Veronica Martelino RN has demonstrated not only clinical competence in providing high-quality patient care to the patients in BT CCU but has contributed to developing processes that improved the workflow and practices in the unit as well. This process development was triggered by a negative patient outcome due to a delay in reporting lab results and thus, delayed the dose adjustment of Heparin. In collaboration with the Harris Health IT Department, Risk Management, Transportation Department and Leadership, Veronica has spearheaded the development of the PTT Protocol for Heparin drips. This process has aided in the decrease in the transport of the blood sample from unit-to-lab time down to less than 60 minutes for the results to be uploaded and reported. This is crucial in our patient population as the majority of our patients require anticoagulation where dose adjustments are time sensitive.
Veronica led the Commit-to-Sit initiative in CCU in July 2018. She has conducted a PDCA with the goal of increasing the unit's patient satisfaction score from 77% to above 82% (Hospital Goal). The initiative focused on the nurses allotting 5 to 10 minutes of their time during the shift to sit and talk to the patients about their plan of care, patient and family concerns, etc. The project was successful as evidenced by the overall patient satisfaction score of 100% from August to November 2018. The year-to-date overall patient satisfaction score of the unit is 87.5% which has placed BT CCU in the 95th percentile. The year-to-date Communication with Nurses score is 87.2% which has placed the unit in the 91st percentile.
Veronica serves as a preceptor in the unit. With her knowledge in IT, she has developed various forms that are currently being utilized by the nurses as part of the unit workflow.