Jessica Merle

Office nurse with a focus on pre-surgical chart review, medication review, prior authorizations, phone triage, post-op follow up calls, medication refills, and care coordination with the bariatric health care team

• Utilize computerized Electronic Health Records (Athena & Cerner) for timely and accurate patient intake and documentation
• Call patients to review detailed medical histories over the phone, along with collecting current medications and notifying patient of any needed stops prior to surgery
• Under minimal supervision, reviews & screens multiple pre-surgical patient charts daily, including necessary surgical clearances, history & physicals, physician orders, lab & test results
• Review with patient and/or family members any pre-surgery instructions and answer any questions/concerns regarding upcoming surgery
• Effectively communicates any pertinent information (ex: abnormal lab results, high risk patients, missing documentation) to bariatric/general surgeons and any necessary health care team members (scheduler, insurance coordinator, hospital PAT nurses) to determine any needs prior to surgery for individualized and safe patient care
• After finalized chart review, surgeon specific PAT orders are completed and all required chart documents are sent over to pre-admission testing nurses at Henry Ford Madison Heights or Novi locations
• Manage multiple daily post-operative follow up phone calls to discuss patient status, pain management, verification of scheduled post-op appointments, and for overall successful recoveries at home
• Field triage phone calls for bariatric and general surgery patients that include assessments, problem identification, and education as necessary
• Review of office notes and health history for patient prior authorization submissions regarding medications and imaging

Trained in all areas of patient care and procedures related to McLaren Macomb’s Endoscopy department (both ambulatory & inpatient) to provide continuity of care and smooth unit coordination as staff and charge nurse

• Knowledge of various endoscopic procedures performed (including pulmonology) and therapeutic interventions
• Conducted pre-admission screening questions regarding health history over the phone utilizing electronic medical records, reviewed and set next days schedule, called patient regarding procedure times and next steps of care
• Reviewed patients home medications and any needed stops prior to endoscopy procedure needed per anesthesia & gastroenterology guidelines
• Admit and conduct pre-operative assessments and prepares scheduled ambulatory outpatients and add-on inpatients in a timely manner in a fast paced environment to prevent delay of care
• Administers medications as needed per established guidelines and policies to patients throughout perioperative services
• Effectively worked with all levels of health care team (anesthesiologists, gastroenterologists, surgeons, and CRNA’s) promoting collaborative efforts and care outcomes for patients, family and caregivers
• Educate discharge instructions including new medications, health promotion and education, disease prevention, follow-up results/appointments, etc to patients and their family members

Trained in all areas of patient care and procedures related to Surgical Centers of Michigan's ambulatory outpatients to provide continuity of care and smooth unit coordination as staff and charge nurse

• Knowledge of various endoscopic procedures performed as an Outpatient ambulatory endoscopy center
• Admitted & prepared patients safely & on time pre-operatively for scheduled procedures in a fast paced environment
• Conducted and documented a thorough assessment of the ambulatory outpatients data including height & weight, vitals, labs draws, health history information, and medication review to identify patient needs in a timely manner
• Closely monitored and evaluated post procedure patient following anesthesia for pain and to ensure a timely discharge home
• Educated discharge instructions including new medications, health promotion and education, disease prevention; coordinate referrals, follow up appointments and/or chronic care management to patients and their family members
• Influence care outcomes by collaborating with a diverse set of interdisciplinary team members including gastroenterologists, anesthesiologists, CRNA's, lab technicians, patient care assistants, endoscopy technicians & schedulers
• Supervise and coordinate overall daily unit coordination, expedite flow of procedures, and delegate elements of care under minimal supervision

Trained in all areas of perioperative care of a high risk population in a fast paced, busy surgical department (average 50+ surgeries daily) of the Detroit Medical Center

• Provided quality perioperative care by closely monitoring patients throughout their surgical experience
• Guided on shift operations, including patient admissions/transfers, patient flow/assignments and supervision of employees as unit charge nurse
• Managed information regarding health histories, pre-surgical assessments, lab draws with result review, and home medication review as part of the pre-operative intake and documentation
• Collaborated with surgical team in providing comprehensive timely and safe pre-operative care for patients prior to surgery
• Closely monitored and evaluated post-operative patients following anesthesia from a diverse range of surgical procedures for any adverse events or disease symptoms
• Ensure safe pain management interventions are provided for patient comfort and satisfaction
• Worked collaboratively and effectively with all levels of staff including primary care providers, anesthesia team members and surgeons while monitoring for acute changes in patient status and preventing delayed care
• Educate discharge instructions including new medications, post-surgical education, health promotion, disease prevention, new & current medication regimen, and/or chronic care management to patients and their family members

Delivered fundamental, knowlege based levels of care for up to 8 patients with multiple disease processes to populations of all ages, as the primary med-surg bedside nurse

• Decreased patient complications through diligent monitoring of vital signs, lab results, and other telemetry data
• Enhanced patient care by accurately interpreting cardiac monitor readings and promptly reporting critical findings to healthcare team
• Prevented life-threatening complications by quickly recognizing early warning signs of deterioration in critically ill patients under close observation
• Administered prescribed medications safely and effectively while closely monitoring potential side effects or adverse reactions
• Worked collaboratively with a multidisciplinary team of internists, surgeons, specialists, patient care technicians, respiratory therapists and phlebotomists
• Collaborated with social workers, case management, family members, guardians, physicians and ancillary staff to provide appropriate admission assessments and discharge teaching, care planning and resource navigation
• Assumed responsibility for the coordination fo care focused on patient education, self management, and customer satisfaction throughout the continuum of care
• Documented according to facility policy in Cerner EMR with health history data collection, daily assessments, medication reconciliation, medication administration, and pain management