faculty profile

Kelly Aldrich   DNP, MS, RN-BC, FHIMSS, FAAN

Director of Innovation
Professor

Bio

Dr. Aldrich is a board-certified Informatics Nurse Specialist and has served for over 35 years in clinical, academic, and leadership roles recognized as a senior informatics leader, innovator, and advocate for useful, safe, and effective healthcare transformation. She is a Professor and Director of Informatics Innovation for the Vanderbilt School of Nursing with a secondary appointment in the Department of Biomedical Informatics.

Dr. Aldrich spent the first twenty years of her career at the bedside in cardiac and trauma critical care settings. Driven by a passion and dedication to create a seamless patient-centered care environment supported by functional technology, she pursued further academic training in informatics and executive leadership. She is the former Chief Clinical Transformation Officer for Center for Medical Interoperability; a non-profit organization led by health systems to simplify and advance data sharing among medical technologies and systems. Prior to that, she served as the invited inaugural Chief Nursing Informatics Officer for HCA Healthcare where she successfully created clinical informatics strategic and tactical roadmaps for implementing meaningful and innovative solutions at scale.

She is engaged in research and informatics innovation learning models reflective in publications advocating for the unique nurse identifier and Digital RN citizen model. Other publications include Informatics for Nursing documentation standards, her model for Blending Education Leadership and Technology (BELT) for highly reliable technology systems in innovation, Interoperability for Better Care, the ANA Nursing Informatics Scope and Standards of Practice revision and most recently her current work with the CDC on Healthcare Trust Data Platforms demonstrating automation of PPE data predictive needs for the nation.

With her background in informatics, technology, and innovation and as a Fellow with HIMSS and the American Academy of Nursing (FAAN), Dr. Aldrich proudly represents the nursing perspective on HHS/ONC task forces focused on interoperability experience, standards, and contributes to industry advisory councils including HHS National Cybersecurity Future Gazing, Baxter Healthcare Digital Health, and the ANA Innovation Advisory Committee. Additionally, owns and manages an informatics consulting company.

She received her Master of Science in Healthcare Systems Leadership and Nursing Informatics and Doctor of Nursing from the University of South Florida.

Education

  • Doctor of Nursing from the University of South Florida
  • Master of Science in Healthcare Systems Leadership and Nursing Informatics
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing, University of South Florida
  • Associate of Science in Nursing, William Rainey Harper College, Palatine, IL  

    • Certifications

    • Board Certified in Nursing Informatics (ANA/ANCC)

    Current Research/Scholarly Interests

    • Interoperability technology, person centered care supported by Trusted modernized architecture infrastructure
    • Unique Nurse Identifiers, creating person centered digital RN citizens
    • Immersive virtual environments that support nurses well-being and self-care, MIND Lab

    Academic Interests

    • Nursing Informatics, advancing education and adoption of technology
    • Interoperability, clinical informatics infusion
    • Operations planning and transformation, supported by Informatics

    Current Projects

    • Mindful Immersive Nursing Demonstration (MIND) Lab to promote the well-being and self-care for nurses at all levels of practice

    • Working within the Center for Medical Interoperability (C4MI), partnering with CDC, NPPTL to develop a trusted monitoring and surveillance system for personal protective equipment (PPE). TOGETHER for PPE Readiness, providing real-time information from hospitals to advance outcomes in preparedness

    Representative Publications

    Journals

    American Nurses Association (ANA, 2022). Nursing Informatics: Scope and Standards of Practice, 3rd Edition. Workgroup standards author. Silver Spring, MD. ANA published 2022.

    Haas, E.J., Casey, M., Furek, A., Aldrich, K., Ragsdale, T., Crosswy, S., Moore, S. (2021). Lessons Learned from the Development and Demonstration of a PPE Inventory Monitoring System for US Hospitals. Health Security, Published Online: 9 Nov 2021 https://doi.org/10.1089/hs.2021.0098

    Beale, N., Carroll, W., Aldrich, K., Baernholdt, M., & Fields, W. (2021). What a unique nurse identifier means for the future. American Nurse Journal, 16(9), 21-24.

    Levin, M., McKechnie, T., Kruse, C., Aldrich, K., Grantcharov, TP., Langerman, A. (2021). Surgical data recording in the operating room: a systematic review of modalities and metrics. British journal of surgery, 2021-06-22, Vol.108 (6), p.613-621.

    Braaten, J. (2020). Innovative Technology, Standardization, and the Impact on High Reliability. Englebright, J., & Aldrich, K. High reliability organizations: A healthcare handbook for patient safety & quality second edition (pp. 216-225). Indianapolis, IN. Sigma Theta Tau International, Honor Society of Nursing.

    Zhang, P., Stodghill, B., Pitt, C., Briody, C., Schmidt, D.C., White, J., Pitt, A., Aldrich, K. (2019) OpTrak: Tracking Opioid Prescriptions via Distributed Ledger Technology. IGI Global, doi:10.4018/IJISSC.2019040104.

    Aldrich, K. (2017). Partner with IT to reduce frustration, improve patient care. Nursing, 47(12), 68-69. doi:10.1097/01.nurse.0000526895.15251.02

    Aldrich, K. (2017). Trade your open tickets for interoperability. Nursing Management. Springhouse. 48(10), 25-26. doi:10.1097/01.numa.0000524822.79652.5b

    Braaten, J. (2016). Innovative Technology, Standardization, and the Impact on High Reliability. Englebright, J., & Aldrich, K. High reliability organizations: A healthcare handbook for patient safety & quality (pp. 187-204). Indianapolis, IN. Sigma Theta Tau International, Honor Society of Nursing.

    Stout, C., Short, N., and Aldrich, K. (2015) "Meeting the Future of Nursing Report Recommendations: A Successful Practice-Academic Partnership."  Nursing Economics, 33:3, 161-166 AN: 00006073-201505000-00007

    Englebright, J., Aldrich, K., and Taylor, C. (2014) Defining and Incorporating Basic Nursing Care Actions into the Electronic Health Record. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 46, 50-57. https://doi.org/10.1111/jnu.12057

    Book Chapters

    Jeffries, P, (2022). Clinical Simulation in Nursing Education: Concepts, Trends, and Opportunities, 2nd Edition. Informatics and Simulation: A Synergy to Transform the Future Education. Holt, J.E., Aldrich, K., Sengstack, P.

    Englebright, J., Aldrich, K (2016). Innovative Technology, Standardization, and the Impact on High Reliability, (187-204). High Reliability Organizations: A Healthcare Handbook for Patient Safety & Quality. Indianapolis, IN: Sigma Theta Tau International. ISBN: 9781940446387

    Saba, V, Aldrich, K. (2012) Clinical Care Classification (CCC) System Version 2.5: Users Guide, Edition 2. Part 5.4.Healthcare Corporation of America Implements CCC Data Elements in Meditech 6.0 Functionality. New York, NY: Springer Publishing Company. ISBN: 9780826109866

    Representative Presentations

    Aldrich, K. (2023, March). Interoperability for Effective Artificial Intelligence. NAM workshop

    Aldrich, K. (2022, October). Interoperability and Innovation in the OR. AORN National webinar.

    Aldrich, K., Shaw, C. (2022, July). Sparkle & Joy: Transformative Design to Combat Nurses Burnout and Burden.

    Aldrich, K., Beale, N. (2021, August). Understanding the Vital Role of a Unique Nurse Identifier. HIMSS 21 Nursing Informatics Symposium Conference, Las Vegas, NV

    Aldrich, K. (2020, October). Leading in a digital world: Innovative, Care, and Equity. Academy keynote panel presentation. American Academy of Nursing conference, virtual

    Aldrich, K. (2018). Interoperability for Better Care. AORN Executive International Leadership Conference Tech Council. Keynote speaker, Denver, CO

    Aldrich, K. (2017). Using Innovation to improve Interoperability, HIMSS International Conference, Nursing Informatics Symposium speaker, Orlando, FL, 2017

    National

    Aldrich, K. (2021, October). Understanding the Vital Role of a Unique Nurse Identifier. ANIA TN Nursing Informatics Conference, Nashville, TN

    Aldrich, K., Johnson, C., Hilghman, I., St. John, C., Weeks, E. (2021, August). Sailing into the Future: Career Advancement Panel. ANIA Conference. San Diego, CA

    Aldrich, K., Meeks, B. (2020, August). Informatics and Policy perspective on Interoperability. AORN Executive Round Table Leadership meeting, virtual

    Aldrich, K. (2020, March). Data Liquidity for Better Care. AORN National Surgical Conference 2020. Anaheim, CA (Canceled due to COVID-19)

    Aldrich, K. (2019, April). Interoperability for Better Care. AORN National Conference, Leadership tract, Nashville, TN

    Aldrich, K. (2019, December). Interoperability for Better Care. 2nd Connected Medical Devices Cybersecurity Working Group Health Sector Council conference, San Francisco, CA

    Aldrich, K. (2019). Interoperability for Better Care. ANIA National Conference, Orlando, FL

    Aldrich, K. (2019). Connected Medical Devices Cybersecurity Conference: "Interoperability for Better Care", San Francisco, CA, sponsored by Cybersecurity Working Group HealthSectorCouncil  

    Aldrich, K. (2019). AORN National Conference, Leadership: "Interoperability for Better Care" Nashville, TN, sponsored by Association of Perioperative Registered Nurses

    Aldrich, K. (2018). AORN National Leadership Conference, Keynote speaker: "Interoperability for Better Care" Denver, CO, sponsored by Association of Perioperative Registered Nurses

    Aldrich, K. (2018). ANIA National Conference, "Interoperability for Better Care" Orlando, FL sponsored by American Nursing Informatics Association

    Aldrich, K. (2017). ANIA webinar, "Interoperability for Better Care" sponsored by American Nursing Informatics Association 

    Aldrich, K. (2017). Healthcare Information Conference, Keynote speaker: "Interoperability for Better Care" Nashville, TN, sponsored by LifePoint Health, Inc

    Aldrich, K. (2017). HIMSS National Conference, Nursing Informatics Symposium speaker: "Using Innovation to improve Interoperability" Orlando, FL sponsored by Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society

    Aldrich, K. (2017). Healthy Tennessee / Vanderbilt School of Nursing Summit: "Interoperability for Better Care" Nashville, TN, sponsored by Vanderbilt School of Nursing

    Aldrich, K. (2017). MTONE "Interoperability for Better Care" sponsored by Middle Tennessee Organization of Nurse Executives

    Aldrich, K. (2016). "Merging Data: From Medical to Mobile" Houston Texas, sponsored by Rice Graduate School of Business

    Aldrich, K. (2016). CNIO forum Conference, "Interoperability improving Care" Phoenix, AZ sponsored by The Health Management Academy  

    Aldrich, K. (2015). "How About Data Analytics: Harnessing the Power of Data" 25th Summer Institute in Nursing Informatics, Baltimore, MD sponsored by University of Maryland School of Nursing  

    Aldrich, K. (2015). "The Future of HCA Nursing, Nursing Informatics Strategy", Scottsdale, AZ sponsored by Hospital Corporation of America  

    Clinical Practice

    • Informatics Nurse Consultant

    Professional Organizations

    • American Academy of Nursing (AAN)
    • Sigma Theta Tau
    • American Nursing Informatics Association (ANIA)
    • Critical Care Nursing Association Alum
    • American Nurses Association (ANA)
    • Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society, Inc. (HIMSS), current member
    • HSCC Joint Cybersecurity Working Group: Clinical Future Gazing workgroup 2018-present
    • Big Data Science Group: Engage and Equip Nurses in Health IT Policy, 2017 - present

    Honors/Awards

    • 2023, 2021 Sara K. Archer Faculty Award
    • 2022, Fellow, American Academy of Nurses
    • Dean's Award for Recognition of Faculty Achievement in Informatics Endeavors, 2021
    • Fellow, Healthcare Information and Management System Society (FHIMSS)
    • Alumnus Critical Care Registered Nurse, CCRN

    CONNECT WITH #VUSN