Chiara Rodriguez, MS, RN
El Paso,TX
Summary
Experienced registered nurse (RN) with 26+ years of diverse health care experience. Dedicated to providing compassionate and comprehensive healthcare in any patient setting. Skilled in assessing and reviewing patient care across a multitude of medical specialties. Strong communicator and collaborator, committed to delivering high-quality care and promoting patient well-being. Seeking a clinical position in an acute setting.
Overview
26
26
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Senior Medical Advisor and Deputy Director of the Medical Support Program
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of the Immigration Detention Ombudsman (OIDO) – Detention Oversight
02.2021 - Current
- Serves as OIDO’s principal senior medical advisor.
- Advises the Ombudsman and OIDO management on health care policies and practices, where noncitizens are detained while in U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody.
- Provides analysis and oversight on conditions of confinement at CBP and ICE facilities ensuring noncitizens are provided safe and humane medical treatment.
- Maintains subject matter expertise in accreditation standards, correctional and detention health care standards applicable to CBP and ICE facilities, and remains abreast of legislation, case law, standards and policy.
- Confers with, assists, and advises OIDO management on the planning and developing of new inspection and/or investigative policies, programs, standards, requirements, procedures, and techniques.
- Conducts inspections and evaluations of CBP and ICE detention facilities/settings, focusing on whether health care practices meet detention standards and generally accepted standards of care.
- Evaluates terms of contracts and operating agreements to ensure that medical terms and related services are followed.
- Ensures DHS federal staff and contractors employed as health care staff at CBP and ICE detention facilities/settings are operating in accordance with scope of practice, laws, rules, and regulations.
- Provides consultation for health care related complaints at CBP and ICE facilities nationwide.
- Conducts briefings and prepares comprehensive reports and recommendations identifying noncompliance with detention, accreditation, and health care standards.
- Maintains a strong professional relationship with other components within the federal government that provide oversight of immigration detention to maintain awareness of ongoing complaints and other oversight activity of detention facilities related to health care.
- Provides briefings to internal and external stakeholders regarding the Medical Support Program’s work within OIDO.
Chief, IHSC Investigations Unit
ICE Health Service Corps (IHSC)
11.2016 - 03.2021
- Supervised a team of nine (9) staff: one investigative analyst, three senior investigators, and five investigators.
- Kept IHSC Assistant Director, Chief of Staff, and Medical Director abreast of investigative trends and analyses to improve detainee health care and outcomes, allowing senior leadership to make informed business decisions.
- Provided oversight and consultation for all activities related to IHSC investigations.
- Served as a subject matter expert for internal and external stakeholders related to IHSC detainee mortality reviews and administrative investigations involving IHSC federal employees and contractors.
- Conducted qualitative reviews and approvals of all unit work product to ensure investigations were conducted in a comprehensive and thorough manner with results that were accurate, concise, and objective.
- Liaised with IHSC senior leadership, ICE Employee and Labor Relations, ERO Administrative Inquiry Unit, ICE Office of Professional Responsibility, Office of the Principal Legal Advisor, and the Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service regarding IHSC investigations.
- Advised and consulted on risk mitigation practices in immigration detention.
- Calculated and documented time and costs for investigative activities; exercised budgetary control over investigative expenditures and served as first-line approver for travel and training requests.
- Maintained and led personal caseload of administrative reviews and on-site investigations in multiple geographic areas within the U.S. and its Territories.
Compliance Investigative Specialist
IHSC
11.2012 - 11.2016
- Coordinated and conducted examinations, evaluations, or investigations in response to allegations that individuals in the custody of ICE, or receiving care from IHSC, are receiving health care that is not compliant with applicable standards.
- Coordinated and conducted morbidity/mortality reviews for individuals in the custody of ICE, or individuals receiving care from IHSC, to determine if they received health in compliance with applicable standards.
- Conducted administrative inquiries into allegations of employee misconduct.
- Developed recommendations for corrective action plans in response to inquiry findings.
- Established new training program to develop the cadre of IHSC staff and ICE staff in the evaluation and/or improvement of health-related conditions of detention, in collaboration with ICE trainers.
- Conducted investigations into suspected or alleged instances of patterns of waste, fraud, and abuse of government resources.
San Diego, CA, Field Medical Coordinator (FMC) / Acting El Paso, TX, FMC
IHSC
07.2012 - 11.2013
- Evaluated and reviewed health conditions and quality of health services provided to detainees in ICE custody at non-IHSC staffed facilities within assigned area of responsibility (AOR).
- Ensured established standards of care were monitored and maintained within the assigned AOR.
- Provided responses for consultation or assessment of conditions in a detention facility originating from ICE, NGOs, or the detention facility leadership.
- Coordinated availability of care for various medical conditions in the detainee’s country of origin.
- Assisted coordinated with specialty care during transit to receiving country.
- Coordinated and conducted on-site inspections to monitor compliance with applicable ICE detention standards.
- Coordinated with various public health agencies statewide and country-wide for tuberculosis control and management.
El Paso, TX FMC / Acting St. Paul, MN FMC
IHSC
10.2010 - 07.2012
- Evaluated and reviewed health conditions and quality of health care services provided to detainees in ICE custody at non-IHSC staffed facilities within assigned AOR.
- Ensured established standards of care were monitored and maintained within the assigned AOR.
- Provided responses for consultation or assessment of conditions in a detention facility originating from ICE, NGOs, or the detention facility leadership.
- Coordinated availability of care for various medical conditions in the detainee’s country of origin.
- Assisted coordinated with specialty care during transit to receiving country.
- Coordinated and conducted on-site inspections to monitor compliance with applicable ICE detention standards.
- Coordinated with various public health agencies statewide and country-wide for tuberculosis control and management.
Program Manager and Acting Health Services Administrator (HSA) and Assistant HSA
IHSC
10.2008 - 12.2010
- Worked as Acting Health Services Administrator (HSA) and Assistant HSA due to staffing shortage at facility.
- Managed outpatient clinic with an average daily population of 740, with a monthly workload of 6,300 patient visits, an average of 20 infirmary admissions, and 1,600 prescriptions.
- Supervised 35 staff members and managed a $2.5 million operational budget.
- Assumed case management role ensuring continuity and coordination of ICE detainee care in the U.S. and worldwide.
- Well-versed in Justice Prisoner Alien Transport System (JPATS), ERO, and Executive Office of Immigration Review and how it affects detainee releases and removals and their medical needs.
- Prepared weekly and daily medical reports for facility.
- Performed outreach to area hospitals and administrators to ensure the availability of specialty care and services to the detained population.
Sr. Staff Nurse / Staff Nurse
IHSC
04.2006 - 10.2008
- Functioned as charge nurse / clinic coordinator role.
- Infection Control Officer.
- Coordinated TB care with Mexico’s public health agencies for continuity of care.
- Environmental Health and Safety Officer.
- Provided direct patient care.
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Registered Nurse
El Centro Regional Medical Center
El Centro , CA
08.1998 - 03.2006
- Utilized evidence-based guidelines when providing nursing interventions for NICU patients.
- Monitored preterm infants for potential complications such as apnea, bradycardia and desaturation episodes requiring immediate intervention.
- Stabilized NICU patient for transport to a higher-level of care when needed.
- Provided comprehensive nursing care to neonates, including assessment of vital signs, administering medications and treatments, and monitoring for changes in condition.
- Facilitated communication between families, physicians and other healthcare team members regarding patient care plans.
- Assessed respiratory status of infants requiring ventilator support and managed airway suctioning as needed.
- Actively participated in multidisciplinary rounds ensuring all team members were up-to-date on current patient information.
- Administered intravenous fluids, electrolytes and blood products as ordered by physician.
- Provided emotional support to families during stressful times related to their baby's health condition or prognosis.
- Responded quickly to life-threatening situations in a calm manner while maintaining professional standards of practice.
- Assisted with the admission process of newborns into the NICU unit and provided necessary education to parents on infant care.
- Conducted one-on-one teaching sessions with parents about infant CPR techniques prior to discharge from hospital.
- Delivered information regarding care and medications to patients and caregivers in comprehendible terminology.
- Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) Instructor.
- Assisted hospital with maintaining The Joint Commission accreditation.
Education
Master of Science - Family Practice Nurse Practitioner
The University of Texas At El Paso
El Paso, TX12-2025
Master of Science - Kinesiology
The University of Texas At El Paso
El Paso, TX05-2016
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
West Texas A&M University
Canyon, TX05-1998
Skills
- Evaluating health care practices, policies, and standards of care
- Legislation, case law, standards, and policy
- Accreditation standards
- Risk management / quality assurance
- Analysis and oversight on conditions of confinement
- Correctional and detention health care standards
- Planning and developing inspections and investigations
- Contract evaluation and compliance
- Scope of practice, laws, rules, and regulations
- Consultation for health care related complaint(s)
- Preparation of high-level reports and recommendations
- Maintaining professional relationships
- Briefings and Collaboration with internal and external stakeholders
- Innovation and program development
- Supervision and management of specialized staff
- Coordination of care and specialty services
- Collaboration with public health agencies
- Charge nurse and clinic coordinator role
- Infection control and environmental health and safety
- NPR, BLS/CPR, and first aid
- Outreach and community involvement
Phsnumber
70505
Lastupdate
05/2024
Certification
- 2024, Licensed in California (545456) & Texas (725429)
- 2023, Emergency Response Training Course for Nurses - Emory University
- 2022, Paralegal
- 2017, Legal Nurse Consultant
- 2015, Specialized Investigator & Inspector Training (Council on Licensure, Enforcement and Regulation)
- 2012 - current, Nationally Certified Correctional Health Care Professional (NCCHC)
Timeline
Senior Medical Advisor and Deputy Director of the Medical Support Program
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of the Immigration Detention Ombudsman (OIDO) – Detention Oversight
02.2021 - Current
Chief, IHSC Investigations Unit
ICE Health Service Corps (IHSC)
11.2016 - 03.2021
Compliance Investigative Specialist
IHSC
11.2012 - 11.2016
San Diego, CA, Field Medical Coordinator (FMC) / Acting El Paso, TX, FMC
IHSC
07.2012 - 11.2013
El Paso, TX FMC / Acting St. Paul, MN FMC
IHSC
10.2010 - 07.2012
Program Manager and Acting Health Services Administrator (HSA) and Assistant HSA
IHSC
10.2008 - 12.2010
Sr. Staff Nurse / Staff Nurse
IHSC
04.2006 - 10.2008
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Registered Nurse
El Centro Regional Medical Center
08.1998 - 03.2006
Master of Science - Family Practice Nurse Practitioner
The University of Texas At El Paso
Master of Science - Kinesiology
The University of Texas At El Paso
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
West Texas A&M University
- 2024, Licensed in California (545456) & Texas (725429)
- 2023, Emergency Response Training Course for Nurses - Emory University
- 2022, Paralegal
- 2017, Legal Nurse Consultant
- 2015, Specialized Investigator & Inspector Training (Council on Licensure, Enforcement and Regulation)
- 2012 - current, Nationally Certified Correctional Health Care Professional (NCCHC)
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