Nicole Allenspach RN, BSN, PHN
Stillwater,MN
Summary
Accomplished hospice and palliative care leader with over 18 years of experience across diverse care settings. Recognized visionary working to strengthen organizations, foster meaningful relationships, and improve communities at a local and national level.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Regional Director of Clinical Operations
St. Croix Hospice
02.2023 - Current
- Coordinated and oversaw all direct and indirect patient services provided by clinical organization personnel for branches across 65 counties in the state of Wisconsin, serving close to 600 patients
- Led quality improvement initiatives to promote best practice and achieve award-winning quality scores, including National Hospice and Palliative care Organization's 4 rings Quality connections, NHPCO's highest quality rating
- Provided operational planning and financial oversight of multiple hospice branches across the state of Wisconsin
- Provided mentorship of management teams to further develop leadership skills and professional development goals
- Inspired and modeled a spirit of teamwork and collaboration to promote a healthy, positive, successful work environment for all team members
- Motivated teams to persevere through challenges and achieve operational goals in alignment with the mission and vision of the organization
- Built strategic partnerships to further the mission of the organization and facilitate growth of the hospice program
- Worked with management of clinical services to develop staff through education, evaluation, performance management, and competency improvement
- Developed and implemented new policies and processes for quality improvement and assurance
- Provided visionary leadership to both strengthen the organization and elevate the organization to top decile performance including top ratings for family satisfaction
- Developed and implemented ongoing learning strategies such as instructional modules and hands-on sessions to ensure best practices and quality care
- Established and maintained effective and supportive communication with staff, partners and community organizations to promote high quality patient care
- Ensured operational compliance with all local, state and federal laws and adherence to all Medicare Hospice COP Guidelines
- Analyzed quality and referral data and developed strategies for further growth and partnership opportunities
- Lead community outreach events and educations in order to create and maintain partnerships and promote the mission and vision of hospice
- Participated in evidenced-based clinical audits and leveraged data to improve research-based methodologies within clinical areas
Hospice and Palliative Care Manager
Lakeview Hospital, HealthPartners
12.2020 - 02.2023
- Directed clinical and operational functions for over 60 hospice and palliative employees and 50 volunteers across 10 disciplines serving over 300 patients across Minnesota and Wisconsin
- Developed, launched and managed new clinic and community-based palliative care programs serving eastern Minnesota and western Wisconsin
- Recruited, hired and assisted in onboarding of over 40 hospice and palliative care employees due to program growth and success
- Led internal and external palliative and hospice quality initiatives at Lakeview Hospital and the broader HealthPartners organization resulting in a 10/10 Medicare quality rating and 5-star Medicare Hospice Compare rating, the only hospice in the Twin Cities and western Wisconsin to receive the recognition
- Developed policies, processes, and procedures to ensure safe, high quality patient care and compliance with Medicare, state, and Joint Commission regulations
- Had direct financial and budgetary oversight of hospice and palliative care programs leading to budgetary surpluses
- Promoted and inspired strong communication and collaboration across teams to create a positive. successful work environment for all team members
- Worked in collaboration with the foundation to secure funding opportunities through grants and other funding streams
- Collaborated with community partners and organizational leaders to create strong relationships and further the mission and vision of the organization
- Led internal and external community events and educations to promote hospice, palliative care, and health equity initiatives
Hospice Supervisor
Lakeview Hospital, HealthPartners
06.2018 - 12.2020
- Directed clinical and operational functions for hospice program averaging over 100 patients, providing guidance and leadership to 40 employees and 60 volunteers across 9 disciplines
- Led strategic initiatives to grow the hospice program resulting in census growth of 100% in 18 months
- Enhanced hospice operations through process and performance improvement strategies resulting in top decile national quality performance scores and a hospice rating of #1 for family satisfaction in the St. Croix Valley
- Implemented regulatory compliance measures to improve safety and ensure survey readiness resulting in high performance in State and Joint Commission surveys
- Created policies and processes to effectively serve a large population of patients in the community while supporting hospital systems across the healthcare organization in response to the COVID-19 pandemic
- Served on multiple hospital quality improvement and leadership committees, including: Pharmaceutical Therapeutics Committee, Community-Based Services Leadership Committee, and the Lakeview Hospital Ethics Committee
Hospice Nurse Case Manager
Lakeview Hospital, HealthPartners
05.2017 - 06.2018
Critical Care Float Nurse
Regions Hospital Level 1 Trauma, HealthPartners
04.2014 - 05.2017
Orthopedic/Medical Surgical Staff Nurse
Regions Hospital Level 1 Trauma, HealthPartners
05.2013 - 04.2014
Night Nurse Supervisor
Presbyterian Homes And Services
07.2013 - 04.2014
Transitional and Long-Term Care Staff Nurse
Presbyterian Homes And Services
07.2012 - 04.2014
Nursing and Medication Assistant
Presbyterian Homes And Services
11.2006 - 07.2012
Education
Wound Care Program Graduate - Wound Ostomy Continence Nurses Society
Metropolitan State University
Saint Paul, MN06.2015
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
Bethel University
Saint Paul, MN06.2014
Associate of Science - Nursing
Century Community And Technical College
White Bear Lake08.2012
Associate of Arts -
Century Community And Technical College
White Bear Lake, MN05.2008
Skills
- Health Equity champion, HealthPartners, 2022
- Trauma-Informed Care: Trauma Healing with Bessel van der Klok course graduate, 2021
- Champion of Care Award Nominee, Lakeview Hospital, 2021
- Living Our Values Award, HealthPartners, 2020
- Hospice Manager Development Program Graduate, National Hospice and Palliative Organization, 2019
- Sigma Theta Tau International Honors Society, 2014
- Century College Nursing Club President, Century Community and Technical College, 2013
- Elite Ellie Schlette Holistic Nursing Scholarship Award, Century Community and Technical College, 2013
Affiliations
- Next Generation Leadership Advisory Council Member, National Hospice & Palliative Care Organization, 2020- 2021
- Palliative Care Committee Member, National Hospice & Palliative Care Organization, 2020- 2021
- Center to Advance Palliative Care, Member 2020- Present
- Ethics Committee Member, Lakeview Hospital, 2019- Present
- Wound Care Resource Team, Regions Hospital, 2015- 2017
Certification
- Public Health Nurse Certification, State of Minnesota, Active
- Registered Nurse License, State of Minnesota, Active
- Registered Nurse License, State of Wisconsin, Active
- Registered Nurse, State of Iowa, In process
- Basic Cardiac Life Support, Inactive
- Advanced Cardiac Life Support, Inactive
Timeline
Regional Director of Clinical Operations
St. Croix Hospice
02.2023 - Current
Hospice and Palliative Care Manager
Lakeview Hospital, HealthPartners
12.2020 - 02.2023
Hospice Supervisor
Lakeview Hospital, HealthPartners
06.2018 - 12.2020
Hospice Nurse Case Manager
Lakeview Hospital, HealthPartners
05.2017 - 06.2018
Critical Care Float Nurse
Regions Hospital Level 1 Trauma, HealthPartners
04.2014 - 05.2017
Night Nurse Supervisor
Presbyterian Homes And Services
07.2013 - 04.2014
Orthopedic/Medical Surgical Staff Nurse
Regions Hospital Level 1 Trauma, HealthPartners
05.2013 - 04.2014
Transitional and Long-Term Care Staff Nurse
Presbyterian Homes And Services
07.2012 - 04.2014
Nursing and Medication Assistant
Presbyterian Homes And Services
11.2006 - 07.2012
Wound Care Program Graduate - Wound Ostomy Continence Nurses Society
Metropolitan State University
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
Bethel University
Associate of Science - Nursing
Century Community And Technical College
Associate of Arts -
Century Community And Technical College
- Public Health Nurse Certification, State of Minnesota, Active
- Registered Nurse License, State of Minnesota, Active
- Registered Nurse License, State of Wisconsin, Active
- Registered Nurse, State of Iowa, In process
- Basic Cardiac Life Support, Inactive
- Advanced Cardiac Life Support, Inactive
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