Meghan Kirkpatrick BSN, RN, CMSRN is a Nurse Manager of the Care Transition Team at Springfield Memorial Hospital. She has been nominated for the Illinois Nurses Foundation’s 40 Under 40 Awards by Jessi Williams for her passion for community health, commitment to eliminating healthcare disparities, and dedication to nursing education make her a true leader in the field.
Meghan has been awarded the 2024 Illinois Nurses foundation 40 Under 40 Emerging Nurse Leaders Award. Designed to highlight young nurses that are making a lasting difference in the healthcare industry, this award celebrates those who shape the future of nursing.
Leading Change for Patient Care and Transitions
Since stepping into her role as Nurse Manager of the Care Transition Team two years ago, Meghan has been instrumental in implementing strategies that enhance patient throughput and reduce hospital stays. To tackle complex cases that often result in extended hospitalizations, Meghan created the Complex Care Committee. This multidisciplinary team, which includes social work, therapy services, pharmacy, utilization review, physicians, legal services, and key executives, meets weekly to address challenging cases and design discharge solutions that support patient care.
One of Meghan’s most impactful initiatives has focused on high-risk patients with a history of IV drug use requiring long-term IV antibiotics. Recognizing the unique challenges in discharging these patients, Meghan collaborated with Springfield Memorial Hospital leadership to develop a screening process that helps the team identify the most suitable discharge plans for these patients. This process has led to impressive outcomes: reducing hospital stays by an average of 19 days and saving over $600,000 in avoidable costs. Her work on this initiative was so influential that she was invited to share it at a local nursing research conference as a poster presentation.
Building Bridges with the Post-Acute Care Collaborative
Meghan’s commitment to patient-centered care doesn’t stop at discharge. Recognizing the importance of a seamless transition from hospital to post-acute care, Meghan helped establish the Post-Acute Care Collaborative. This quarterly gathering brings together representatives from skilled nursing facilities across central Illinois, fostering communication between hospital and post-acute care providers. By addressing shared challenges, Meghan and the collaborative have worked to eliminate obstacles in the care continuum, ensuring that patients experience smoother, more effective transitions to the next level of care.
A Dedicated Journey in Nursing and Leadership
Meghan’s journey at Springfield Memorial Hospital began in 2009 as a patient care technician. After obtaining her BSN from St. John’s College of Nursing in 2010, she spent five years working at the bedside, eventually becoming a Patient Care Facilitator. Certified in medical-surgical nursing, Meghan’s experience and dedication positioned her to step into her current role as Nurse Manager of the Care Transition Team in 2022.
Meghan is known for her kind, compassionate leadership style. She works side-by-side with her team, always rounding on her colleagues, offering help on busy days, and providing support during difficult conversations. She actively seeks feedback to improve workflows and continually explores ways to reduce colleague workload through electronic tools and process improvements. At the core of her leadership philosophy is a focus on patient-centered care, ensuring that every decision made ultimately benefits the patient.
Meghan Kirkpatrick: a Transformative Leader
Meghan Kirkpatrick’s work is redefining patient care and transitions at Springfield Memorial Hospital. Through her initiatives, compassionate leadership, and commitment to community collaboration, she has made significant strides in improving patient outcomes and hospital efficiencies.
Congratulations to Meghan Kirkpatrick and Springfield Memorial Hospital for this prestigious honor! The Illinois Nurses Foundation 40 Under 40 Award for Emerging Nurse Leaders is proven to open career doors for its recipients. INF is proud to celebrate nurses like Meghan who have made a lasting impact in the healthcare industry.
Passionate about supporting nurses and the work we do? Donate to INF today and help support the future of nursing. Donate today!