Innovating The Future
Driving Discovery That is Transforming Healthcare
Continuous learning and groundbreaking research are essential to advancing the care we provide. By investing in the growth of people and driving new discovery, we continue to expand what’s possible—translating innovative research into meaningful, real-world care.
The Division of Respiratory Care Earns Prestigious APEX Designation for 2026–2027
The Division of Respiratory Care has been awarded the 2026–2027 APEX Designation by the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC). This highly sought-after recognition signifies that the division has met rigorous standards for quality, clinical practice and patient safety—benchmarks that only a select number of respiratory care programs across the nation achieve.
The AARC APEX Designation, established in 2017, honors respiratory care departments and educational programs that exemplify excellence in evidence-based care and uphold the highest standards in patient care and education.
“These organizations are leaders in our field—setting the standard for high-quality respiratory therapy. Earning the APEX Designation reflects not only specialized clinical and educational expertise, but also a deep commitment to advancing care for patients of all ages in the communities they serve,” said AARC President Dana Evans, MHA, RRT.
To earn this distinguished designation, we demonstrated compliance with stringent criteria, including:
- At least 50% of staff holding a bachelor’s degree
- At least 50% of staff as active AARC members
- Documented competency and professional advancement pathways
- Defined staffing plans aligned with national standards
- Respiratory-driven policies and procedures
- Evidence-based clinical protocols
- Utilization of quality tools and ongoing quality improvement initiatives
Our Division of Respiratory Care operates at our Burnet and Liberty campuses, with more than 250 respiratory therapists dedicated to caring for patients’ cardiopulmonary health. This achievement reflects the dedication and expertise of our respiratory therapists, who consistently deliver the highest quality of care, patient safety, clinical excellence and innovation in respiratory care.
Advancing Nursing Training Through Virtual Patient Simulation With Body Interact
In spring 2025, we launched our first collaboratively developed, customized Body Interact patient scenario: Dorothy Watkins. This scenario was designed to strengthen nurses’ skills in surgical site infection management and early sepsis recognition. During this training cycle, more than 1,000 acute care registered nurses across the Burnet and Liberty campuses completed two virtual patient cases, including the Dorothy scenario. Both the simulations and facilitated debriefings emphasized early identification of clinical deterioration and the assessment findings that support timely intervention.
As part of the spring 2025 training, Amanda Combs, senior strategic planner, conducted her Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) study evaluating the impact of virtual patient simulation on nurses’ self-efficacy in caring for deteriorating patients. Self-efficacy refers to an individual’s confidence in their ability to organize and execute the actions required to achieve a specific goal—in this case, managing a clinically deteriorating patient. Study findings showed that while nurses entered the training with high baseline self-efficacy, their average scores increased by 0.7 to 2.2 points following the virtual simulation sessions, a statistically significant improvement. An additional positive outcome was an increased comfort level with simulation-based training after completion of the education.
In fall 2025, nurses participated in a second touchpoint, during which more than 1,000 acute care registered nurses completed a rapid clinical deterioration scenario. This session included a structured debrief focused on situational awareness, available resources, and tools that support effective escalation of clinical concerns.
Through ongoing use of the Body Interact virtual patient platform, we have consistently surveyed participating nurses on their confidence in recognizing clinical deterioration, identifying when to seek assistance, and effectively communicating concerns. Using a confidence scale ranging from not true to completely true, results show a clear and immediate increase in confidence following training sessions. Six‑month follow‑up data demonstrate that this elevated confidence is sustained over time, indicating that the training not only boosts confidence but helps maintain it across the nursing workforce.
Evidence-Based Practice Immersion Training Making Lasting Impacts Across Cincinnati Children’s
Starting in April 2024, clinicians from Cincinnati Children’s learned from evidence-based practice (EBP) experts by participating in a 40-hour immersion training through The Ohio State University College of Nursing Helene Fuld Health Trust National Institute for Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing and Healthcare.
The Fuld National Institute for EBP is a national hub for the formation, teaching and dissemination of best practices to improve healthcare quality, safety, costs and patient outcomes. Its focus areas include transdisciplinary clinical practice, academics, community education and EBP implementation science.
Our clinicians were chosen based on their leadership, interest in evidence-based practice and their abilities to mentor others, spreading EBP models.
Participants transformed their learnings to raise the bar here through these evidence-based practice initiatives:
Evidence-Based Practice Initiatives:
Katie Baker, speech pathologist, brought a clinical question from speech language pathology to the virtual five-day immersion and came back with a recommendation for her team. Person-centered goal-setting techniques from Katie's literature review were used by the team to optimize patient care in speech-language pathology.
From March through August 2025, a monthly EBP Scholar program was held for all previous Fuld program participants, with course material and mentoring to help support completion, implementation or starting a new initiative. Katie attended these sessions for continued learning and is now leading multiple EBP initiatives within her team.
Sean Bartlett, RN, clinical manager of Emergency Services, was working on his MSN at the time and took a clinical question about a nurse-driven flu vaccine campaign. Although implementation of that project is on hold, he plans to revisit in the spring with a group of key stakeholders.
Sean has continued to use the knowledge gained at the immersion for other EBP initiatives involving nurse protocols, which are now being used in the Burnet Campus Emergency Department. And he is working to support expansion to neighborhood urgent cares and Liberty Campus. Sean wrote these new protocols, and they are live in our Policytech system for nurses.
Sean is starting his next EBP project to look at nurse education for emergency department nurses with 1-2 years of experience, which includes starting a literature review on potential education programs or options to help bridge the gap from beginner to expert. He also continues to expand the nurse protocol work, engaging with teams across emergency services.
Kaitlyn Curry, MSN, RN, clinical consultant in professional practice, Center for Professional Excellence, went to the Fuld Immersion with the intention of finding evidence for fall prevention in pediatric patients. Kaitlyn presented her recommendations to the house-wide Fall Prevention team. She has developed interventions including a Fall Prevention Toolkit and is working with the Professional Governance Acute Care Site of Care Council and Hematology Oncology Fall Prevention team to pilot and spread these interventions.
Ping-Hui Liu, RRT, respiratory therapist, has been applying what she learned to two impactful initiatives that are improving patient care and shaping the future of respiratory therapy.
One of Ping’s current projects focuses on helping patients clear mucus from their lungs—a critical step in preventing infections and improving breathing. The Airway Clearance Protocol provides a structured way for respiratory therapists to decide when and how to use treatments like suctioning, chest physiotherapy or specialized breathing devices.
To make this process more consistent and effective, Ping is piloting a scoring system called the Respiratory Scoring System for Acuity (RSSA). She’s working closely with the Hospital Medicine team to test and refine the tool, starting with one hospital area to improve adoption. Monthly chart audits are helping track progress, and once the team reaches 80% compliance, Ping plans to expand the protocol to additional units.
In the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), Ping is supporting a newly launched Ventilator Weaning Protocol that helps guide when and how to safely remove ventilators. These machines are lifesaving, but staying on them too long can lead to complications like infections or weakened breathing muscles. However, removing them too early can be risky.
The updated protocol, led by two PICU attending physicians, went live in September 2025. It ensures that children are weaned off ventilators at the right time, improving recovery and reducing risks. Ping is helping implement the protocol and sharing her EBP knowledge with her colleagues to support consistent, high-quality care.
Staci Loer-Fisher, BSN, RN, integrative care RN II, Child Life & Integrative Care, attended the Fuld Immersion to improve her skills as a clinician and mentor. The program provided her with valuable insights and practical frameworks for transforming research into meaningful changes in clinical practice. As a member of the Evidence-Based Scholars Program, she received additional training and mentorship from the Center for Professional Excellence, Pratt Library and Anderson Center teams. Balancing direct patient care with EBP initiatives, Staci applied evidence-based strategies to create a holistic care plan, leading to significant patient outcome improvements. She and Urszula Winkiewicz, DNP, MPH, prepared a case report on this experience and presented their findings at Clinical Inquiry Day.
Jason McWhorter, MSN, RN, NICU clinical manager, focused on identifying best practices for the decolonization of Staphylococcus aureus in NICU patients. Based on his thorough review and synthesis of the literature, Jason has been able to recommend and implement a change in NICU practice for decolonization, with plans to create a comprehensive guideline. Future plans include the creation of an evidence-based practice team to address practice questions in the NICU.
Shelly Morning, MSN, RN, PICU nurse, utilized her Fuld Immersion experience to introduce evidence-based practices for reducing vascular injuries from peripheral arterial lines in the PICU. She and her team had already standardized arterial line assessments with a tool integrated into the EPIC system, enhancing documentation and communication. The Fuld Immersion equipped Shelly with recommendations for arterial line management, including ultrasound-guided insertions, appropriate site selection, closed maintenance systems, daily assessments, infection prevention, complication monitoring, catheter fixation and timely removal. Currently, Shelly is trialing closed systems to further decrease vascular injuries.
Mimi Strenk, PT, DPT, clinical program manager, Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy, utilized the Fuld Immersion to develop exercise recommendations for patients undergoing chemotherapy. She collaborated with the medical team to establish a program that encourages physical activity and exercise throughout cancer care. They piloted a trial that initiated an exercise program at the time of diagnosis, and based on various parameters (e.g., flexibility, strength, endurance, function), patients were classified and received tailored interventions such as home exercise, virtual exercise support and direct physical therapy care. Mimi's work on this pilot was submitted and accepted for a poster presentation at the international AYA conference in Australia in December 2024. She continues to contribute to research and evidence-based practice initiatives in the Division of Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy.
Kathy Walters, BSN, RN, clinical manager, Liberty Observation Beds, introduced the "Funnel of Task Load" framework to streamline operations and alleviate systemic inefficiencies faced by healthcare professionals. Utilizing evidence-based practice principles she learned at the Fuld Immersion, Kathy meticulously analyzed each component of the task load, identifying redundancies and workflow bottlenecks. Her methodical approach focused on improving staff well-being, reducing burnout and enhancing patient-centered care. Preliminary results from her pilot studies have demonstrated significant improvements in staff satisfaction and workflow efficiency, showcasing the effectiveness of her framework in creating a more sustainable and satisfactory work environment.
Clinical Inquiry Day Sparks Curiosity And Drives Real Change
Since 2017, a collaborative group of team members from the Center for Professional Excellence and the Professional Governance Clinical Inquiry Council have planned Clinical Inquiry Day as a time to share information dissemination related to research, innovation, evidence-based practice, quality improvement, and—new this year—professional development and education. This year, more than 50 poster presentations were shared in five categories, and five were named first-place winners.
Congratulations to the winners in each category:
Research: Exploring Caregiver Value Attributes after Physical Therapy for Infants with Congenital Muscular Torticollis
Kelly Greve, PT, DPT, PhD; Kopila Dhakal (UC Student); Nathaniel Wagner, DPT; Cassandra Hennen, SPT; Amy Mischnick, PT; Mariann Strenk, PT, DPT, MHS
Innovation: Co-creation of Specialty Divisions Processes for Successful Onboarding to Cincinnati Children’s Nurse Helpline
Carrie Romano, DNP, RN, CNL, CPN; Jon Colvin, MS, BSN, RN, CSPI; Brianne Finch, BSN, RN; Kate Kirby, MSN, RN; Anne Mescher, MSN, RN, CPN; Katy Bedinghaus, MSN, RN, CPN; Patti Besuner, PhD, APRN
Evidence-Based Practice: The Impact of Caregiver Engagement on Speech-Language Outcomes in Early Intervention
Leandre Gerwin, CCC-SLP; Katherine Baker, CCCSLP, CBIS; Haley Bezold, CCC- SLP; Morgan Hendershot, CCC-SLP; Maggie Mahoney, CCC-SLP; Susan Ash-Crumbaker, CCC-SLP; Lauren Collins, CCC-SLP; Jill Huff, CCC-SLP; Stefanie Horne, CCC-SLP; Haley Jarrell, CCC-SLP; Rosanne Lair, CCC-SLP
Quality Improvement: Zeroing in on Safety: An Interdisciplinary Approach to CLABSI Reduction
Sean Jones, MBA, BSN, RN, CPN; Nichole Brock, MSN, RN, CPN; Liz Strasfeld, OTR/L; Lisa Cope, BSN, RN, CPN; Amanda Campbell, MSN, RN, CPN; Liz Riffle, BSN, RN, CPN; Shivonne Kiniyalocts, MSN, RN, CPN, NE-BC
Professional Development and Education: Pediatric Nurse Explorers: Introducing High School Students to a Career in Health Care
Kelli Harding, MSN, RN, CPN, CLC; Brittany Carroll, MSN, RN, CPN; Julie Moody, DNP, M.Ed, RN, NPD-BC; Ryan McCarthy, BSN, RN