Performance Improvement and Patient Safety

The Performance Improvement and Patient Safety Department works closely with all disciplines, including Physicians, Nursing, Pharmacy, PT, OT and Quality Management to ensure the delivery of safe patient care. We are located in Holzer Medical Center, Gallipolis.

The department councils all newly diagnosed people with diabetes training, teaching them about their disease process, insulin injections, and follow-up services, including support groups. We also consult with patients and outpatients regarding wounds and dressing changes, as well as providing training to ostomy patients and their families. Our experience is also invaluable in the teaching and mentoring of nurses, constantly working to improve nursing care for our entire patient population.

If you wish to call or email the Performance Improvement and Patient Safety Department, please contact Holzer Medical Center in Gallipolis.

Department Overview

The PIPS department is composed of six nurse specialists. Each of our specialists focuses on a particular aspect of patient care and staff support.

The department is located in two separate offices.

• The Nurse Educators Office is located on the ground floor, first door on the left as you enter through the tunnel. There is a learning center and a TV/Video area used for education and learning activities.
• The Enterstomal Therapy Nurse, Diabetes Nurse Educator, Oncology Nurse and Director of PIPS are located on the 4th floor.

All of the members of the PIPS department feel strongly that as a group we have an open door policy and welcome everyone at HMC to stop by with any needs or concerns, we will be happy to assist you. Patients at Holzer Medical Center are given specialized care and education in the areas of ostomy care, wound care and healing, diabetes management, cancer treatments, chemotherapy, and pain management. Our nurses are certified in their specialty areas and have a dedication to provide the very best nursing care for our patients as well as quality education and support for the hospital staff.

The PIPS department is in contact with patients of all ages, from pediatrics to the elderly, serving the needs of patients from diabetes to ostomy care, and our entire department is active in community service, including health fairs to community CPR classes.

We also “nurse the nurses” with our Nurse Educators, who offer special follow-up training for all nurses, from new graduates to our experienced nursing staff.

Performance Improvement & Patient Care Services

Director of the Patient Safety and Performance Improvement Department

Glenda Skinner is the Director of the Patient Safety and Performance Improvement Department. As director, Glenda works closely with all disciplines, Physicians, Nursing, Pharmacy, PT, OT and Quality Management to ensure the delivery of safe patient care. The director monitors all UI and safety concerns reported through the intranet.

Glenda chairs the Nursing Performance Improvement Committee, monitoring all unit specific as well as Hospital wide data. She chairs the Falls PI Teams meeting during the night shift to allow participation in committees for the nursing staff on night duty. Glenda is also active in JCAHO readiness, assisting with mock tracers and drills to help ensure the readiness of the Holzer Medical Center for future unannounced JCAHO Tracer visits.

Certified Diabetic Educator

Nancy Stevens councils all newly diagnosed patients with diabetes. She teaches them about their disease process and assists them in setting behavioral goals to help control glucose levels. Nancy also provides training in insulin injections (when appropriate), as well as information about follow up services available to diabetic patients.

Our Certified Diabetic Educator also responds to consults for patients with a history of diabetes to assist them with their disease management through goal setting to improve their glucose control. Also offered are ADA recognized diabetes classes for both HMC-G and HMC-J each month (except December), and a diabetes support group that meets monthly. Both the classes and support group meetings are free of charge.

Nancy works in conjunction with a dietitian and a pharmacist. As an educator, Nancy is a resource for our nurses on diabetes management. Nancy is also interim chair of the Patient Education Council. This council reviews all educational material prior to distribution to our patients for appropriate content, readability, and cost.

Diabetic Educator

Suzanna Duncan, RN councils all newly diagnosed patients with diabetes. She teaches them about their disease process and assists them in setting behavioral goals to help control glucose levels. Nancy also provides training in insulin injections (when appropriate), as well as information about follow up services available to diabetic patients.

Our Diabetic Educator also responds to consults for patients with a history of diabetes to assist them with their disease management through goal setting to improve their glucose control. Also offered are ADA recognized diabetes classes for both HMC-G and HMC-J each month (except December), and a diabetes support group that meets monthly. Both the classes and support group meetings are free of charge.

Suzanna works in conjunction with a dietitian and a pharmacist. As an educator, Suzanna is a resource for our nurses on diabetes management. She is also member of the Patient Education Council and the Nursing Education Counsel. This council reviews all educational material prior to distribution to our patients for appropriate content, readability, and cost.

Enterostomal Therapist Nurse, Wound Specialist and Continence Specialist

Lisa Mitchell consults with patients admitted to HMC with wounds and pressure ulcers. Lisa develops a plan of care and monitors the patient’s response to care throughout their stay. Lisa also see outpatients with wounds and dressing changes, develops a plan, and teaches her patients about caring for their wounds. Lisa is consulted on all new ostomy patients prior to surgery. She works to educate the patient and their family about ostomy care, and manages all ostomy patients having problems while in the hospital and as outpatients.

Oncology Nurse

Jacklyn Killen serves as a resource for patients having chemotherapy at HMC and their nurses. As a Certified Oncology Nurse, Jackie uses her experience to teach and mentor nurses whose duties include administering chemotherapy to our patients. Jacklyn also works as a patient advocate for pain management. She tracks the hospital PI on PCA and PRN pain management as well as holding in-service training on pain management. She works with the nurses and patients to provide the best care throughout their treatments.

Nurse Educators

Jo Ellen Perry fulfills the role of nurse educator on the PIPS staff. Her responsibilities begin in orientation, where they introduce each new nurse to Holzer Medical Center, our policies, expectations, and our commitment to delivering the very best nursing care for each patient.

Our nurse educators continue to support the nursing staff with annual competencies, classes, and in-service training developed from knowledge assessment tests, with the goal of increasing our nurses’ ability to care for the patient population. Nurse educators develop education and training for new services offered by Holzer Medical Center. Jo Ellen chairs the Nursing Education Council, where nurses throughout the hospital are encouraged to become involved in all the educational opportunities available, both unit specific and hospital wide.

Insurance/Payment

There is no charge for Diabetic Education Classes offered for the community. A physician’s referral is required.

Testimonials

• Great classes for diabetes.
• Thanks for the policies included in orientation.
• Lisa does a great job with our wounds.
• Great presenter of education.
• You have empathy for the patients and their families.
• When we have hope we can go on.

Frequently Asked Questions

When are the diabetes classes?

The dates are published in the Week in Review and are available on the website. You may also Contact Us at any time for information.

Why are the nurse educators not in the education department?

Our roles of nurse educators were designed to improve our patients’ safety and improve nursing performance. We work closely with the Education Department and are willing to help with any educational needs.

Department Personnel

Glenda Skinner, RN, BSN, MS: 2 years experience in care of the critically ill newborn/toddler, 25 years experience as an adult Critical Care nurse, and 7 years experience as a multi unit manager and educator.

Jackie Killen, RN, BSN, OCN: 8 years Nursery and Pediatric Nursing, 18 years IV Therapy and Chemotherapy, and 6 years Pain Management. Received one of the first awards given by the Ohio Pain Initiative for Pain management in 2002.

Lisa Mitchell, RN, BSN: 6 years Medical/Surgical experience, 23 years management experience in Med/Surg, ICU, Ambulatory Surgery, and Post Anesthesia Recovery.

Jo Ellen Perry, RN, BSN, MSN: 1 year medical, surgical, and renal nursing, 7 years experience in OB, postpartum, newborn nursery and gynecological surgery patients. 2 years as manager of OB, 2 years as a Nurse Educator, teaching clinicals for local Universities throughout the hospital.

Nancy Stevens, RN, CDE certified diabetes educator since December 2002, experience with diabetes education since 1999, has 10 years experience on medical-surgical unit with 14 years experience in long term care prior to acute care experience. Nancy served as head nurse for a long term care unit for 2 years and was certified in gerontology nursing for 4 years.

Suzanna Duncan, RN, diabetic educator.

Location

Performance Improvement and Patient Safety
Holzer Medical Center
100 Jackson Pike
Gallipolis, Ohio 45631

Glenda Skinner MS, RN
740-446-5312

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