Imagine this: A third grade boy diagnosed with Sickle-cell disease wakes up during the night experiencing severe pain in his chest.  His father alerts the pediatrician that he and his son are on their way to the emergency department (ED) of a hospital near their home. The pediatrician phones the ED to say her patient will arrive soon. The boy receives treatment in the ED and is admitted to the hospital with a diagnosis of acute chest syndrome.

As a nurse, I am excited to kick off National Nurses Week at the ONC with this post.  Nurses have always played a special role in health care, and no year has highlighted that more than this one.  Today, nurses are found in inimitable roles throughout the health care continuum, often serving as the coordinator of care.  This is true in health IT as well – nurses are often found coordinating IT projects and playing pivotal roles in its adoption and use.