Michele Balas, PhD, RN, CCRN-K, FCCM, FAAN

Professor

Associate Dean for Research &
Dorothy Hodges Olson Chair in Nursing

Contact

University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC)
College of Nursing - Omaha Division
985330 Nebraska Medical Center
Omaha, NE 68198-5330

Phone: 402-559-6617
Email: mibalas@unmc.edu

  

Education

  • 1992, BA, Wilkes University – Wilkes-Barre, PA
  • 1992, BS, Wilkes University – Wilkes-Barre, PA
  • 1997, MSN, University of Pennsylvania
  • 2005, PhD, University of Pennsylvania

Biography


Dr. Balas PhD, RN, CCRN-K, FCCM, FAAN is currently the Associate Dean of Research and Dorothy Hodges Olson Distinguished Professor of Nursing at the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Nursing. Born and raised in Northeastern Pennsylvania, Dr. Balas received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing and Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology from Wilkes University. She later received her Masters of Science in Nursing, PhD, and Post-doctoral training from the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing. Dr. Balas is an implementation scientist and registered nurse with extensive training and experience in the conduct of clinical trials and mixed-methods research in the intensive care unit and hospital setting.



Research


The overarching goal of Dr. Balas’ program of research focused on improving the physical, functional, cognitive, and quality of life outcomes of seriously ill older adults. Her research endeavors specifically target developing, testing, and translating safe and effective interprofessional interventions aimed at reducing common geriatric syndromes including hospital-acquired pain, delirium, weakness, falls, and infections. Dr. Balas’ work has been supported by numerous federal and private/philanthropic organizations including the National Institute of Health, John A. Hartford Foundation Building Academic Geriatric Nursing Capacity Pre- and Post-Doctoral Program, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Interdisciplinary Nursing Quality Research Initiative, Alzheimer’s Association, Select Medical, and American Association of Critical Care Nurses. Her influence in transforming team-based, hospital care of older adults and commitment to developing and testing evidence-based interprofessional interventions is also evident in her prolific publication record and leadership roles in numerous professional healthcare societies. She was a former committee member and now Co-Chair of the Society of Critical Care Medicine’s (SCCM’s) Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Prevention and Management of Pain, Agitation/Sedation, Delirium, Immobility, and Sleep Disruption in Adult ICU Patients, an invited participant of the NIH’s Implementation Science in Critical Care Workshop, and chair/study section member of various NIH review panels. She is also an active member of the American Academy of Nursing’s Expert Panels on Aging and Acute/Critical Care, American Psychiatric Association Guideline Writing Group, Gerontological Society of America, and editorial board member/reviewer for various medical journals.


Research Interests

  • Gerontology
  • Critical Care
  • Dissemination and Implementation Science
  • Delirium
  • Symptom Science

Grant Support (Previous 5 years)

April 2024-March 2028
Behavioral Economic and Staffing Strategies To Increase Adoption of the ABCDEF Bundle in the ICU (BEST-ICU), $6,594,013, Michele Balas (PI)

July 2023-June 2025
Remote Assessment of Social Connectedness Between Rural Dementia Patients and Family Caregivers Using Laboratory in a Suitcase Assessment (LISA), $100,000, Chen, K.A. (PI)

April 2023-June 2028
Behavioral Economic and Staffing Strategies to Increase Adoption of the ABCDEF Bundle in the ICU (BEST-ICU), $6,594,013, Balas, M.C. (Co-PI), Vasilevskis, E (Co-PI)

September 2022-April 2024
PARITY: An integrated community care and strengths-based technology intervention to improve maternal wellness and reduce health disparities in Black women, $318,000, Mollard, E.K. (PI)

April 2021-April 2026
Clinical Effectiveness of the PICU Up! Multifaceted Early Mobility Intervention for Critically Ill Children: A Pragmatic, Stepped-wedge Trial, $3,851,268 , Kudchadkar, S. (P.I.)

July 2020-April 2022
Determinants of Implementation Success Coordinating Ventilator, Early Ambulation and Rehabilitation Efforts in the ICU, $156,000, Balas, M. (P.I.)

May 2019-April 2022
Determinants of Implementation Success Coordinating Ventilator, Early Ambulation and Rehabilitation Efforts in the ICU, $1,151,920, Balas, M. (P.I.)

July 2018-July 2021
Reiki Intervention for Seriously Ill Elders in the ICU, $50,000, Balas, M. (P.I.)



Publications


Brockman, A., Krupp, A., Bach, C., Mu, J., Vasilevskis, E. E., Tan, A., Mion, L. C., & Balas, M. C. (2023). Clinicians' Perceptions on Implementation Strategies Used to Facilitate ABCDEF Mundle Adoption: A Multicenter Survey. Heart & Lung : The Journal of Critical Care, 62, 108–115. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hrtlng.2023.06.006

 Azamfirei, R., Meenie, C., Dinglas, V., Fatima, A., Colantuoni, E., Gurses, A., Balas, M.C., Dale Needham, D., Kudchadkar, S. and the PICU Up! Investigators. (2023). Impact of a Multifaceted Early Mobility Intervention for Critically Ill Children – the PICU Up! Trial:  A Study Protocol for a Multicenter Stepped-Wedge Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial. Trials. 24:191.doi: 10.1186/s13063-023-07206-2

 Mion, L.C., Tan, A., Brockman, A., Tate, J., Vasilevskis, E.E., Pun, B.T., Rosas, S.R., Balas, M.C.  (2023). An Exploration of Critical Care Professionals' Strategies to Enhance Daily Implementation of the Assess, Prevent, and Manage Pain; Both Spontaneous Awakening and Breathing Trials; Choice of Analgesia and Sedation; Delirium Assess, Prevent, and Manage; Early Mobility and Exercise; and Family Engagement and Empowerment: A Group Concept Mapping Study.  Crit Care Explor. 5(3):e0872. Published 2023 Mar 3. doi:10.1097/CCE.0000000000000872

Pun, B.T., Jun, J., Tan, A., Byrum, D., Mion, L., Vasilevskis, E.E., Ely, E.W., Balas, M.C. (2022). Interprofessional Team Collaboration and Work Environment Health in 68 US Intensive Care Units. American Journal of Critical Care. 31(6), 443-451. PMID: 36316176 DOI: 10.4037/ajcc2022546

Stollings, J.L., Balas, M.C., Chanques, G. (2022). Evolution of Sedation Management in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Intensive Care Med. 48(11):1625-1628. PMID: 35904562, PMCID: PMC9334735 , DOI: 10.1007/s00134-022-06806-x.


View all publications »



Service


October 2023. National Institute of Health. NHLBI virtual workshop “Enhancing Implementation of Guidelines and Evidence-based Care in Clinical and Community Settings (ENGAGE).”, Co-Chair

November 2022. National Institute of Health. Special Emphasis Panel (SEP): Topics in Health Services & Clinical Informatics Research. 2023/01 ZRG1 HSS-B (90) S, Member

March 2022. National Institute of Health. NIH/CSR Healthcare Delivery and Methodologies (HDM) Integrated Review Group, Special Emphasis Panel., Ad Hoc Reviewer.

Editorial Board Member: American Journal of Critical Care Nursing, Heart & Lung: The Journal Cardiopulmonary & Acute Care

2023-Present. American Association of Critical Care Nurses National Healthy Work Environment Collaborative. Co-Chair

2023-Present. American Academy of Nursing. Acute and Critical Care Curation Goals. Committee Member.

2021-Present. Intensive Care Medicine Rapid Practice Guideline for Dexmedetomidine. Committee Member.

2021-Present. American Psychiatric Association Guideline Writing Group. Committee Member.

2021-Present. Society of Critical Care Medicine. PADIS Guideline Committee. Co-Chair.

June 2021-Present. The National Fuld Implementation Science Advisory Board, The Ohio State University College of Nursing.

December 2019. Florida Hospital Association- Hospital Improvement Network (HIN). Subject Matter Expert ABCDEF Bundle.

August 2019. NQF Quality Measure Incubator ®: Postoperative Delirium Strategy Session. Invited Participant.

June 2019. Sedation Consortium on Endpoints and Procedures for Treatment, Education, and Research (SCEPTER-III) Clinical Trials to Evaluate Patient-Centered Outcomes of Sedation in Mechanically Ventilated Patients in the Adult ICU. Invited Participant.

February-December 2019. H3C- Development of comprehensive geriatric assessment tool for chronic care management. Consultant.

January 2017. Cynosure Health Care- American Hospital Association Health Research and Education Trust Hospital Improvement and Innovation Network (AHA HRET HIIN) Partnership for Patient’s Program. Subject Matter Expert.

January 2017-2019. Ohio Hospital Association- Hospital Improvement Innovation Network (HIIN) Subject Matter Expert.

2016. University of Iowa College of Nursing Evidence Based Guideline Postoperative Delirium Prevention & Management. The John A Hartford Foundation Center of Geriatric Nursing Excellence. Guideline Reviewer.

2016. Choosing Wisely Campaign. American Academy of Nursing. Delirium Statements. Committee Member/Statement Writer.

National Institute of Health:

  • RFA-HL 21-001 Hybrid effectiveness Implementation trials for heart, lung, blood, and sleep diseases in the inpatient setting (U01-Clinical trials required). (April, 2021). Role: Chair.
  • RFA-HL-18-018 Preparing for hybrid effectiveness-implementation trials for heart, lung, blood, and sleep diseases in the inpatient setting. (2018). Role: Reviewer.
  • Special Emphasis Panel/Scientific Review Group 2018/01 ZAT1 AJT(05)1 Exploratory Clinical Trials of Mind and Body Interventions Review Panel. (2017). Role: Reviewer.
  • PAR15-287 Opportunistic Research Collaborations with the NIH Clinical Center. Council ZCA1 TCRB-T O2 B (2017). Role: Reviewer.
  • Palliative Care Study Section. Special Emphasis Panel (SEP) ZRG-1 HDM V 90: PAR 14-294 Arts-Based Approaches in Palliative Care for Symptom Management and PAR16-250 Building Evidence: Effective Palliative/End of Life Care Interventions. (2017). Role: Reviewer.
  • RFA Review Delirium. (2016). Role: Reviewer.

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). Implementation Science in Critical Care Workshop. 2016. Role: Invited Participant.

Intensive Care Medicine Rapid Practice Guideline for Dexmedetomidine. Committee Member.

American Psychiatric Association Guideline Writing Group. Committee Member.

PADIS Guideline Committee. Co-Chair.

Awards Committee. Society of Critical Care Medicine. Reviewer.

AACN Research Grant. Reviewer.

Expert Panel on Aging. American Academy of Nursing. Committee Member.

Expert Panel Acute and Critical Care. American Academy of Nursing. Committee Member.

Discovery Steering Committee. Society of Critical Care Medicine. Committee Member.

ABCDEF Bundle Collaborative. Society of Critical Care Medicine. Grant support provided by Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. Steering Committee Member.

U.S. Critical Illness and Injury Trials Group. Steering Committee Member.

Nursing Section. Society of Critical Care Medicine. Committee Member.

Sedation-Agitation Section. Committee Member. New Pain, Agitation, Delirium Early Mobilization, and Sleep guidelines effort. Society of Critical Care Medicine. Committee Member.

Quality and Safety Research Committee. Society of Critical Care Medicine. Committee Member/Chair

ICU Liberation Initiative Conference Task Force. Society of Critical Care Medicine. Co-Chair.

ICU Liberation Committee. Society of Critical Care Medicine. Committee Member.

Scientific Review Committee. Society of Critical Care Medicine. Committee Member.

Research Section Member. Society of Critical Care Medicine. Committee Member.

 

Recognition


2023 UNMC Scientist Laurate Award

2023 Society of Critical Care Medicine’s (SCCM) Best of SCCM Congress Presentation Award “The Power of Engagement”

2022 Society of Critical Care Medicine’s (SCCM) Best of SCCM Congress Presentation Award “Nonpharmacologic Management and Nursing Care of Refractory ICU Delirium”

2016, 2018, 2019 Presidential Citation Award, Society of Critical Care Medicine.

2017 Fellow American Academy of Nursing.

2016 Critical Care Nurse of the Year, March of Dimes, Ohio Chapter.

2016 Norma J. Shoemaker Award for Critical Care Nursing Excellence, Society of Critical Care Medicine.

2015 Fellow American College of Critical Care Medicine.

View all recognition »