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Nurse Practitioner Service

Location:
Belton, TX
Posted:
September 18, 2014

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Resume:

Karen Landers Spada, DNP, MSN, MPH, MHA, FNP

817-***-****

acf0pv@r.postjobfree.com

Healthcare professional with expertise in developing and implementing strategies, systems, and processes

for achieving sustained organizational excellence responsive to needs of stakeholders and the population

served. Leadership expertise includes the ability to manage by fact and build an innovative, next-level

culture passionate about improving services for patients and stakeholders.

EXPERIENCE

Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration (VHA) – 04/80 to 12/20/13

The nation's largest integrated health care system comprised of 21 Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISNs)

nationally.

Central Texas Veterans Health Care System (CTVHS); Temple, Texas

A multi-site tertiary health system with 888 beds, 8 outpatient sites, and over 960,000 annual outpatient visits caring

for more than 65,000 veterans, with 2,500 clinic appointments daily and the highest percentage of Women's Health

distribution in Texas.

Associate Director for Patient and Nursing Services (8/2007-12/13)

Key member of Senior Organizational Management responsible for the executive leadership and

supervision of Nursing Service, Sterile Processing and Distribution, Infection Prevention and Control,

Reusable Medical Equipment (RME), Environmental Management Services, Food and Nutrition, Patient

Advocates, Women's Health, and Planetree.

• Initiated a major organizational cultural transformation focused on patient-centered care

Activities such as facility-wide training, elimination of restricted visiting hours, homelike

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environment for extended care areas, private room assignments as available, patient snacks for

off-tours, family rooms on each unit (in process) and institution of a 1:2 ratio unit for initial

assessment of dementia patients resulted in overall improvement in patient outcomes and patient

satisfaction.

CTVHCS was recognized by the Director, VA Community Living Centers and State

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Veterans Homes Clinical and Survey Oversight as being the most productive entity in VA in

regard to the cultural transformation of Community Living Centers

• Collaborated with the Chief of Staff and others to enhance and innovate the patient care

partnership among clinical and supportive disciplines. Mentored the development and initiation of

organization-wide interdisciplinary rounding. In concert with the initiation of the Patient

Administration Service, the organization has realized improvements in inter-departmental

communication, patient throughput, resource utilization (82% decrease in diversions), and timeliness

of transition to lower levels of care.

• Gap analysis identified organization classification as a level 1C in spite of size and services

provided. Identified those requirements necessary to achieve more appropriate 1A classification

(primarily research activities and surgical complexities). Have made progress in enhancing research

capabilities of organization (named Mental Health Center of Excellence, enhanced clinical research

programming). Increased surgical cases from 3,000 in 207 to 4,200 in 2012 with plans to open a

cardiac cath lab in 2012. Anticipate achievement of 1A classification in next review cycle,

maximizing VERA reimbursement schedule and increasing base of fiscal resources available to

organization.

• Improved organizational performance measures from 76% met or better in FY 07 to 90% met or

better in FY09. Year to date, fiscal year 2012 equals 94% at target or exceeding. Many measures that

were red are now blue due to nursing protocols developed to assist providers in Primacy Care and

Patient Aligned Care Teams (PACT).

• Enhanced LVN performance to reach state scope of practice and to further support the PACT.

• Initiated the Dean’s Council, with membership consisting of Deans of area educational

institutions, organization senior leadership and senior clinical leadership from Fort Hood for the

purpose of building a collegial network and idenitifying synergistic opportunties for serving the

community. Led to an additional 125 residents for the organization and the institution of 3 dually

aligned RN clinical instructors/affiliate liasons, which allowed for an increase in the number of

nursing students enrolled in the area.

• Selected as the VHA National Center for Excellence and Consultation for the role of Clinical

Nurse Leader (CNL), 2011.

• CTVHSC was the first VA to implement mother friendly rooms where women veterans, spouses,

or employees can pump breast milk in a beautiful, peaceful, and quite environment. Have received

national recognition and awards for our outreach Women Veterans programs and innovative Women's

healthcare delivery, including a Woman's Health Provider at each community-based outpatient clinic.

• Second place Carey recipient 2011-13. (Baldrige)

VISN 17, Corporate entity providing oversight and leadership to all the health care systems in

VISN 17; VA Heart of Texas Healthcare Network; Arlington, Texas

VISN 17 is comprised of four health care systems (seven facility locations) and 15+ community-based outpatient

clinics. The network provides services for 230K veterans in 134 counties, employs 10,000+, has a budget of $1.3B+,

and maintains multiple accreditations.

Quality Management Officer (6/2003-8/2007)

Program oversight, coordination, leadership or facilitation of all quality-management activities

throughout the network.

• Managed metrics programs that monitored processes and outcomes relative to QM/PI

• Improved the processes of accountability and ongoing review, resulting in

double-digit percentage gains in multiple domain areas.

• Established relationships and technical capabilities necessary to implement a

comprehensive data management score card and analysis program that optimized the ability of senior

Network and facility leadership to make well-informed, effective, and timely operational decisions.

• Only US Army/Baylor resident invited to participate in a week-long mentoring

exercise with VHA Secretary Anthony Principi, April 2004

• Provided support and consultation resulting in successful JC HAP surveys (3), Specialty

surveys (3) and CARF surveys (14)

• Represented the interests of the Network in various interactions (local, regional,

national) relative to accreditation and performance improvement

• VHA- sponsored student, US Army-Baylor University Graduate Program in Health Care

Administration (6/2002-6/2003), one of three VHA candidates selected to participate as part of the

class of 2004. Assigned to residency in VISN 17 to coordinate Quality Management activities;

transitioned to permanent Quality Management Officer. First Baylor Resident selected to shadow

Secretary Principi for ten days.

• Selected for participation in VHA’s prestigious Executive Field Career Development Program

(ECF)

Acting Deputy Director at Central TX VA August 2005 to January 2006.

• Received Commendation from Secretary of VHA for leading the first medical team to set up a

medical shelter in College Station, TX, for post-hurricane survivors . Led the team in opening VHA’s

first medical shelters for civilians at the Marlin and Waco VA hospitals in collaboration with FEMA

and US Public Health Service medical teams.

• Initiated a Systems Redesign that resulted in the development of a new VA department, Patient

Administrative Services (PAS). This department is responsible for accurate third part billing and

reimbursement for all in-patients and out-patients treated at this VA as well VA patients treated in the

community. PAS has since received national recognition by the Deputy Undersecretary for Health

and Operations Management (DUSHOM) as a best practice. PAS has been implemented at the Dallas

and San Antonio VAs and has resulted in cost savings at Central TX exceeding $3M

• Received a Commendation from the Network Director for introducing data-driven decision trees

and business plans that resulted in improved quality patient care delivery systems.

Southern Arizona VA Health Care System; Tucson, AZ

Family Nurse Practitioner, Green Valley Community Based Outpatient Clinic (6/2000 to 6/2002)

Primary care provider in VISN 18 for a panel of more than 1,000 veteran patients. Duties included

diagnosis, treatment planning, ordering and interpretation of lab and other diagnostic tests, prescribing

medications, referrals to appropriate specialty areas, follow up and consultation with attending physician,

as necessary.

• Selected to participate in US Army-Baylor University Graduate Program in Health Care

Administration for VISN 17

• Four-time recipient of Employee of the Month for outstanding care delivery in a primary care

setting.

• Implemented a Congestive Heart Protocol that decreased CHF admissions, emergency room visits

and prescription changes

• Programmatic changes resulted in cost savings in excess of $200K

VA San Diego Health Care System; San Diego, CA

Family Nurse Practitioner (6/1998 to 6/2000)

Primary care provider for a panel of more than 1,000 veteran patients. Additional practice in urgent care

setting.

• Instituted a clinic providing same day access as a preventative care model for primary care

patients requiring medical care resulting in significant cost avoidance and increased patient

satisfaction

• Certified by the American Nurses Certification Commission (ANCC) as a board-certified Family

Nurse Practitioner (FNP)

Brockton-West Roxbury VA Medical Center, Boston, MA – October 1987 to January 1996

Two division facility, over 1,000 operating beds. Harvard teaching facility. First open heart program in VHA.

Associate Chief, Nursing Service

Supervised critical care areas as well as recruited for 38 nursing units

• Excellence in Government Service Award Recipient for Outstanding Community Service, Boston

Federal Executive Board, 1990

• Vice President of VA Nurse Recruiter Association 1991-1996

• Achieved ANCC Nursing Administration certification 1987

• Received national recognition from the Office of Recruitment and Retention for implementation

of the first successful Filipino Nurse Recruitment program

• Program achieved the first VHA attestation from the State Department

• Served as the VA clinical advisor to the Department of Defense for triaging returning soldiers

wounded in Desert Shield for continuing care services

Boston VA Medical Center, Boston, MA – May 1980 to October 1985

Charge Nurse (weekends), Specialty Care Service Line

Goddard Hospital, Stoughton, MA - May 1980 to October 1987

180-bed full-service community hospital.

Assistant to the Vice President of Nursing (10/85-10/87)

• Designed and implemented the first “Daycare for Sick Kids” in MA

Charge Nurse, Emergency Department (5/80-10/85)

Faulkner Hospital, Boston, MA – October 1976 to May 1980

200-bed Harvard teaching facility.

Nurse Manager Emergency Department, Trauma Center

Harvard University Medical School, Somerville, MA – October 1975 to October 1976

Staff Nurse, Research Unit for Polydrug Abuse

Cambridge Hospital, Cambridge, MA – June 1972 to October 1975

A 150-bed Harvard teaching facility.

Staff Nurse, Pediatrics and Emergency Department (including pediatrics and adult trauma)

EDUCATION / CERTIFICATION

2013 Doctorate of Nursing Practice, University of Alabama

2004 Master’s Degree in Health Care Administration (MHA), US Army-Baylor University, Waco, TX

1998 Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), Family Nurse Practitioner, Medical University of South

Carolina, Charleston, SC

1991 Master’s Degree in Public Health (MPH), Boston University, Boston, MA

1985 BA, Wheaton College, Norton, MA

Diploma in Nursing, Faulkner Hospital School of Nursing, Boston, MA

1972

2006 Six Sigma Green Belt

HONORS

2010 Candidate, Interagency Institute for Federal Healthcare Executives

July 2008 Federal Executive Leadership Institute

2003-2005 Executive Career Field Development Program

2003-2004 Health Care Leadership Institute

PUBLIC SPEAKING

2012 San Antonio, American Association Of College of Nursing: "The implementation of the Clinical

Nurse Leader Role, “April 2012

Member of Presidential Task Force “Joining Forces” to develop curricula for nursing universities for

PTSD and TBI, 2012

Guest lecturer, Loyola University, New Orleans, LA, MBA class: Supply Chain for large multi-site

hospitals, 2012

Multiple other engagements: Average 1-4 invitations per year to speak at local, state and national

meetings, 2012

New Orleans, LA, VHA National Nurse Manager Academy: Guest Speaker, March 2009

From 2007 to 2013 I spoke at multiple private sectors and government related professional meetings on

various topics. These topics were also presented, by me, and televised to multiple sites during Nursing

Grand Rounds. Topics included:

Patient Centered Care

Empowering nurses to maximize scope of practice Tele-Health

Clinical Nurse Leader Nursing leadership Motivating nurses to

Building partnerships with physicians:

Evidence based

PTSD

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

American College of Healthcare Executives, Member (2003- 2008 and Present)

Nurses Organization of Veterans Affairs, Member, 2008- Present

Member, VHA Office of Nursing Service, National Nurse Executive Council 2009-Present

VHA Office of Nursing Service, National Workforce Goal Group Chair, 2009-Present

Member, National Task Force for Community Fee Based Planning, 2005-2006

Board Member, VHA National Mentoring Certification 2005-2006

American Nurses Association (ANA) 2000-Present

Secretary, AZ ANA State Nurse Practitioner Chapter 2000-2002

Sigma Theta Tau International (National Honor Society for Nursing), inducted 1997

VA Nurse Recruiters Association, Vice President 1991-1996

Registered Professional Nurse: Active RN license in GA, DC and temporary license in the state of TX

PUBLICATIONS

Article, “History of National Nurses Day”, AD Nurse, 1989

Article, “Supermoms come in all sizes”, RN, 1988 May; 51(5):47-9

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

Ronald Mc Donald House, Volunteer, 2005-Present

CTVHCS sponsorship of 1st Surgical Unit deployed to Iraq, Volunteer Leader, 2007-2009

Extensive volunteer work with survivors of Katrina, located in Arlington, TX, 2005-2009



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