DENNIS COLLINS
 10050 Central Avenue, North Huntingdon, PA 15642
(724) 863-5513 (Residence) (724) 989-6297 (cell)
Email: DCOLL90462 (@comcast.net


Website- www.greaterpghmedicallegal.com

 

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

February 2020-Present
Community College of Allegheny County
Nursing instructor (adjunct)
Provide clinical or classroom laboratory instruction for nursing students in various courses.

Substitute School Teacher-Norwin School District (High School) Since 2022 and presently.

February 2008-April 2021
West Penn Allegheny Health System - Western Pennsylvania Hospital School of Nursing
Instructor– RN Program
Served as full time faculty member (Part-time as of spring, 2019) at school of nursing in RN program. Provide both didactic and clinical instruction in critical care (and med surg.) areas. Including preparing and presenting lectures and tests, serving as clinical instructor, evaluating student performance, and various committee duties.

September 2005-February 2008
West Penn Allegheny Health System (Forbes) - Clinical Documentation Specialist
Review medical charts for documentation issues. Provide education concerning problem areas to physicians and staff in med/surg areas.  Utilize special software to perform analysis of patient condition.  I completed an extensive training program as a Clinical Documentation Specialist which was provided by a major consulting firm with expertise in medical documentation issues.

September 2004 – September 2005
Asera Care, Pittsburgh, Pa. - Patient Care Coordinator – Supervise team of RN Case Managers and nursing assistants. Perform chart audits and quality assurance studies. Perform patient assessments as required. Provide educational programs for staff and facilities. Also responsible for all normal managerial functions. Functioned as a hospice RN as required.

December 2003 –May 2004
SemperCare Hospital, Pittsburgh, PA. – Nurse Liaison Responsibilities similar to previous position. Travelled between hospitals in the Western PA. area and evaluated cases for admission to Long Term Acute Care Hospital (LTAC). Coordinate marketing functions to hospitals and physicians.  I also assisted with physician recruitment and credentialing issues. I also resolved insurance coverage issues, prepared reports, and performed other functions as required.

April 2002-December 2003 –
HCR Manor Care, Pittsburgh, PA.
Case Manager -Coordinate care of medically complex cases. Resolve contracts and other issues with insurance providers, complaint resolution, quality assurance, and patient assessment. Travel between hospitals and facilities in the greater Pittsburgh area and perform patient evaluations and case analysis. I also coordinated marketing functions and participated in other activities as required of a member of management. I also successfully completed a case management certification program.

December 2001 -Present - (Self Employed)
Legal Nurse Consultant- Working as a Legal Nurse Consultant (LNC) in my own consulting practice (EIN-# 80- 0032262) on a “casual” basis. I offer a full range of legal nurse consultant, risk management, educational program, and quality assurance services to law firms, insurance firms, and other parties. Please see my website at www.greaterpghmedicallegal.com.

1993 – September-2001 –
Director, Emergency Services, Frick Hospital, Mt. Pleasant, Pa.
Responsible for all day-to-day operations for the Emergency Department and Paramedic ACLS Response Unit for this community hospital. Department averaged 2,000 visits per month. Duties include budget management, quality improvement, program development, staff education, interacting with physician’s groups and local EMS Agencies. Strong computer and statistical skills.  Served as an Emergency Department staff RN daily. Served as a clinical preceptor for new RN staff.

 

 

Selected Accomplishments:

  • Developed applications for the use of handheld personal data assistants (PDAs) within the Emergency Department.
  • Developed and implemented computerized discharge instructions for the Emergency Department. Provided staff with ongoing support and education in the use of the program.
  • Developed and implemented a successful computer-based discharge instruction system for the Emergency     Department. Provided education for staff on use of this system.
  • Develop the area’s first successful prehospital cellular EKG program. I also published in professional literature concerning this program.
  • Served as a site coordinator for the National Registry for Myocardial Infarction (NRMI) study and for a major brain injury study.
  • Designed the database for record-keeping in connection with cardiac treatment. This program was later purchased by a major pharmaceutical company.

Concurrent Position -Marketing and statistical consultant to Centocor, Inc. (Specialized Pharmaceutical Agents), on a regular basis. Aided with utilization statistics and product presentations. I also developed critical care educational programs concerning cardiac treatment and conducted training on the use of thrombolytic agents. Frequently presented educational programs to professional groups.

1990 -93
Greater Pittsburgh Rehab Hospital, Monroeville, Pa. Clinical Coordinator. House Nursing Supervisor
Responsible for all managerial and administrative functions on shift for these ninety beds, acute care rehabilitation facility.
Selected Accomplishments:

  • Developed in-house ACLS training improving staff effectiveness and saving on training costs.
  • Computerized dietary changes improving patient care and reducing staff paperwork duties.
  • Coordinated the purchase of emergency supplies resulting in cost savings.
  • Functioned as staff RN as needed.
  • Conducted training for CPR and emergency care.

 

1980- 1991
Jeannette District Hospital, Jeannette, PA
Staff / Charge RN
Served as staff RN in CCU, ICU and Emergency Room. I also earned certification in critical care and emergency room nursing. Served as a preceptor for new RN staff.

 

Concurrent position (part-time)
1985-86
North American Supply, Irwin, Pa.  Sales
Involved in prospecting and selling EMS supplies to various public and private institutions.

 

Education

(Transcripts available on request)

University of Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ                                                                                                                                                            
PhD.  Program
Research Focus: Virtual Reality Learning                                                                             
Completed 18 credits in PhD program
                                                               

 

 

University of Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ
Master of Science, Nursing

Concentration in Nursing Education, MSN (Ed.)                                                        2006

 

Kaplan College, Boca Raton, FL                                                                                                                  
Certification in Legal Nurse Consulting  
Certified Legal Nurse Consultant (20230                                                                       2002

 

California Coast University, Santa Ana, CA
MBA                                                                                                                                  2001                                        

Carlow College, Pittsburgh, PA
Bachelor of Science Nursing                                                                                           1995

 

Westmoreland Community College, Greensburg, PA
Associate degree Nursing                                                                                              1980                                                                                             

 

Publications

Innovative Informatics -"Using Computer Bulletin Board Services for Hospital Emergency Departments," Published in the Journal of Emergency Nursing, October 1996.

 

“Prehospital Twelve Lead EKGs” published in Journal of Emergency Nursing, February 1997.

 

Memberships

American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants (Local and National)

Sigma Theta Tau International

International Association of Forensic Nurses
(Also completed SANE Program)

Pennsylvania Nurses Association (PNA)

 

Teaching/ Educational

I have served as an instructor for an online course in utilization management and another in emergency medical care. I also have instructional experience in ACLS, CPR and critical care related topics (over 20 years), as well as new employee orientation and staff development.

I have also served adjunct faculty in the Nursing Program at Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, having taught in the health assessment course.

I have also served as adjunct faculty at California University of Pennsylvania, teaching healthcare law in the MSN program (on-line format).

I have also served as a medical missionary outside of the United States on many occasions. I have                            escorted student groups on field learning trips outside of the United State to various locations in Central America, etc.

 

 

Skilled computer user:  Proficient Microsoft Office® user.

 

Certifications

Advanced Cardiac Life Support -Instructor

Pre-Hospital RN (PA State)

CCRN-K – AACN certification for critical care nurse educators. (Critical Care Knowledge Professional) critical care certification for nurse-educators. AACN.

Certified Nurse Educator (CNE (cL.) )- NLN accreditation as clinical nurse- educator.
 
Certified Legal Nurse Consultant (2023)- American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants

 

Community Service

Over 25 years of service to community as volunteer firefighter and Paramedic (retired member)

SERVE Pa. medical disaster volunteer.

Emergency Management Volunteer North Huntington Township (Presently)

 

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