Sara Hughes
Gibsonia,PA
Summary
Dynamic healthcare leader with extensive experience in Leadership, excelling in quality assurance and resource management. Proven track record in developing training programs and enhancing patient outcomes through effective communication and interdisciplinary collaboration. Adept at navigating regulatory compliance while fostering a culture of continuous improvement and staff development.
Overview
21
21
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Director of Clinical Services
Three Oaks Hospice
Allison Park, PA
06.2024 - Current
- Participates in all processes related to healthcare regulations, accreditation processes, and quality improvement initiatives.
- Monitors quality assurance initiatives in order to improve patient outcomes.
- Represented the organization at various professional meetings or conferences related to patient care.
- Managed budgets and resources for departments within the company.
- Created training programs to enhance employees' knowledge base in their respective fields.
- Developed and implemented clinical policies and procedures to ensure compliance with regulatory standards.
- Investigated complaints from patients or families regarding clinical services provided by the facility.
- Actively participated in strategic planning initiatives designed to improve overall operations of the facility.
- Assessed staffing needs within Three Oaks Hospice, and recruited qualified personnel when necessary.
- Implemented strategies to ensure efficient utilization of available resources while meeting organizational goals.
- Provided staff education on current trends in clinical practice.
- Utilized active listening and interpersonal communication skills to build professional relationships with patients, families, and clinical staff.
- Coordinated with nurse manager to develop programs targeting nurse education, overall departmental competencies, individual performance, patient safety, and service-related issues.
- Coordinated Care conferences for patients at nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and skilled nursing facilities.
Team Manager
VITAS Healthcare
Cranberry Township, PA
06.2022 - Current
- Set goals for performance and deadlines to comply with company plans and vision.
- Oversaw daily workloads and workflow for smooth operations.
- Motivated team members to consistently achieve or exceed performance expectations.
- Delegated work assignments and prioritized tasks.
- Analyzed and measured employee performance, taking appropriate disciplinary action or recognition based on work performance.
- Conducted regular employee performance evaluations to offer constructive feedback and solutions to propel improvements and growth.
- Created shift schedules and coordinated with team members to maintain sufficient staffing levels during employee absences.
- Partnered with upper management and HR to identify effective resolutions for employee relations issues.
- Supported HR staff with recruiting and retaining high-performing talent.
- Held regular one-on-one meetings with employees to review performance and priorities and provide feedback.
- Remained calm and professional in stressful circumstances and effectively diffused tense situations.
- Listened to patients and loved ones, offering emotional support and kindness to help with end-of-life transition.
- Utilized effective interpersonal, writing and active listening skills to build and cultivate positive relationships with patients, caregivers and physicians.
- Advocated for patient needs with interdisciplinary team and implemented outlined treatment plans.
- Administered oral, IV and intra-muscular medications and monitored patient reactions.
- Managed team budget and resources efficiently, reducing costs while maintaining high-quality standards.
- Ensured compliance with company policies and industry regulations, mitigating risk and maintaining integrity.
- Provided leadership, insight and mentoring to newly hired employees to supply knowledge of various company programs.
- Resolved customer inquiries and complaints requiring management-level escalation.
- Developed and implemented quality control processes to ensure compliance with industry standards.
- Created innovative programs to improve patient outcomes in the long term.
- Reviewed medical records for accuracy, completeness, and compliance with legal requirements.
Clinical Care Coordinator
Allegheny General Hospital AHN
Pittsburgh, PA
11.2021 - 06.2022
- Input accurate account data to efficiently update company database and maintain detailed records.
- Delivered information regarding care and medications to patients and caregivers in comprehendible terminology.
- Responded to routine patient inquiries, assessed patient needs, conferred with physician regarding care plan and assisted physician with sensitive components of examinations.
- Completed electronic documentation, prior insurance authorizations and scheduling of appointments for patients prescribed for diagnostic and therapeutic services from specialists.
- Educated patients in regards to office policies, medical procedure steps, recovery measures and medication instructions.
- Coordinated office schedules for new patients, diagnostic assessments and procedures.
- Managed incoming telephone calls, took messages and directed callers to personnel.
- Prepared new charts, updated existing charts and managed records transfers between offices.
IV SPECIALTY TEAM, Palliative Care
UPMC
Pittsburgh, PA
05.2021 - 10.2021
- Attended to patients to care for IVs, catheters and ports and deliver important treatments for acute and chronic concerns.
- Tracked disease progression and recovery and coordinated adjustments to keep patients on track with targets.
- Documented patients' updates in Home care advisor to coordinate care to physicians.
- Helped patients and families feel comfortable during challenging and stressful situations, promoting recovery and provided help to keep them educated and well informed in a manor that they are able to understand.
- Advocated for patient needs with interdisciplinary team and implemented outlined treatment plans.
- Listened to patients and loved ones, offering emotional support and kindness to help with end-of-life transition.
- Delivered respectful, compassionate care to each patient and family member.
- Planned hospice care for elderly and disabled patients.
- Coordinated with healthcare team to establish, enact and evaluate patient care plans.
Complex Case Manager
Highmark Health
Pittsburgh , Pa
02.2020 - 05.2021
- Counseled patients and caregivers, providing emotional, psychological and spiritual support.
- Communicated with patients and family members to discuss treatment plans, diagnosis and prognosis.
- Coordinated resources from diverse providers for intervention plans.
- Allocated patient resources to meet health goals and overcome social barriers.
- Participated in meetings to implement health services programming for employer groups.
- Coordinated patient care referrals and notifications to initiate health delivery services.
- Answered questions on diverse topics, including authorization procedures, copay requirements and premiums.
- Delivered healthy living and disease management information to specific population groups.
- Assisted individuals with navigating health care systems, appointments and classes.
Home Health Nurse Case Manager
Concordia Visiting Nurses
Cabot, PA
12.2019 - 01.2020
- Charted changes in patient conditions and discussed concerns with supervising healthcare provider.
- Conducted regular re-evaluations to address changes in needs and conditions, introducing revisions to care plans as needed.
- Completed initial assessments of patients and family to determine and address individual home care needs.
- Assisted patients with activities of daily living and functional mobility to increase comfort and quality of life.
- Addressed patient care needs, collected vitals, dressed wounds and managed catheters.
Senior Registered Nurse
UPMC Passavant PACU
Pittsburgh, PA
08.2018 - 12.2019
- Administered medications to manage progression off anesthesia medications, deal with side effects and promote recovery.
- Utilized effective communication skills to educate patients and family members on side effects from both surgery and anesthesia.
- Employed nursing best practices and clinical judgment to continuously evaluate patients' progress and employed intervention to achieve desired outcomes.
- Monitored patient pain levels and administered medication to diminish patient discomfort.
- Evaluated assigned patients to effectively plan, implement and document skilled nursing care.
- Supported physicians completing patient examinations and procedures.
- Troubleshot and resolved vascular access issues to successfully complete treatments.
- Managed and provided leadership to help staff with direct and indirect patient care and telemetry monitoring.
- Helped patients and families feel comfortable during challenging and stressful situations, promoting recovery and reducing compliance issues.
- Inserted and managed central, arterial and PICC lines.
Senior Professional Staff Nurse
UPMC Passavant IV Therapy
Pittsburgh , PA
08.2015 - 12.2019
- Implemented providers' orders to initiate IVs and access ports and deliver medications.
- Troubleshot and resolved vascular access issues to successfully complete treatments.
- Inserted and managed central, arterial and PICC lines.
- Assessed patient conditions, monitored behaviors and updated supervising physicians with observations and concerns.
- Demonstrated competence in the placement of PICC lines. PICC line Certified.
- Served as Preceptor, Mentor and steady charge nurse.
- I was in charge of completing the schedule for all employees in the department and adhered to the scheduling guidelines.
- Assisted with helping develop a plan to improve compliance with CLABSI rate.
Case Manager Home Infusion
Cvs/Coram
Cranberry Twp, PA
01.2017 - 05.2018
- Attended to patients to care for IVs, catheters and ports and deliver important treatments for acute and chronic concerns.
- Administered medications autonomously and followed-up on previous treatments.
- Educated patients about treatments, potential side effects and important care requirements.
- Delivered information regarding care and medications to patients and caregivers in comprehendible terminology.
- Lowered costs while improving care quality by coordinating services and collaborating with dedicated healthcare team.
- Informed patients and families of treatment options and at-home care strategies to reduce unnecessary burden on hospital resources.
- Collaborated with various healthcare providers to facilitate delivery of services.
Registered Nurse Educator
AHN Childbirth and Maternity Nurse Educator
Pittsburgh, PA
11.2013 - 08.2015
- Provided education to High Risk, New Parents, Grandparents how to care for a Newborn baby.
- Taught classes and provided Education on Breast Feeding, CPR on a newborn.
- Provided education to High Risk mother's helping them gain independence on providing care for infants born prematurely.
- Helped New Mother's with breast feeding, providing support and education.
Registered Nurse, Labor and Delivery/Post Partum
AHN
Pittsburgh , Pa
11.2012 - 08.2015
- Cared for pregnant women expecting imminent birth and for babies immediately after birth.
- Monitored condition of newborns and directed postpartum care with special focus on premature babies and babies with abnormalities.
- Explained and demonstrated after-birth care to parents of newborns, answered questions and addressed concerns.
- Assessed and documented physical condition of mothers and babies and assisted doctors in identifying and treating preeclampsia.
- Assisted physicians in delivering babies and supported and encouraged mothers during childbirth.
- Reviewed and tracked progress of mothers in labor, interpreted fetal heart monitor and informed delivering physician of status.
- Served as steady charge nurse addressing unit staff concerns, including staffing ratios, resource management, allocation of responsibilities and optimized workload management.
- Answered patient questions and provided take-home materials for further information.
Registered Nurse, Medical-Surgical Unit
AHN
Pittsburgh, PA
02.2011 - 11.2012
- Monitored and recorded patient condition, vital signs, recovery progress and medication side effects.
- Completed daily chart audits and assessed clinical records to verify accuracy, evaluate performance against goals and check for appropriate education of patients and families.
- Offered clinical leadership and oversight to 30 bed medical-surgical unit, including daily scheduling, tasking and administration.
- Delivered physician-ordered treatments and monitored responses to quickly spot complications and side effects.
- Cared expertly for individuals with wide array of medical issues such as pulmonary, cardiology and infectious disease patients.
- Cared for patient's who underwent gynecological surgeries, abdominal surgeries, orthopedic surgeries and bariatric surgeries.
Emergency Room Registered Nurse
UPMC Passavant
Pittsburgh, PA
09.2005 - 08.2011
- Triaged and treated high-volume caseload in busy emergency room setting.
- Responded quickly to codes and coordinated efficient and skilled care.
- Treated patients by administering various types of medications and therapies.
- Administered critical IV medications to stabilize patients for assessment and treatment.
- Supervised and mentored employees in ER department.
- Performed triage on all incoming patients and determined severity of injury and illnesses.
- Rendered direct patient care, including stabilizing patients and determining course of action based on triage.
Complex Case Manager
Highmark Health
Pittsburgh, PA
08.2010 - 02.2011
- Counseled patients and caregivers, providing emotional, psychological and spiritual support.
- Communicated with patients and family members to discuss treatment plans, diagnosis and prognosis.
- Collaborated with various healthcare providers to facilitate delivery of services.
- Developed appropriate care plans for at-risk individuals and high-risk families.
- Coordinated resources from diverse providers for intervention plans.
- Coordinated support services and optimized communication between healthcare workers and patients.
- Optimized program resource utilization to prevent unnecessary hospital admissions.
- Assisted patients in receiving high-quality, appropriate care with best possible results.
- Lowered costs while improving care quality by coordinating services and collaborating with dedicated healthcare team.
Registered Nurse, Telemetry
Department of Veteran's Affairs
Pittsburgh, Pa
06.2007 - 06.2008
- Maintained composure and efficiency during rapid response situation and emergency codes.
- Delivered care to 4-5 patients per day, including coordinating and evaluating interdisciplinary care.
- Coordinated and managed care for patients undergoing cardiac catheterization.
- Updated physicians on patient test results and assisted in developing care plans.
- Completed daily chart audits and assessed clinical records to verify accuracy, evaluate performance against goals and check for appropriate education of patients and families.
- Consistently assessed and evaluated patients' health needs by coordinating across medical disciplines to create, implement and modify personalized care plans.
- Collected lab specimens, Inserted Intravenous catheters, able to identify and interpret Cardiac rhythms.
Medical Surgical Staff Registered Nurse
UPMC Passavant
Pittsburgh, Pa
12.2003 - 09.2005
- Recorded any action or behavior of clinical significance in changes in patients health, wound, vital signs.
- Delivered treatments, Intravenous medications, Intramuscular medications, sub q injections.
- Educated patients and family members on cleaning and dressing wounds and identifying signs of infection.
- Cared for patients with various wounds caused by injuries, medical treatments and diseases.
- Worked with healthcare teams to assess patients, manage wounds and monitor healing.
- Continually assessed patient pain levels and applied appropriate pain management techniques.
- Administered medications based on clinical condition and patient age.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
Chamberlain University
Downers Grove, IL10.2020
Associate of Science - Nursing
CCAC Allegheny Campus
Pittsburgh, PA12.2003
Skills
- Quality assurance
- Resource management
- Electronic documentation
- Care coordination
- Performance evaluation
- Employee training
- Team building
- Data analysis
- Budget management
- Effective communication
- Conflict resolution
- Interdisciplinary collaboration
- Quality improvement
- Compliance with regulatory guidelines
- Staff Development and Precepting
- Regulatory compliance
- Clinical leadership
- Extensive work with the Geriatric population
Certification
- BLS American Heart Association, exp. 8/2025
- Certified PICC insertion
- Pennsylvania Registered Nurse RN553922 exp. 10/2025
Timeline
Director of Clinical Services
Three Oaks Hospice
06.2024 - Current
Team Manager
VITAS Healthcare
06.2022 - Current
Clinical Care Coordinator
Allegheny General Hospital AHN
11.2021 - 06.2022
IV SPECIALTY TEAM, Palliative Care
UPMC
05.2021 - 10.2021
Complex Case Manager
Highmark Health
02.2020 - 05.2021
Home Health Nurse Case Manager
Concordia Visiting Nurses
12.2019 - 01.2020
Senior Registered Nurse
UPMC Passavant PACU
08.2018 - 12.2019
Case Manager Home Infusion
Cvs/Coram
01.2017 - 05.2018
Senior Professional Staff Nurse
UPMC Passavant IV Therapy
08.2015 - 12.2019
Registered Nurse Educator
AHN Childbirth and Maternity Nurse Educator
11.2013 - 08.2015
Registered Nurse, Labor and Delivery/Post Partum
AHN
11.2012 - 08.2015
Registered Nurse, Medical-Surgical Unit
AHN
02.2011 - 11.2012
Complex Case Manager
Highmark Health
08.2010 - 02.2011
Registered Nurse, Telemetry
Department of Veteran's Affairs
06.2007 - 06.2008
Emergency Room Registered Nurse
UPMC Passavant
09.2005 - 08.2011
Medical Surgical Staff Registered Nurse
UPMC Passavant
12.2003 - 09.2005
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
Chamberlain University
Associate of Science - Nursing
CCAC Allegheny Campus
Similar Profiles
Marissa VaughnMarissa Vaughn
Certified Nursing Assistant at Three Oaks HospiceCertified Nursing Assistant at Three Oaks Hospice
Macy BeashoreMacy Beashore
Hospice Registered Nurse Case Manager at Three Oaks HospiceHospice Registered Nurse Case Manager at Three Oaks Hospice
Macy BeashoreMacy Beashore
Hospice Registered Nurse Case Manager at Three Oaks HospiceHospice Registered Nurse Case Manager at Three Oaks Hospice
Taylor MCWHIRTERTaylor MCWHIRTER
Medical Assistant at Martin G. Gregorio, MD & AssociatesMedical Assistant at Martin G. Gregorio, MD & Associates
Juliana EricksonJuliana Erickson
HEDIS Data Abstractor Temp Position at UPMC Health PlanHEDIS Data Abstractor Temp Position at UPMC Health Plan