Laura Moylan

With over 22 years of experience in healthcare, I am currently working in a Senior Management Role as The Quality & Patient Safety Manager for Galway University Hospitals, specialising in patient safety, quality and risk management,

Key Achievements and Responsibilities:

• Leadership & Governance: Established a new governance structure across hospital directorates, embedding clinical governance frameworks, and improving compliance with national quality standards, leading to a jump in HIQA inspection ratings from "Partially Compliant" to "Substantially Compliant."
• Project Management: I successfully Project Managed the introduction of the National Incident Management System (NIMS) across both hospitals (University Hospital Galway (UHG) and Merlin Park University Hospital), delivering projected cost savings of €16,870 (39%) by streamlining incident reporting and reducing administrative costs. The project included managing stakeholders, financial analysis, and risk assessments.
• Performance and Staff Management: Managed the QPS team, implementing the HSE Performance Management Framework. This included regular performance check-ins and coaching, alongside introducing staff learning initiatives, such as the 'Just Take 5' program and Open Disclosure Training for consultants.
• Clinical Effectiveness: Improved clinical governance and operational changes, ensuring high levels of patient safety and risk management. Introduced a system for tracking patient complaints, incident reviews, identifying trends, and ensuring corrective actions.
• Stakeholder Coordination: Collaborated with Senior Management, Clinical Staff, and IT departments to ensure the successful rollout of QPS initiatives and NIMS compliance.
• Financial Management: Oversaw project budgets, achieving a 39% cost reduction through the introduction of NIMS, ensuring cost-effective and efficient systems.

Impact:

• Spearheaded initiatives that significantly enhanced hospital-wide patient safety, operational efficiency, and compliance.
• Contributed to reduced risks and potential liabilities by ensuring timely incident reporting and compliance with the State Claims Agency requirements.

As Chief II Cardiac Physiologist at Portiuncula University Hospital, I led several initiatives to enhance patient care, operational efficiency, and clinical outcomes within the cardiology department.

Key Achievements & Responsibilities:

• Wait Time Reduction: Reduced outpatient Echo wait times from 12 months to 4 months and inpatient Echo wait times from 2.7 days to 1 day, aligning with national standards.
• Departmental Redesign & Efficiency: Redesigned the department by expanding clinical cubicles from 2 to 4 and implemented new patient management processes that reduced "Did Not Attend" (DNA) rates. Launched the Integrated Care Programme to offer direct GP access to Echo without a waiting list.
• Governance & Quality Improvement: Led monthly Cardiology Governance meetings to ensure adherence to national and international standards, receiving positive feedback from patients regarding improved service access.
• Pacemaker Follow-Up Program: Developed and launched a comprehensive pacemaker follow-up program, reducing pressure on Galway University Hospital and improving operational efficiency.
• Project Management & Department Relocation: Successfully managed the relocation of the Cardiology Department to a larger space, incorporating HIQA standards and risk assessments to improve space utilization, infection control, and staff satisfaction.
• Accreditation Success: Spearheaded the application for the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging (EACVI) Departmental Accreditation, achieving recognition for Portiuncula Hospital as one of only two hospitals in Ireland with this prestigious accreditation.
• Staffing & Collaboration: Secured additional staffing posts, which positively impacted staff satisfaction, and maintained strong professional relationships nationwide. Actively contributed to the Irish Institute for Clinical Measurement Science (IICMS) and led national conference discussions.

Impact:

• Enhanced patient care through wait time reductions and new patient management initiatives.
• Improved departmental processes, staff satisfaction, and secured key accreditation, bringing educational, scientific, and research benefits to the hospital.

• Taught and mentored 3rd and 4th-year students, covering maternity leave and a year out.
• Delivered lectures, led tutorials, and conducted competency assessments to ensure high academic and practical standards.
• Involved in setting final-year exam questions, grading, and ensuring students met required academic and practical benchmarks.

• Led and performed advanced Cardiac Diagnostic Investigations, including ECGs, Echocardiograms, and Emergency bedside focused Echocardiograms.
• Provided on-call support for the Catheterization Lab and ran physiologist-led pacemaker and defibrillator clinics, optimizing patient devices and interpreting data.
• Analyzed Holter and blood pressure monitor data to aid in patient assessments.
• Collaborated with clinical teams to provide key insights into diagnoses and treatment plans.
• Mentored and supported the professional development of junior staff and new cardiac physiologists.

I performed tasks such as:

1. Electrocardiograms (ECG's): Recording and interpreting heart activity.

2. Echocardiograms (Echos): Assisting with ultrasound imaging to assess heart function and structures.

3. Exercise Stress Testing: Monitoring patients during exercise or pharmacological stress tests to evaluate heart function under exertion.

4. Holter and blood pressure monitoring: Fitting and managing 24-hour ECG recordings for continuous heart monitoring.

6. Patient interaction: Explaining procedures to patients, ensuring they are comfortable, and informed.

In summary, this role involved performing Cardiac Diagnostics Tests and supporting patient care under the supervision of Senior Physiologists or Clinicians.

• Developed specialized skills in executing and interpreting cardiac diagnostic techniques through clinical practice.

• Delivered high-quality nursing care in a variety of clinical settings, with a primary focus in oncology. Worked collaboratively within multidisciplinary healthcare teams to ensure optimal patient health, recovery, and well-being.
  • Worked collaboratively within multidisciplinary healthcare teams to ensure optimal patient health,recovery, and well-being.
  • Demonstrated strong clinical skills and a commitment to patient-centered care