Gary Schofield Email and Phone Number

The Senior Research Nurse is a professional nurse who demonstrates leadership in delivering and improving holistic care through collaborative strategies with others. The Senior Research Nurse, will interact with Primary Investigators, research staff and study participants in implementing study procedures. Demonstrate leadership by involving others in improving care. The Senior Research Nurse at this level has knowledge of the FDA/ICH GCP requirements. The nurse has the relevant experience, knowledge and skill in managing clinical research projects and/or programs including but not limited to; managing research settings and coordinating trials (including following protocols, enrolling and interviewing patients, and obtaining informed consent); knowledge of all applicable federal and VA regulatory policies and guidelines that govern projects, including those specific to research-based projects; ability to serve as the liaison with participating investigators, coordinating center personnel, VA Central Office staff, and regulatory bodies; and ability to develop material for and participation in meetings with participants, investigators, staff, and funding agency personnel.

Serves a a member of the Home Based Primary Care (HBPC interdisciplinary team based at the St. Louis VA Health Care System. Responsible and accountable for the initial and continuous assessment for a culturally diverse veteran patient population in the home setting. Additionally, planning, implementation and coordination of care and confers with Home Based Primary Care Nurse possesses the knowledge and skills to effectively and collaboratively apply all aspects of the nursing process within the area of assignment. Role responsibilities and accountabilities also include demonstration of the knowledge and skills necessary to assess the care appropriately to the age related needs of the patients served in the home setting.

Serves as a neutral and independent third party dispute resolution practitioner providing confidential and information assistance to MTF patients, managers and employees analyzing and developing options to address concerns, resolve disputes, and report misconduct. Serves as a skilled communicator for difficult situations, offer the opportunity for non-economic resolutions, providing a compassionate face of the organization with unanticipated adverse outcomes occur and assist the organization in compliance with The Joint Commission principles of disclosure. Utilizes alternative dispute resolution methods such as mediation, negotiation, problem solving, listening, conflict counseling, team-building and facilitation to informally resolve complex and unique health care disputes at the lowest level and earliest opportunity prior to claims being filed, ensuring that the resolution process is fair for patient, provider and the organization. Receives inquires for dispute resolution, conducts informal fact-finding and gathers information, reviews the medical record and meets with all involved parties to proactively resolve issues. Utilize case documentation, notification, and referral process that is separate and distinct from quality assurance reviews or litigation investigations. Acts as a neutral, independent and confidential resource for patients, families, providers, and the organization, helping to surface and fairly resolve health care issues, disputes and conflicts. Assist patients and providers by opening avenues of communication and facilitating meaningful resolutions. Confers with disputants to clarify issues, identify underlying concerns, and develop and understanding of their respective needs, interest, and role in the conflict.

Serves as one of the five nursing consultants for the Department of Hospital Education, section chiefs and command for a 425 bed hospital, 5 separate outpatient clinics, 8,500 employees who care for beneficiaries and sustain 89 educational programs. Strategically prioritize plans and coordinates projects for various programs for the department and the hospital. Ensures training programs are based on needs of the organization and are in alignment with Federal, State laws, DoD policies, and maintain a customer focus and incorporates patient safety concepts into all curricula. Develops and teaches courses in conflict management, telemetry, pre, and charge nurse courses.. Coordinates and implements the largest nursing skills validation program for the DoD twice a year, ensuring clinic competency for all nurse personnel assigned to the hospital. Collaborates with nursing educations and clinical nurse specialist to offer offer 3,000 continuing nursing education for the nursing staff assigned the medical center. Reviews all policies and procedures written by hospital personnel for educational requirements. Serves as a collaborative team member on root cause annalysis meetings addressing issues with quality care issues involved in the medical center.

The Senior Clinical Nurse of the telemetry unit, a hospital unit that provided care to beneficiaries in the Southern Medical Region. Responsible for the supervision of 79 professional and para professional staff members. Responsible for the patient/family education on disease processes, treatments, to include surgical and non-surgical and any quality of life issues. Trained and evaluated staff of their nursing competencies on basic cardiac nursing care and telemetry skills. Collaborated with the providers to provide in-service training specific to the congestive heart failure patient population. Established a congestive heart failure CPG that was implemented ensuring the basic standards o care where met and improving patient outcomes. Established the standing policy and procedure for emergency nursing procedure in the event of a power failure and computer system failure. Directed the scheduling of professional and para professional staff assigned to the unit on a monthly basis. Chaired the Interdisciplinary Discharge Planning Committee for the Medical and Surgical Sections of the hospital ensuring seamless continuity of care for each patient.

Responsible for the clinical oversight/clinical care delivery in a 24 bed behavioral health inpatient unit. Responsible for managing 60 Registered Nurses, Licensed Vocational Nurses, Medical Technicians and Certified Nurse Assistants. Duties included: policy creation, process improvement management, hiring and counseling of staff, budget management and the training and certification of clinical staff competencies. Co-Chaired the hospitals Nursing Standards and Practice Committee ensuring that nursing practice was consistent with the latest evidence based practice for nursing and assisted in constructing over 30 nursing policies and procedures for the hospital. Coordinated with section's interdisciplinary case management team ensuring continuity of care was maintained for every patient

Responsible and accountable for the supervision, coordination, and evaluation of patient care delivery activities in this high volume outpatient clinic. The clinic provided care for over 2,000 patriots and family members living in Korea. Managed/analyzed data pertinent to clinic operations, population health, Health Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS) to actively plane care initiatives for the clinic. Established a nurse run clinic for those patients with the following conditions, COPD, CHF, and a Pediatric School Physical program. Additionally, collaborated with the Osan School Nurse to provide outreach activities for the students discussing healthy eating, the importance of exercise and safe sexual practices. Instructed at the local university nursing program, conducting a class on medical English. developed a working relationship with a local church to provide parish nursing, instructing parishioners on health living habits and conducting health screening for hypertension and diabetes.