Strengthening Outcomes in the Aging Population: Enhancing Practice, The Ascension Health Model

Debbie Rapp is a director of clinical excellence within Ascension Health. Ms. Rapp is directly responsible for implementation, spread, and sustainability of patient initiatives across the system in partnership with leaders in the Health Ministries. She regularly collaborates with risk management to spread clinical safety standards based on identified safety issues. Ms. Rapp is certified as a clinical nurse specialist and received her master of science in nursing from the University of Missouri-Kansas City and bachelor of science in nursing from the University of Missouri-St. Louis.

Ms. Rapp has carried multiple positions as a nurse manager with responsibility for leading interdisciplinary teams to foster process quality improvements. She also served as clinical nursing instructor/adjunct faculty at the Indiana University-Purdue University, Columbus, IN, providing didactic and clinical instruction to nursing students. Ms. Rapp has been a leader in developing the nursing career ladders at several organizations to promote skill development, recognition, and retention.

Vicki Boyce is the clinical nurse specialist for Patient Care Services at a 700-bed teaching hospital where her role is to provide clinical consultation, education, advance nursing practice, and to improve quality of patient care as the hospital continues its journey toward holistic nursing. She has a clinical background in critical care and emergency nursing.

Ms. Boyce began with an associate degree in nursing from the University of Albuquerque, Albuquerque, New Mexico, and completed the bachelor of master of science in nursing at Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan. A graduate of the Birchtree Center for Health Transformation, she achieved certification in advanced holistic nursing in 2009 and served as affiliate faculty for Birchtree. As an active member of a number of nursing organizations, Ms. Boyce developed expertise in public policy and political involvement for nurses.

Nisha Jain has been a clinical nutrition manager with Sodexo for over 20 years. She also holds the position of district support dietitian with Sodexo since 2005. Ms. Jain received her bachelor's degree and completed core curriculum and internship requirements of post-graduation program in dietetics and public health nutrition in India. Upon her move to the United States, she completed a coordinated program in medical dietetics from Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan.

Ms. Jain started her career in nutrition as a dietetic technician at Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI. As a system clinical nutrition manager at St. John Providence Health System, she is responsible for the nutrition programs for a 7-hospital system. Innovation is her strength and passion. Ms. Jain supports multiple accounts and those initiatives that drive improved patient and performance outcomes.