2023 Nursing & Patient Care Service Annual Report

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2 0 2 3 N U R S I N G & P AT I E N T C A R E S E R V I C E S R E P O R T

Dedicated to Healthcare Bayhealth’s 2023 Nurse of the Year, Eric Lehr, knows that providing compassionate, top-quality patient care, especially in high-stress situations, is at the core of what we do.

READ HIS STORY ON PAGE 16

welcome A Message From Our Chief Nurse Executive As Bayhealth looks to the future, bringing quality care to our community for decades to come, I want to remind everyone here what a difference we make with even the smallest moments of interaction. We are taking care of people with families and loved ones who have lives beyond our hospital walls, outpatient centers or provider offices. We can’t underestimate the impact that a few kind words or a helpful encounter can have on a patient.

I was recently on rounds and saw a patient having a complex bedside procedure. He shared with me that he understood what was going to happen during his procedure thanks to the clear explanation from his nurse. Such detail and consideration minimize fear and anxiety; it is humanly caring for someone. I am so proud of our amazing team and how we continue to stretch the limits of what we can accomplish together—as a safe, sustainable organization and as a source of excellent care for our patients. Read more about Bayhealth’s next phase on Page 6.

Equity is another area where we can express our shared humanity. When we care for patients, we want to care for them in the way they need. That is equity. It is not equality, when everyone gets the same portions; it’s individualized. Bayhealth recently conducted an American Hospital Association assessment that will help us build a Health Equity Road Map. That map goes beyond patients; we want to provide an individualized environment for our team members as well.

At the core of everything we do at Bayhealth is providing our patients with the best possible care. We continue to grow and evolve that care, with initiatives supporting everything from nursing education (see Page 10) to capacity management in our hospitals (Page 13). As you read through the stories in this annual report, we hope you’re inspired by our commitment to each other—and to our community.

Rosemary Wurster, DNP, RN, MPH, NEA-BC, CEN Senior Vice President, Patient Care Services and Chief Nurse Executive

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TABLE OF CONTENTS 3 TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP 6 TRIBUTE TO NURSES 8 STRUCTURAL EMPOWERMENT 10 EXEMPLARY PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE 12 EMPIRICAL OUTCOMES 14 NEW KNOWLEDGE, INNOVATIONS & IMPROVEMENTS 16 BAYHEALTH NEWS AND RECOGNITIONS

Bayhealth’s mission is to strengthen the health of our community, one life at a time. As central and southern Delaware’s largest healthcare system, Bayhealth comprises Bayhealth Hospital, Kent Campus and Bayhealth Hospital, Sussex Campus, the freestanding Emergency Department in Smyrna, Bayhealth Emergency and Urgent Care Center, Total Care in Milton, as well as numerous satellite facilities and employed physician practices encompassing a variety of specialties.

Terry M. Murphy, FACHE President and Chief Executive Officer ­— Rosemary Wurster, DNP, RN, MPH, NEA-BC, CEN Senior Vice President For Patient Care Services and Chief Nurse Executive ­— Gary Siegelman, MD, MSc, CPE Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer ­— Michael J. Tretina, CPA, MBA, FHFMA, FACHE Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer ­— Lindsay A. Rhodenbaugh, DMin Senior Vice President, Chief Development Officer and President of the Bayhealth Foundation ­— John Van Gorp Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer ­— Darlene Stone, MBA, CHHR, SHRM-SCP Senior Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer

transformational leadership OUR PATIENT CARE SERVICES LEADERSHIP TEAM

ROSEMARY WURSTER DNP, RN, MPH, NEA-BC, CEN Senior Vice President, Patient Care Services/ Chief Nurse Executive

JESSICA ALVAREZ MHA, BSN, RN, C-EFM Senior Director of Women’s & Children’s Services

FAITH COLWELL-DORIO MSN, RN, NEA-BC, VHA-CM Senior Director of Perioperative Services and Nursing Informatics

ANGELINE DEWEY MSN, APRN, ACNS-BC, CCRN-K, CNRN Senior Director of Clinical Practice and Professional Development

DOROTHY BORESKY DNP, MBA, RN, NE-BC Professional Excellence and Magnet Recognition Program Director

CHERI BRIGGS BS, PharmD, MBA, FACHE Senior Director of Pharmacy Services

STEVEN CHAPMAN MBA, MS, BSN, RN Senior Director of Emergency Services and Observation Medicine

DOMINIC KAYATTA MS, CPXP, CPC Senior Director of Patient Experience

ANITA WITZKE MSN, RN, NE-BC Senior Director of Patient Care Services, Kent Campus

DEBBIE HINES MSN, RN, PCCN, CNML Senior Director of Patient Care Services, Sussex Campus

FOLLOWING THE MAGNET MODEL Magnet provides the framework to guide and achieve excellence in nursing practice. Magnet recognizes organizations that demonstrate consistent patient, staff and community partnership outcomes through evidencebased practice, and outperform national benchmarks. An ethical and professional responsibility is owned by Magnet organizations to contribute new knowledge, innovations and improvements to ensure future success. ®

SUPPORTING CERTIFICATION WITH MAGNET FUND Among the many initiatives aided by our community is the Magnet Fund. Bayhealth Foundation donations directly support nursing certification registration for a variety of specialties such as critical care, neuroscience, emergency and perioperative, among other areas. “We are not only concerned about the education of our physicians,” said Lindsay A. Rhodenbaugh, DMin, Bayhealth Foundation president. “Our nurses deliver the great balance of care in our hospitals and outpatient settings, and that specialized certification adds greatly to our level of patient care.”

To find out more about the supporting the Magnet Fund, visit Bayhealth.org/Foundation.

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transformational leadership Listening to Nurses’ Voices Once a month, during separate meetings at the Kent and Sussex campuses, our clinical nurses make their voices heard.

These in-person listening sessions, called “Hot Topics,” were launched in December 2022 by Chief Nurse Executive Rosemary Wurster, DNP, RN, MPH, NEA-BC. “The intent was to hear from my clinical team of nurses,” said Wurster. “They can talk with me about whatever is on their minds. The commitment is to do this in person for a year.”

Attendance is optional, and electronic surveys go out to the teams soliciting questions prior to each get-together.

Among the concerns already discussed have been staffing, scheduling, compensation, incentive pay, flexible work, traveling staff, supplies, recruitment, retention and dining options. “We are working with our food and nutrition leadership partners because the team is feeling like they would like to have access to healthier food choices, particularly in the middle of the night,” said Wurster.

The end result is a summary of the exchanges published on Bayhealth’s intranet and sent to nurse managers to share with their units.

Professional Practice Model • Our model of care is patient- and family-centered.

• We embrace Planetree philosophies and believe in treating the whole patient: mind, body and spirit.

• Our core values are aligned with the larger organization.

They include compassion, accountability, respect, integrity and teamwork.

• Our work as nurses is grounded in research and evidence-based practice.

• Our goal is to achieve nursing excellence, and we achieve this through advocacy, empowerment and collaboration.

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WHAT I APPRECIATE THE MOST ABOUT MY TEAM IS THAT THEY ASK THE HARD QUESTIONS; I WANT EVERYONE TO KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON HERE. I ALSO WANT TO THANK OUR NURSES FOR RAISING ISSUES AND BEING PART OF THE DISCUSSION.

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—ROSEMARY WURSTER

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Training the Best Care Providers “Nursing is my profession and my passion,” she said.

For Sarah Beebe, PhD, APRN, CNM, WHNPr, CHSE, helping train the next generation of healthcare professionals is a way to give back to her family, friends and neighbors.

In addition to working with Graduate Medical Education residents at the Sim Center, Beebe supports training sessions for new nursing residents and those about to graduate from the nurse residency program. Experienced staff nurses have also worked on unit-based scenarios, including a pediatric emergency simulation and a malignant hypothermia drill.

“I see education as a means of serving my community by training the next best nurses, doctors and clinicians,” said Beebe, who is the Graduate Medical Education Simulation Lab program manager at Bayhealth’s PCOM Simulation Center. “If we have well-educated people at the bedside, our patients and communities will be healthier.”

“These are learning opportunities where people get to practice their skills in a safe place,” said Beebe. “It’s so wonderful that Bayhealth puts an emphasis on education in a high-quality environment. I like that I am a part of that mission.”

The Graduate Medical Education program and the Simulation Center have been generously funded by donors to the Bayhealth Foundation. To find out more about how you can support training efforts, visit Bayhealth.org/Foundation or call 302-744-7015.

Born and raised in Delaware, Beebe has worked in nursing, primarily in labor and delivery and women’s health, for years; she earned her PhD from George Washington University last year and was named one of Delaware’s 17 most influential people in healthcare in 2023 by The News Journal.

Listening and Learning Amy Cunningham, MSN, RN, NPD-BC, understands that listening is a key part of leadership.

“You find joy in seeing your team grow, listen to what they are saying and make sure they have the tools they need to be successful,” she said. “You need to be looking ahead and see their potential.”

Cunningham got her start at Bayhealth in 2006, working part time nights and weekends on 1A-COU on the Kent Campus, before coming full circle with her March 2023 promotion to senior nurse manager at 1A in March 2023.

“I am seeing all kinds of ways I can be a transformational leader, such as promoting enrollment in classes so nurses can improve

their communication style or supporting time off so they can finish their degree—whatever it is that we need to do,” said Cunningham.

She lauds Bayhealth for fostering her own professional growth, including the tuition reimbursement program that allowed her to get her master’s from Wilmington University.

Cunningham also served as the nurse residency program coordinator and considers the accreditation of that program to be one of her career highlights.

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KNOWING THAT OUR PATIENTS ARE BEING WELL TAKEN CARE OF, AND TAKING CARE OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE TAKING CARE OF THEM, IS THE BEST PART OF MY JOB. —AMY CUNNINGHAM

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TRIBUTE TO NURSES Moving Forward With Care, Together

New initiatives support growth and engagement for the Patient Care Services team It’s no secret that the healthcare industry has faced many challenges of late— during the pandemic and while dealing with lasting effects such as burnout and a reduced workforce.

Rather than lamenting the past, however, Bayhealth is looking toward the future.

“One of the biggest lessons we learned post-pandemic is that our people are our greatest resource,” said Senior Vice President, Patient Care Services and Chief Nurse Executive Rosemary Wurster, DNP, RN, MPH, NEA-BC, CEN. “We walked away with the interprofessional knowledge that our people are just amazing, and saw some really exemplary displays of care and humanness.”

Wurster says it is these people who will help guide Bayhealth in years to come.

“We need to think differently about the way we do our work. We have an initiative called the Bayhealth Innovation Group that is designed to amplify the voices of our frontline team members and their ideas for innovation and growth,”

she said. “It’s a call for all staff to participate and share their ideas for these four things: safety, service, stewardship and sustainability. The plan is to give flight to the ideas of our team members.

We do it together.”

There have been more than 400 ideas submitted by staff, and the perspectives of everyone from experienced leaders to brand-new nurses are helping to build the path forward.

Further supporting Bayhealth’s commitment to person-centered care and shared governance is the Patient Care Services Leadership Assembly.

The initiative brings together senior directors, directors, nurse managers, clinical coordinators, nursing professional development specialists, and leaders from pharmacy and other support services to discuss issues related to patient care—promoting collaboration and learning from each other. Similarly, the Managers Council is a monthly meeting to address management questions and

Chelsea Lawrence, BSN, RN

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challenges around patient flow. The council also generates and conducts strategies to enhance staff engagement.

NEW MODELS OF CARE Thinking about things differently, including how to do more with fewer people, has created alternative ways of working. In 2022, Bayhealth brought in LPNs and nursing assistants to help RNs with patient bedside care on 3 South at the Kent Campus. In this team model, an RN, LPN and nursing assistant all work together to take care of a patient group.

Using a team model of nursing can also help during significant patient surges.

“It benefits the team because it allows each discipline to work to the top of their licensure or certification and allows the nursing staff more time to focus on patient care. It helps the patients get to the right level of care when they need it, rather than when we have the staff available,” said Anita Witzke, MSN, RN, NE-BC, senior director, Patient Care Services, Kent Campus. “Having someone else as part of the team to manage other tasks allows the nurse to concentrate more fully on the long-term plan of care and what the patient needs.”

Bayhealth is working to improve nursing operations as a whole, looking at staffing, scheduling and even virtual options.

RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION Bringing in new nurses and helping them along a ladder of development also fosters a strong, invigorated workforce.

Along with intern programs and a variety of staff-building tools such as regular recruitment fairs and breakfasts and lunches where new graduates can meet with Bayhealth leaders, the nurse residency program is a draw for new recruits. Future plans to add specializations to the residency program will further attract new nurses.

The nursing professional development program (see Page 10 for more) is another way to bolster learning for nurses. “The educators really support knowledge and continuation of growth in our inpatient units,” said Witzke.

Bayhealth has even created a new Shared Governance Council dedicated to retention and operations. The

group is looking at topics such as flexible work options, weekend and rotating shifts, and different float pool commitments.

“We want our clinicians to live their lives and have their role at Bayhealth fit in a customized way,” said Wurster. “Studies have clearly shown that a high level of engagement in the delivery of nursing care results in better patient outcomes. You can feel it in patient care, you can see it in the patient experience. It’s all connected.”

SUPPORTING CAREGIVER MENTAL HEALTH Balance and engagement benefit mental health as well, which is all the more critical at this juncture.

Bayhealth’s Interprofessional Wellness Council and its Wellness Steering Committee are two recently formed groups that promote wellness throughout the organization.

Doing much of the groundwork and leading the Wellness Council are Clinical Educator Brittany Oakey and Director of Talent Management & Workforce Development Keisha Morris. The group is developing an extensive catalog of initiatives to support the mental health of team members, including creating a safe space for caregivers to decompress, and providing ready access to critical-incident stress management.

“We are on a positive trajectory,” said Witzke. “The hospital as a whole, not just nursing, is looking at creating a better environment for staff and a better patient experience.”

Learning from the past and launching forward with a focus on both patients and staff are important to Wurster, who joined Bayhealth’s leadership team in 2022.

“Our future is bright, and I am committed to listening to the voices of our caregiving team to get us there,” said Wurster.

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THE HOSPITAL IS LOOKING AT CREATING A BETTER ENVIRONMENT FOR STAFF AND A BETTER PATIENT EXPERIENCE.

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—ANITA WITZKE

Janai Murphy, RN, Patient Care Day Surgery

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structural empowerment Cultivating Learning Healthcare is an ever-evolving field, and Bayhealth prioritizes the ongoing education and development of our nurses. The advanced certification and higher education our team has undergone only makes our patient care stronger.

“Professional certification is an outward symbol that you have demonstrated a body of knowledge by testing,” said Angeline Dewey, MSN, RN, APRN, ACNS-BC, CCRN-K, CNRN, senior director, Clinical Practice and Professional Development. “It is important for professional nursing because it distinguishes you as an expert.”

Below is a statistical snapshot reflecting the professional development of our nurses.

572 FULL-TIME

NURSES

974 TOTAL LICENSED NURSES

241 PART-TIME NURSES

99 total graduates from the nurse residency program

37.89% LICENSED NURSES ARE CERTIFIED (369/974)

55.75% LICENSED

NURSES WITH BSN OR HIGHER (543/974)

7.08% LICENSED NURSES WITH MSN OR HIGHER (69/974)

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Learning and Opportunities In nursing, as with so many fields, advanced education brings new skills and expanded opportunities.

“Having my bachelor’s makes me more marketable and gives me more options in the future,” said Cynthia Taylor, BSN, RN. “I learned so much, and it really opened up my eyes to the care management side of nursing.”

Taylor has worked on the Progressive Care Unit (PCU) at Bayhealth Hospital, Kent Campus since October 2021. The same week she began at Bayhealth she started working on her Bachelor of Science in Nursing through Capella University’s FlexPath program.

“I work the night shift, which is very beneficial for work-life balance. When I got off my shift, I would put my 8-year-old on the bus to school, get a few hours of sleep and then work on my paper for school,” Taylor said. “I also had a lot of support from my husband and my co-workers; they were very encouraging because a lot of them did it as well.”

Taylor earned her BSN in six months and credits Bayhealth’s support of education and her PCU nurse manager, Debbie Hines, MSN, RN, PCCN, CNML, senior director, Patient Care Services, Sussex Campus, for urging her to take the step (next up: Taylor is studying for her progressive care certification).

“I love that we have the option at Bayhealth to advance our education on their dime,” she said. “When I got my bachelor’s, I didn’t have to pay anything out of pocket, and the process with Human Resources is very easy. Once I got everything settled, I spoke to HR and they paid for my classes within the week.”

Growing up in New Jersey, Taylor was always passionate about helping others. Although she was initially intimidated by the academic rigor of nursing programs—she started in phlebotomy then became a medical assistant—she earned her RN from Our Lady of Lourdes School of Nursing in Camden, New Jersey, and is thrilled she found her calling. “It is the best thing I could ever imagine,” Taylor said.

Taylor also found her professional home on the PCU. “We are one big happy family here. There is always someone around if you need help. Debbie is always available, no matter what time of night. I don’t know when she sleeps,” she said with a laugh. “Our team works well together. Everyone is always willing and able to help.”

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exemplary professional practice Hands-On Training Supporting the clinical skills and growth of our nurses is a top priority at Bayhealth—for nurses in the 20th year of their careers and those starting their first. The latter group, however, is the primary focus of the Education Department’s unit-based nursing professional development (NPD) practitioners.

“Every inpatient unit at Bayhealth has an NPD,” said Angeline Dewey, MSN, RN, APRN, ACNS-BC, CCRN-K, CNRN, senior director, Clinical Practice and Professional Development.

“The NPDs help with onboarding and orientation with new hires, set goals and measure progress. Even when the nurses are done with orientation, NPDs are still a resource for help on new pieces of equipment, unit-based competency— any specialty education. They answer staff questions and make sure we are following evidence-based practice.”

These efforts further Bayhealth’s alignment with the Association for Nursing Professional Development’s scope and standards. There are nine NPDs for both the Kent and Sussex campuses, and each NPD covers two

units, supplying hands-on skills training in real time.

Historically, the Education Department provided high-level training for staff across the organization. In recent years, there has been more of a shift to supporting nurses who are coming out of school and need assistance with transitioning into practice.

“We want to ensure that our staff is well versed in every aspect of care. NPDs provide a lot of just-in-time education.

If someone is trying a procedure for the first time, they can call their educator and ask for help,” said Dewey. “The NPDs really enjoy seeing the new graduates transition into practice and become more confident in the care they are providing.”

Clinical Educator Karen Merson, MSN, RN

BY THE BOOK

As a seasoned ICU nurse, Angeline Dewey has experienced her fair share of patient medical situations, and now she is sharing that knowledge with other nurses. While serving on a planning committee for the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses National Teaching Institute, Dewey met a clinical nurse specialist from the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center, who later asked her to contribute to a textbook he was editing. Critical Care Nursing: A Holistic Approach is an established textbook in its 12th edition, and Dewey’s work within two of the chapters focuses on important topics in the healthcare realm—ethical and legal care issues and patient/family education in critical care nursing. Said Dewey, “I appreciate the chance to contribute to the nursing profession.”

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Eye on Elder Care Increasing age can bring wisdom, experience and often complex medical conditions. Bayhealth understands that our older patients may need extra attention while in the hospital, and recently rolled out specialty training as part of the national Nurses Improving Care for Healthsystem Elders (NICHE) program.

“Over 50% of the population we serve at Bayhealth is older adults,” said Felicia Cruz, MSN, APRN, AGCNS-BC, RN-BC, geriatric clinical nurse specialist.

“NICHE’s specialized training can help us provide the best care for older adult patients and teach our nurses and nursing assistants about various factors that can prevent adverse outcomes.”

Clinical Coordinator Jennifer Klink, BSN, RN

The team on 5B at the Sussex Campus began the NICHE training earlier this year with a focus on hospital-acquired delirium—using a multidisciplinary approach that includes nurses, physicians, nursing informatics, information technology and pharmacy. The development of evidence-based practices to prevent and manage delirium will help keep our patients safe, which is a patient/family and staff satisfier, as well as decrease length of stay. The goal is to eventually expand the program to all inpatient units at Bayhealth.

NICHE also provides resources in preventing other hospital-acquired health conditions such as falls, depression, dementia, poly-pharmacy dehydration, poor nutrition, pain and skin breakdown.

“We are teaching evidence-based, best practices for caring for older adults,” said Cruz. “NICHE’s mission and care model aligns with other organizational initiatives, and the training provides nursing with the tools to appropriately manage geriatric syndromes, which supports better patient outcomes.

“Our nurses are looking forward to expanding and innovating care. I can see a difference in the way they are thinking about things,” said Jennifer Klink, BSN, RN, 5B clinical coordinator. “They recognize a patient’s confusion and consider the best course of action for that person.”

Geriatric Clinical Nurse Specialist Felicia Cruz, MSN, APRN, AGCNS-BC, RN-BC

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empirical outcomes

Unit huddles happen during the shift change, bringing nurses from the night and day shifts together. “Unit huddles are seven- to 10-minute gatherings where we talk about everything that is important on the unit, including falls, infections or adverse events that happened and how we can do things better.

It gives the staff time to bring up safety events or any other concerns they may have. The impact on safety is huge,” said Debbie Hines, MSN, RN, PCCN, CNML, senior director, Patient Care Services, Sussex Campus. “We also reflect on great catches.”

Recently, capacity data was added to the safety huddles, allowing teams at all levels to look at patient flow and its impact on that day’s operations. Communication is another benefit of huddles, providing consistent messages to everyone. Nurses also appreciate the opportunity to express their concerns and see them addressed with action in a timely manner.

Nurse-Sensitive Clinical Indicators bayhealth – kent campus: total falls per 1,000 patient days 3.00

total fall rate

“Safety huddles look back at the last 24 hours and look ahead to the next 24 hours,” said Anita Witzke, MSN, RN, NE-BC, senior director, Patient Care Services, Kent Campus. “We look at what is happening on the unit level, the hospital level and the system level that can impact patient care and safety.”

As a Magnet®-designated organization, Bayhealth monitors nurse-sensitive indicators to ensure performance better than national benchmarks. Our clinical and patient experience performance has met or exceeded Magnet requirements.

2.50 2.00 1.50 1.00 0.50 0.00

Q4 21 2.33

Q1 22 2.10

Q42 022 1.56

n kent campus fall rate

bayhealth – kent campus: injury falls per 1,000 patient days 0.35

injury fall rate

Bayhealth is committed to being a high-reliability organization, one that prioritizes our patients while maintaining safe and consistent operations. Regular safety huddles are one of the ways we ensure this quality care.

QUALITY MEASURES: INFECTIONS AND NURSE-SENSITIVE INDICATORS

0.30 0.25 0.20 0.15 0.10 0.05 0.00

Q4 21 .028

Q1 22 0.19

Q42 022 0.00

n kent campus injury fall rate

bayhealth – sussex campus: injury falls per 1,000 patient days 0.70

injury fall rate

Improving Safety Through Huddles

0.60 0.50 0.40 0.30 0.20 0.10 0.00 - 0.10

Q1 22 .66

Q3 22 0.24

Q42 022 0.00

n sussex campus injury fall rate

bayhealth – sussex campus: catheter associated urinary tract infections 2.50

“We bring these catches to our safety huddles because if something happens to one person, it can happen to someone else,” Witzke added. “It’s telling stories—sharing experiences and learned knowledge.”

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2.00

CAUTI rate

Recognizing safety catches is another important component of the huddles. “I challenge my staff on a shift-by-shift basis to pay attention to details, looking for what is going right and speaking up if they see something wrong,” said Hines “For example, one of the nurses noticed a mastectomy patient’s arm was really swollen but the patient didn’t have a limb alert. The lab could have drawn from it and the IV was also in the swollen arm. The nurse was able to get those things changed. When you are paying attention to details, you prevent an error before it happens.”

1.50 1.00 0.50 0.00

Q4 21 2.07

Q1 22 2.01

Q42 022 0.77

n sussex campus CAUTI rate

Patient Experience • Smyrna Emergency Department: Staff give information related to follow-up care—98 percentile rank • Outpatient Services/Kent Campus: Response to concerns/complaints—99 percentile rank • Outpatient Services/Sussex Campus: Treated patients with respect/dignity—99 percentile rank • I npatient/Sussex Campus: Response to concerns/ complaints—97 percentile rank

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Streamlining Patient Flow Managing capacity to make sure our patients are getting the level of care they need in a safe and timely manner is a vital part of Bayhealth’s overall mission. To that end, we have a multifaceted approach to improving patient flow, with several new initiatives already making an impact.

In June, we launched the Virtual Operations Center and a beds phone hotline (1-855-BAY-BEDS) to streamline patient flow throughout Bayhealth. Now, a cross-functional team works together to find appropriate placement for our incoming patients, ensure rooms are prepared and staff is fully informed; the effort allows us to combine our resources and optimize capacity.

“Our patients deserve timely and efficient care and a piece of that has to do with how patients move throughout our health system,” said Staci Manning, BSN, RN, ONC, director of Patient Flow and Capacity, senior nurse manager, Kent and Sussex House Supervision and Float Pool.

Collaboration is also a major component of bedside care, with multidisciplinary rounding on inpatient units leading to improved communication between the care team and a better patient experience.

“The nurse can talk to the physician and rest of the team about anything that happened overnight. If a question comes up, you have team members who can help answer it immediately,” said Debbie Hines, MSN, RN, PCCN, CNML, senior director, Patient Care Services, Sussex Campus.

A unified message around the estimated date of discharge further supports reduced length of stay in the hospital and allows the staff to better manage patient flow. A team made up of a physician; a charge nurse; a nurse manager; and representatives from pharmacy, care management, and physical/occupational therapy all talk with the patients, updating them on the plan of care and the estimated date of discharge in order to eliminate any barriers in advance.

“The patient’s family knows the date of discharge and they are here early so we can get patients out by noon,” said Hines. “We can then get those rooms clean and bring patients out of the emergency department [ED] and into the inpatient unit.”

The effort, introduced more than a year ago, supports capacity management in the ED and Anita Witzke and Debbie Hines inpatient units, while also helping patients and their family plan ahead for post-discharge care.

Another development in the past year was the creation of units on the Kent and Sussex campuses for ED patients who may need additional observation for a limited time. The central observation units have greatly reduced holding time for patients in the ED. “All these tools give us situational awareness so we can plan our resources,” said Anita Witzke, MSN, RN, NE-BC, senior director, Patient Care Services, Kent Campus. “Everything is connected and there is a real commitment to capacity management at the system level.”

Virtual Operations Center staff include (from left) Regina Coverdale, Constance Beebe, Phil Fisher, Staci Manning, Monica Morris, Susan Vockel and Denise Engelsen.

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new knowledge innovations & improvements Professional Practice, Quality & Safety Council Chair: Michelle Walls | Co-Chair: Karen Merson This council’s areas of focus include recommending standardization of evidencebased nursing practice in care delivery across Bayhealth, reviewing current practices and making recommendations for new practices, evaluating the technology and EHR to support the implementation of high-quality care and a positive patient experience at Bayhealth. Additionally, they review hospital-acquired infections and National Database of Nursing Quality Indicators (NDNQI) data, and coordinate education and activities for Joint Commission readiness.

Professional Development Council Chair: Phil Fisher | Co-Chair: Colleen Ward The Professional Development Council continues to focus on ways to boost employee retention, recognizes employees through the DAISY and Sunshine awards, and coordinates the Nurse of the Year award and Nurses Week activities. They are actively working on streamlining the Clinical Ladder process to increase participation in the program. Recently they have decided to reach out to other councils to research the possibility of collaboratively reviving the Nurse on the Run event. As always, they are actively seeking ways to gain and retain quality employees.

Research & Evidence-Based Practice Council

Patient Care Congress

Chair: Sylvia Stubbs | Co-Chair: Sheila Dirocco

Chair: Clint King Co-Chair: Rosemary Wurster

Each month, the Research & EvidenceBased Practice Council reviews new projects and receives updates on projects that are in progress. For example, the council is focusing on establishing a journal club to help bedside nurses become familiar with reading research and evidencebased practice articles. It’s also developing a “reading research” TIPs sheet to guide nurses through article review.

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The Patient Care Congress is a collaborative group that helps empower the clinical nurse by giving unit councils an avenue to communicate with our leadership and supportive councils. This gives nurses a way to help transform nursing at Bayhealth and drive us in exploring positive change. This council also works closely with the Magnet director as we get closer to submitting for Magnet redesignation.

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Rooted in Research The 14th annual Bayhealth Nursing Research Conference on Oct. 28, 2022, celebrated innovations in nursing and ways to improve bedside care. The in-person event (which was also held on Webex) brought together more than 70 attendees to share ideas and put thoughts into action.

“We show real-world applications that demonstrate how research is impacting our bedside care on an everyday basis,” said conference chair Roland Gillette, MSN, RN, CEN, an analyst in Nursing Informatics.

The conference was hosted by Bayhealth’s Magnet Research Council and included several breakout sessions, along with a keynote speech by Susan Conaty-Buck, DNP, FNP-C, FAANP, an assistant professor at the University of Delaware’s School of Nursing who gave an address titled “Helping Nurses Develop Their Innovation and Entrepreneurial Superpowers.”

Other Bayhealth clinicians discussed topics such as automatic palliative care consults for advanced heart failure patients (Loretta A. Higgins), the impact that a community-based cardiac rehabilitation program post-myocardial infarction had on reduced hospital admissions (Denise Washington) and promoting discharge to home for hospitalized patients through the use of a nurse-driven early mobility program (Felicia Cruz).

Said Gillette, “These innovations are driving changes that benefit patient care.”

Volunteer Services Manager Carrie Hart and Tasheema Heyliger, MSN, BSN, RN, senior nurse manager, Clinical Integration and Health Equity.

Breaking Down Barriers Treating our patients goes beyond the bedside, and part of that holistic care is understanding what barriers they may face on the road to good health.

Bayhealth completes social determinants of health screenings for all of our admitted patients, and food insecurity is consistently identified as a top barrier. To help our patients, and our staff, access nutritious food if they need it, Bayhealth has partnered with the Food Bank of Delaware on the Food Box Initiative.

The food boxes contain two weeks’ worth of nonperishable food that is low in sugar and sodium. Oncology outpatients were the first to receive the food boxes starting in August 2022, and distribution has since expanded to the inpatients.

“We are offering a one-time distribution of boxes to patient populations to bridge an immediate need,” said Tasheema Heyliger, MSN, BSN, RN, senior manager, Clinical Integration and Health Equity. “For long-term solutions we can help connect them with state agencies and the Food Bank, and utilize Unite Delaware.”

The food boxes are also available to Bayhealth staff, who can make a confidential request through a form on our intranet. “Our staff is part of our community and we identified access to food as a barrier for them, especially given the rising price of food and the current state of the economy,” said Heyliger. “We want to help meet that need.”

More than 100 boxes of food have been given to date, and response to the Food Box Initiative has been very positive. The effort is expanding to the Bayhealth Medical Group primary care practices and eventually to the entire health system.

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news & recognitions Nurse of the Year Eric Lehr Shines With Patients and Peers Providing compassionate, top-quality patient care, especially in high-stress situations, is at the core of what we do at Bayhealth. All of our Magnet®-designated nurses go above and beyond, but every May we recognize one of them as Bayhealth’s Nurse of the Year. This year that honor went to Emergency Department Clinical Patient Care Services Coordinator Eric Lehr, BSN, RN, CEN, Bayhealth Hospital, Sussex Campus.

“Eric thrives in the fast-paced environment of our Emergency and Trauma Center where he has a can-do attitude that benefits his peers and our patients,” said Bayhealth Senior Vice President, Patient Care Services and Chief Nurse Executive Rosemary Wurster, DNP, RN, MPH, NEA-BC, CEN. “Nurses across Bayhealth have dedicated themselves to this community and to delivering a stellar experience for all who come to us for care—Eric is no exception. We congratulate him on this meaningful accomplishment.”

Lehr shines when it comes to patient care. Recently, when a patient was experiencing a life-threatening medical emergency, he immediately secured the patient a room and began necessary medications. The patient and spouse had never visited the Emergency and Trauma Center and were overwhelmed, but Lehr put them at ease. When the patient needed to be transported to another level of care, Lehr stayed with the pair to help with the transition.

Lehr is known to lift spirits of peers and patients in the Emergency and Trauma Center, helping whenever needed with equipment needs, supplies or patient care. He was also instrumental in the re-accreditation processes and site visits for Trauma, Magnet, and Pediatrics, among others.

Bayhealth congratulates Lehr and all the 2023 Nurse of the Year nominees who have dedicated their professional careers to achieving our mission of strengthening the health of our community one life at a time.

2023 NURSE OF THE YEAR NOMINEES Stephanie Abad, Kent Campus | Brandi Adkins, Sussex Campus | Allison Beard, Sussex Campus | Jules Buan, Kent Campus | Shannon Chearno, Kent Campus | Aletta Deckor, Kent Campus | Sharon Deputy, Kent Campus | Jennifer Klink, Sussex Campus | Tamie Lavender, Kent Campus | Elizabeth Lowe, Sussex Campus | Starr Lynch, Kent Campus | Kelli Maker, Sussex Campus | Staci Manning, Kent Campus | Erica McPhail, Sussex Campus | Steven Ordonez, Sussex Campus | Cynthia Pope, Sussex Campus | Grace Regino, Kent Campus | Taylor Reynolds, Kent Campus | Caricia Rickards, Sussex Campus | Jill Robbins, Sussex Campus | Sylvia Stubbs, Kent Campus

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DAISY Nurse Leader in 2023 Bayhealth Senior Nurse Manager Jacqueline Renee Griffith, MSN, RN, PCCN, CNML, was named a DAISY Nurse Leader in 2023 in recognition of her compassion and efforts that went above and beyond while caring for a mother of two boys. The patient, who had been receiving dialysis for kidney failure, was admitted to Griffith’s unit, 5A Acute Care, Orthopaedics & Surgical, at Bayhealth’s Sussex Campus, with an infection. Griffith not only worked out visitation limitation concerns—allowing the woman to spend more time with her youngest son—she also helped her patient successfully complete her treatment plan in time to see her eldest son take part in a Senior-Night lacrosse game. The DAISY Award is given by the DAISY Foundation, which was formed in 2000 by the family of J. Patrick Barnes who wanted to recognize the nurses who cared for Patrick and all the other “unsung heroes” of the nursing profession.

Delaware Today’s Top Nurses for 2023 Every year Delaware Today magazine recognizes exemplary nurses who are making a tremendous impact in their communities. These nurses are selected by their peers in appreciation of their dedication and quality patient care. In 2023, Bayhealth nurses were honored as Top Nurses in six of 16 categories, with an additional 75 nurses nominated and recognized at the event.

The list of Bayhealth honorees spanned the 16 categories—from inpatient and ambulatory nurses to clinical educators, nurse leaders and each discipline in between. All the honorees are deeply committed to making a difference in the lives of their patients.

BAYHEALTH’S 2023 TOP NURSES: Gifty Boateng, MSN, RN, CPAN—Ambulatory Care Nursing Rachel Joyner, LPN—Licensed Practical Nurse Erica McPhail, MSN, APRN, AGCNS-BC, NPD-BC—Clinical Educator Nina Pletsch, MSN, RN-BC, CPAN—Informatics Kim Scott, MS, RN-BC—Nursing Legend Allison Sekela, BSN, RN—Nursing Newcomer “They’re incredible nurses and just incredible people,” said Chief Nurse Executive Rosemary Wurster, DNP, RN, MPH, NEA-BC, CEN. “I couldn’t be more proud to lead this team of Magnet® nurses, to celebrate their achievements, and continue to help elevate their voices at Bayhealth with the shared goal of providing the best care possible to our community.”

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news & recognitions Saving Lives, One Call at a Time Preventative, potentially lifesaving cancer screenings can often inspire anxiety, so having a kind, reassuring voice on the other end of the scheduling phone line can make a huge difference.

Enter Bayhealth Colorectal Screening Nurse Navigator Judy Giddens, who works tirelessly to ensure our community members get screened for colorectal cancer.

Giddens got her start in the healthcare field working in medical billing while living in Virginia. At times she would deal directly with patients to gather information prior to their appointments, and found that she took joy in helping, interacting with and advocating for patients.

That realization inspired Giddens to go back to school for her licensed practical nurse (LPN) certificate, and she has worked in nursing ever since. She joined Bayhealth’s Medical Oncology team three years ago and has been in the colorectal screening nurse navigator role for close to a year.

“My goal is to reach more people in the community and educate them on the importance of prevention and early detection of colorectal cancer,” said Giddens. “With more screenings scheduled we hope to save more lives.”

Giddens takes a personalized approach with every interaction, walking patients through each step. Sometimes this means getting them set up with a primary care clinician first. For patients in the 45–75 age range, she can schedule the colonoscopy consult for them if needed.

She helps community members overcome any barriers to getting screened, including lack of health insurance. Bayhealth partners with Healthy Delaware-Delaware Cancer Consortium and Screening for Life, a government-funded program that makes free screenings available for those who qualify.

Although a colonoscopy is painless, Giddens shows empathy to patients who seem reluctant and lets them know what to expect. “I tell them it’s OK to be hesitant and that I understand. I mention my own experience with the prep and colonoscopy and that it’s not as bad as they might think,” she said.

What makes Giddens proudest in her work is when patients return her calls or send MyChart messages saying they’ve scheduled their screenings and they thank her for the reminder or helping them.

“When I reach someone and they’ve taken that step to get screened, I know I’ve made a difference in their life.”

Visit Bayhealth.org/Get-Screened to learn about Bayhealth’s campaign to make colorectal cancer history. Call 302-744-6098 to speak to Giddens and take steps for you or a loved one to get screened.

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Meeting Community Needs Making a positive impact on her patients and their families, as well as her Bayhealth colleagues, is important to Kate King, BSN, RN, CCRN, Critical Care Unit clinical coordinator, Bayhealth Hospital, Sussex Campus. That community connection and helping others is also why she began donating to Bayhealth.

“Although I feel like I have an impact on the patients and families I directly care for, it’s only for a brief time. Donating to the Bayhealth Foundation has a longer impact on the community as a whole,” explained King. “I also want to make sure that my patients are having their needs met on a long-term basis after they leave my care.”

King started at Bayhealth as a new nurse in July 2014, working in the Intermediate Care Unit at Bayhealth Milford Memorial Hospital. In 2016, she transferred to the Intensive Care Unit and became the clinical coordinator in the summer of 2018. She began donating to Bayhealth at the beginning of her career and has contributed to the organization ever since.

King has chosen to donate to a couple of specific funds, including the Employee Assistance Fund and the Bayhealth Sussex Campus Fund.

“I think supporting our fellow Bayhealth team members is important and having a program like the Employee Assistance Fund where someone can go in the case of a family emergency is amazing,” said

King. “I also recently added an additional donation for Sussex Campus because I’m very proud of the work that we are doing in our community, and I like knowing I’m a part of helping to meet their growing needs.”

“We are grateful to Kate and all employees who support the work being done at Bayhealth to provide quality care for our patients,” said Chuck Desch, Bayhealth Foundation director of development.

“Kate’s continued generosity is very much appreciated.”

Visit Bayhealth.org/Foundation or call 302-744-7015 if you have any questions or would like to make a donation of your own.

Financial Support Takes Nursing Education to Next Level The Patient Care Services staff at all levels know that learning never stops, even for the most experienced nurses. Certification, specialization and advanced education promote high-quality patient care, a concept reflected in the numerous and much-appreciated donations from our community in support of nursing education at Bayhealth.

“It is critically important that we have the best-trained, best-educated, mostexperienced nurses available to us. To make that happen, the Bayhealth Foundation partners with Patient Care Services to further the education of our nurses,” said Foundation President Lindsay A. Rhodenbaugh, DMin.

This partnership is manifested in a variety of ways including the Cancer Center Oncology Education Fund, which aids continuing education for nurses in cancer care. Said Rhodenbaugh, “One of our longtime donors is a retired Air Force colonel who is particularly supportive of education for nurses working in oncology, allowing Bayhealth to continue to offer cutting-edge cancer care.”

Another couple gives to the Oncology Education fund in appreciation for the tremendous, life-changing nursing care experienced by the wife during her cancer battle a decade ago.

The Patient Care Services Fund is also popular among Delaware residents and

Bayhealth staff members alike; donations are used in many ways, including Nurses Week gifts, Patient Safety Week activities, and car seats for Women’s & Children’s Services and the Emergency and Trauma Center for patients involved in accidents with a car seat in the vehicle. “The fund helps regularly replenish the stock of car seats we have at Bayhealth. The effort was inspired by a concern from the Trauma nurses and now it has been happening for a number of years,” said Rhodenbaugh.

To make a contribution in support of nursing education at Bayhealth, visit Bayhealth.org/Foundation or look for the donor envelope in this publication.

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HONORING “A HEALER’S TOUCH” While excellence in nursing is the standard at Bayhealth—not the goal—there are nurses who go far above and beyond in their delivery of compassionate patient care. Every year, the DAISY Awards recognize such efforts, with honorees nominated by nurses, administrators, peers, physicians, volunteers, patients and families. DAISY Award recipients earn a certificate, award pin and a stone sculpture titled “A Healer’s Touch.”

We welcome your nomination for a nurse who truly exemplifies an “unsung hero.” Fill out a form at Bayhealth.org/patients/recognize-our-staff/daisy to nominate a staff nurse, nurse leader or nurse-led group and be sure to describe the situation or interaction that motivated your submission.