and evaluated community education. Oversaw all operations of the Outpatient Infusion center and Blood Management program including 8 staff members. Chairman of the Nursing committee for the Society for the Advancement of Blood Management and assisted in the development of the committee the first 2 years of inception.Saint Luke’s Health System includes 18 hospitals and campuses across the Kansas City region, home care and hospice, behavioral health care, dozens of physician practices, a life care senior living community, and more. Saint Luke’s Health System is a faith-based, not-for-profit, aligned health system committed to the highest levels of excellence in providing health care and health-related services in a caring environment. We are dedicated to enhancing the physical, mental, and spiritual health of the diverse communities we serve.

Recover patient's post coronary angioplasty and various other cardiac procedures. Taught and interviewed patients about upcoming cardiac procedures such as pacemaker implantation, cardiac catheterization, electrophysiological (EP) studies and coronary angioplasty. Provided care both pre and post procedure including IV insertion and medications delivery.

Organized staffing and scheduling for 2 general surgeons, 2 OB GYN specialists, 1 Internal Medicine Physician and 8 nurses. Coordinated all preventative health care programs including scheduling of physical exams. Provided patient teaching for all non-blood management and surgical procedures. Provided teaching for various disease processesTriaged patients prior to appointment with physicianScheduled all surgeries and preop surgical appointments Acted as liaison between physicians, families and non-blood management centers. Coordinated the newly renovated office project including the ordering of supplies, architectural layout of the rooms and any office equipment needed for 10 Physicians offices, lab, Xray and Physical Therapy.

Designed and opened new holding area for cardiac catheterization lab procedures.Taught and interviewed patients regarding upcoming cardiac procedures such as pacemaker implantation, cardiac catheterization, electrophysiological (EP) studies and coronary angioplasty. Provided care both pre and post procedure including IV insertion and medication delivery.

Worked for 5 years as a cardiac clinical educator for cardiovascular ICU. Responsibilities included teaching in-services for all staff nurses and medical residents that worked or rotated through the heart institute. Classes included ACLS, BLS, critical care, and CPR classes for the community. Developed and offered cardiology seminars for nurses. Continued to actively work in Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

Practiced in a state of the art 700 bed hospital that specialized in cutting edge cardiac procedures. Intensive care unit responsibilities included caring for post coronary artery bypass surgery, valve surgery, and, heart transplant patients. Also included critical patients post cardiac catheterization, pacemaker and angioplasty procedures. Clinical trials on arthrectomy, laser angioplasty and electrophysiological (EP) studies were also performed.