Rachel Donermeyer, MS, BSN, RN

Acute care nursing leader responsible for 70 FTEs in the outpatient observation unit. Active participant in the Observation Shared Governance Committee. Partners with Medical Directors, Operations Excellence team, Case Management, and Emergency Department to plan and institute new and exciting initiatives to decrease length of stay (LOS) on unit. Engaging team in change management and daily management system to promote safe, quality care for our patients as well as foster a positive environment for increased staff participation and engagement. Creating and utilizing metrics and dashboards to drive new protocols and procedures to decrease LOS on the unit. Actively recruiting new talent to the team while mentoring and retaining the current employees within the unit. Partners with Human Resources Business Partner to resolve staff conflicts and ensure that the policies and procedures of Baystate Health are being carried out consistently and fairly throughout the unit. Utilizes Get Well Leadership Rounds and Press Ganey survey results to support positive patient experience through direct patient feedback. Closely monitors unit budget and flexes staffing and supplies to the census and acuity of the unit with the help of tools such as NASH and Clairvia.

Accomplishments:

• Implemented Daily Management System to unit for increased patient quality and safety
• Partnered with multi-disciplinary team to create a Triage Coordinator role and institute 3 protocols for observation patients to decrease Length Of Stay (LOS) on unit
• Decreased LOS from 32 hours to 26 hours for observation patients on D3B
• Decreased time from discharge order to discharge off the unit from 2.6 hours to 1.5 hours

Provided nursing leadership to 8 outpatient ambulatory clinics throughout BMC with no previous direct nursing leadership. Worked with operational leadership team, medical directors, staff, and the ACNO of Ambulatory Nursing to identify gaps and barriers to care within the clinics. Clinics included, Radiology/Pain Clinic, Urology, Vascular, General Surgery, Transplant, Plastics, ENT, Radiation Oncology. Streamlined nursing resources and cross trained FTEs in various clinics to optimize productivity and provide broader nursing coverage for ambulatory services. Provided guidance on current regulatory standards for minor procedures being performed in the offices. Collaborated with operational leadership directors to manage operating budgets. Assessed clinic operational needs for: standards compliance, safety, cost effectiveness, proper use of resources, clinic schedule for time management efficiency.

Instituted monthly ambulatory nurse staff meetings and engaged nurses to join hospital committees to help mentor and connect staff with resources as some clinics employed only 1 nurse and felt very isolated and unaware of current practice guidelines. Worked closely with Human Resource Business Partners to address any staffing conflicts or concerns to foster a safe and engaging work environment.

Accomplishments:

• Assisted in Implementation of new EMR (EPIC Radiant) in Radiology
• Worked with anesthesia and neurology departments to optimize schedules in Radiology pain clinic
• Worked with ACNO to align ambulatory clinics with regulatory standards
• Mentored staff through first Magnet designation
• Monitored the quality care delivered by registered nurses and LPN’s in the radiology and ambulatory settings by working closely with the operational team and nurse educator to develop use of best practices for the clinic settings as well as identifying and investigating all practice concerns

Oversaw the quality care delivered by registered nurses, radiologic technologists, and nuclear medicine technologists in the radiology department by reviewing documentation, meeting with patients and/or families, and investigating all practice concerns. Managed a very challenging inpatient and outpatient procedural schedule booked through an organizational contact center. Teamed with the Operations Excellence Department and Chief of IR to analyze data and create a scheduling template for the contact center to create more realistic schedule to decrease procedure delays. Sought feedback from referring providers and used feedback to enhance the patient and provider experience in interventional radiology.

Accomplishments:

• Implemented first in region, SpaceOAR, procedure at Baystate Medical Center
• Strategically planned for surge volume and flexible staffing model during the COVID-19 pandemic
• Initiated process improvement projects to help create a better employee and patient experience
• Partnered with Chief of IR to create a marketing plan which included establishing and maintaining positive relationships with referring providers to increase procedural volume and expand case mix
• Developed and implemented pathways for “round trip procedures” that allowed patients in the community hospitals to have access to interventional procedures and decreased the need for interhospital transfers
• Created schedule blocks that improved access and provided procedures in a timely manner for outpatient renal practice patients on nights, weekends, and holidays
• Partnered with the cancer center to streamline and simplify the scheduling for port insertions by creating designated slots in the schedule to increase referrals and create an easier referral process

Provided real time direct supervision for 25 FTEs in Interventional Radiology. Assisted the manager in running staff meetings and with human resource conflicts. Identified a major scheduling barrier that lead to a high number of no shows and procedure reschedule/cancellations. Implemented a nurse coordinator role to review the schedules in advance and ensure proper procedure prep was in place for day of procedure. Optimized staff and patient schedules to ensure maximum productive achieved daily.

Accomplishments:

• Developed coordinator role to prep patients pre-procedure reducing the amount of cancelled and delayed procedures
• Provided the staff with an avenue for formal leadership and professional development opportunities
• Worked with unit leadership to identify and minimize barriers to providing coordinated care
• Maintained clinical expertise by providing direct patient care
• Acted as a charge nurse and clinical resource for patients and staff
• Provided coordination of all patient care both inpatient and outpatient to ensure a positive patient experience.

Highly skilled procedural nurse competent in both pediatric and adult Interventional Radiology procedures. Administered procedural sedation and monitored patient response to interventions while providing emotional support and encouragement before, during, and post-procedures. ACLS, BLS, and PALS certified. Familiar with McKesson, CIS, RadNet and Synapse documentation systems.

Accomplishments:

• Advanced to highest level (IV) of Professional Nurse Recognition Program
• Obtained ANCC Cardiac/Vascular RN Certification
• Provided patients with an opportunity to express concerns or ask questions before having a procedure while ensuring access to appropriate care through pre-procedure chart reviews
• Coordinated patient flow through the department and ensured safe and timely care for patients undergoing procedures, along with staff scheduling and assignments and collaboration across various departments

Provided safe and efficient nursing care in the regions only Level 1 trauma center. Demonstrated strong clinical reasoning skills when assessing patients'' conditions, initiating appropriate interventions, and escalating concerns to physicians as needed. Experience caring for Stroke/STEMI patients as well as the pediatric population. Achieved certifications in TNCC, ACLS, BLS while working in the BMC ED. Often assigned pod Lead role. Precepted new hires into the ED. Familiar with Firstnet documentation.