Nurse Practitioner Service
Resume:
Karen Landers Spada, DNP, MSN, MPH, MHA, FNP
*********@***.***
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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