Denise Simms, RN.
Zebulon,GA
The positive thinker sees the invisible, feels the intangible, and achieves the impossible!
Christopher Day
Summary
Healthcare leader with advanced clinical expertise and proven success in patient care coordination, operational management, and strategic planning. Demonstrated ability to lead multidisciplinary teams, optimize resources, and streamline workflows to improve efficiency, quality outcomes, and patient experience. Recognized for identifying and resolving operational barriers that impact care delivery, while fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous performance improvement.
Skills
- Clinical Utilization Review & Throughput Optimization
- Chronic Disease Management & Care Coordination
- Patient Access, Experience & Retention
- Strategic Forecasting & Capacity Planning
- High-Cost Drug Inventory Management
- Regulatory & Accreditation Compliance (CMS, Joint Commission)
- Referral Intake & Access-to-Care Optimization
- Resource Utilization & Operational Efficiency
- Multidisciplinary Team Collaboration
- Clinical Operations Leadership
Accomplishments
- Women of Distinction Award, Leadership:
- Daisy Award, Leadership & Ethics:
- Daisy Award of Distinctions:
- Perfect Serve, National Nursing Excellence of Distinction:
- Recognized as Clinical Documentation Integrity Leader, strengthening documentation accuracy, regulatory compliance, and quality metrics for Emergency Department and Outpatient Infusion Services in alignment with Joint Commission and CMS standards.
December 2024.
October 2023, June 2016.
2015, 2017, 2019, 2021.
June 2022.
Work History
Infusion Coordinator
Atlanta Infectious Disease Group - Healix
03.2024 - 09.2025
- Oversaw medication management, infection prevention, and quality assurance programs to support safe infusion practices and regulatory compliance.
- Led cross-functional collaboration with physicians and clinical teams to streamline referral workflows, improving patient access to infusion services and operational throughput.
• Oversaw patient scheduling and care coordination processes, ensuring timely, patient-centered infusion delivery while driving high patient satisfaction outcomes.
• Directed monthly audits of infusion supplies and high-cost medication inventory, maintaining compliance, cost control, and uninterrupted service delivery.
•Oversaw the development of compliant, patient-centered education materials to strengthen treatment adherence, chronic disease management, and patient engagement in infusion therapy.
• Built and maintained strategic internal and external client relationships, enabling seamless interdisciplinary care coordination.
• Managed prior authorization operations and clinical documentation accuracy, proactively resolving escalated payer issues, preventing treatment delays and revenue disruption. - Collaborated with copay assistance programs to minimize out-of-pocket expenses and prevent treatment delays due to financial constraints.
Registered Nurse, Emergency Department
Wellstar Spalding Medical Center
06.2016 - 10.2023
- Strong leader, adept at executing rapid treatment and emergent care protocols while managing interchanging conditions.
- Served as Clinical Specialist and Resource Clinician, leading Joint Commission (JCAHO) survey readiness initiatives, policy adherence, tracer methodology preparation, and accreditation compliance across clinical operations.
• Selected as Emergency Department Residency Program Preceptor and Mentor, overseeing onboarding, competency validation, and professional development to support staff readiness, retention, and regulatory compliance.
• Appointed Shared Governance Committee Leader and LEAN Project Coordinator, directing performance improvement initiatives focused on workflow standardization, patient safety, risk reduction, and operational efficiency.
Local Contract, RN
Medical Staffing Network & Southern Travelers, Inc
06.2007 - 04.2016
- Orchestrated exceptional care to high-acute patients needing complex care such as ventilator management, complex wound care, acute rehabilitation and cardiology services.
- Managed pre-op and post-op cardiology services for patient's needing implantable CRM devices, heart catheterizations, EP Ablations and vascular procedures.
- Administered medications and treatment to patients and monitored responses while working with healthcare teams to adjust care plans.
- Educated patients and caregivers on complex wound care, chronic disease processes, and post-procedural instructions.
Charge Nurse, Emergency Department
Upson Regional Medical Center
04.2007 - 01.2013
- Delivered high level of quality care to diverse populations while overseeing departmental flow, accuracy in patient triaging, and appropriate department admissions.
- Highly skilled in administering and monitoring IV medications, assessing patient conditions, and communicating with families.
- Resource clinician in obtaining difficult PIV access via use of portable vein finder equipment.
- Leveraged leadership rounds to provide feedback and process improvement opportunities to create safer and healthier environment and increase patient satisfaction.
Certification
- Basic Life Support
- Advanced Cardiac Life Support
- Pediatric Advanced Life Support
- Trauma Nursing Core Course
- National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale Certification
Education
BA Humanities - Sociology, Criminology, Paralegal Studies
- Dual Bachelors in Humanities.
- MSU Scholarship Recipient.
- Cum Laude Honor Graduate
Associates Degree of Nursing - Nursing
- Three Rivers Medical Center Scholarship Recipient.
- Class Treasurer
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
1
1
Certificate
MCS Device Experience
Mechanical Ventilation Support
- Emergency & Critical Care Experience:
- Non-invasive: CPAP, BiPAP
- Invasive Life Support Mechanical Ventilation
Mechanical Circulatory Support System
- Critical Care Experience:
- LVAD
- ECMO
- IABP
- Impella
Behavioral Health Experience
- Intake and Triage
- ED Crisis Stabilization of 1013/2013 Patients
- Clinical Assessment and Treatment of Voluntary and Non-Voluntary Mental Health and Substance Abuse Patients
- Facilitated therapeutic communication, conflict resolution and crisis intervention by redirecting negative behaviors and helping patients regain or improve coping abilities.
- Quickly responded to situations impacting safety and security to unit, actualizing crisis prevention interventions to control and de-escalate situations.
- Referrals and Outsourcing
- Discharge Planning
- Quality and Compliance
- Resource Clinician for JCAHO readiness and surveys
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