Perioperative Outcomes Quality Initiative Program Leads
AkkeNeel Talsma Ph.D., R.N., Program Director
AkkeNeel Talsma, Ph.D., R.N., is an assistant professor at the University of Michigan School of Nursing and is one of 15 inaugural Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Nurse Faculty Scholars (2008-2011). She is funded by RWJF to conduct the initial perioperative outcomes study at the University of Michigan Health System, which provides the model for the proposed initiative. The Association of Perioperative Registered Nurses Foundation also contributed to this study and a collaborative relationship with AORN leadership was established, leading to the national Perioperative Research Alliance.
Dr. Talsma worked for 10 years in the performance measurement and improvement arena prior to joining the University of Michigan School of Nursing faculty in 2005. She has implemented interventions to improve performance of JCAHO Core (SCIP) Measures, AHRQ Patient Safety Indicators and the Michigan Health & Hospital Association's Intensive Care Unit Keystone Project (O'Reilly, 2006; Wahl, 2006, Nolan, 2005; Talsma, 2008). AkkeNeel was consultant and research analyst for the Michigan Health & Safety Coalition from 2003 to 2007.
Christine Anderson, Project Manager
Christine Anderson, Ph.D., R.N., is a clinical assistant professor at the University of Michigan School of Nursing, with more than 15 years of experience working in the operating room as circulator. Chris joined the pilot study team in the spring of 2009 and is currently involved as project manager and senior analyst. Chris has experience working with complex data, such as OR staffing data, and will provide leadership about the qualities and functionality of building the database, preparing standardized reports and conducting statistical analysis.
About the Coordinating Center
The University of Michigan serves as the coordinating center and is responsible for collecting and analyzing comprehensive clinical data from the participating hospitals. It uses these analyses to examine practice patterns, generate new knowledge linking processes of care to outcomes, and identify best practices and opportunities for quality and efficiency improvement. The center further supports participants in establishing quality improvement goals and assists them in implementing best practices.
