Melodie L. Fox

Directed the successful operation of the resident care department, supervised all nursing and resident care positions, and hired, trained, disciplined, and terminated resident care staff. This position assesses all incoming residents and serves as a member of the community management team.

PRINCIPLE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Promoted resident rights and well-being.

Managed and analyzed overtime reports to ensure budget compliance.

• Monitors overtime usage
• Coordinated staff scheduling to ensure adequate coverage for resident care
• Plans and executes resident care budget for community

Analysis / Reporting

Reviews communication system daily

Participates in weekly Resident Tracking Meetings with Executive Director and the Harbor Director

Facilitated effective communication with families regarding resident care.

• Communicated effectively with families and friends of residents to address concerns and provide updates
• Efficiently documents and provides accurate record-keeping as appropriate
• Effectively communicates with other care providers in a professional manner
• Communicates and documents residents’ material needs (i.e., briefs, clothing, toothpaste, pads, etc.).
• Accurately completes incident reports prior to the end of the working day
• Accurately completes a follow-up process for all incidents and accidents
• Notifies corporate office of incidents in a timely manner
• Effectively handles follow-up issues with families
• Facilitates RCA and nursing team meetings

Ensured adherence to safety protocols and resident care standards.

• Assures compliance with all resident care related regulations (e.g., medication management)
• Demonstrates infection prevention and control
• Conducts quarterly audits on infection prevention and control
• Demonstrates personal and resident safety
• Answers resident urgent call alarms
• Reviews and demonstrates fire, safety, and elopement procedures
• Ensures that a visit occurs following an incident, accident, injury
• Ensures physician and family notification per state regulations
• Maintains compliance with state regulations
• Actively participates in the QA process

Computer Skills

• Demonstrates proficiency in:
• Microsoft Office
• Talent Review Tool
• State audit compliance tool
• Move-N

Knowledge and Experience

• Understands and develops Resident Care Service Plan
• Understands advanced directives and end-of-life care
• Possesses knowledge about the assisted living philosophy
• Understands nursing function in assisted living
• Understands quality of care objectives
• Understands quality of life objectives
• Demonstrates knowledge of Benchmark Standards and Practices
• Possesses current CPR, First Aid and Heimlich certification, if required
• Demonstrates working knowledge of state regulations
• Possesses knowledge of policies in the resident handbook
• Holds certification as Benchmark University Faculty

Organization / Prioritization

• Follows daily work schedules as directed and identifies and acts on non-scheduled tasks

Problem Solving / Decision Making

• Takes corrective action and disciplines employees in writing if necessary
• Reassigns or terminates unsatisfactory employees in coordination with the Executive Director, Human Resources, and the Regional Director
• Responds to emergencies and personal emergency response system and knows when to call for backup
• Effectively handles difficult resident behaviors
• Reacts calmly and effectively in emergency situations
• Develops and manages risk reduction program for each resident

Public Relations / Marketing

• Represents the company with pride and knowledge to educate outside groups and organizations
• Demonstrates continual effort to educate outside groups and organizations about the community

Resident Care-Advanced

• Reviews and initials communication log daily
• Identifies and assesses the clinical status of potential residents
• Completes a thorough assessment of potential residents
• Obtains the medical information release form from primary care physician as needed
• Develops an ongoing plan of care based on the identified physical and psychological problems of the resident including: the identified problems; resident specific goals and planned program interventions
• Develops a service plan according to the requirements outlined in the state regulations

Resident Care-Wellness

• Measures and accurately records vital signs (temperatures, pulse, respiration, blood pressure weight and height) where appropriate as per state regulations
• Effectively balances service demands with supporting resident
  independence
• Accurately assesses, communicates, and documents residents’ status
• Assesses risk in a proactive manner
• Observes and reports any significant changes in resident behavior and health to the physician, family, RCA’s, and Executive Director per state regulations
• Efficiently documents and provides accurate record-keeping as appropriate
• Effectively communicates with other care providers in a professional manner
• Communicates and documents residents’ material needs (i.e. briefs, clothing, toothpaste, pads, etc.)
• Accurately completes incident reports prior to the end of the working day
• Accurately completes a follow-up process for all incidents and accidents
• Notifies corporate office of incidents in a timely manner
• Effectively handles follow-up issues with families
• Facilitates RCA meetings

Engaged with potential residents to highlight community benefits.

• Demonstrates continual effort to educate outside groups and organizations about the community
• Participates in marketing: follow up calls, tours, etc.
• Serves as a member of the community Sales Team
• Successfully implements the plan of care
• Assists Executive Director when reviewing service action plan changes with families

Strategy

• Successfully implements the plan of care
• Assures compliance with all resident care related regulations
• Assists Executive Director when reviewing service action plan changes with families

Organized staff scheduling to meet operational needs.

• Monitors overtime usage
• Assists in scheduling staff (budgetary guidance).
• Oversees ancillary health services as needed
• Demonstrates ability to schedule, orient and train staff
• Provides ongoing supervision of residents health related activities: complying with health care instructions explained by health care professionals; promptly and appropriately seeking and obtaining medical attention when needed
• Supervises care staff and nurses
• Conducts SAMM / MAR audits bi-monthly
• Conducts RCA documentation audits bi-monthly
• Schedules resident care staff
• Thins charts as necessary
• Orders supplies
• Inspects apartments
• Participates in peer-to-peer audit program
• Follows daily work schedules as directed and identifies and acts on non-scheduled tasks
• Facilitates weekly resident tracking meeting

Talent Development

• Supervises all activities of the resident care staff
• Coordinates resident care training or related all-associate in-service events
• Identifies and organizes associate relations events and opportunities
• Completes performance review for all resident care associates and nurses annually
• Serves as mentor to new RCAs and nurses
• Coordinates resident care training and / or related all-associate in-service events

Led resident care training sessions for new staff.

• Coordinates resident care training and/or related all-associate in-service events
• Coordinates orientation (in community) for new Resident Care staff

Vision / Innovation

• Assesses risk in a proactive manner

Promoted a welcoming environment for residents and visitors.

• Displays courteousness and friendliness at all times to residents remembering their rights to dignity and confidentiality
• Represents the company with pride and knowledge to educate outside groups and organizations
• Oversees and/or conducts activities where necessary

• Provide leadership and management of hospice/palliative technology and performance improvement programs. Proactively support target areas for improvement and partner with the clinical manager and interdisciplinary team in developing strategies to improve performance in health care delivery, administration, quality, and patient safety. Analyze documentation to ensure OASIS accuracy and care plan integration. Monitor clinical processes and outcomes across the continuum of care, review patient charts for completeness and accuracy to drive evidence-based practices, and oversee current patient status, individualized care plans, and progress toward goals.
• Audit and review patients’ medical records upon admission, documenting comprehensive update, change in status, and discharge to extract quality measures.
• Abstract and validate the Hospice Item Set (HIS) upon admission and discharge according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Service (CMS) regulations.
• Partner with clinical manager to promote performance improvement strategies and compliance with best practices.
• Evaluate and analyze data to identify trends and implement plans of correction.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of the Quality Assessment Performance Improvement program (QAPI) for the palliative/hospice program.
• Ensure that mandatory reporting of outcomes and process data meets deadlines on CAHPS and other evolving clinical dashboards.
• Provide ongoing education related to HIS and OASIS, including new hires during orientation.
• (formerly Visiting Nurses of Middlesex East and Visiting Nurse Hospice)

• Executed supportive hospice/palliative case management by providing guidance, support, and education based upon assessments, patient care standards, and patient/family preferences. Collaborated with physician, patients and their families, and patient care team to provide and maintain continuity of patient care to achieve excellent pain and symptom management and high quality end-of-life care. Ensured consistent, complete, and thorough nursing documentation which included the outcome of communication, assessment, and plan of care for patient. Reviewed physician orders pertinent to palliative care, including orders entered in EMR and any changes to the plan of care or changes in the patient condition or status. Assisted in delivering clinical practice guidelines/standards in support of quality palliative care improvements and initiatives.
• Provided nursing care for Hospice, Oncology, Dementia, Acute/Chronic, post-surgical patients with diverse diseases.
• Initiated, monitored, and terminated intravenous therapies including medications, hydration, and parenteral nutrition.
• Performed venous and arterial punctures, maintained the intravascular site including tubing and dressings, monitored for infections, assessed patients for adverse reactions and complications, and documented all patient-directed activities.
• Demonstrated knowledge of current pain and symptom control interventions.
• Provided palliative care data (e.g., number of consults, referrals, conversion to hospice, changes in level of care, etc.) to measure program success and/or opportunities.
• VNA Middlesex East-full time

• Communicated effectively with patients, supervisors, and co-workers, documented observations and provision of care, and maintained a clean, safe, and healthy environment for each patient in the home and Hospice House, and in a residential care facility. Assisted in teaching family members and patients different ways to simplify household tasks and cope with disabilities. Recognized the physical, emotional, and developmental characteristics of the population, including need for respect for the patient, his/her privacy, and his/her property.
• Assisted with various personal care issues including changing bedding, changing clothing, bathing hospice patients, and helping with hygienic routines such as brushing teeth, washing hair, and keeping wound dressings clean and dry.
• Supported patients' family members in caring for terminally ill relatives by instructing them on how to go about performing basic health-care routines.
• Consulted on a regular basis with supervising registered nurses in terms of keeping hospice team members apprised of our patients' progression and the families' needs.
• VNA Middlesex East-full time

• Played a central role in the execution of team-based research projects by coordinating the scheduling of animal behavior and physiology experiments, and helping support the core functioning of the lab. Determined necessary lab adjustments to experiment processes as needed, and handled administrative requirements related to working in the lab. Performed laboratory procedures required for experimental studies, assisted with data pipelining and pre-processing, and processed data for sophisticated analysis and modeling.
• Provided surgical and research support for a team of very active and well-established cardiovascular disease experts (including doctors, pathologists, surgeons, and biochemists).
• Delivered pre-op and post-op care for large research animals, including performing pre-medication, intubations and IV catheter access, anesthetic induction, and femoral access; carefully documenting and monitoring all vitals, SPO2, blood pressure, CO2, EKG readings, and various medication controls (including anesthesia) during procedure.
• Collected specimens, administered pain medication, and monitored vital signs and well-being of animal(s) post-op.
• Assisted with MRI, CT scan, and fluoroscopy research trials.