Chelsea Barnes
Greenbelt,Maryland
Summary
Compassionate and results-driven Physician Assistant with 10 years of experience in hospital-based care across neurosurgery, neurocritical care, trauma, and general surgery. Co-led the development and establishment of Neurocritical Care and Neurointerventional Radiology (Neuro IR) services and served as a founding faculty member for Howard University’s Physician Assistant program, successfully guiding its initial accreditation. Holds a Doctor of Medical Science in Health Care Leadership and Administration, combining advanced clinical practice with demonstrated leadership in program development, education, and quality improvement.
Overview
10
10
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Lead Neuroscience Physician Assistant
Univ. of Maryland Capital Region Health Hospital
Largo, Maryland
02.2017 - Current
- Co-led the establishment and implementation of the Neurocritical Care and Neurointerventional Radiology (Neuro IR) units, including protocols, staffing strategy, and interdisciplinary workflows design.
- Led the design and implementation of standardized workflows for consults, admissions, post-op care, and ICU transitions.
- Manage three Advance Practice Provider teams (Neurosurgery, Neurocritical Care, Neuro IR) with full responsibility for coordinating 24/7 coverage, daily workflows, and scheduling for 15 providers across service lines.
- Collaborated with neurosurgeons, intensivists, radiologists, and nursing to streamline interdisciplinary communication and optimize patient care.
- Acted as liaison between advanced practice providers and hospital leadership during major compensation and staffing transitions.
- Provide high-acuity care for complex Neuro Critical Care, Neurosurgery patients, including stroke, trauma, step-down, and post-op settings; perform advanced procedures including EVD/ICP monitor placement, central/arterial lines, and first assist in neurosurgical cases.
- Independently manage ER, trauma, and inpatient consults; collaborate with neurosurgeons and intensivists on complex case management.
- Act as liaison between APPs and leadership on staffing and compensation changes; designed weekend and holiday coverage models.
- Lead CME and procedural training for APPs, QI projects, and policy development; mentor PA and medical students during clinical rotations and didactics.
- Participated in M&M reviews, interdisciplinary rounds, and systemwide cost-saving initiatives.
- Identified cost-saving opportunities and participated in department-wide strategy planning.
- Full-Time: 02/2017–01/2022, 06/2024–Present
- Per Diem: 02/2017–05/2024
Locum Neurology and Neurocritical Care Physician Assistant
Palm Health
Baltimore, MD
11.2023 - 02.2025
- Provided comprehensive neurological and neurocritical care coverage at Sinai Hospital, managing high-acuity patients with stroke, seizures, encephalopathy, and other complex neurologic conditions.
- Conducted detailed neurologic assessments, ordered, and interpreted advanced imaging and diagnostics, and collaborated with intensivists, neurologists, and nursing staff in critical care settings.
- Managed ICU and step-down patients independently, initiating and adjusting treatment plans, titrating drips, and coordinating multidisciplinary care.
- Responded to neurological emergencies including large vessel occlusion (LVO), status epilepticus, and acute changes in neurologic exams.
Guest Professor
George Washington University
10.2022 - 10.2024
- Guest Lecture for Neuroscience Lab Courses
Assistant Clinical Professor, Clinical Education Coordinator
Howard University
Washington, DC
01.2022 - 08.2023
- Co-led the successful accreditation of Howard University's inaugural Physician Assistant program as a founding faculty member, playing a key role in curriculum development, policy creation, and alignment with ARC-PA standards.
- Procuring supervised clinical practice experience sites
- Creation & Design of Clinical Curriculum
- Management of clinical sites
- Creation of clinical site contracts
- Evaluation and management of clinical sites
- Preceptor onboarding
- Co-Chair of the Academic Progress Committee
- Guest Lecture for Intro to PT course
- Adjunct Professor 08/2023- 09/2024
Consultant
MD Clinics
01.2021 - 10.2022
- Research and analyze operations to ascertain precise client needs.
- Conduct quarterly medical chart audits, and create comprehensive reports.
- Ensure billing and CMS compliance, and develop regulatory compliance systems.
- Oversaw project schedules and evaluated progress toward important milestones at every phase of the project.
- Provide new provider billing and documentation improvement coaching.
- Development and implementation of policies and procedures for facilities.
- Consult with clinicians to develop and improve business strategies.
- Analyzed clinical research data and reported findings.
- Leverage expertise to determine if physician comportment is aligned with medical care rendered.
- Investigated, summarized, and reported deviations from standards of care to determine medical misconduct and provided a remediation plan
Surgical Physician Assistant
Northwest Hospital
Randallstown, MD
05.2015 - 11.2016
- General, Plastics, Orthopedics, Bariatrics, Vascular, Thoracic, and Neurosurgery.
- Medical management of inpatient telemetry and intensive care post-operative patients.
- Provided medical consultations and treatments for ER and admitted patients.
- Precepting Medical and Physician Assistant students from various universities.
- Perform dressing changes, wound vac changes, and bedside debridement of wounds.
- Splint and stabilize orthopedic injuries.
- Ordered laboratory testing, performed physical assessments, and requested specialist consults to help diagnose and treat patients.
- First assistant in the operating room for elective and emergency cases.
- Performed laceration repair, suturing, stapling of wounds.
- Performed comprehensive patient exams and assessments to formulate, implement, and continuously update individualized plans of care.
- Full-Time: 05/2015 –11/2016
- Per Diem: 12/2016- 1/2025
Education
Doctor of Medical Science - Healthcare Leadership and Administration
Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions
Provo, UT04.2021
Master of Science - Physician Assistant
Touro College
New York, NY09.2016
Bachelor of Science - Physician Assistant
Howard University
Washington, DC12.2014
Affiliations
- PAEA
- AAPA
- MAPA
Certification
- NCCPA Board Certified since 02/01/15
- ACLS
- BLS
- CPR & First Aid
- ATLS
- MD State PA License
- DEA License
- CDS License
Timeline
Locum Neurology and Neurocritical Care Physician Assistant
Palm Health
11.2023 - 02.2025
Guest Professor
George Washington University
10.2022 - 10.2024
Assistant Clinical Professor, Clinical Education Coordinator
Howard University
01.2022 - 08.2023
Consultant
MD Clinics
01.2021 - 10.2022
Lead Neuroscience Physician Assistant
Univ. of Maryland Capital Region Health Hospital
02.2017 - Current
Surgical Physician Assistant
Northwest Hospital
05.2015 - 11.2016
Doctor of Medical Science - Healthcare Leadership and Administration
Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions
Master of Science - Physician Assistant
Touro College
Bachelor of Science - Physician Assistant
Howard University
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