Maria Teresa Palleschi, DNP, RN, APRN-BC, CCRN is a nurse practitioner and Director of Patient Care Services at Harper/Hutzel Hospital and Detroit Receiving Hospital, Detroit Medical Center in Detroit, Michigan. She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree and Masters of Science in Nursing from Wayne State University and Doctor of Nursing Practice from Madonna University. Dr. Palleschi has 42 years of experience in critical care nursing with 22 of those years as an advanced practice nurse.
Currently, she is the Director of Patient Care Services, including sepsis, stroke, and Magnet programs. In addition to covering 3 critical care units, she has facilitated the development and implementation of many programs and protocols at the Detroit Medical Center including sepsis care, the epidural pain service, early mobility, palliative care, prevention of hospital acquired infections, ICU pain, analgesia, and delirium protocol, as well as pressure injury prevention and management strategies. Throughout her career, Dr. Palleschi has facilitated staff involvement in the exploration and implementation of evidence based practice at the bedside. She is an advisor for multiple shared decision making councils including critical and acute care professional nurse councils. She is the co-chair of the Detroit Medical Center Critical Care Committee and serves as an advisor for multiple shared decision making councils in acute and critical care. She has presented her work at many conferences across the nation and in Canada.
Dr. Palleschi’s doctoral research project entailed improving bundle compliance for sepsis care at four adult hospitals. Along with her research partner Dr. Sue Sirianni, Dr. Palleschi advocates for increasing public awareness of sepsis and is one of the founding members of Michigan Stomp Out Sepsis. Through their efforts and in collaboration with the Michigan Hospital Association, sepsis walks and fund raising events occur at multiple sites across Michigan and in Ontario. Dr. Palleschi is currently a member of American Association of Critical Care Nurses, Sigma Theta Tau, and Society of Critical Care Medicine. She services as an adjunct professor and clinical preceptor at Michigan State University and the University of Detroit-Mercy and also precepts DNP students from multiple local and national universities.
Awards:
- 1996 Recipient of the Irene L. Beland Award For Excellence in Medical-Surgical Nursing & Commitment to the Improvement of Patient Care, Wayne State University.
- Florence Nightingale Award Nominee, 2002, Oakland University
- Florence Nightingale Award Nominee, 2004, Oakland University
- Florence Nightingale Award Nominee, 2011, Oakland University
- Florence Nightingale Award Nominee, 2012, Oakland University
- Florence Nightingale Award Winner, 2013 Excellence in Research and Education
- Finalist for the Sepsis Alliance Sepsis Heroes Award, September 2016
- Sepsis Alliance Sepsis Heroes Award, September 2017
- Participant: and Facilitator, National Awards to Recognize Achievements in Eliminating Healthcare-Associated Infections, sponsored by the S.Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, Office of Healthcare Quality and the Critical Care Societies Collaborative Sustained Improvement Award for Achievements in Eliminating Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia and Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections
