January 7, 2002
Victoria L. Rich, PhD, named Chief
Nursing Officer for the Hospital of the University of
Pennsylvania
Victoria
L. Rich, PhD, has been appointed Chief Nursing Officer
for the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (HUP),
a 672-bed quaternary care facility included annually
on the national "honor roll" for hospitals
compiled by U.S. News & World Report.
Dr. Rich, formerly Vice President for Patient Care Services
at the University Community Hospital in Tampa, Fla.,
assumes her post at HUP today.
"After a national search for the best person to
lead our nursing service, we know we can offer Dr. Rich
an enthusiastic welcome," said Garry L. Scheib,
HUP Executive Director. "She comes to us with
the highest credentials and experience, and a reputation
for creative, visionary nursing leadership."
A specialist in the field of medical-care safety and
staff dynamics, Dr. Rich was responsible for the clinical
operations at University Community Hospital in Tampa,
which encompasses a 434-bed tertiary care hospital and
a 120-bed community hospital. Along with the nursing
service, she oversaw the pharmacy, laboratory, neurodiagnostics,
emergency services and a 27-bed, hospital-based skilled
nursing unit.
At HUP, Dr. Rich will be responsible for the HUP Nursing
Service, which includes the hospital's nurses, certified
nursing assistants and support staff, and for advancing
patient care by developing procedures designed to further
clinical accuracy, professional responsiveness and compassion
in all aspects of hospital service.
"I'm pleased to join colleagues at HUP who, by
diligence and sacrifice in the face of
the myriad challenges confronting the health care industry,
have established themselves as national leaders in the
field of medical care and fostered HUP's reputation
as one of the most vibrant and esteemed hospitals in
the country," Dr. Rich said. "I hope and expect
to use my own expertise to contribute to the Penn Health
System's mission of providing the highest quality care
to every patient HUP serves."
Dr. Rich is an acknowledged expert on patient safety.
She is a sentinel event consultant for BBRN Consulting
and the Horty Springer law firm in developing safety
plans for the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare
Organizations (JAHCO), the Agency for Health Care Administration,
and Health Care Financing Administration. Last year
she served on the Florida Hospital Association's Steering
Committee for Patient Safety and Reduction of Medical
Errors. She has also lectured on the topic of medical-error
reduction.
At University Community hospital, Dr. Rich developed
a "bi-directional communication" program for
the nursing staff that included an annual nurse management
retreat, a preceptor program, a monthly newsletter,
round-the-clock quarterly meetings for the nursing staff
and the institution of RN and LPN of the year awards.
"I know that Dr. Rich will make major contributions
to patient care at HUP as well as in our University
of Pennsylvania nursing education and research missions,"
said Dr. Maureen McCausland, Chief Nursing Executive
of UPHS.
Dr. Rich is a graduate in Biology of Indiana University
of Pennsylvania, where she was also awarded a BSN degree,
summa cum laude. She holds MSN and doctoral degrees
in Nursing Administration from the University of Pittsburgh.
She is an adjunct faculty member of the Graduate School
of Nursing at the University of South Florida and the
University of Pittsburgh.
Her many professional association memberships include:
the Health Advisory Board Nursing Academy, Voluntary
Hospitals of America, Southeast Nursing Executives,
the American College of Healthcare Executives, the American
Organization of Nurse Executives, and both Eta and Zeta
Lamda chapters of Sigma Theta Tau. Her research has
included an ethnographic study of emergency room culture
in South Florida, and a cooperative effort with New
York University to examine the abuse of the elderly
in emergency rooms. Her doctoral dissertation examined
methods for preventing staff-nurse burnout.
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