, BSHCA, MSM (Hons), LNHA, CLNC 34 Habitat Lane melbrandie@comcast.net Bloomfield, CT 06002 Phone: 860-604-0823 SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS Clinically Active SNF RN, RISK MANAGER, LNHA Ø Over 28 years of nursing experience in clinical and operational administration of Skilled Nursing Facilities (Nursing Homes) and Acute Care Hospitals. Ø Experience includes Pressure Ulcer Prevention and Management, Fall Prevention, Restraint use and reduction, Behavior Management, Hospice Care, Hemo-dialysis, CAPD, HIV/AIDS, Dementia and employee relations. Ø Adept at Federal and State Regulations, MDS 3.0 and MDS 2.0, Medicare, Labor Relations, Workers Compensation, Arbitration. Ø Develops Quality Assessment and Assurance (QAA) programs to improve risk management related to policies, procedures, documentation, and standards of patient care. Ø Works closely with Workers Compensation providers to investigate employee injuries, accommodates modified duty as indicated, and assists with return to work. Ø Coordinates Risk Management activities with Liability Management providers Ø Served as Chairperson of the facility s QAA committee Ø Developed and successfully implements comprehensive strategies for survey readiness and management of the QIS survey process. Ø Developed job descriptions and competency standards for all departments. Ø Assisted with surgical interventions in General Surgery, Open Heart, Peripheral Vascular, Orthopedics and Obstetrics and Gynecology (OB/GYN). CAREER PROGRESSION 1/13/2014 GUIDEONE RISK RESOURCES FOR HEALTHCARE, LLC, West Des Moines, IA Current Clinical Risk Manager Ø Conduct clinical risk management of Skilled Nursing Facilities nationwide and work closely with clinical administration to formulate and execute corrective action to insure the delivery of high quality care in compliance with Federal and state guidelines. Provide staff education and training as needed. 2006- ALEXANDRIA MANOR, Bloomfield, CT Current RN Nursing Supervisor and Charge Nurse (Part Time) Ø Responsible for the supervision of clinical care and services in a 120-bed Skilled Nursing Facility. Ø Provides direct patient care including but not limited to wound care, wound vac, Intravenous Therapy, Gastrostomy Tube feedings, Diabetic management including education and training, tracheostomy care and medication administration. Ø Responsible for obtaining, transcribing and/or editing and execution of physicians orders. Ø Complete Accident/Incident reports 1
Ø Test and monitor the functional status of the wander-guard system and various alarms such as bed, chair and personal alarms. 4/09/2012 APPLE REHAB ROCKY HILL (previously Elm Hill Nursing Center) 11/1/2013 Administrator Apple Rehab Rocky Hill is a 119 bed SNF with a very fast paced Sub-Acute Rehab unit and traditional long term residents. Duties and responsibilities include day to day clinical and financial operations specific to maintaining high quality care while remaining fiscally responsible. All systems and processes were evaluated and or revised to insure they meet relevant quality indicators. 10/2007- TRINITY HILL CARE CENTER, HARTFORD, CT 3/08/2012 Administrator Former Regional Director of Operations Ø Day to day operation of a 144 bed Skilled Nursing Facility including HIV/AIDS Unit and Psychiatric Unit. Ø Active member of the Standards of Care Committee (Fall Prevention, Wound Management, Nutrition and Weight, Restraints) Ø Attended and participated in weekly Medicare Meetings Ø Chairperson for facility s Quality Assessment and Assurance (QAA) committee. Ø Safety committee co-chair Ø Risk Management, Medicare, Managed Care, and Medicaid billing and Claims Review. Ø Workers Compensation claims review and monitoring Ø Labor Relations (Contract Negotiations, Arbitration) Ø Budget development and Financial Management 9/03-10/07 APPLE HEALTH CARE INC. Avon, CT Administrator Brightview of Avon and Elm Hill Nursing Center Ø Retained over-all responsibility for the provision of exceptional quality care to residents in a 120- bed Skilled Nursing Facility. Ø Active member of the facility s Standards of Care committee for reviewing: wound management, weights, restraint reduction, and fall prevention and management Ø Through the implementation of a sound Quality Assessment /Assurance (QAA) program, the facility maintained deficiency rates well below the State and National level. Ø Responsible for Medicare, Managed Care, Medicaid, Workers Compensation claims review and Risk Management Ø Responsible for Labor Relations including preparing for and testifying at Arbitrations Ø Successfully negotiated a viable Union Contract thereby averting a Labor Dispute. Ø Responsible for budget preparation and expense control. Ø Coordinated the facility s Safety Committee and annual safety fair. 2
Ø Responsible for hiring Department Heads, conducting performance reviews, and administering progressive discipline as needed. 6/02-9/03 KINDRED HEALTHCARE, Windsor and New London, CT Administrator -Windsor Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center Interim Administrator - Camelot Nursing Center Ø Responsible for overseeing the provision of quality patient care for 310 residents. Ø Maintained an active Performance Improvement Committee with emphasis on Risk Management. Ø Responsible for various aspects of Labor Relations and Contract Negotiations Ø Responsible for maintaining an active Safety Committee focused on prevention of work-related injuries, management of Workers Compensation Claims including screen for eligibility. Ø Developed a comprehensive approach to Hydration Management and prevention of Dehydration. Ø Computerized staff assignments. Ø Respond to employee grievances and conduct Step III grievance meetings. Ø Prepared for and testified at Arbitrations. Ø Completed employee performance reviews. Ø Conducted staff meetings and training sessions including Power-Point presentations. 1991-2002 OLYMPUS HEALTHCARE OF MANCHESTER, CT Administrator -Bidwell Healthcare (Geriatrics/STR/Psych) (1.6 yrs) Responsibilities include Ø Operations management of a unionized 156 bed SNF with specialized Behavior Health units. Ø Standards of Care (Wounds, Weights, Falls, Quality Indicators) Ø Development and Implementation of various Policies and Procedures Ø Management of Strike Contingency Plan Ø Experienced in execution of Strike Plans Ø Worked 2 Labor Disputes (Strikes) Ø Management of facility through Consent Order and Receivership. Director of Nursing Olympus Healthcare Westside (2 yrs) Ø Improvement in all clinical indicators when compared to previous surveys Ø Coordinated all aspect of resident care including Fall Prevention, Wound Management, Behavior Management, IV Therapy, Medication Management Ø Development and Implementation of various Policies and Procedures Ø Prepared for and participated in OBRA Surveys Ø Medicaid, Medicare and Managed Care chart review Ø Labor relations including Grievance process and Arbitration Ø Monitor employee injuries and Workers Compensation Claims Ø Managed staffing levels and PPDs. Ø Hands on care as a Charge Nurse as needed. 3
Assistant Director of Nursing - Olympus Healthcare - Bidwell (1.6 yrs) Ø Worked closely with the DNS in coordinating care and services for a unionized 157 bed Geri-Psych Skilled Nursing Facility. Ø Extensive experience in Medicare documentation, denials, and claims review Ø Infection Control and Staff Development Ø Staffing and schedule management Ø Completion of Accident/Incident reports Ø Respond to code and perform Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation as needed Ø Assess residents and notify physician of change of condition Ø Train staff how to perform various resident assessments such as Fall, Skin, Hydration, Oral/Dental, ADL status Nursing Supervisor Olympus Healthcare Bidwell (Geriatrics/Psych) (6 yrs) Ø Responsibilities included completing the admission process for new or re admits, verifying Physicians orders, performing admission assessments, administer intravenous medications as needed, assess and monitor change in residents condition, perform CAPD exchanges, assess residents status post accidents/incidents and prepare and submit notification to the Department of Health as needed, complete Assessments and MDS 2.0, update nursing care plans and resident profile cards, conduct staff education and training as needed. 1991-2003 HARTFORD HOSPITAL CNOR Scrub and Circulating Nurse Ø Open Heart Surgery, Peripheral-Vascular Surgery, Gynecology, Pediatric Surgery, General Surgery, Cystology, Plastic Surgery and Orthopedics. Ø Scrub/Circulate on transplant cases such as heart, liver and kidney Ø Assisted in Organ Procurement Ø Scrub/Circulated on Level I Trauma Cases 1991-2003 MEDSOURCE & MAXIM HEALTHCARE (Nursing Agencies) HARTFORD CT Ø Per Diem Nursing Supervisor at various Skilled Nursing Facilities in the Greater Hartford area. Responsibilities included completing the admission process for new or re admits, verifying Physicians orders, performing admission assessments, administer intravenous medications as needed, assess and monitor change in residents condition, perform CAPD exchanges, assess residents status post accidents/incidents and prepare and submit notification to the Department of Health as needed, complete Assessments and MDS 2.0, update nursing care plans and resident profile cards, conduct staff education and training as needed. Ø Per Diem Charge Nurse at various SNF s in the Greater Hartford area. Duties and responsibilities included supervision of Certified Nurses Aides, administration of medication, resident admission, wound care, wound vac management, charting, Gastrostomy Tube (GT) feeds, foley catheter insertion, supra-pubic catheter care, completing resident assessments and Accident/Incident reports, writing 24-hour shift reports, complete monthly summaries, complete Assessments and MDS as 4
assigned, turning and repositioning of dependent residents, mouth care, skin assessment, hydration assessment, feed residents, CAPD exchanges, administration of pain medication via PCA pump. 1988-1991 ASTORIA GENERAL HOSPITAL, QUEENS N.Y. Operating Room Ø Scrub and Circulating Nurse on various Surgical cases including Orthopedics, General Surgery, Peripheral-Vascular Surgery, Ophthalmology, and Gynecology. 1988-1991 MAXIMUM HEALTHCARE Placement Agency (Pool) QUEENS N.Y. Ø Per Diem Charge Nurse at Dry Harbor Nursing Home performing such functions as medication administration, resident admission, wound care, charting, Gastrostomy Tube (GT) feeds, foley catheter insertion, supra-pubic catheter care, continuous bladder irrigation following Prostatectomy and supra-pubic tube insertion. 1984-1988 CORNWALL REGIONAL HOSPITAL, Jamaica, W.I. Ø Medical ICU, Operating Room EDUCATION/LICENSES/CERTIFICATIONS Registered Nurse, State of Connecticut License # R47017 Registered Nurse, New York State License # 416250-1 Licensed Nursing Home Administrator, Connecticut License # 001660 Licensed Nursing Home Administrator, NY License # 5653 1/12/2015 MASSACHUSETTS SCHOOL OF LAW Current student 1L 8/03-2/05 ALBERTUS MAGNUS COLLEGE, New Haven, CT Master of Science in Business Management (Honors) - Areas of focus: Ethics, Strategic Leadership, Economics, Organizational Behavior, Change Strategies, Information Systems Management, Marketing, Human Resources Management, Statistics, Philosophy, Psychology, Sociology, Finance and the capstone Management Research Methods (Data Collection, Topic Selection and Analysis, Results and Recommendations) 9/99-10/2000 UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT, Storrs, CT Certification in Long Term Health Care Management with emphasis on: Nursing Home Administration, Federal and State Regulations, Medicare, Medicaid, and Managed Care. 1994-1999 ST. JOSEPH'S COLLEGE OF MAINE, Standish, ME Bachelors of Science in Health Care Administration with emphasis on: Financial and Managerial Accounting, US Healthcare Policy Development, Healthcare Reform, Human Resources, and Statistics. 5
1981-1984 KINGSTON SCHOOL OF NURSING, Jamaica, West Indies Registered General Nurse with emphasis on: The Nursing Process, Standards of Care, Neonatal care, Pediatrics, Medical and Surgical procedures and management. 1975-1981 MANNING S HIGH SCHOOL Jamaica, West Indies Successfully completed all requirements for High School Diploma OTHER EDUCATION 1989 Successfully passed the NCLEX-RN Exam for the State of New York for N.Y. State R.N. licensure 1989 Successfully completed the Howard NCLEX-RN review Manhattan 1987 Successfully passed the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS) exam to be able to practice as a Graduate Nurse in the U.S CERTIFICATIONS & COURSES Ø MDS 3.0 and 2.0 The Alliance Training Center, Alliance, OH (2011) Ø MDS 3.0 trained by CMS (2010, 2008) Ø Certified Legal Nurse Consultant (CLNC) & Apprenticeship The Medical-Legal Institute (2010) Ø CPR The American Red Cross Ø IV Line Management St. Mary s Hospital, Waterbury, CT Ø MDS Form & Developing Nursing Care Plans for Long Term Care (1994) Ø Nursing Implications of Common Drug Therapies in the Elderly (1993) OTHER ACTIVITIES Ø Current Member ACHCA Ø Current Member ACHCA CT Chapter Ø Current Member ANA Ø Current Member - ANA CT Chapter Ø Former Treasurer CT-AALNC Ø Former Secretary CT-AALNC Ø Former Secretary CT-ACHCA Ø Former BOD Member CT ACHCA 6