Shared Governance

• Purpose and/or Quality Goals: The purpose of this council is to promote interprofessional collaborative practice that optimizes the utilization of holistic and integrative therapies in the care of patients, families, and staff.
• Tasks that need to be accomplished and covered here in the charter:
  • The committee is responsible for:
    • Reviewing and recommending revisions to Clinical Manual Policy CM-26 Integrative Therapies.
    • Developing and implementing action plans to promote measurable improvement in the utilization of holistic and integrative therapies in clinical settings and the work environment.
    • Evaluating and recommending electronic medical record (EMR) changes to optimize documentation of holistic and integrative therapies.
    • Planning and implementing education for clinical staff on holistic and integrative therapies.
    • Evaluating the outcome of holistic and integrative therapies.
    • Promoting certification in holistic nursing, holistic coaching, and educational certifications in integrative therapies.
  • Co-Chairs: Vickie Keeler and Tiffany Caesar
  • Coach:
  • Meetings 9:30 on the first Wednesday of the month: 10405B OR TEAMS

• Purpose and/or Quality Goals: To support and facilitate the utilization of the electronic medical record (EMR) and other bedside technologies to improve and promote patient safety, high quality patient care, provide clear and accurate nursing documentation, and improve nursing workflow.
• Tasks that need to be accomplished and covered here in the charter:
  • While Upstate uses one EMR system, it is understood that different areas of nursing practice require different types of functionalities from the EMR. Members are expected to represent and advocate for the meaningful use of EMR and other bedside technologies as they apply to their area of nursing practice.  As such, members are called upon to:
  • Review changes to the EMR system and communicate the expected effect of these changes on the workflow in their practice area.
  • Analyze the use of the EMR in their practice area and propose improvements that would improve patient safety, facilitate required documentation needed for core measures, or improve workflows. Enter requests for these improvements into the IMT project request system.
  • Vote on certain proposed changes to the EMR when requested by the IMT development team.
  • Communicate with co-workers in their practice area and in other Shared Governance groups to inform them of upcoming changes and bring the concerns or suggestions of their co-workers to NITAG as appropriate.
  • Act as superusers and resources during the introduction of new projects.
• Chair: Nancy Moeur
• Coach: Caitlyn Reck
• Executive Sponsor: Todd Schuler
• Meetings 9:30 on the first Wednesday of the month: CAB 116 or TEAMS

• Purpose and/or Quality Goals: To create and foster the development of unit-based Magnet content experts (Magnet Champions) to support, promote and sustain a culture of nursing and operational excellence throughout Upstate University Hospital, in all areas of inpatient and ambulatory care. Through staff engagement and education, Magnet Champions work to ensure our Upstate team demonstrates knowledge and understanding of Magnet designation and how being a Magnet designated hospital positively impacts overall organization performance.
• Chair: Chris Weiland
• Coach:
• Meetings 9:30 on the first Wednesday of the month: CAB 122 or TEAMS

• Purpose and/or Quality Goals: Our purpose is to support recruitment and recognition activities that will aid in nursing department team retention.
• Tasks that need to be accomplished and covered here in the charter:
  • Nursing Excellence Celebration
  • Nurses Week
  • Nursing Awards program
  • Certified Nurses Day
  • Nursing Assistant Week
  • Fundraising
  • Nursing Family Day
  • Community Involvement
  • Career Day Support
• Chair: Danielle Palmer
• Executive Sponsor: Jennifer Mix
• Meetings 9:30 on the first Wednesday of the month: 8405B or TEAMS

• Purpose and/or Quality Goals: To promote and continuously enhance the professionalism of Upstate Nursing through preceptor program, continuing education, nursing grand rounds, BSN promotion, certification program, Clinical Advancement Program (CAP).
• Tasks that need to be accomplished and covered here in the charter:

1. Respond as contributing members for policies related to Professional Development.
2. Set annual education and certification goals prior to July and report out through nursing congress.
3. Advocate for professional development program enhancements.
4. Committee seeks guidance from council executive sponsor to ensure committee is acting within their scope per Shared Governance Bylaws.

• Chair: Kerrigan Lindsay (interim)
• Coach: Kathy Berardi 
• Meetings 9:30 on the first Wednesday of the month: NAB 2244 or TEAMS

Purpose and/or Quality Goals: To support and facilitate quality improvement activities.  

Tasks that need to be accomplished: 

• Quality Improvement activities using the PDSA model.
• Create/Update Unit based Quality boards.
• Monitor Quality dashboard
• Facilitate unit or specialty council’s quality projects
• Proactive risk assessment and error prevention

Chair: Bre Patenaude and Janean Stewart;
Executive Sponsor: Denise Letourneau 
Meetings 9:30 on the first Wednesday of the month: 12405B or TEAMS 

Purpose: Nursing Research and Innovation Council will support clinical nurses in pursuing a spirit of inquiry through conducting nursing research, leading evidence-based practice projects, and disseminating findings.

Tasks that need to be accomplished and covered here in the charter: 

• Review and provide feedback on research and EBP proposals 
• Review and monitor ongoing projects 
• Provide ongoing support during projects through dissemination 
• Identify opportunities to facilitate growth in the areas of research, EBP, and Innovation 
• Develop annual Nursing Research Award and EBP Project Award process for Nursing Excellence Celebration 
• Develop and implement an annual nursing research/EBP day 

Chair: Carrie Edinger 
Coach: Emery House 
Executive Sponsor:
Meetings 9:30 on the first Wednesday of the month: NAB 1144 or TEAMS 

Purpose and/or Quality Goals: To ensure consistent practices throughout the nursing department related to scheduling, staffing and productivity, and to assist in fostering a healthy work environment by: 

• Advancing and upholding the best staffing and scheduling practices to improve patient outcomes. 

• Maintaining scheduling practices that provides safe scheduling for patients and the employee while complying with regulatory rules and requirements. 
• Fostering consistent practices that are grounded in research and/or best practice. 
• Promoting innovation that supports cost effectiveness and efficiencies. 
• Providing resources, information, and education related to scheduling and staffing. 
• Improving satisfaction and retention of nursing personnel by supporting a healthy staffing model and nursing culture. 

• Communicating with and supporting managers and staff in productivity and scheduling management. 
• Supporting and encouraging skilled communication and true collaboration among nursing teams to establish a healthy work environment.   

Tasks that need to be accomplished: 

Subgroups:  

• Nursing Retention and Culture – Review transfers and separations, retention data and exit surveys, to improve safe staffing and morale. 

• Documents/Communication – Maintain website (Nursing Business Operations), maintain policies, and contribute updates to Nursing Congress (quarterly). 
• Scheduling - Establish goals to assist units with general scheduling practices and in the implementation of shared scheduling 
• Staffing Review - Review Staffing Review Request Forms  

Chair: Erin Grimshaw
Executive Sponsor: Gwynne Conway

Meetings 9:30 on the first Wednesday of the month: NAB 4414a or TEAMS 

Purpose: The Health Equity System Council will strive to promote inclusive structures and processes to advance equitable access to quality health for Upstate patients, families, and staff.  

Chair: Cassandra (Sandy) Bradford

Coach: Renae Rokicki 

Executive Sponsor: Sherria Sparks 

Meetings 9:30 on the first Wednesday of the month: NAB 1143 or TEAMS 

Purpose and/or Quality Goals:

• Annual goal setting and evaluation of ongoing council lead initiatives  
• Development and implementation of professional development opportunities for Clinical Trainer Specialist group members  
• Assist in the development and implementation of new institutional educational initiatives in collaboration with PDL for staff members reporting within nursing departments 
• Bi-Annual evaluation in collaboration with PDL of institution wide educational requirements and status 

Tasks that need to be accomplished and covered here in the charter: 

Please note each of the following tasks in this section: 

• Quality documentation and oversight for those areas reporting into this committee  
• Formation, assessment, approval and oversight of clinical manual policies 

• Implementation assistance and compliance oversight for applicable accreditation standards related to the Committee’s Scope  

Chair: Siobhan Keough 

Meetings: One Tuesday per month 

Purpose: Critical Care Shared Governance will support clinical nurses in   providing high-quality evidence-based care to critical care patients.   

Tasks that need to be accomplished and covered here in the charter:  

1. Review and update policies that are owned by the group at a minimum of every two years. Provide feedback to policies that the group is listed as a contributing department on.  
2. Support collaboration with interdisciplinary teams and initiatives throughout the organization.  
3. Review and monitor ongoing projects and quality initiatives.  
4. Support participation in the yearly educational needs assessment. 
5. Identify opportunities to facilitate growth in the areas of research, EBP, and clinical practice.  

Chair: Kaitlyn Reber and Tori Reichert 

Coach: Miki Williams 

Executive Sponsor: 

Meetings: 12:00 on the first Wednesday of the month: location NAB 2244 or TEAMS 

Chairs/co-chairs

• Upstate Surgery:
  • Chair: Melissa Blanchfield
  • Co-Chair: Monica Kubiak