Cat has been phenominal in our kick off and development for LIfenet EKG transmissions

It is my esteemed pleasure to nominate Dana Millner, RN, for the prestigious VCSQI Collaborator of the Year Award. As a highly respected and dedicated cardiac surgery ICU professional, Dana exemplifies the essence of collaboration through her unwavering commitment to enhancing patient outcomes following open-heart surgery. Her work within our institution (VCU) and her contributions to VCSQI have had a transformative impact, driven by her leadership, innovative approaches, and dedication to interdisciplinary teamwork. Dana’s remarkable contributions were most evident during her leadership of the quality improvement initiative, Early Extubation Project, which she not only implemented with precision but also presented to the larger VCSQI audience at a quarterly meeting. Her presentation was met with outstanding feedback, as she openly shared her strategies, challenges, and solutions, creating a blueprint for other centers to replicate. Through daily tracking of extubation times, real-time feedback, and the inclusion of all team members—from nurses to unit secretaries—she has cultivated a culture of accountability and excellence. The project has consistently exceeded its goals, achieving significant reductions in extubation times and reinforcing the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration. Beyond this initiative, Dana has been instrumental in other key quality improvement projects, including: Lab Draw Reduction: Dana spearheaded the revamping of the CSICU lab draw protocol in 2022. Her efforts resulted in a remarkable 19% reduction in unnecessary lab draws, averaging 1,300 fewer labs per month! She achieved this through targeted staff education, inclusion of the protocol in orientation sessions for new staff and residents, adding the element to daily rounds, rigorous tracking and feedback mechanisms, which were presented at our institution quarterly QAPI meetings. X-ray Reduction Initiative: In January 2024, Dana mentored a bedside nurse to develop an algorithm that reduced unnecessary daily chest x-rays. By engaging surgeons, intensivists, and unit APPs, she fostered consensus and ensured seamless integration of the protocol into daily rounds. Within seven months of implementation, this initiative achieved an average monthly reduction of 35 x-rays. Mobilization of Femorally Cannulated VA ECMO Patients: Demonstrating her ability to lead complex, multidisciplinary efforts, Dana collaborated with physical therapists, ICU attendings, and surgeons to introduce and implement the safe mobilization of VA ECMO patients. By meticulously tracking safety metrics and addressing barriers, she is currently working to formalize a protocol for broader adoption. Dana’s leadership extends far beyond cardiac surgery ICU. Her ability to inspire and engage colleagues is unmatched, as demonstrated by her commitment to ongoing staff education and mentorship. Whether through individual re-education sessions, onboarding new team members, or celebrating successes with congratulatory emails, Dana fosters a cohesive and motivated team environment. In every initiative she undertakes, Dana embodies the principles of collaboration, innovation, and patient-centered care. Her unwavering focus on improving clinical outcomes, coupled with her ability to bridge gaps between disciplines, makes her an exceptional candidate for this award. Dana is not only a valuable asset to our institution but also a shining example of the transformative power of collaboration within the VCSQI network. Thank you for considering Dana Millner, RN, for this well-deserved recognition. I am confident that her outstanding contributions will continue to advance the mission of VCSQI and serve as an inspiration to others.

"I can't thank all of you enough for your support these past 2 years. I have learned so much from each of you. I wanted to ensure that you all know, from the bottom of my heart, what a tremendous and positive impact VCSQI and VHAC have made on our Richmond community. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I hope you all have a wonderful holiday! "

Eve has done an amazing job at unifying the Virginia perfusion community to standardize quality perfusion care and align these efforts with the VCSQI collaborative to improve patient outcomes. As a board member, Eve continues to challenge VCSQI to strive for improvement, innovation, integration and collaboration for all members.

Megan Vaughan is an excellent leader and collaborator. She provides valuable insight on Cardiac Services provided with her facilities. She manages a team of Cardiac Data Abstractors. She provides feedback and policy for other institutions. She leads workgroup initiatives for VCSQI. She is about finding solutions and the best outcomes for our cardiac patient populations.

Megan strives to collaborate with multiple areas in the ministry to provide accurate, up to date, data.

"I can't thank all of you enough for your support these past 2 years. I have learned so much from each of you. I wanted to ensure that you all know, from the bottom of my heart, what a tremendous and positive impact VCSQI and VHAC have made on our Richmond community. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I hope you all have a wonderful holiday! "

"I can't thank all of you enough for your support these past 2 years. I have learned so much from each of you. I wanted to ensure that you all know, from the bottom of my heart, what a tremendous and positive impact VCSQI and VHAC have made on our Richmond community. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I hope you all have a wonderful holiday! "