Hillary Brandt

• Founded and established nonprofit organization dedicated to addressing community outreach, education, and street medicine initiatives.
• Developed strategic plans, mission, and vision statements in alignment with organizational goals and community needs.
• Established partnerships with local healthcare providers, educational institutions, government agencies, and community organizations to facilitate program implementation and resource allocation.
• Lead fundraising efforts, securing grants, sponsorships, and donations to support operational expenses and program initiatives.
• Implement and manage programs aimed at providing healthcare services, health education, and social support to marginalized populations, including homeless and underserved communities.
• Recruit, train, and supervise team of volunteers and staff members to ensure effective program delivery and organizational growth.
• Advocate for policy changes and collaborate with stakeholders to address systemic issues impacting community health and well-being.

Promoted 3 times from Nov 2018 to Aug 2022 (Staff RN, Nurse Manager, Director of Nursing)

General Operations:

Provided an integral role to drive nursing care operations, taking central responsibility for nursing service lines, delivering superior outcomes, and offering person-centered care.

• Served as Executive leadership team member on matters pertaining to improving or maintaining standards of quality care, ensuring effective day-to-day operations throughout Health Services department with regards to clinical and administrative activities.
• Designed and managed nursing organizational structure supporting clinical and administrative standards and goals to enable facility to achieve its mission, person-centered care, ongoing survey readiness, and regulatory compliance.
• Promoted positive work environment by recognizing achievements and addressing concerns promptly.
• Maintained knowledge and understanding of resident population and their conditions through mechanisms such as daily rounds, discussion with nurses, review of new orders/consultation reports, clinical meetings, and promotion of person-centered care.
• Reviewed prospective resident referrals to validate clinical services could safely and effectively be provided by facility.
• Collaborated internally with interdepartmental leaders, other patient care and support departments, and externally with leaders from community to address and work cooperatively on local healthcare issues and to foster climate of open communication and mutual problem solving.
• Developed and maintained close working relationships with physician colleagues and other healthcare providers, working to set goals, develop action plans, and update protocols to meet or exceed evidence-based standards of care and system improvements.
• Led program management for strategic operational initiatives and task groups, keeping colleagues informed of progress toward desired outcomes.
• Accountable for management of selection, monitoring, evaluation, storage, and tracking of clinically related equipment and supply usage.
• Actively participated with facility stakeholders in planning activities associated with design or implementation of renovation or new construction of patient care areas.
• Ensured performance evaluations for nursing employees were completed in timely manner.

Process Improvement:

Ensured the design and implementation of continuous process improvement initiatives to both measure and improve performance and quality of care delivered and ensure consistency with the organization's strategic priorities.

• Fostered culture of continuous improvement, encouraging open communication and teamwork among staff members.
• Collaborated with other health system leaders to formulate and implement improvement projects impacting service line quality, process improvement, and overall patient satisfaction.
• Initiated, participated in, and evaluated corporate initiatives to improve employee engagement with goal of improved patient safety and increased employee satisfaction.
• Optimized workflow processes by integrating advanced technology systems into daily operations, reducing error rates and increasing nurse availability for direct patient care.
• Identified and remediated laboratory monitoring inefficiencies, through process analysis, leading to implementation of new vendor. This effort resulted in decreased processing times, enhancing patient monitoring, and improved outcomes.

Risk and Compliance:

Assessed, analyzed, and authored numerous updates to key policies and procedures consistent with recognized industry standards of professional practice to ensure regulatory compliance and maintain authority, accountability, and responsibility for nursing services.

• Ensured compliance with regulatory requirements through regular audits, policy updates, and ongoing education for staff members.
• Initiated, implemented, and maintained CLIA waivers for point-of-care lab testing, creating policies and training staff on procedures to allow on-site waived laboratory testing across multiple campuses.
• Evaluated clinical performance data to identify areas for improvement and develop targeted action plans.
• Ensured strict adherence to remediation plans and maintained proactive culture in driving high quality, person-centered care.
• Managed adverse events, established root cause, and developed remediation plans to prevent reoccurrences.

Education and Training:

Assessed nursing and facility-wide educational needs and set obtainable goals, enabling the facility to provide more complex clinical services and broadening the facility's referral base.

• Directed and managed development of identified interdepartmental learning needs to ensure prompt, effective, and sustained implementation.
• Created and managed non-medical staff, patient, and community-based training including harm-reduction strategies/naloxone administration
• Implemented novel facility-wide onboarding, residency, and competency-based program for new hires to ensure orientees received proper preparation necessary to become safe and independent care providers.
• Executed first-ever robust smoking cessation program to capitalize on patient motivation to address types of addiction.

Workforce Planning:

Managed Health Services workforce planning, based upon census, acuity, and budget. Assured effective recruitment and retention plans exist, and participated in the effective implementation.

• Promoted effective working conditions and positive employee relations.
• Led budget discussions and staffing composition recommendations for Health Services.
• Evaluated staff development needs for Health Services department and ensured clinical competency of all Health Services staff. Encouraged ongoing participation in professional organizations, pursuit of certifications, and completion of formal academic programs.
• Participated in employee recognition programs designed to recognize exemplary performance, safety consciousness, and dedication to team work.
• Implemented innovative solutions to address staffing challenges, reducing nurse turnover rates.

Patient Satisfaction:

Endorsed an environment where residents' rights are protected and residents are free from abuse and neglect.

• Promoted and evaluated resident and family satisfaction with nursing services.

Community Relations

Collaborated with external organizations and advisory groups to establish relationships with community partners and deliver valuable leadership and service in local community.

• Active participant in regional advisory groups charged with preventing opioid overdoses and improving care for people experiencing substance use disorder.
• Collaborated with local hospital patient care advocates to increase understanding of mutual patients' needs to ensure optimal outcomes.
• Participated in community outreach events to promote healthcare awareness and foster strong relationships with local organizations.

Infection Control:

Served as the facility's infection control administrator through the global pandemic to safeguard facility community through effective infection control measures.

• Lead implementation of first-ever staff Influenza immunization clinic in facility's 36-year history.
• Conducted timely, ongoing, and relevant staff and patient education on emerging infection control threats, including Q&A sessions to ensure both compliance to new procedures and awareness of public health developments.
• Monitored PPE inventory to ensure adequate supplies were readily available for facility patients and staff.
• Designed and lead implementation of health care continuity plan founded on infectious disease protocols, resulting in only regional facility able to offer continuous patient care operations throughout global pandemic
• Developed and implement facility SARS-CoV-2 antigen testing policy, procedure, and training; first for any Acadia Healthcare's residential treatment programs.
• Served as Lead Liaison with State's SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Coordinator to procure and coordinate administration of vaccine to staff and patients.
• Responsible for maintaining fewest and most controlled Covid outbreaks among regional sister residential treatment programs, allowing continuous operations and service for patients.

• Developed and instructed and eight-week, resident curriculum, targeting students interested in pursuing California Consortium for Addiction Programs and Professionals (CCAPP) certification.
• Developed innovative teaching methods tailored to diverse learning styles, enhancing student comprehension and success rates.
• Improved student retention rates through proactive communication and support.
• Encouraged class discussions by building discussions into lessons, actively soliciting input, asking open-ended questions and using techniques to track student participation.
• Promoted collaboration by developing group projects and fostering positive learning environment.
• Mentored and supervised students, providing valuable guidance for thesis work and professional development.
• Facilitated cross-disciplinary learning opportunities for students by collaborating with colleagues from other departments.
• Established industry connections for students by organizing guest speaker events and encouraging community outreach.

• Recruited, hired and trained all staff, providing direct supervision, ongoing staff development and continuing education to employees at independently-owned aesthetic laser clinic.
• Coordinated scheduling, organized operations and materials, and used time efficiently to accomplish daily objectives as well as long-range goals.
• Developed comprehensive clinical training program for new hires to ensure consistent quality of care.
• Conducted thorough assessments of clients' needs to develop tailored treatment plans aimed at addressing specific challenges.
• Facilitated implementation of new evidence-based practices within therapeutic team, resulting in improved treatment outcomes and patient experiences.
• Served as liaison between nursing staff and administration to address concerns and optimize workflows.
• Ensured compliance with regulatory standards by conducting regular audits of clinical records and procedures.
• Promoted from within, 2015

• Optimized patient outcomes on 19-bed cardiac unit by remaining calm, focused, and utilizing critical thinking skills to provide appropriate interventions.
• Increased patient satisfaction scores by providing compassionate, holistic care tailored to individual needs and preferences.
• Explained course of care and medication side effects to patients and caregivers in easy-to-understand terms.
• Communicated and coordinated within multidisciplinary health care team, ensuring each individual received appropriate and comprehensive care.
• Championed culture of learning by sharing best practices, clinical updates, and relevant research findings with nursing colleagues to encourage evidence-based care delivery.
• Elevated quality of patient care by participating in continuous improvement initiatives and incorporating evidence-based practices into daily nursing tasks.
• Promoted culture of safety within unit, adhering to strict infection control protocols and proper handling of medical equipment.