Tammy D. Caviness
Greensboro,NC
Summary
Patient-focused nursing executive with expertise in change management and leading multiple teams through the transition of care delivery. Well-versed in developing and implementing strategies that impact quality, service, and cost. Strong ability to identify new opportunities and engage stakeholders in conversations of possibility and implementation. Excel at using lean methodology in efforts to facilitate continuous process improvement. I am an effective communicator with exceptional relationship-building skills and the ability to foster strong working relationships across all disciplines. Experienced in leading nursing teams and managing clinical operations to improve patient care quality. Utilizes strategic planning and evidence-based practices to enhance efficiency and outcomes. Track record of fostering team collaboration and maintaining adaptability in dynamic healthcare settings.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Associate Chief Nursing Officer
Cone Health System
03.2022 - Current
- Provides direction and support to 18 adult inpatient departments at Moses Cone, the Respiratory Therapy department for Moses Cone and Women and Children's, system-wide Hemodialysis, Interventional Radiology nursing, the Greensboro Market Transit team, and the Moses Cone Discharge Lounge
- Organizes, plans, and directs nursing functions and activities to meet our set targets for True North
- Leads work related to process improvements around length of stay and reducing the time left without completing care from our Emergency Department
- Responsible for improving our overall margin by reducing labor costs and increasing our net patient revenue
- Successfully maintain an overall YTD productivity of 105% labor expense of 2.79M to a target of 3.01M
- Ensure policies and procedures are effective in achieving long-term and short-term objectives regarding the quality of care provided to our patients
- Monitors compliance with the Moses Cone campus inpatient departments' utilization of our Hospital Acquired Infection Bundles
- A reduction of total HAI's year to date from thirty-two to currently twenty-two on the MC Campus
- Facilitates collaboration between nursing, other health system departments, and the medical staff to provide quality patient care
- Successfully transitioned from an outsourced hemodialysis to the first systemwide in-house hemodialysis departments on the Moses Cone, Alamance Regional, and Annie Penn Campus
- Supports and promotes the growth and development of nursing and respiratory leadership staff
- Successfully developed, opened, and operated our Moses Cone Discharge Lounge
- The lounge has, on average, 120 guests a week, allowing patients to receive care sooner in our Emergency Department
- Executive sponsor for the Cone Health Code Blue committee
- Currently a member of the Leadership Greensboro Cohort 2025
Executive Director of Heart & Vascular Services
Cone Health System
03.2020 - 03.2022
- Provides and supports leadership for all Heart and Vascular Services nursing operations with Cone Health
- This includes direct leadership over six inpatient Heart and Vascular inpatient departments on the Moses Cone campus
- System-wide support of nursing cardiology services across the enterprise, including ambulatory services
- Operational and administrative oversight of Cone Health Central Telemetry Department and Electronic Intensive Care Unit
- Ensured financial sustainability and integrity of Heart and Vascular inpatient nursing departments
- MC Heart and Vascular's inpatient nursing departments maintained a 105% or greater productivity YTD during FY22
- Planning and reallocating financial resources through operational effectiveness to include restructuring workflow in nursing administration and reducing labor by restructuring leadership roles
- Moses Cone, division representative for the Premium Labor Committee, oversees the use of premium-paid nursing staff to support vacancies while maintaining financial integrity for the organization
- Responsible and accountable for quality initiatives within heart & vascular inpatient nursing departments (HAI's/Falls)
- Decrease in HAIs by 30% in FY 22
- Facilitator and executive sponsor of a quality improvement initiative related to appropriate nursing scopes of service and admission criteria
- Active Participant in Cone Health Heart & Vascular Global Core Committee implemented for approval and design of Heart and Vascular Ambulatory Building, Moses Cone Cath Lab expansion, and Alamance Regional Cath Lab expansion
- Actively involved in the current development and implementation plans for Moses Cone Cath Lab expansion and Alamance Regional Cath Lab expansion
- Currently serving a member of the Cone Health Future Ready Workforce Committee
- Executive sponsor for the Cone Health Code Blue Committee
- Developer and Co-lead for MC Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Champion Committee
- Currently serving as the Chair of the Cone Health Inclusion Network Group -Women Inspiring Women
- Executive leader for True North People Retention Team supporting at both organization and division level
- Currently a member of The Healthcare Academy 2023 GE Fellows Program- Concentration -Nursing (CNO) with a program completion date of April 27th, 2023
- Nursing Leadership representative for CH Fellowship Governance Committee
- Upcoming member of Other Voices Executive Program through the Greensboro Chamber of Commerce
- Completed the Belmont Lean Certification Training in 2022
Interim Chief Nursing Officer
Annie Penn Hospital
11.2021 - 01.2022
Department Director of Nursing
Cone Health System
01.2015 - 03.2020
- -Operational and administrative oversight of 2 inpatient nursing units, 6 East Cardiac Progressive Care, and 6 Central Post Cardiac Cath Unit with a current total of 72 FTEs
- Lead and support person for development of the Progressive Care Steering committee, responsible for creating and executing the safest process for transitioning seven inpatient units to Progressive Care Units
- Lead role in the development of the nurse-driven protocol for determining acuity of patients and campus-wide implementation of an acuity-based model of care
- Lead role in enhancing safety through the incorporation of electronic ICU (e-Link) services for seven progressive care departments
- Responsible for promoting positive patient experiences
- Patient satisfaction scores above indicated target for FY17, FY18, with a current score for 'Rate the Hospital' at 77.4% with a target of 75.7% YTD
- Maintain financial viability and integrity for 2 inpatient nursing departments and support organizational efforts of promoting operational effectiveness: current productivity index of 100.6% YTD and 102% YTD
- Participant in a subgroup for the development of standard work around hours per patient days
- Monitor, promote, and support quality improvements and sustainability, decreasing department falls with injury, CLABSI's, and MRSA free for the past 3 years, reduction of CAUTI's to 1 for FY19 YTD, and improvement of hand hygiene compliance from 72% to 95%
- Implementing various strategies to ensure high employee engagement during complex change and transition
- Improved scores from Tier 2 to Tier 1 over one year
- Empowerment of staff to grow within the profession and encourage educational advancement; current BSN rate of 92% and current certified nursing rate of 35%
- Received Magnet Steering Committee recognition for the effective use of Lean methodologies for departmental operations
- Hospital Incident Command System Training was completed to prepare for managing the command center when necessary
Assistant Director of Nursing
Cone Health System
01.2013 - 01.2015
- Provided leadership, clinical and administrative support for a 39-bed cardiac telemetry unit
- Mentored new graduate nurses as GAP Mentor Leader
- Management of Chest Pain Observation Unit on department 3West
Registered Nurse IV
Cone Health System
10.2011 - 01.2013
- Developed process for the maintenance of clinical competencies for nursing staff
- ED Throughput 10-week pilot during off shift
- Coordination and implementation of a unit-based falls prevention class, which lead to a 50% reduction in falls
- Participated in research projects that promoted quality improvement, patient satisfaction, and employee satisfaction
Registered Nurse II
Cone Health System
08.2009 - 10.2011
- Providing direct patient care for cardiac and medical patient population
- Educating patients and family members, advocacy for patients
- Assessment, evaluation, and treatment of patients utilizing best practices and quality care
Education
Doctor of Nursing Practice - Executive Leadership
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
05.2019
Master of Science - Nursing Administration
Kaplan University
03.2014
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical College
05.2009
Skills
- Healthcare administration
- Operations management
- Nursing management
- Clinical leadership
- Patient safety
- Quality improvement
Certification
- Registered Nurse, 233527, 08/01/27
- Basic Life Support (BLS), 11/01/25
- Certified Nurse Manager and Leader, 09/01/14, present
Organization Memberships
- Phi Kappa Phi
- Alpha Chi
- Golden Key
- Gamma Zeta Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International
- North Carolina Organization of Nurse Leaders
- North Carolina Nurses Association
- AONL American Organization for Nursing Leadership
Credentials
- DNP
- MSN
- RN
- CNML-BC
Nursing Research Professional Presentation
- True North Retention: Retaining a Post-Pandemic Workforce, Caviness, T.
- Identifying the Patient's Perception of Care with Transitioning from a Cardiac Telemetry Unit to a Cardiac Progressive Care Unit., Caviness, T., Poster Presentation, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Graduate Presentation Program, 04/01/19
Timeline
Associate Chief Nursing Officer
Cone Health System
03.2022 - Current
Interim Chief Nursing Officer
Annie Penn Hospital
11.2021 - 01.2022
Executive Director of Heart & Vascular Services
Cone Health System
03.2020 - 03.2022
Department Director of Nursing
Cone Health System
01.2015 - 03.2020
Assistant Director of Nursing
Cone Health System
01.2013 - 01.2015
Registered Nurse IV
Cone Health System
10.2011 - 01.2013
Registered Nurse II
Cone Health System
08.2009 - 10.2011
Master of Science - Nursing Administration
Kaplan University
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical College
Doctor of Nursing Practice - Executive Leadership
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
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