Beverly Poole-Bjorkheim BS, RN COHN-S/CM

American Board Certified Occupational Health Nurse Specialist & Certified Case Manager

I am a Senior level Registered Nurse with Management experience. My clinical and non-clinical work experiences have allowed me to work within a multi-disciplinary base. The diversity of holding specialty medical training in clinical and non-clinical arenas has enhanced my ability to be extremely proficient in providing project development, problem resolution and educational programs. I excel in providing presentations in the medical field to diverse groups including Executive management and all levels of hospital employees. My accomplishments have enabled me to gain recognition as a Safe Patient Handling content expert. Good communication skills, along with personal passion for peer and patient safety have enabled me to be very successful in establishing a culture of positive change.

Work Experience:

2006-2010: Seton Family of Hospitals, Risk Management Department (Reduction in Work Force)

Title: Network Ergonomic & Patient Handling Program Coordinator to Project Manager.

The Seton Family of Hospitals is a member of Ascension Health. The network includes a total of 10 hospitals. Five urban acute care hospitals, two rural hospitals, a mental health hospital 4 Magnet nursing facilities-University Medical Center Brackenridge, Dell Children's Medical Center of Central Texas, Seton Medical Center and Seton Northwest Hospital. Employing more than 9400 associates. My most recent work experience included developing and managing the network ergonomics and safe patient-handling program for the ten Seton Family of Hospitals. I have demonstrated a strong ability to plan, organize, and prioritize work activities to ensure that Network Goals were met.

· Coordinated and managed all safe patient handling related projects in the network.

· Participated in provided analysis of all patient handling workers compensation injuries (W/C)

· Provided training and role development for the Safe Patient Handling (SPH) super users exceeding 350 trainers throughout the Seton Network.

· Developed the Network Patient Handling Executive Committee leading and facilitation monthly meetings.

Establishing a safe patient handling environment resulted in:

· A significant reduction in associate injuries involving patient handling lost workdays and restricted work activity.

· For of number of consecutive years post implementation of the SPH program a significant reduction of W/C claims and all associated costs was achieved.

· Reduction of OSHA Recordable incidents.

Associated Improved Patient Outcomes:

· Improved patient mobility.

· Enhanced patient skin mobility.

· Decreased incidence of patient falls.

· Enhanced circulation and pulmonary function.

The role of Network Ergonomic and SPH included:

· Promotion of competence in all ergonomic related programs to include didactic teaching, training on equipment, new equipment review, purchase, and installation.

· Provided specialized education for safe patient handling and the improvement of systems and processes to all patient care areas of the hospitals. Focusing on specialty units including the ICU, ED, OR, and PACU.

· Participated in all activities related to ergonomic and SPH injuries which included accident investigation, root cause analysis, and corrective actions. Dissected and created associated action plans which were provided to departmental management for implementation.

· Worked with each hospitals site leadership as well as network nursing education to develop capital and operating plans that promote health, wellness, and safety in the workplace for associate safety.

· Coordinated collaborated and communicated with the Network Safety Director and Risk Management Senior Vise President to track and provide analysis of all employee patient injuries due to ergonomics and patient handling.

· Acted as gatekeeper for all external consultants, vendors, and contractors that approached the network.

· Developed and implemented all SPH policies, protocols, checklists associated with patient handling activities.

· Assisted in obtaining funding for programs and equipment from internal and external resources.

· Worked with appropriate databases and hospital information related to occupational incidents and injuries and provided reports monthly per as required.

· Assisted with regulatory compliance and associated action planning.

· Participated in Ascension SmartMOVERS multidisciplinary team to assist with all Ascension SPH planning and training development.

· Demonstrated knowledge of occupational health, ergonomics, and safety principles and practice. Extensive working knowledge of relevant OSHA, NIOSH, State and Federal regulations and legislation.

· Experienced in surveillance and literature searches.

· Provided “expert support” for safe patient handling control and improvement of systems and processes.

The following positions have been performed as an Occupational Health Nurse (OHN) or a Certified Occupational Health Nurse Specialist and Case Manager. (COHN-S/CM)

1) Seton Family of Hospitals: 2003-2005. Title: Senior Occupational Health Nurse-Specialist and Certified Case Manager COHN-S/CM:

2) Applied Materials Austin, Texas: 1999-2003 COHN-S/CM (Corporate Reduction In Work Force)

3) DELL COMPUTER CORP. CONTRACTOR PRN (As Needed) Austin, TX. 1999 –2000

4) IBM CORPORATION Austin, TX. 8/1995 - 2/1999

My roles at each site are included in the fallowing as written by the American Association of Occupational Health Nurses. t7jnwo@r.postjobfree.com. Roles of COHN-S are as diverse as clinician to educator, case manager to corporate director and consultant. The COHN-S responsibilities have expanded immensely to encompass not only the responsibilities previously stated, but also a wide range of job duties, including but not limited to:

● Case management: COHN-S/CM routinely coordinated and managed the care of ill and injured worker. Their role as case managers has grown more sophisticated with the coordination and management of work-related and non work-related injury and illness, which includes aspects related to group health, workers’ compensation, Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and short-term long-term disability benefits.

● Counseling and crisis intervention: Besides counseling workers about work related illnesses and injuries, The COHN often counsel for issues such as substance abuse, psychosocial needs, wellness/health promotion concerns and other health or work-related concerns. They also may assume primary responsibility for managing employee assistance programs, or handling referrals to employee assistance programs and/or other community resources and coordinate follow-up.

● Health Promotion and Risk Reduction: COHN-S design programs that support positive lifestyle changes and individual efforts to lower risk of disease and injury and the creation of an environment that provides a sense of balance among work, family, personal, health and psychosocial concerns. Immunization, smoking cessation, exercise/fitness, nutrition and weigh control, stress management, monitoring of chronic

diseases and effective use of medical services are just a few of the preventive strategies to keep workers healthy and productive.

● Legal and regulatory compliance: Whether it is the array of state and federal regulations put forward by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) or laws that affect the work place such Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) or Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), COHN-S work with employers on compliance with regulations and laws affecting workers and the workplace.

● Worker and workplace hazard detection: COHN-S recognize and identify hazards, monitor, evaluate and analyze these hazards by conducting research on the effects of workplace exposures, and gather and use health and hazard data to select and implement preventive and control measures as a continual process. Examples include an analysis of the effects of toxic chemical exposure, development of plans to prevent work related accidents and an analysis of groups, not just individuals, to detect patterns, trends, changes and commonalities as in pandemic situations. Providing education, research, and public policy and practice resources for occupational and environmental health nurses. These professionals are the largest group of health care providers serving workers, worker populations and community groups. Occupational and environmental health nursing is the specialty practice that provides for and delivers health and safety programs and services to workers, worker populations and community groups. The practice focuses on promotion and restoration of health, prevention of illness and injury and protection from work related and environmental hazards. Occupational and environmental health nurses COHN-S have a combined knowledge of health and business that they blend with healthcare expertise to balance the requirement for a safe and healthful work environment with a “healthy” bottom line. Through recognized value as business partners, COHN-S are both managers (implement occupational health service programs, provide

budgetary input for programs and staffing) and leaders (develop policy/procedures in alignment with company visions/mission, supervise and direct employees, and mentor co-workers) in the effort to impact corporate improvement and workers, worker populations and community groups health and safety, thus contributing positively to the finical bottom line. Specific information related to job duties and management roles available upon request.

Saint Francis Medical Center Peoria, Illinois 61571: 1990 - 4/1995

Level 1 Trauma Center for Downstate, Illinois.

Certified Intensive Care Registered Nurse. (CCRN) Trained, certified, and experienced in the following areas, Surgical Intensive Care, Cardiovascular Intensive Care, Pediatric Intensive Care, Medical Intensive Care.

Education, and Skills

05/1990: Parkland College US-Ill.-Champaign Associate Degree RN

12/1976: Bradley University US-Ill.-Peoria Bachelor's of Science Degree with a major in Sociology

05/1972: Illinois Central College US-Ill.-East Peoria Vocational – Licensed Practical Nurse

Certifications

12/1999: Certification Occupational Health Nurse Specialist (COHN-S) certificate # 8273

05/2002: Certification Case Management certificate # 8273

Spirometry Certification, NIOSH Approved PFT Course Expert

Hearing-Audiometric Tech, Council for Accreditation Expert

Publications/Articles

Advance for Nurses; SPH article Safety First: Volume 6 Issue 22, 2006

Nursing News: Your Safety First Watch Your Back, July 2005

Seton Healthcare Network; Heart Beat. Employee Safety, Safe Patient Handling, July 2009

Membership Presentations

· 1996 to Present: Member of the American Association of Occupational Health Nurses (AAOHN Local, State and National)

· 10/1998: State Coordinator of the AAOHN Texas State Conference Exhibitors

· 1998-1999: Texas Board Member: Community Relations (AAOHN)

· 10/4/03: Presenter (Guidelines for Case Management of Contract Workers) at the Texas State Association of Occupational Health Nurses 50 Years Anniversary Conference

· 2007 to Present: The American Nurses Association (ANA) membership. Local, State and National)

·

AWARDS:

· 2007: Ascension Presented the Seton Network Safe Patient Leadership Team with the Willis Award for Best Practices in Safe Patient Handling Program

· 2006: Ascension National Risk Management Conference: Development of Safe Patient Handling Risk Assessment Tool

· 2006: Patient Care Ergonomics Training for Health Care Workers, Safe Patient Handling and Movement Conference 2006

· 2002: Applied Material Austin OSHA VPP Reach for the Stars Initiative

Letters of Recommendations Provided upon Request

t7jnwo@r.postjobfree.com

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