Janet M. Simsic, MD

As a physician in the CTICU, Janet Simsic, MD, is responsible for stabilization and management of newborns with congenital heart disease prior to cardiac surgery; medical management for nonsurgical children with congenital heart disease who require intensive care management and stabilization and management for children after cardiac surgery and heart transplantation. In addition, she has developed multiple clinical and quality guidelines used in the CTICU to strive towards best outcomes. Dr. Simsic developed and published a strategy for encouraging family participation during rounds, weaning guidelines for inhaled nitric oxide feeding guidelines for newborns with congenital heart disease. She has developed and implemented a novel mechanical cardiac support team to provide quality care for patients with mechanical assist devices. This team is unique (the only one of its kind in pediatric practice) in that it is based on an adult care model where the bedside RN cares for both the device (including ECMO) and the stable patient. She has fostered a culture of transparency, collaboration, quality and safety between all members of the CTICU multidisciplinary team. This is demonstrated by our success in reducing patient harm events in quality metrics regarding pressure ulcers, adverse drug events, unplanned extubation, UTI, CLABSI and VAP rates. Also by our unique multidisciplinary rounding process where the bedside nurse presents the patient to the team of physicians, advanced nurse practitioners, dietician, pharmacist, and consultants. Clinical excellence is demonstrated by having one of the lowest lengths of stay in the nation.