january 2012

St. Mary Medical Center’s Obstetrical Services Department is the first to go online with computerized provider order entry (CPOE), a major objective of the system-wide CareLink initiative spearheaded by Catholic Health East.

“CPOE refers to any system in which physicians and providers directly enter medication orders, tests, and procedures into a computer system, which then transmits the order to the pharmacy or appropriate department. CPOE is one of the capstones of the electronic health record, and it has the potential to greatly reduce errors by ensuring standardized, legible and complete orders,” says anna alderuccio, MSn, rn, Director, Clinical Informatics.

According to Alderuccio, a study of inpatient medication errors found that approximately 90 percent occurred at either the ordering or transcribing stage. Inconsistent and ineffective interdisciplinary communication is the most common contributing factor in medication errors, sentinel events, and near-misses.

As healthcare becomes more complex and multiple caregivers for each patient becomes more common, healthcare organizations struggle to create an integrated, collaborative environment. Especially challenging are communication and care planning across disciplines, care settings, and systems.

“Recent research shows that if CPOE was implemented in all urban hospitals in the United States, more than three million serious medication errors could be prevented every year,” Alderuccio notes. “Studies also have shown that CPOE reduces the length of stay; the need for repeat tests; turnaround times for pharmacy, laboratory and radiology requests.”

Theorist Jean Watson has made a profound impact on the nursing profession. Her Theory of Human Caring states, “Caring is the essence of nursing.” Watson considers her work not only a theory, but also a plan for the healthcare team to use when establishing relationships with patients.

Our ability to connect spiritually creates a therapeutic environment that is integral to the healing process. The Language of Caring communication strategy is an example of how we are aligning with this theory at St. Mary Medical Center. Mastery of the Heart-Head-Heart concept allows us to show our compassion and caring presence.

In this issue of Nursing Matters, you will see the amazing ways your nursing colleagues are taking their skills of caring and compassion out into the community. The stories are powerful examples of how nursing colleagues demonstrate that service to others is at the core of who we are at St. Mary. I am proud to share with you the amazing accomplishments and the purposeful work that colleagues are doing through their generosity of spirit to make a difference in the lives of others. n

Nursing PerspectiveSharon Brown, MSN, RN

Interim Chief Nursing Officer

The implementation of CPOE can transform the delivery of healthcare and significantly impact nursing practice by refocusing the role of nurses in direct patient care.

CPOE Kicks Off in Obstetrical Services“These changes highlight the vital role that

nurses play in communication, coordination, and knowledge sharing. CPOE has the potential to maximize productivity and contribute to improved patient safety and improved work environment for nurses,” says Alderuccio.

Plans call for the house-wide implementation of CPOE at St. Mary in spring 2012. For more information on CPOE or the CareLink initiative, contact Alderuccio at 215.539.7254 or aalderuccio@stmaryhealthcare.org. n

Recent Graduaten Barbara roman, rn, BSN from Immaculata University

Welcome Aboardn Criselda anilado, MSn, rn, Nurse Manager, MG2

n Michael Smigelski, rn, CCrn, Nurse Manager, PCU

Nursing Matters is published collaboratively by the Marketing & Communications Department and St. Mary nursing colleagues. Submit news items to lmazzenga@stmaryhealthcare.org or sbrown9@stmaryhealthcare.org.

Advancing Our Skills and Knowledge n  Barbara Hall, MG1A, Certification in Progressive Care Certified Nursing (PCCN)

n  Tipsy jesteen, CVCU, CCRN Certification

n  Kathy Kowalczuk, ICU, CCRN Certification

n  Theresa Pasternak–Bell, rn, Inpatient Rehab, Certification in Traumatic Brain Injury

n  Carol Pilotti, rn, Inpatient Rehab, certification in Traumatic Brain Injury

Colleagues from MS1C organized a food drive this summer in partnership with the Bucks County Housing Group Food Pantry. In all, more than 1,000 pounds of food items were donated for the benefit of kids and young teens from poor or underserved homes.

Pictured (from left to right): Megan Lange, Casey Piston, Diane Koreck, Andrea Gwynn, and Mary Agnes Fox gather the food collected for delivery to the Bucks County Housing Group. Not pictured: the project organizers, Heather Tomlinson and Barbara Roman.

In addition, MS1C colleagues recently “adopted” a Bucks County family through the St. Mary Family Resource Center Homeless Initiative. Read more about this heartwarming project in the November/December 2011 issue of Spirit. n

MS1C Food Drive Supports the Community

Recognizing the need to create the infrastructure necessary to assist nurses interested in conducting studies or evaluating research findings for application to clinical or administrative practice, the Nursing Research Council, chaired by Katie Hooven, MSn, rn, and Lindy Inman, BSn, rn, has been focusing its efforts to help St. Mary nurses successfully meet the expectations for Magnet® designation.

Most recently, the council has welcomed two esteemed nursing academic partners — al rundio rn, PhD, DnP, and William Lorman, PhD, PsynP — to the council as research advisors. Drs. Rundio and Lorman will be available 20 hours each month to work with

Resources Added to Support Nursing Researchnursing staff on research design, methods, and data analysis procedures.

“Evident throughout the American Nurses Credentialing Center [ANCC] Magnet® Model is a focus on the support, conduct, and application of research to clinical and administrative practice,” says Hooven. “Moreover, ANCC recently increased the weighting of this organizational attribute for organizations applying for Magnet® redesignation.”

According to Inman, the new model consists of four evidence-derived components: transformational leadership; structural empowerment; exemplary professional

practice; and new knowledge, innovations, and improvements — and includes a linking dimension focused on empirical outcomes. The new knowledge, innovations, and improvements component focuses on research and evidence-based nursing research.

The Nursing Research Council recently conducted two “Spirit of Inquiry” sessions. These sessions provided an opportunity for nursing staff members to brainstorm with their peers and nurse managers about practice trends, rituals, and opportunities for innovation at St. Mary that can lead to further exploration of the current evidence and Nursing-led efforts to contribute to new evidence-based practice changes. n

St. Mary Medical Library Update

The St. Mary Medical Library has a wide variety of resources available for nursing colleagues, especially those seeking certification or advanced degrees. These resources include certification review books and virtual review modules, which are available in Pearls Review through CE Direct. More than 900 ANCC-approved contact hours of online review material can be accessed from any computer with Internet access.

The library is located on the first floor of the Outpatient Care Facility and open weekdays from 8 am to 4:30 pm. Contact jackie Luizzi, Medical Librarian, at jluizzi@stmaryhealthcare.org or 215.710.2012 for more information or login credentials. n