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New quality director at Texas Health Presbyterian
For Richard Lawhead, improving patient care at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Allen is a lot like long-distance running - it takes a lot of preparation and effort to get in shape, yet you're never done looking ahead to that next goal.
Lawhead recently joined Texas Health Allen as director of Quality Services and immediately focused on goals such as working with employees to prepare for regulatory surveys and accreditations.
Lawhead has more than 20 years of health care experience, with nearly six in quality management. A native of the Sportsman's Paradise state, Lawhead was raised in Bossier City, La., on Barksdale Air Force Base. He began a career in the Army as a lab tech and combat medic, and most recently served as the regional director of Quality Resource Management at CHRISTUS Schumpert in Shreveport, La.
"We are thrilled to have Richard on our team working each day to ensure high-quality care is delivered to the patients at Texas Health Allen," said Dr. Robert Schwab, chief medical officer at Texas Health Allen. "He brings a wealth of experience to the role and has made significant improvements at the hospital already."
Lawhead holds five academic degrees, including a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Louisiana Tech University; a Bachelor of Science in Cardiopulmonary Science from Louisiana State University Health Science Center; an Associate of Applied Science in Nursing from Panola College in Paris, Texas; a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from University of Phoenix; and a Master of Business Administration from University of Arkansas. He is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Nursing from Western Governors University.
In addition to R.N. and R.R.T. certifications, Lawhead is a certified neonatal-pediatric specialist, pulmonary function technologist, professional in health care quality and asthma educator. He is also Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certified.
"Everyone at Texas Health Allen has been incredibly nice," Lawhead said. "I have also enjoyed working with the patients. In my career, I have always been most influenced by the patients we serve. What we do is very difficult, yet nothing is more rewarding."
Lawhead lives in Plano with his family. They are actively involved in their church. An avid runner, Lawhead is a member of the Plano Pacers and the Dallas Running Club. He has twice won the Louisiana 5-mile road race, beating his twin brother in 2008 by 19 seconds for the title.
For information, visit TexasHealth.org/Allen.
New nursing roles in hospital
They're like the "Laverne and Shirley" of the Med/Surg unit at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Allen.
When it comes to coordinating patient care, Emily Jestes and Holly Haddad, the hospital's first Clinical Nurse Leaders (CNLs), can be found doing just about everything together.
"Our most important responsibility as clinical nurse leaders is to look at the whole patient," Jestes said. "We round on patients five days a week, help manage expectations throughout their hospital stay, and promote a team-based approach to care by keeping an open line of communication between the care team and the patient."
Haddad noted another component of the new team's duties.
"A major advantage of being a CNL is still having the bedside interaction with patients," Haddad said. "We serve as a resource for the unit nurses, helping identify risks and educating patients before they leave the hospital to help prevent readmissions."
The CNL role is a fast-emerging nursing role developed by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN). It is the first new nursing role in four decades.
In practice, a CNL oversees the care coordination of a distinct group of patients and actively provides direct patient care in complex situations. CNLs evaluate patient outcomes, assess risks and have the decision-making authority to change care plans when necessary. The CNL serves as the focal point for the patient, family and health care team in coordinating the patient's plan of care and providing information. Texas Health Resources nurses are among the first in the state to complete certification to become CNLs. There are currently 15 CNLs across the system.
The stars aligned for the dynamic duo when Jestes, a labor and delivery nurse from Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Plano, and Haddad, an ICU nurse from Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Hurst Euless Bedford, enrolled in the CNL master's degree program at Texas Christian University nearly three years ago. The Texas Health-sponsored program allows eligible nurses to work as Patient Care Facilitators and earn a specialized generalist degree with generous tuition reimbursement.
During their time at TCU, both nurses were recognized for their outstanding course work. Earlier this year, Jestes was honored for Academic Achievement at TCU's annual CNL awards banquet. Haddad won first place for her immersion project, "The Effect of Nursing Pain Management Strategies on Length of Stay and Patient Satisfaction," which was implemented at Texas Health. Upon completing the CNL program, Jestes convinced Haddad to transfer to Texas Health Allen.
The rest is history.
"The Clinical Nurse Leader role was developed to prepare highly skilled nurses at the master's level for improvement of quality and safety outcomes," said Jane Cook, chief nursing officer at Texas Health Allen. "We are delighted to have Emily and Holly making a difference for patient care in this role at Texas Health Allen."
For Richard Lawhead, improving patient care at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Allen is a lot like long-distance running - it takes a lot of preparation and effort to get in shape, yet you're never done looking ahead to that next goal.
Lawhead recently joined Texas Health Allen as director of Quality Services and immediately focused on goals such as working with employees to prepare for regulatory surveys and accreditations.
Lawhead has more than 20 years of health care experience, with nearly six in quality management. A native of the Sportsman's Paradise state, Lawhead was raised in Bossier City, La., on Barksdale Air Force Base. He began a career in the Army as a lab tech and combat medic, and most recently served as the regional director of Quality Resource Management at CHRISTUS Schumpert in Shreveport, La.
"We are thrilled to have Richard on our team working each day to ensure high-quality care is delivered to the patients at Texas Health Allen," said Dr. Robert Schwab, chief medical officer at Texas Health Allen. "He brings a wealth of experience to the role and has made significant improvements at the hospital already."
Lawhead holds five academic degrees, including a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Louisiana Tech University; a Bachelor of Science in Cardiopulmonary Science from Louisiana State University Health Science Center; an Associate of Applied Science in Nursing from Panola College in Paris, Texas; a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from University of Phoenix; and a Master of Business Administration from University of Arkansas. He is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Nursing from Western Governors University.
In addition to R.N. and R.R.T. certifications, Lawhead is a certified neonatal-pediatric specialist, pulmonary function technologist, professional in health care quality and asthma educator. He is also Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certified.
"Everyone at Texas Health Allen has been incredibly nice," Lawhead said. "I have also enjoyed working with the patients. In my career, I have always been most influenced by the patients we serve. What we do is very difficult, yet nothing is more rewarding."
Lawhead lives in Plano with his family. They are actively involved in their church. An avid runner, Lawhead is a member of the Plano Pacers and the Dallas Running Club. He has twice won the Louisiana 5-mile road race, beating his twin brother in 2008 by 19 seconds for the title.
For information, visit TexasHealth.org/Allen.
New nursing roles in hospital
They're like the "Laverne and Shirley" of the Med/Surg unit at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Allen.
When it comes to coordinating patient care, Emily Jestes and Holly Haddad, the hospital's first Clinical Nurse Leaders (CNLs), can be found doing just about everything together.
"Our most important responsibility as clinical nurse leaders is to look at the whole patient," Jestes said. "We round on patients five days a week, help manage expectations throughout their hospital stay, and promote a team-based approach to care by keeping an open line of communication between the care team and the patient."
Haddad noted another component of the new team's duties.
"A major advantage of being a CNL is still having the bedside interaction with patients," Haddad said. "We serve as a resource for the unit nurses, helping identify risks and educating patients before they leave the hospital to help prevent readmissions."
The CNL role is a fast-emerging nursing role developed by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN). It is the first new nursing role in four decades.
In practice, a CNL oversees the care coordination of a distinct group of patients and actively provides direct patient care in complex situations. CNLs evaluate patient outcomes, assess risks and have the decision-making authority to change care plans when necessary. The CNL serves as the focal point for the patient, family and health care team in coordinating the patient's plan of care and providing information. Texas Health Resources nurses are among the first in the state to complete certification to become CNLs. There are currently 15 CNLs across the system.
The stars aligned for the dynamic duo when Jestes, a labor and delivery nurse from Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Plano, and Haddad, an ICU nurse from Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Hurst Euless Bedford, enrolled in the CNL master's degree program at Texas Christian University nearly three years ago. The Texas Health-sponsored program allows eligible nurses to work as Patient Care Facilitators and earn a specialized generalist degree with generous tuition reimbursement.
During their time at TCU, both nurses were recognized for their outstanding course work. Earlier this year, Jestes was honored for Academic Achievement at TCU's annual CNL awards banquet. Haddad won first place for her immersion project, "The Effect of Nursing Pain Management Strategies on Length of Stay and Patient Satisfaction," which was implemented at Texas Health. Upon completing the CNL program, Jestes convinced Haddad to transfer to Texas Health Allen.
The rest is history.
"The Clinical Nurse Leader role was developed to prepare highly skilled nurses at the master's level for improvement of quality and safety outcomes," said Jane Cook, chief nursing officer at Texas Health Allen. "We are delighted to have Emily and Holly making a difference for patient care in this role at Texas Health Allen."
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