HEATHER RHODES-WILSON
Festus
Summary
Quality Improvement professional with deep understanding of industry best practices and history of driving process improvements to achieve outstanding outcomes and industry recognition. Known for specializing in team dynamics, proven methodologies, and leadership development while creating powerful and sustainable change through cohesive team based solutions. Valued for adaptability and reliability in dynamic environments, with focus on quality improvement and process optimization.
Overview
30
30
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Director of Quality Management
KINDRED HOSPITAL ST. LOUIS
09.2024 - 04.2025
- Guided organization towards the goal of being a High Reliability Organization
- DHHS visit resulted in an IJ tag and several deficiency tags shortly after arriving at the facility. Successfully created and implemented a Plan of Correction that resulted in a recommendation to satisfy the requirements for the affected Conditions of Participation
- Identified negative trends in Event Reporting for Medication Errors. Implemented a successful Action Plan that mitigated documentation and timeliness errors.
- Significantly increased capture of Near Misses to improve Culture of Safety
Director of Quality Improvement and Informatics
CARE STL HEALTH (FQHC)
12.2022 - 08.2024
- Created Department dashboards and scorecards for Adult Medicine, Women's Health, Pediatrics, and Nursing
- Achieved Platinum Quality award from Missouri Primary Care Association for the first time in 2023
- Led CQI initiatives to improve Hypertension Control (CMS165) from 59% to 72% and Breast Cancer Screening (CMS125) from 40% to 59%
- Improved Huddle compliance by 92%
- YOY Improved performance on 27/30 MCO metrics
- Successfully achieved NCQA, UDS, MQSA, and FTCA submission and certification
- Introduced the organization to the concept of Informatics, created an EHR Optimization (Governance) Team, and began creating Clinical Decision Support in eCW (MAWV template, Order Set design, Clinical Rule Engine, improved mapping, streamlined workflows)
- Implemented Patient Centered Care for an Adult Medicine Provider resulting in sustained improvements in A1c testing and control, Hypertension Control, Breast Cancer Screening, Colorectal Cancer Screening, Tobacco and Depression Screening and Cessation, and HIV Screening
Complex Case Manager
LUMERIS
12.2021 - 12.2022
- Implemented new DSNP Program
- Managed a caseload for Transitions of Care
Group Facility Administrator
DAVITA KIDNEY CARE
03.2020 - 12.2021
- 2020 results: Hospitalization reduction 8.1 %, Readmission reduction 19%, Missed Treatment reduction 5%, USO revenue improvement 23%
- Improved efficacy of Core Team Meetings through 1:1 support and increased weekly utilization of the Patient Centered Care tool for the Division to improve outcomes
- Weekly management and reporting of labor utilization for Region 5
- Oversight of 5 clinics with Interim FA coverage for 1 clinic in Region 5
CQI Administrator
DAVITA KIDNEY CARE
01.2019 - 03.2020
- Reduced Missed Treatments by 16% and met year end goal by end of 2nd quarter
- Overall 0.5% L12M reduction in Missed Treatments maintained for 6 months resulted in approximately $125K improved revenue
- Reduced 30 day readmission rate by 10% to top quartile for company
- Utilized a data driven approach to target specific focus clinics with facility level, targeted, individualized interventions
- Reduced loss of revenue due to unsigned orders by 75% YOY
- Responsible for Leadership Development of Facility Administrators
- Trained all Facility Administrators in utilizing Evidence Based Practice approaches to improve outcomes related to clinical quality, retention and engagement, operational management, and growth
- Completed an FMEA to redefine the Home Growth strategy resulting in a positive net patient gain by end of year after significant deficit at mid-year
- Mentored individual Facility Administrators as needed with noted improvement in facility metrics through consistent process implementation
- Piloted staffing program for Division and noted a statistically significant negative correlation coefficient resulting in dropping use of the application prior to negative impact on patient care
Facility Administrator
Crystal City Dialysis
10.2016 - 01.2019
- Moved clinic from CMS 3 Star to 5 Star rating for Publicly Reported Data
- Maintained Davita Quality Indicators at Top 20% for last 12 months
- Maintained profitable EBITDA x2 years
- Maintained productivity within budget consistently
- Top quartile on Leaderboard 10/12 months
- Improved CAHPS score from 58 to 77
- Improved teammate engagement from 73% to 93%
- Divisional Lead for Unsigned Orders
- Regional Lead for Hospitalization, Readmission, and Missed Treatment reduction
- Preceptor for new Facility Administrators
Patient Resource Manager
ST. ANTHONY'S MEDICAL CENTER
10.2015 - 04.2016
- Discharge planning for 30 bed medicine division
- Utilization Review of Medicare patients using Interqual criteria
Informatics Program Lead
ST. ANTHONY'S MEDICAL CENTER
04.2015 - 10.2015
- Development of 3 year strategic plan: prospective payment systems, clinical content improvement, usability and adoption, and safe use of health information technology
- Implemented a Governance model for Decision Support
- Reduced surgical services order sets by >15%
- Created and executed an effort for TJC's Sentinel Event Alert related to Safe Health IT
- Educated 200+ staff members regarding the importance of their role in patient safety, began utilizing the Socio-Technical model for the review of IT and Patient Safety events, and participated in the project related to the EHR Downtime Emergency Response plan
Clinical Applications Manager
ST. ANTHONY'S MEDICAL CENTER
10.2013 - 04.2015
- Coordination of application development for the following Service Lines: Quality Management, Care Management, Clinical Documentation Improvement, Health Information Management, Radiology, Pharmacy, Infection Control, Patient Accounts, Admitting, Registration, and Scheduling
- Coordination and Project Management of multiple projects and system improvements simultaneously
Clinical Informatics Specialist
ST. ANTHONY'S MEDICAL CENTER
04.2009 - 10.2013
- Post Phase 2 Clinical Quality Project Management utilizing Lean Six Sigma, Waterfall, and Agile (SDLC/Scrum) Framework methodologies
- Completed Meaningful Use Stage 1 report design and validation with successful attestation
- Report request stratification, prioritization, and design
- Business Intelligence: OLTP and OLAP report management and design - EPIC and Qlikview
- Phase 2 - Clinical Documentation, CPOE, Stork, HOD, and ASAP Implementation
- Current and Future State Workflow development, Gap Analysis, Design, and Validation
- Order Set development including Physician and Subject Matter Expert program for standardization and evidence based practice
- Expanded and continued to develop and manage Super User program
- Coordination of User Acceptance Testing, Dress Rehearsal and Conversion Support
- Phase 1 - Barcode Medication Administration, eMAR, Clinical Data Repository, limited Clinical Documentation
- Current and Future State Workflow development, Gap Analysis, and Training Point design
- Script development and testing
- Developed and managed Super User program for implementation of initial EMR phase
Nurse Manager - Women's Medical/Surgical and Oncology Divisions
ST. ANTHONY'S MEDICAL CENTER
04.2007 - 04.2009
- Responsible for 30 private patient beds
- Leadership of 42 FTE's
- Units 40% over budget when position assumed
- Within budget by 3 months and remained for tenure
- Implemented education program for specialty patient care and ensured appropriate certification of care providers
- Ensured continuous quality improvement by introducing a shared governance model
- Participated on numerous Quality Improvement Committees
- Strategic partner on EHR Vision Team
Assistant Nurse Manager/Lead Charge Nurse - Trauma/General Surgery Division
BARNES-JEWISH HOSPITAL
04.2005 - 04.2007
- Responsible for 33 bed unit
- Led Unit Practice Committee for Shared Governance
Faculty - LPN Program
SAINT LOUIS COLLEGE OF HEALTH CAREERS
08.2004 - 04.2005
Staff RN - L&D, GYN/Post-Partum, OB Office
SAINT LUKE'S HOSPITAL
05.1995 - 08.2004
Education
MBA - Healthcare Management
Western Governor's University
08.2017
BSN -
Barnes College of Nursing/UMSL
05.1995
Skills
- Transformational Leadership
- Continuous Quality Improvement
- Data Driven Decision Making
- Process Improvement Methodologies
- Team Dynamics
- Regulatory and Compliance
- EHR Usability
- Project Leadership
- Collaborative Problem Solving
Accomplishments
Achieved Platinum Quality Award, Top KPI results, and CMS 5 Star ratings by leading team based CQI initiatives
Significantly improved team performance through transformational leadership
State and Nationally recognized for data driven performance improvement results
Educationandcertifications
MBA Healthcare Management, Western Governor's University, 08/01/17, BSN, Barnes College of Nursing/UMSL, 05/01/95, Lean/Six Sigma - Yellow Belt, 2010, Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (NAHQ), 2014 - Current, Master Project Manager (American Academy of Project Management), 2020 - Current
Certification
- Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ) - National Association for Healthcare Quality.
- Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt Certification (LSSYB) - IASSC Lean Six Sigma Certification Board.
- Master Project Manager - American Academy of Project Management (Fellow)
Timeline
Director of Quality Management
KINDRED HOSPITAL ST. LOUIS
09.2024 - 04.2025
Director of Quality Improvement and Informatics
CARE STL HEALTH (FQHC)
12.2022 - 08.2024
Complex Case Manager
LUMERIS
12.2021 - 12.2022
Group Facility Administrator
DAVITA KIDNEY CARE
03.2020 - 12.2021
CQI Administrator
DAVITA KIDNEY CARE
01.2019 - 03.2020
Facility Administrator
Crystal City Dialysis
10.2016 - 01.2019
Patient Resource Manager
ST. ANTHONY'S MEDICAL CENTER
10.2015 - 04.2016
Informatics Program Lead
ST. ANTHONY'S MEDICAL CENTER
04.2015 - 10.2015
Clinical Applications Manager
ST. ANTHONY'S MEDICAL CENTER
10.2013 - 04.2015
Clinical Informatics Specialist
ST. ANTHONY'S MEDICAL CENTER
04.2009 - 10.2013
Nurse Manager - Women's Medical/Surgical and Oncology Divisions
ST. ANTHONY'S MEDICAL CENTER
04.2007 - 04.2009
Assistant Nurse Manager/Lead Charge Nurse - Trauma/General Surgery Division
BARNES-JEWISH HOSPITAL
04.2005 - 04.2007
Faculty - LPN Program
SAINT LOUIS COLLEGE OF HEALTH CAREERS
08.2004 - 04.2005
Staff RN - L&D, GYN/Post-Partum, OB Office
SAINT LUKE'S HOSPITAL
05.1995 - 08.2004
BSN -
Barnes College of Nursing/UMSL
MBA - Healthcare Management
Western Governor's University
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