Anne Moss’ retirement plans include unstructured days and relaxation

Anne Moss, trauma coordinator at Akron Children’s, retires on June 30.

As a fresh-faced college student, Anne Moss, trauma coordinator, already knew she wanted to be a nurse. Before entering Kent State University, Anne had been president of her high school’s future nursing association. But it wasn’t until she worked in a hospital with an emergency department and level I trauma center that Anne found her true calling involved caring for people with major traumatic injuries.

For 45 years, the last 13 of which Anne spent working at Akron Children’s, Anne thrived on the complexity and challenges of emergency nursing and trauma program management. But recently, Anne had what she called a “Forrest Gump” moment.

“I’ve run and run,” she said. “It will be nice to spend time with my already-retired husband and see my grandchildren, who live out of town.”

Anne retires on June 30. She plans to travel, do crafts, sew, garden, hike and kayak.

Anne Moss plans to use her new kayak often this summer.

What brought you to Children’s?
I worked at Mercy Health-St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital as its trauma program director. Through my network within the Ohio Society of Trauma Nurse Leaders, I heard that Children’s was hiring a trauma coordinator. I contacted the person who was leaving that position, Dina Dornak, emergency department clinical nurse manager, who recently left Akron Children’s. I applied and the rest is history.

What was going on in your life then?
Two of my kids were out of college and my youngest was finishing high school. My mom, who had dementia, lived with us.

Have you always worked in the same department and role?
I’ve always held the same job at Children’s, where I’ve been able to satisfy my desire to learn, work with wonderful people locally, regionally and statewide, and grow professionally and personally. Coming from St. Elizabeth, I thought any trauma center could handle pediatric trauma. I found out otherwise when I joined Children’s and discovered a wealth of resources specifically for children.

Within Children’s trauma center, we’ve implemented some of the best practices I learned while at a level 1 trauma center. For instance, we regularly communicate with the EMS squads in the counties we serve through a triannual newsletter. Additionally, we instituted a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services-approved trauma activation fee, which covers Children’s trauma-related overhead costs. Other changes included streamlining the trauma level names we use so they reflect national standards more closely and creating an easier-to-use, spiral-bound pediatric reference guide.

Anne holds her youngest grandchild, who was born in March, 2021.

What have your biggest contributions been while here?
My previous experience with the verification process used by the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Committee on Trauma has contributed to the work I’ve done at Children’s, particularly around performance improvement and trauma system development. I initiated an emergency department program for trauma nurse leaders, who receive advanced trauma education and serve as the department’s go-to experts. I also helped to organize a statewide trauma quality summit, a precursor to what is now the Ohio Trauma Quality Improvement Program Collaborative. Finally, I worked with a Children’s team to deploy difficult airway carts as a safety response after an intubated patient’s breathing tube came out.

How has Akron Children’s changed since you started here?
I have a map on my office wall that has pins in it to show our service area. The number of pins used shows Children’s footprint has grown significantly since I started in 2007!

What’s your most memorable moment at Akron Children’s?
Children’s is a level II trauma center. Every 3 years, we participate in the ACS’ one-and-a-half day verification process. There’s a tremendous amount of work involved, and it’s emotionally draining. We always feel a sense of satisfaction afterwards, knowing we’ve accomplished something good for our patients and organization.

With so many little children here, did someone especially touch your heart?
I have a hard time with the abuse cases. Abuse in the adult population is one thing, but infants and children can’t defend themselves.

What’s your idea of a perfect day?
Going for a walk on a sunny day with the birds singing and a warm breeze.

Do you have any advice for people just starting at Children’s?
Reach out and get to know the amazing people who work here.

Anne Moss (front left row) and her siblings and their spouses started a tradition of going on a vacation to celebrate a “milestone” birthday.

What couldn’t you live without?
My family and my faith

What music do you like? Where and how do you listen to it?
I listen to country, the Beatles or whatever fits my mood during my 1-hour commute to work.