In an effort to improve quality, streamline care and have more accountability for patient satisfaction, Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center recently announced a reorganization of its Nursing Division under the leadership of Chief Nursing Officer Kim Brown Sims.
Connie Malek was named Director of Nursing, Adult Services. In that role she will oversee medical/surgical services, critical care services and the Step Down Unit. Previously, Malek served as Director of Medical/Surgical Services. Reporting directly to her is Aaron Thorne, Adult Services Manager. Thorne was promoted from Charge Nurse in Critical Care Services.
Mary Ann Gulutz was named Director of Nursing, Women’s & Children’s Services, a position she held previously under a different title. Continuing in her role is Lisa Hawes, Women’s & Children’s Services Manager.
Reggie Ahlfield has been named Director of Nursing, Informatics & Clinical Excellence. Under this newly created position, Ahlfield will be responsible for clinical informatics, nursing education and service initiatives such as patient satisfaction. These duties were previously dispersed under multiple different directors. Ahlfield previously served in the role as Director of Clinical Informatics and brings many years of critical care nursing to the new position.
Interim Director of Nursing, Surgical Services, Megan Stobo has expanded her scope of responsibility to also include the GI Lab, Day Stay and pre-operative services in addition to the Post Anesthesia Care Unit and Sterile Processing. The GI Lab, Day Stay and pre-operative services previously reported to other nursing directors.
Susan Raney joined Sierra Vista this month as Director of Nursing, Emergency Services. Raney brings more than 30 years of experience, to Sierra Vista, most recently at hospitals in Washington state. She will oversee a growing emergency department with more than 22,000 patient visits annually.
“We are excited to bring a new paradigm to nursing at Sierra Vista that will benefit not only patient care but the quality of service we can bring through a more direct reporting structure that will ultimately lead to greater patient satisfaction,” Brown Sims said. “By consolidating our services in areas that make more logistical sense we are able to streamline our nursing organization for higher accountability to our patients and physicians.”