JODI FREI

Jodi Frei is the Director of Quality at Northwestern Medical Center, a progressive community hospital system in Northern Vermont.  She has an undergraduate degree in Physical Therapy and a Master’s Degree in Managing Innovation and Information Technology.  She has been a leader in healthcare for over 25 years.  Jodi as the Manager of Organizational Informatics, led her clinical, financial and administrative teams through multiple MEDITECH upgrades, the most recent of which being the implementation of 6.16.  Her organization was the first MEDITECH hospital to go live with this Web Acute/Web ED version.  Jodi has immersed herself in MEDITECH functionality, optimization and advancement, raising her hand when early adopter opportunities arose.

Jodi has been a part of the MUSE community for approximately 5 years.  She has attended and presented in the Executive and Education Sessions of annual MUSE conferences.  Topics have included Managing Upgrades, eCQM Readiness, CMS Quality Programs, Understanding Downstream Financial Impacts of Quality Reporting, and Lessons Learned from her 6.16 implementation.  She is a member of the MUSE Education Committee and has conducted 2 MUSE Webinars as of the end of this month.  In addition, Jodi hosted an on-site MUSE program at her organization focused on 6.16.  She then participated in and presented at on-site MUSE events hosted in California and Ontario Canada.  Jodi has strong connections with her MEDITECH and MUSE partners.

Jodi is passionate about leveraging technology to improve clinical and business outcomes. This passion has allowed her to advance to a Director of Quality position.  She intends to further partner with MEDITECH, MUSE, and her coworkers to optimize the utility of the MEDITECH system.  She believes it is a powerful tool and that through MUSE education and networking opportunities, hospitals such as hers can gain insight and innovative approaches to advance the power of the MEDITECH system.

In closing, Jodi can offer to the MUSE Board of Directors clinical, technical and financial input in regard to both MEDITECH and MUSE initiatives.  She understands fiscal responsibility and would be happy to be a part of the ongoing success of the MUSE Organization.  

ISMELDA GARZA

Ismelda Garza is the Chief Information Officer for Comanche County Medical Center (CCMC), a Critical Access Hospital located in central Texas.   She joined CCMC in 2008 as the Systems Analyst for their overall implementation and development of Meditech.  In 2012, she served as the IT Director before taking the role of CIO in 2014.  Under her leadership as CIO, CCMC has successfully met all measures for Meaningful Use for both the eligible hospital and eligible professional criteria.

Ismelda has been a member of the MUSE organization for the past eight years.  During this time, she has enjoyed the opportunity to volunteer as a Peer Group leader, as well as presenting at international events, holding webinars for MUSE, and participating in the MUSE Executive Institute. 

Comanche County Medical Center and Ismelda have benefited from MUSE in a variety of ways, networking opportunities with her peers and learning from other Meditech sites.  Ismelda believes with all the challenges and opportunities that are occurring in healthcare, specifically health information technology, it is important to demonstrate the value of that technology in improving patient care and outcomes.  Ismelda is certain that MUSE provides many opportunities to have CCMC’s knowledge base of the electronic health record grow and expand as we share many components of how we use the electronic health record to improve the patient experience.   “MUSE is an extension of my team, and I want to ensure that it is an extension of yours as well.”

Ismelda holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing with an emphasis in Computer Information Systems from Tarleton State University in Texas.  As an active member of CHIME, she is currently studying to be a Certified Healthcare Chief Information Officer (CHICO).   Ismelda continues to support all financial and clinical applications such as NUR, EDM, ITS, MIS, and PWM.  Ismelda believes her educational and professional background will help serve the MUSE board in its vision and mission.

PATRICIA GILLESPIE

Patricia had the opportunity to be involved with MUSE International in 2012 as a presenter. Since that time she has been actively involved. She has served as a Peer Group Leader for Nursing and MIS, a presenter at the MUSE International Conference and currently as a member of the Education Committee. She is currently working to form a Community Peer Group in Texas. Patricia has found that the peer connection and knowledge sharing with users of MEDITECH a rewarding experience.

Patricia also has been able to recruit member to present at the International Conference as it relates to the clinical areas with her nursing background. She supports the mission of MUSE to interact to learn and share tips and solutions of MEDITECH. She is very committed to recruit organizations and individual to join and participate in the MUSE organization as it relates to the vision statement “to network, solve problems, identify best practices, and improve performance for organization”. Patricia firmly believes her educational and professional background will help serve the MUSE board in its vision and mission.

MELISSA HALL

Melissa Hall is the Director of Information Services/Deputy CIO for CalvertHealth Medical Center (CHMC) in Prince Frederick, Maryland.  Melissa has been with CHMC since 2014 serving as Manager of Clinical Informatics, Director of Application Services before taking on the role of Deputy CIO in 2016.  During her tenure, CHMC has successfully obtained Most Wired status, Stage 6 on the HIMSS EMR Adoption Model, and migrated from MEDITECH MAGIC to MEDITECH 6.15.

During these times of transition and growth in Information Technology, Melissa recognizes that we are in a position where technology can start to demonstrate its benefits.  We have the opportunity to improve patient outcomes and care with improved processes and efficiencies by continuing to integrate and streamline how technology interacts within and outside our environments.  MUSE has assisted with this initiative by supporting the MEDITECH community in multiple ways and continues to grow and evolve its offerings so that it is current and up-to-date. 

Melissa and the team at CHMC have benefited from MUSE membership in many ways, especially through networking and collaborating with other MEDITECH sites to discuss and learn from their successes and challenges.  Serving on the MUSE Board of Directors is one way that Melissa sees her continued support of MUSE and its strategic goals.  Throughout the years, she has utilized the MUSE community to help improve an organizations’ utilization of the MEDITECH environment.

Melissa recently co-facilitated the MUSE Executive Institute and is currently serving on the Education Committee.  In October, Melissa initiated a new Peer Community Group for Maryland.  It was very well received and she hopes to see it continue its growth.  She is a member of HIMSS in Maryland and California as well as the American Nursing Informatics Association.

Melissa has a Bachelors in Nursing, Masters in Nursing with a Family Nurse Practitioner certificate, and a Certificate in Nursing Informatics.  She moved to Maryland from Northern California with her husband and two Great Danes.  They recently added to their family with a third Great Dane puppy who is giving them a run for their money. 

Kevin Hick is interested in the position of Director at Large with the MUSE board. Kevin is a Sr. System/Business Analystbwithin the newly formed Nova Scotia Health Authority comprising 45 facilities.  Kevin currently supports the technical aspects of both MEDITECH C/S and Magic systems in a large healthcare environment where consolidation, standardization and change are now every day facts.  A challenge that a lot of organizations face.  

For the last two years Kevin has served on the MUSE Education Committee and has definitely learned a lot about MUSE.   Kevin is also the MUSE Community Peer Group Leader Canada East Coast and organized the successful inaugural face to face meeting in April.   Kevin believes this meeting definitely emphasized that we need the individual grass roots membership to make MUSE work and networking is the key.  Kevin is currently working on a virtual version of the CPG Canada East Coast meeting.   Since 2001, Kevin has participated in numerus MUSE regional and international conferences and had the opportunity to volunteer as MIS Peer Group Leader for 6 of those events.

Kevin graduated with a Bachelors of Computer Science from Acadia University.  Within a couple of years of graduation Kevin started his career in supporting healthcare in Nova Scotia.  Kevin has been involved in two hospital moves and been a technical resource for a 34 facility MEDITECH C\S implementation and was the primary technical resource for two major MEDITECH upgrades.  Kevin hopes by serving on the MUSE board he can present new ideas to make MUSE a better organization.

Barbara Kilroy is the Director, Clinical Informatics at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital – Plymouth in Plymouth, Massachusetts and project CNIO for a multi-site, MEDITECH 6.16 implementation.  She has been a leader in the information technology department for the last six years at Plymouth and has recently assumed responsibility and direct oversight of all clinical teams for the 3-hospital project. She is a nursing informatics expert and liaison between clinical teams and CIO, CNO and CMIO leadership. 

Active for many years in MUSE, Barbara was regional board chairman in New England and served on the MUSE International Board in several positions.  She has been a frequent presenter at conferences and participated in several Summit events.  Barbara feels that MUSE is the go-to organization for MEDITECH clients and the connections it brings members at meetings, conferences and WebEx’s is invaluable. The ability to network, problem solve, learn and employ best practices with peers helps all members deliver efficient, safe, quality care to our patients. Barbara will bring leadership and experience to MUSE by assisting with training, educational opportunities and exposure to advances in technology. 

With over 30 years in nursing and healthcare, her experiences have included critical care nursing, nursing leadership, revenue cycle management and information systems.  Barbara has a BSN from Northeastern University and an MBA from Western New England University. She is ANCC board certified in Nursing Informatics.   

Brian Nelligan is an Applications Analyst for Lakeridge Health in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada with over 24 years of experience with supporting hospitals and implementing Meditech. Brian has worked at 11 different facilities across Canada and internationally in Ireland. Brian has been instrumental in MEDITECH installations in a variety of settings from single small hospitals all the way to large regional organizations with over 24,000 staff members. Brian has experience with multiple Meditech platforms including Meditech Magic, C/S and 6.x and a wide variety of 3^rd party solutions that integrate with Meditech.

Brian believes that MEDITECH is in a time of change and MUSE must evolve with this change. With MEDITECH moving to a web based platform, MUSE also has to continue to be innovative in how it delivers education, networking and general knowledge of the systems we are using in our hospitals. MUSE is moving towards a more informative, proactive approach to enable its members to be active within the MUSE community. Brian has shown continued dedication to MUSE being involved over the last 7 years with the MUSE Education and Membership Committees and as a MUSE Director.

Brian has been involved with MUSE since 2003 and has served on two regional boards. He has also been a Peer Group Leader, International presenter, 6.x Facilitator, committee member and presently serves on the MUSE Board. Brian's priority with MUSE is to help recruit and retain membership. THAT MEANS YOU! Brian has been involved with re-inventing the Advancement Program to recognize the MUSE members for their MUSE involvement in new and innovative ways such as digital badging . This program is targeted to recognize all of you who participate within MUSE either as an attendee, presenter or volunteer at the 2018 International Conference.

Brian would be honored to continue the great work that he is involved with on the board level. To do this, he needs your vote. To help MUSE become the resource we need it to be, please consider Brian as the person who will work for you within the MUSE International Board.

Brian Schandl is the Chief Information Officer for Marshall Browning Hospital (MBH), a critical access facility located in Du Quoin, IL. He has a combined 13 years of experience in Healthcare IT – most of which has been spent in IT management and senior leadership. Some of Brian’s most notable achievements include overseeing the hospital’s successful journey in Meaningful Use, the migration from a legacy EHR system to MEDITECH, and the subsequent paper to EHR conversion of multiple departments. In addition to providing leadership and oversight of the Healthcare IT initiatives at MBH, Brian also has an intimate working knowledge of MEDITECH and applies that knowledge daily in direct support for his organization.

Brian has maintained an energetic and proven track record for success in Healthcare technology initiatives over the years. MUSE has been a major resource in achieving that success. The networking and vendor education opportunities have assisted Brian and his team in the areas of making vendor and product selections, securing knowledge resources, peer collaboration, and process improvements. Healthcare IT is Brian’s passion. He recognizes that everything he and his team does is for the benefit of a patient on the other end. It is this same passion and drive to improve patient care across the Healthcare community, and the shared sense of striving for excellence that he intends to bring to MUSE.

Brian currently serves on the MUSE Membership Committee and he is highly interested in helping organizations and individuals find the value and benefits of MUSE and the resources it offers. The technical and professional challenges inherent to today’s constantly changing landscape in Healthcare technology make MUSE an extremely valuable resource. As a member of the MUSE Board, Brian believes he can help maintain and further the mission and vision of MUSE. Each new regulation; each new year; each new innovative challenge sustains the need for organizations and Healthcare professionals to consistently adapt and develop further. Having the opportunity to contribute in the capacity of a Director will provide Brian with avenues to pave the way to help others utilize MUSE to meet those challenges.