Kelly Brabec

Let’s drive better patient care, with my clinical expertise and dedication to efficient operations & documentation integrity.  As a highly skilled professional with extensive knowledge, training, and practical experience in clinical and administrative health care positions I strive to facilitate excellent care through patient advocacy, servant leadership, and life long learning. I’m committed to delivering high-quality healthcare solutions. Let’s connect and explore how we can collaborate!

Clinical Documentation Integrity Advisor, Registered Nurse  December 2022 - Present

United States Department of Veterans Affairs - Telework

Reviewing & evaluating patient records to ensure documentation completely & accurately represents patient acuity, health status, & outlook per Centers for Medicare & Medicaid & Veterans Affairs Guidelines.
Querying providers for clarification on ambiguous, conflicting, or missing data.
Conducting educational in-services on documentation standards for staff & physicians.
Analyzing & monitoring data from quality focused patient safety reports Healthcare Acquired Conditions (HACs), Patient Safety Indicators (PSIs) & Hierarchical Condition Categories (HCCs).
Reviewing patient records, collaborating with HIM/Coding team to correct coding errors, denials, & rejected patient treatment files.
Reviewing for risk adjustment, compliance, & mortality.
Ensuring effective data collection, documentation & management for assigned quality & performance improvement projects. 
Coordinating with HIM & Coding team to rectify chart deficiencies, coding, or documentation errors.
Up to date knowledge of ICD-10-CM, CPT Codes, PCS Codes, MS-DRG, APR- DRG, MDCs, VERA Payments (Veterans Equitable Resource Allocation). 
Extensive knowledge of sound documentation guidelines & standards for peri-operative practice.
Creating, analyzing & trending reports for providers & facility needs.

Operating Room Charge Nurse, Registered Nurse May 2015 - December 2016

United States Department of Veterans Affairs Durham, North Carolina   

Managed & supervised operating rooms, occupancy, staff, supplies & workload to ensure coordinated & efficient operations.
Conducted educational in-services for staff on procedures, equipment & medical supplies.
Participated in high-risk surveys & safety assessments of the department.
Preceptor & primary resource for employees in circulating, scrubbing & charge nurse roles for all surgical service lines.
Audited patient records for required data for compliance & reporting needs.
Ensured effective data collection, documentation & management for assigned quality improvement projects.
Coordinated patient pre-op appointments, consults, surgery scheduling & prosthetics requests.
Provided patient & family education for pre- and post-operative care, medications, & follow-up care.
Facilitated patient care between clinics, procedural areas, lab, emergency department, wards, & intensive care units.

PeriOperative Nurse - Captain, July 2014 - June 2019

United States Army Reserve, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States 

Supervised rooms, occupancy, staff, supplies & workload to ensure coordinated & efficient operations
Assessed nursing care throughout the entire surgical process
Taught military perioperative management & strategy to students & new soldiers 
Maintained equipment & supply inventory for surgical ward in 84 bed mobile hospital
Participated in the preparation, sterilization, monitoring, maintenance & storage of surgical supplies & equipment
Proficient in circulating & scrub role for all surgical specialties
Evaluated & monitored staff records for compliance, BLS, ACLS & other mandatory training

Epic OpTime Analyst Epic OpTime Analyst June 2014 - January 2015  

Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare Jun 2014 - Jan 2015 · Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States

Conducted preop patient assessments in preparation for surgery.
Conducted workflow & business process analysis for the Epic OpTime Perioperative charting application.
Developed, tested & maintained the functionality of OpTime program.
Provided support for unit based & system-wide performance improvement projects across the healthcare system.
Developed & generated reports per unit & user request Coordinated & conducted education & training. programs to ensure systems are utilized as designed.
Provided implementation & education assistance for Epic project.
Maintained & updated data, materials & manuals for end-user needs.
Analyzed & identified functionality issues to determine system problems & developed solutions to resolve problems.

Master of Science in Nursing Administration 

The University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, Texas, 2016- 2019

Curriculum Planning & Development, Healthcare Policy, Leadership & Healthcare Systems, Healthcare Management, Finance Management, Employment Law, Informatics, Evidenced Based Practice, Scientific Theories & Research

Skills: Nursing Leadership · Healthcare Policy · Teamwork · Research Skills · Microsoft Teams · Microsoft Outlook · Budget Management · Public Speaking · Microsoft Project · Microsoft Office · Quality & Compliance Audits · Microsoft Word · Healthcare Finance · Healthcare Management · Microsoft PowerPoint · Quality Risk Management

International TEFL Academy February 2022 - April 2022

TQUK Level 5 Certificate in Teaching English as a Foreign Language

Awarded Coursework Grade: A

Level 5 TEFL Certificate
150 hours of course work
20 hours of practicum
30 hour speciality course in Teaching for English Test Prep 
Over 55 hours of volunteer time teaching English to healthcare students with ENGin.

Skills: Teaching English as a Second Language · Language Teaching · Research Skills · Teaching Test Prep Skills · Coaching & Mentoring · Teaching English as a Foreign Language · Cross-Cultural Communication Skills · Teaching Medical English · Cultural Awareness

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Mount Mary University September 2008 - Decemebr 2010

Grade: Cum LaudeGrade: Cum Laude

Activities and societies: Sigma Theta Tau Honor Society of NursingActivities and societies: Sigma Theta Tau Honor Society of Nursing

Skills: Tutoring · Surgical Nursing · Healthcare Policy · Research Skills · Healthcare Information Technology (HIT) · Microsoft Office · Health Insurance Exchanges · English Literature · Healthcare Management · Patient Assessment · Biomedical Devices · Medical Terminology · Electronic Medical Record (EMR) · Teamwork · Community Outreach · Analytical Skills · Communication · Creative Problem Solving · Cultural Sensitivity in Healthcare

DeVry University March 2003- March 2007

Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration

Specialized Coursework: Information Systems, Project Management, Health Care Finance, Health Care Policy, Managed Care, Planning & Marketing, Employment LawSpecialized Coursework: Information Systems, Project Management, Health Care Finance, Health Care Policy, Managed Care, Planning & Marketing, Employment Law

Skills: Health Care Regulation · Healthcare Reimbursement · Research Skills · Business Management · Microsoft Office · Quality & Compliance Audits · Health Insurance Exchanges · Human Resources (HR) · HR Policies · Training and Development (HR)

United Stated Army Academy of Health Sciences Diploma of Education, Operating Room Specialist Course

January 2003 - June 2003

Grade: Honor Graduate

Activities and societies: Surgical Technology, Sterile Processing, Surgical Instrumentation, Sterile Technique, First assistActivities and societies: Surgical Technology, Sterile Processing, Surgical Instrumentation, Sterile Technique, First assist

Skills: Military Leadership · Military Operations · Level 1 Trauma Surgery · Orthopedic Surgical Nursing · Surgical Assisting · Biomedical Devices · Surgical Technology · Tutoring · Research Skills · On-call Support