Paula Hindle, MSN, MBA, RN, has been named the Joan L. Shaver Illinois Outstanding Nurse Leader. Hindle is the vice president of health-care services and the chief nurse executive at Loyola University Health System (LUHS). She will receive this award at the 13th Annual Power of Nursing Leadership Event on Friday, Nov. 19, at the Hilton Hotel in Chicago.
"Paula is a skilled nursing leader who has been influential in shaping quality health care at Loyola and across the state of Illinois," said Paul K. Whelton, MB, MD, MSc, president and CEO, LUHS. "Her contributions to infection prevention and patient-centered care make her invaluable to our organization and the health profession."
Hindle was instrumental in implementing a mandatory flu vaccination policy for Loyola employees, students and volunteers beginning in 2009. This placed Loyola among the first medical centers in the nation to make seasonal flu shots mandatory as a condition of employment. She also was integral in instituting an agressive methicillan resistant Staphylococcus aureus-screening program for every planned patient admission. This led to a 70 percent reduction in MRSA infections in the hospital.
Hindle's concern for patient safety and emerging infections also led her to work with the Loyola University Chicago Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing faculty to establish an online advanced education program for infection prevention. This is the first program in the nation to prepare nurses at the master's level for infection prevention and patient and environmental safety.
Hindle also introduced a new model of care, which makes patients and their families partners in treatment with the goal of improving their physical and spiritual comforts, speeding healing and enhancing outcomes. The model increases the time nurses spend at the bedside, ensuring that patients and their families receive as much one-on-one attention and hands-on care as needed. Hindle's leadership skills also have been integral to patient satisfaction, pressure ulcer prevention, fall reduction and supply-chain efficiencies at Loyola.
"I have the pleasure of working with such skilled clinicians and staff who are dedicated to the organization and its mission to serve others. This collaborative environment makes it possible to provide quality care to our patients," Hindle said. "I am honored to be recognized for the work that we do to protect our patients, visitors and staff and to serve others."
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