E.R. Nurses to Make National Magnet Presentation

In early October, Marion Health and the innovative techniques Marion Health uses to treat stroke patients will be highlighted at the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) National Magnet Conference in Baltimore, Maryland.

An abstract, titled Time is Brain: A Rural Hospital Giving Big City Care, submitted by author, Tamara Cornelious, MBA, R.N., CEN, emergency department administrative director and co-authors, Cindy Canida-Woodward, MSN, R.N., CEN, and Kim Lovelady, BSN, R.N., CEN, was selected by the ANCC to be presented as a prestigious podium presentation.

The presentation, listed under the conference’s New Knowledge, Innovations and Improvements track, will give conference attendees the knowledge they need to create a successful “virtual” stroke care program.

The three emergency room nurses will draw from knowledge gained during the implementation of a very successful “virtual” stroke program partnership between Marion Health and the Fort Wayne-based Stoke Care Now Network (SCNN) when making the presentation.

Prior to the partnership, stroke patients who came to Marion Health’s emergency room had to be transported to another facility for treatment since a neurologist was not available at MGH. Now, through the use of telemedicine, more patients can be treated locally.

“The use of telemedicine provides the opportunity for an off-site neurologist to see and speak to an Marion Health patient,” states Cornelious. “It also allows for the MGH physician and nursing staff to communicate with the off-site neurologist in front of the patient and family, giving everyone the opportunity to provide input regarding decisions about their care.”

Since partnering with SCNN, Marion Health has decreased the number of stroke patients needing to be transferred to another facility by 42%.