Description of Research Expertise

OR Management
Perioperative Efficiency
Six Sigma (green belt course)
Capacity Flow Management
Physician Wellbeing and Burnout prevention

Description of Clinical Expertise

My main professional interests include: Pediatric Anesthesia, specifically Liver Transplant, Orthopedic and Neonatal Anesthesia, and pediatric Ambulatory Anesthesia. In addition, I have a special interest in Non-Operating Room Anesthesia.

My specific teaching interest is in the thorough preoperative evaluation of the pediatric patient. Working specifically with residents, fellows and cRNAs, and well as Advance Practice Nurses.

In addition to teaching resident and fellow physicians, I enjoy teaching the OR and PACU nurses and techs about pediatric anesthesia, pediatrics in general, and the care of the anesthetized child. My feeling is that the team approach to and care of the anesthetized child is of paramount importance.

Description of Other Expertise

I am leader in a hospital wide Perioperative Patient Flow Process Improvement A natural extension of this project is a series of surgical patient flow and process improvement projects, including developing a Clinical Pathway to instruct front line clinicians and bedside nurses how to prepare inpatients for anesthesia and sedation. From this work, several projects were developed: I was part of creating an online module to educate practitioners on how to navigate the Periopertive Pathway. I assisted in the development of a Preoperative Order Set, which is accessed through EPIC, and initiated two separate work flows: Perioperative Flow and Communication and Internal Transport. I have been trained in the Kaizen process for Rapid Improvement, as well as having a green belt for Six Sigma.

As a direct result of my involvement, we have enjoyed major improvement in our on-time starts in the Operating Room and Turn around time in the Operating Room. We have also significantly improved patient flow and patient readiness in the preoperative anesthesia care unit.

We continually strive to decrease preventable patient safety events, improve communication and team building within the OR, and improve patient flow and staff and family satisfaction.

I am a member, and divisional leader for the Hospital's Physician Wellbeing Program, an initiative started on the Hospital level to help prevent physician burnout. I am also a senior member of our Divisional Wellness Team, helping to make strides in work/life balance and decrease physician burnout, and increase physician and staff engagement.