Alison Bohlender

Hospital Standards and Policy Access to Care, Performance and Quality Branch Acute Care Division, Hospital and Surgical Health Services Informed direction and priorities of the provincial acute care pillar and its policies to facilitate strategic direction and planning for the provincial health system refocusing. Utilized science-based methods and evaluation to analyse scientific and gray literature, health system data, and jurisdictional scans to inform presentations and policy documents. Reviewed and analyzed grant applications and reports through GoA’s grant management system. Developed networks with internal and external stakeholders to gather knowledge and complete tasks in an agile environment using creative, collaborative problem solving and systems thinking. Created and modified various presentations and policy documents such as briefing notes, speaking notes, and ministerial correspondence through GoA’s Action Request system.

Acute Care Policy Acute Care Division Hospital and Surgical Health Services (Formerly Alberta Health)

South Health Campus: Psychiatric Emergency Services (Primary Unit: Part-time/Casual) Adult Inpatient Mental Health and Addictions/Psychiatric ICU (Casual) Adolescent Inpatient Mental Health and Addictions (Casual) Staff nurse providing holistic care to patients of various ages in emergency department and acute inpatient mental health units including psychosocial assessment, suicide assessment & safety planning, diagnosis, and patient-centered intervention and holistic health care planning Used the DSM 5 to provide provisional psychiatric diagnoses using semi-structured and motivational interview techniques, as well as tools such as SLUMS and the Mini Mental Status Exam Reviewed and summarized patient history and current assessments for multidisciplinary team verbally and as written, legal documentation using various programs while maintaining sensitivity and confidentiality standards Prioritized and completed tasks independently in a timely manner in a rapidly changing work environment while collaborating with a multidisciplinary team Acted as a primary contact and advocate for patients and families and other healthcare staff, providing recommendations for utilizing inpatient and outpatient mental health and addictions services

Project Coordinator for the Palliative and End of Life Care Spiritual Care Research Study, a government-grant sponsored mixed methods study evaluating the impact of Spiritual Health Practitioners on palliative and end-of-life patients, their families, and healthcare providers in urban and rural palliative home care settings. Operating within Provincial Spiritual Care, Allied Health Professions, Health Professions Strategy and Practice. My responsibilities included acting as project point person, leading project phases in collaboration with the team, defining project implementation tasks, deliverables and timelines and implementing project plans to ensure that project objectives meet goals. As part of my role, I developed and maintained extensive relationships with internal AHS and external stakeholders to ensure seamless coordination and management of project process, timelines, and deliverables. I provided written and verbal updates to Project Team, lead the drafting/editing of written and oral presentations, summaries, and reports. I collaborated regularly with the PI and the project team to identify risks and issues, and to problem solve. I also represented the Project Team at internal and external meetings to answer project questions and encourage collaboration among and between stakeholders. I collaborated with and supported the Research Assistant in creation of research processes and tools, coordinating research activities to ensure protocol compliance with clinical and ethical standards, and developing and maintaining processes for the maintenance of electronic documents. This also included performing a range of research and coordination in support of the project objectives, such as literature search and reviews, recruitment of research participants, conducting of pre and post surveys, scheduling and conducting of research interviews, data analysis, and generating a final report.

Palliative and End of Life Care Spiritual Care Research Study, a government-grant sponsored mixed methods study exploring the impact of Spiritual Health Practitioners on palliative and end-of-life patients, their families, and health care providers in urban and rural palliative home care settings. Operating within the Provincial Spiritual Health Care Team, Allied Health Professional Practice & Education, Health Professions Strategy and Practice. I was responsible for performing a range of functions in support of research activities related to a Government of Alberta-sponsored grant. My tasks included creation of research processes and tools, coordinating research activities to ensure protocol compliance with clinical and ethical standards, and developing and maintaining processes for the maintenance of electronic documents. This also includes performing a range of research and coordination in support of the project objectives, such as literature search and reviews, recruitment of research participants, conducting of pre and post surveys, and scheduling and conducting of research interviews.

As part of my master's degree, I took part in a research internship with the Clinical Neuropsychology Research Group in the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy at the UKE. My main research project was: Occupational Stress, Burnout, and Social Support Among Acute Inpatient Psychiatric Nurses in Germany (Belastungsfaktoren von Personal auf psychiatrischen Akutstationen). Other research projects I was involved with included a feasibility trial for Metacognitive Training for the Acute Psychiatric Setting (MCT-Acute) and ongoing publications concerning coercive measures in psychiatry such as seclusion and restraint.

Student assistant for the Editorial Research Intelligence Department: Health, Pharmaceuticals, and Medtech. Assisted editors in creating online statistical content, covering key industries in Health, Pharmaceuticals, and Medtech within a variety of regional focuses. Tasks included processing and publishing data and editorial texts, managing web content, and utilizing SEO-optimized writing skills to produce statistically-focussed text.

Provided an intensive English learning environment for children ages 0-6 years through various mediums such as art, play, and everyday rituals in a nurturing, safe manner. Worked with educators to plan educational activities appropriate to age and assess child’s achievement of important developmental milestones.

Provided recovery-oriented and patient-centred care according to the biopsychosocial model and evidence-based practice within acute services settings, including: - Adolescent Addictions & Mental Health, South Health Campus - Psychiatric Emergency Services, South Health Campus - Adult Mental Health Short Stay Unit, Peter Lougheed Centre

- In the Care of Friends, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada - Alberta Mental Health, Three Hills, Alberta, Canada

In partnership with AHS Child & Adolescent Mental Health

Part of the "CAREERS: The Next Generation" internship program In partnership with CMHA's "EnviroRangers" program

Two-year research-oriented interdisciplinary master's degree program focusing on scientific and practical skills to undertake empirical, data-based research providing comprehensive understanding of research methods and their use in the fields of healthcare, disease prevention, and health promotion. Course work includes: Concepts and Dimensions of Health Sciences and Public Health; Ethics; Epistemology; Diversity in Health; Family, Community and Occupational Health; Health Economics; Global Health; Health Behaviour; Epidemiological Research; Research and Project Management; Health Systems Research; Statistical Data Analysis; Advanced Study Design; Biostatistics; and Instrument Development, Validation and Advanced Qualitative Study Design. Research internship completed with the Clinical Neuropsychology Working Group at the University Clinic Hamburg-Eppendorf including a research project and final thesis.