Medical assistant mentorship at Briargate and North Campus
Cassandra Anderson , NRCMA , serves in the charge medical assistant ( MA ) position . Her role includes scheduling the Briargate medical assistant team members , creating an easy-to-read map of the clinical space for both floors , developing orientation calendars and updating Briargate phone lists . Anderson partners with nursing leadership for medical assistant staffing each day , factoring in ill calls , clinic templates and expertise . She navigates difficult conversations and is an excellent resource to her peers . She also monitors exam room utilization , ensuring patient care and clinic workflows are smooth and seamless .
Likewise , Jayme Chantala , CCMA , demonstrates exceptional partnership in her role as a senior charge medical assistant for the north metro specialty clinics . She has been vital in the re-opening of the Uptown and Wheat Ridge specialty clinics after their closure during COVID-19 . She collaborates with nursing leaders to advise on how to set up these satellite locations to ensure we are equipped to support patients and families . Chantala serves as co-chair of the north metro professional governance council , co-chair of charge RN / MA committee and co-chair of the patient family experience committee for the north metro region , where she set up the charge MA role . Chantala takes a lead role in Joint Commission readiness and has gone above and beyond to support the relocated urgent care during a record respiratory season , among many other contributions .
Clinical advancement program success
With clear prioritization by Pat Givens , DHA , EdM , RN , NEA-BC , Senior Vice President , Patient Care Services / Chief Nursing Executive , the division of Patient Care Services created a priority to deliver on program evaluation for clinical nurse advancement in 2022 across engagement , empowerment and retention . This matrixed , rather than exclusively linear , career advancement program was intended to foster recognition and retention , where clinical nurses would be seen , heard and valued .
Clinical advancement programs provide nurses opportunities to increase engagement in their nursing practice through professional development . This increased engagement can lead to improved patient outcomes , healthy practice environments and increased retention . A redesigned program sought to improve upon these tenets by increasing participation through an objective process while honoring all the contributions and expertise of clinical nurses .
In 2023 , the cardiac intensive care unit at Anschutz Medical Campus experienced an increase from 8 % clinical nurse advancement to 42 % engaged in the program . In the pediatric intensive care unit at Children ’ s Hospital Colorado , Colorado Springs , the team baseline at 0 % clinical nurses ’ advancement in the program rose to 36 % in 2023 . In the ambulatory care setting , the Briargate clinics experienced an increase from 10 % clinical nurse advancement to 29 % engaged in the program in 2023 .
Patient Care Services team leader development
At Children ’ s Colorado , all leaders strive to create and support a culture of excellence , trust and caring . In 2022 , a leadership model was introduced to leaders in Patient Care Services and a decision was made to explore and adopt it . Under the Executive Sponsorship and support of Kathie Seerup , MSHA , BSN , RN , NE-BC , Senior Vice President , Chief Nursing and Operations Officer , southern region , planning ensued in the early part of 2023 . The training series kicked off in October 2023 during Pediatric Nurses ’ Week , when all nurse team leaders from across the system of care attended an in-person training .
Participants learned the importance of human-centered leadership for capturing the essence and complexity of healthcare . This evidence-based approach requires the leader to practice self-nurturing , mindfulness , self-awareness and self-compassion first , and then to adopt the outward-focused leadership attributes of the awakener , the connector and the upholder . The human centered leadership model embraces change from the inside out . Its emphasis on recognizing the expertise and value of those who serve at the point of care is extraordinarily well aligned with our mission , vision and values and the culture we strive to maintain within Children ’ s Colorado . This training is intended to complement existing leadership development programs at Children ’ s Colorado .
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