May 2023
Joanna
Scalabrini
,
MS, MA, RN
Education
VA Hudson Valley Healthcare System
Montrose
,
NY
United States
As a program leader, Joanna is focused on engaging and empowering our veterans to improve their health. For example, Joanna works closely with the PACT teams to identify preventative measures that nurses can implement to improve our Veteran health outcomes.
It is with the highest level of enthusiasm that I nominate Ms. Joanna Scalabrini, MSN, MA, RN to receive the DAISY Nurse Leader Award. Ms. Joanna Scalabrini is VA HVHCS’s only Veterans Health Education Coordinator (VHEC) and Healthy Behavior Coordinator (HBC). She is the designated focal point, coordinator, advocate, and liaison for all Veteran Health Education Programs and Activities. Joanna has a broad scope of responsibilities to ensure that both the VHE Program and the Healthy Behavior Program contribute to the VHA’s mission, goals, and objectives and meet the changing needs of our veterans, families, caregivers, and survivors.
In her role as the HBC, Joanna is the facility subject matter expert on health coaching, motivational interviewing (MI), patient self-management, and healthy behavior. Joanna frequently collaborates with the PACT teams to provide training, clinician coaching, and consultations that are integral to the execution of an effective Health Promotion/Disease Prevention (HPDP) and PACT program. In addition, Joanna works closely with the HPDP Program Manager to develop new programs or adapt existing VHA programs, guide implementation, and coordinate evaluation strategies to determine the efficacy of HPDP programs. In the last 14 months, VA HVHCS moved from being a facility without a Veteran education program to one with a Chartered Veteran Health Education & Information (VHEI) Committee and an S.O.P. for the development of Veteran Health Education and a multi-faceted approach to VHE. Her success in this endeavor can be measured by the improvements, outcomes and recognition by staff as the go-to person for VHE.
As a program leader, Joanna is focused on engaging and empowering our veterans to improve their health. For example, Joanna works closely with the PACT teams to identify preventative measures that nurses can implement to improve our Veteran health outcomes. She is part of the workgroup devoted to encouraging every at-risk Veteran to have a Fit test done. Joanna went above and beyond when she called over 275 Veterans to remind them to complete their FIT tests. She discovered that some Veterans reported that they needed a new test kit. Joanna was able to work with the lab to secure the kits and mailed the Veterans the FIT test kits.
As a nurse leader, Joanna recognizes the importance of engaging Veterans as they enter HVHCS. Within the last year, Joanna sent an individualized HVHCS welcome letter to 700+ newly registered Veterans. These efforts greatly improved awareness about HVHCS services.
Joanna motivates staff with a shared vision and enthusiasm to achieve better outcomes for themselves and for their patients. For example, Joanna collaborated with the PACT primary care team to improve our veterans' awareness of stress and the resources available to them. Joanna informed the primary care teams that during her conversation with the veterans she deducted that some veterans are not recalling the conversations they are having with their providers. Specifically, any preventative education related to stress that is done during a visit. She identified that some of the veterans would benefit from taking home a booklet during their primary care visit. Joanna was able to obtain and distribute 1500+ Stress Management workbooks for Veterans and staff use. Additionally, all nurses and nursing supervisors were provided a link and/or the workbook to encourage the incorporation of stress discussed into care plans. The brochures and handouts were all at no cost to the facility. Within the last year, HVHCS stress discussed SHEP score raised over 9%. Additionally, 5 PACT locations scored above the national average for the stress discussed SHEP score. Joanna drafted and distributed certificates of appreciation to the PACT teams to recognize their commitment to our Veterans.
As a civil service employee and a nurse, Joanna is a leader and subject matter expert in her role. She shares her expertise and decades of nursing education experience to advance and improve our services at HVHCS.
Joanna is an exceptionally talented, creative, positive energy-filled nurse leader. She continuously works to serve her fellow colleagues, veterans, their families, and caregivers. Joanna exemplifies a DAISY Nurse Leader and executes the VA’s mission to serve and honor the men and women who are America's veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors, by providing comprehensive and high-quality services.
In her role as the HBC, Joanna is the facility subject matter expert on health coaching, motivational interviewing (MI), patient self-management, and healthy behavior. Joanna frequently collaborates with the PACT teams to provide training, clinician coaching, and consultations that are integral to the execution of an effective Health Promotion/Disease Prevention (HPDP) and PACT program. In addition, Joanna works closely with the HPDP Program Manager to develop new programs or adapt existing VHA programs, guide implementation, and coordinate evaluation strategies to determine the efficacy of HPDP programs. In the last 14 months, VA HVHCS moved from being a facility without a Veteran education program to one with a Chartered Veteran Health Education & Information (VHEI) Committee and an S.O.P. for the development of Veteran Health Education and a multi-faceted approach to VHE. Her success in this endeavor can be measured by the improvements, outcomes and recognition by staff as the go-to person for VHE.
As a program leader, Joanna is focused on engaging and empowering our veterans to improve their health. For example, Joanna works closely with the PACT teams to identify preventative measures that nurses can implement to improve our Veteran health outcomes. She is part of the workgroup devoted to encouraging every at-risk Veteran to have a Fit test done. Joanna went above and beyond when she called over 275 Veterans to remind them to complete their FIT tests. She discovered that some Veterans reported that they needed a new test kit. Joanna was able to work with the lab to secure the kits and mailed the Veterans the FIT test kits.
As a nurse leader, Joanna recognizes the importance of engaging Veterans as they enter HVHCS. Within the last year, Joanna sent an individualized HVHCS welcome letter to 700+ newly registered Veterans. These efforts greatly improved awareness about HVHCS services.
Joanna motivates staff with a shared vision and enthusiasm to achieve better outcomes for themselves and for their patients. For example, Joanna collaborated with the PACT primary care team to improve our veterans' awareness of stress and the resources available to them. Joanna informed the primary care teams that during her conversation with the veterans she deducted that some veterans are not recalling the conversations they are having with their providers. Specifically, any preventative education related to stress that is done during a visit. She identified that some of the veterans would benefit from taking home a booklet during their primary care visit. Joanna was able to obtain and distribute 1500+ Stress Management workbooks for Veterans and staff use. Additionally, all nurses and nursing supervisors were provided a link and/or the workbook to encourage the incorporation of stress discussed into care plans. The brochures and handouts were all at no cost to the facility. Within the last year, HVHCS stress discussed SHEP score raised over 9%. Additionally, 5 PACT locations scored above the national average for the stress discussed SHEP score. Joanna drafted and distributed certificates of appreciation to the PACT teams to recognize their commitment to our Veterans.
As a civil service employee and a nurse, Joanna is a leader and subject matter expert in her role. She shares her expertise and decades of nursing education experience to advance and improve our services at HVHCS.
Joanna is an exceptionally talented, creative, positive energy-filled nurse leader. She continuously works to serve her fellow colleagues, veterans, their families, and caregivers. Joanna exemplifies a DAISY Nurse Leader and executes the VA’s mission to serve and honor the men and women who are America's veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors, by providing comprehensive and high-quality services.