Tory Murtha is the patient services director for Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale New Haven Hospital. She has more than 20 years of experience in oncology nursing and oversees clinical operations across multiple ambulatory departments.
She leads numerous initiatives aimed at improving patient outcomes, enhancing nursing workflows and fostering professional development through formal and informal mentorship.
What have been your significant contributions to your organization in the past year?
I assisted in transition to a new electronic medical record system and the re-accreditation of our national accreditation program for breast centers, Commission on Cancer and Triannual Joint Commission survey.
I partnered with Trinity leadership for the purchase of a new linear accelerator within radiation oncology and developed and facilitated an oncology nursing symposium to support ongoing learning for nurses at all levels. I also mentored multiple new nurse leaders through a formal mentorship program.
Tell us about a challenge in your job that you were able to overcome.
Three of my sites are integrated between two large healthcare systems. From a nursing leadership standpoint, this presents unique challenges as relationships of this kind require merging of organizational cultures, differing policies and competing priorities.
One significant challenge was aligning clinical stands for nursing practice while transitioning one of two organizations into a new electronic medical record. We created a new workflow that aligns with oncology best practices, upholds two organizational expectations and supports my nursing teams that needed to learn two processes.
What’s your next major goal?
I will work to assist myself and others in writing abstracts for oncology nursing and nursing leadership to showcase the outstanding work of our teams. Also, I will be working on an oncology epic optimization committee to enhance and streamline documentation.
How are you involved in the community?
On May 25, 2019, my nine-year-old daughter Halyn died from SUDEP (sudden unexpected death in Epilepsy). Halyn was an amazing child who brought so much love to the world. We started the Halyn Murtha Family Assistance Fund to support people and families with epilepsy in Connecticut.
My family works closely with the Epilepsy Foundation of CT to advocate for those with epilepsy and those we have lost.
Fun Fact
I played Division I soccer in college and currently compete in women’s bodybuilding.