Denise Simms, RN
Zebulon,GA.
The positive thinker sees the invisible, feels the intangible, and achieves the impossible!
Christopher Day
Summary
Healthcare professional with 20+ years nursing experience. Recognized for excellence in nursing ethics and clinical leadership, delivering high‑quality patient care across acute, critical, and emergent settings. Strong background in medical record analysis, medical chronology development, and clinical interpretation supporting medical malpractice and civil litigation defense. Skilled in evaluating standards of care, identifying documentation gaps, and interpreting complex clinical data with accuracy and confidentiality. Bachelor’s degrees in Paralegal Studies and Sociology (Criminology).
Skills
- Medical Record Review
- Medical Chronologies
- Civil Litigation Support
- Case Analysis & Clinical Interpretation
- Legal Documentation Review
- HIPAA Compliance & Confidentiality
- CMS & Joint Commission Standards
- ICD‑10‑CM & HCC Documentation
- Evidence‑Based Criteria
- Task Prioritization
- Professional Communication
- Interdisciplinary Team Collaboration
Accomplishments
- Nationwide Registries Women of Distinction: 2025 Honors Edition
- Daisy Award, Nursing Ethics: 2023, 2020, 2016
- Daisy Award of Distinctions: 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021
- Perfect Serve, National Nursing Excellence: 2022
Work History
Infusion Site Nurse Manager / Care Coordinator
Atlanta Infectious Disease Group ~ Healix, Inc.
Stockbridge, GA
03.2024 - 09.2025
- Assessed patient response to antimicrobial and specialty infusion therapies, applying clinical judgment to evaluate treatment appropriateness and adherence to standards of care.
- Interpreted laboratory trends, comorbidity, and clinical indicators to support accurate documentation and defensible medical decision‑making.
- Reviewed provider documentation for completeness and alignment with clinical findings, strengthening the accuracy of medical necessity determinations.
- Collaborated with physicians to clarify treatment rationales and ensure documentation met regulatory and payer expectations.
- Coordinated interdisciplinary care and monitored transitions, enhancing the ability to reconstruct clinical timelines and identify gaps relevant to legal case analysis.
- Utilized multiple EHR systems to manage high‑volume outpatient workflows and extract clinically significant information efficiently.
Clinical Flow Coordinator, Emergency Department
Wellstar Spalding Medical Center
Griffin, GA
06.2016 - 10.2023
- Performed rapid clinical assessments and determined acuity and level of care in a high‑volume emergency department.
- Evaluated patient presentations, comorbidity, and treatment responses; providing insight into standards of care and clinical decision‑making.
- Reviewed documentation for accuracy and completeness; supporting defensibly in high‑risk clinical encounters.
- Contributed to utilization management through precise documentation and interdisciplinary communication.
- Participated in Joint Commission audits, surveys, and compliance initiatives.
Contract Nurse: Agency
Southern Travelers, Inc. & Medical Staffing Network
Macon, GA.
06.2007 - 04.2016
- Delivered patient care across diverse acute care and emergency settings, applying clinical judgment to varied presentations and practice environments.
- Interpreted complex clinical conditions and treatment responses, strengthening the ability to analyze causation and appropriateness of interventions.
- Ensured accurate, compliant documentation of assessments, procedures, and provider communications.
- Adapted to differing workflows and documentation systems, enhancing the ability to evaluate variations in practice patterns.
- Supported continuity of care and interdisciplinary coordination across multiple facilities.
Charge Nurse, Emergency Department
Upson Regional Medical Center
Thomaston, GA
04.2007 - 01.2013
- Directed emergency department operations, overseeing triage accuracy, acuity assignment, and prioritization of care.
- Monitored clinical workflows and provider response times, offering insight into system‑level factors often evaluated in litigation.
- Conducted chart audits to identify documentation inconsistencies, missing clinical indicators, and improvement opportunities.
- Collaborated with physicians and nursing staff to clarify clinical findings and strengthen documentation quality.
- Ensured compliance with hospital policies, regulatory standards, and patient safety requirements, contributing to accurate and defensible clinical documentation in high‑risk care settings.
Education
Associate of Applied Science - Nursing
- Three Rivers Medical Center Scholarship Recipient
Bachelor of Arts - Dual Degree: Humanities
- Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Paralegal Studies
- Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Sociology, concentration Criminology
- MSU Scholarship Recipient
- Cum Laude Honor Graduate
Wound Care Experience
Areas: ED, Trauma, Critical Care, LTAC, Palliative, SNF
Types: Trauma, Complex Surgical Wounds, Lacerations, Skin Tears; Diabetic Ulcers, Pressure Injuries; Burns, Animal Bites, Ostomies
Duties:
- Assessing, implementing treatment per Physician orders, and wound surveillance monitoring
- Initiating and Updating of Care plans and wound documentation on admission; post-treatment and discharge
- Collaborating with other healthcare professionals to determine the best treatment plan
- Educating patients, caregivers, and interdisciplinary staff on wound care, prevention, and lifestyle options
EHR / EMR experience:
- Epic
- Cerner
- Meditech
- e-Clinical applications
- Allscripts / Veradigm
Technical Skills
- Microsoft Office Suite & Teams
- Evidence‑Based Criteria Sets
- CMS/HCC Documentation Tools
- LexisNexis
- Westlaw